This is One of the Most Kid-Friendly Breakfast Restaurants in Chicago You Can’t Miss!

Looking for kid-friendly breakfast restaurants in Chicago? Or maybe you’re wondering if Lou Mitchell’s is worthwhile? You’ve come to the right place!

Since we were dating, one of our favorite (we didn’t worry then about kid-friendly) breakfast restaurants in Chicago has been Lou Mitchell’s. Back in the day, David’s parents had a condo in a high rise a few blocks away.

We’d have breakfast at Lou Mitchell’s when we house sat for them. We even had to set our alarm to wake up early enough to walk there before the line was around the corner.

Ah, the good old days before kids. When we could sleep the morning away in quiet bliss. Lou Mitchell’s is an icon in Chicago, founded in 1923.

Going any time after 9:30 am means there’ll be a wait. Going after 10:30 am means the wait will be a long one. Especially on weekends.

5 Reasons to Visit this Kid-Friendly Restaurant in Chicago

1. Where else can you get a four-course breakfast, including dessert?

As you’re waiting in line at one of the most kid-friendly breakfast restaurants in Chicago, you’re offered homemade donut holes with powdered sugar.

Even if you aren’t a donut person, (do these people exist?) try one.

They’re perfectly crispy on the outside, and soft on the inside. Usually, they’re also still warm from the oven.

There are a ton of places to get donuts in Chicago, and many are amazing. Like Doughnut Vault. Or Stan’s Donuts. But there isn’t anything like a Lou Mitchell’s donut hole. And that’s just the first course!

Ladies and kids get a bonus treat as the dining groups are escorted to the tables: Milk Duds! This tasty candy was originally manufactured in Chicago.

They were called duds because the owner failed in making them perfectly round. He didn’t fail to make them perfectly tasty, though! Milk Duds are just caramel candies covered in milk chocolate.

The owner of the company was both a customer and friend of Uncle Lou’s (the namesake of the restaurant). Lou’s sisters and his nephew all worked in the family business.

They were convinced Uncle Lou had an eye for the women and adored children. So, in his honor, they gave his favorite treat to those visitors and the tradition carries on to this day.

Courses Two through Four

After you’ve placed your order, your second course is delivered to your table.

While you’re waiting for a fluffy omelet to be served in a hot skillet or some french toast with fresh strawberries, your server will then deliver a small bowl with an orange slice and a prune to each person at your table. This allegedly aids with digestion.

Pro-Tip: This mini-course is a bonus delay tactic for little bellies. It’s a great way to get a little extra food in their stomachs in the few minutes before the meal arrives.

I’ve never been able to get my son to eat the prune. (If you are a parent who can do this, please contact us to share your superpower knowledge!)

The third course is the food, which we talk more about below. Suffice to say, this is my favorite course.

The last course is Little Man’s favorite. Of course, the kids love dessert. After breakfast is finished, each patron gets a small, to-go cup of ice cream. Each serving is only a few tablespoons, so it won’t cause a sugar rush in most kiddos.

Parenting Hack: We use the promise of ice cream to entice Little Man to finish eating a little faster when we’re trying to rush out the door.

2. The food is amazing

There are so many choices for the main course that you need a plan. Their skillets take up fully half the pan they’re served in. They’re fluffy and have the perfect balance of egg, cheese, and fillings.

The other half of the pan is filled with homemade breakfast potatoes. Even my son who only eats potatoes as chips or fries will eat them!

My favorite breakfast item there is the French Toast. They use Texas Toast so it’s thick on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside.

Can you tell yet that I love ‘fluffy’ breakfast foods?

The egg mixture is well seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg. It’s also soaked just right so that the middles of the pieces aren’t gooey. The best part, though, is the fresh fruit on top. Not canned fruit.

My only negative is that whipped cream isn’t included with the fruit. Most other breakfast restaurants we frequent include them together in the extra charge.

I just get fresh strawberries and some pure maple syrup (none of the fake stuff here!). This is a small complaint, though. It still tastes divine.

3. It’s one of the most kid-friendly breakfast restaurants in Chicago

Well, definitely the most kid-friendly breakfast spot in downtown Chicago. There are some other great kid-friendly places in the neighborhoods, too.

In addition to the donut holes and milk duds, Lou Mitchell’s also has other kid-friendly aspects as well.

The staff is clearly used to a lot of kids in the restaurant. Therefore, they’re consistently super nice to us and our son every time we dine there.

Parent Tip: They offer a kid’s menu for both breakfast and lunch options, although kids can’t get lunch food until 10:30 am.

My kid can eat breakfast any time, or all the time, so he’s happy with pancakes. The challenge is what kind of pancakes to get since there are several choices for kiddos.

Little Man prefers the Mitchell’s Mouse Pancake. This is one big pancake with two smaller ones, half-buried under the big one to make ears.

The ears have whipped cream, the eyes are fresh blueberries, and the mouth is a fresh strawberry.

Just like a famous Mouse who lives in Orlando, Florida. Maybe they’re distant cousins…

On the back of the kid’s menu, there’s an activity page that is prime for parents keeping kiddos entertained while waiting for food. It’s almost like they want to be known as one of the most kid-friendly breakfast restaurants in Chicago

4. The Location is Picturesque

Lou Mitchell’s is located in the heart of downtown Chicago, just two blocks from the Sears Tower. Yes, I know it’s technically called the Willis Tower now.

Local Tip: No self-respecting Chicagoan will ever actually call that building anything but the Sears Tower.

In the warmer months, Lou Mitchell’s has limited outdoor seating that offers a perfect view of the iconic skyscraper while you’re dining at one of the most kid-friendly breakfast restaurants in Chicago.

We often told our Airbnb guests to visit Lou Mitchell’s to start one of their sightseeing days. For Chicago visitors, Lou Mitchell’s is a perfect place for breakfast before heading to the Skydeck right when it opens.

☑️ Skydeck Hours: 8:30 am and 10 am, depending on the day and season.
☑️ Skydeck Schedule: Open 365 days a year
☑️ Skydeck Price: $39 USD for adults 12+
$33 USD for kids 3-11
Kids under 3 are free
☑️ Expedited Entry: $55/person for skip-the-line access

During peak vacation times, typically summer break, the wait for the Skydeck can be pretty long. Getting there right when it opens ensures minimal wait times and plenty of opportunities to see and do fun things.

👉 I recommend buying a Chicago City Pass if you’re visiting any attractions after the Skydeck. It saves lots of money on sightseeing!

5. It’s an iconic landmark that’s existed since before Route 66

The official start of Historic Route 66 is at the corner of Jackson and Michigan Avenues in downtown Chicago. Just a mile west of this is Lou Mitchell’s.

Historic Route 66 was one of the original highways in the United States that connected the Midwest to Los Angeles. With the advent of modern highways, the historic pathway isn’t officially noted on maps anymore.

However, there are still a fair number of history buffs who retrace the old route from time to time.

Fun Fact: The current sign marking the starting point isn’t accurate.

While currently Adams Street at Michigan Avenue is marked as the starting point, Route 66 never departed from there. They moved the starting sign when Jackson was made a one-way street in 1955.

Route 66 was started in 1926…three whole years after Lou Mitchell’s was opened in downtown Chicago! Uncle Lou’s father started the Chicago family diner in 1923 specializing in breakfast, brunch, and lunch dishes.

The family restaurant was later turned over to his son, Lou Mitchell. There’s even a sign near the restaurant noting that it’s on the path of Historic Route 66.

Things to Know Before You Go

When you head to Lou Mitchell’s, don’t drive there. Parking is very difficult in the Chicago Loop. If you find a spot, it will likely be quite expensive.

Instead, take a rideshare service or public transit. The Clinton Blue Line subway stop is just two blocks south of the restaurant.

All other train lines connect to the Blue Line for free a few stops away at the Clark/Lake stop in the North Loop.

Also, Lou Mitchell’s is one of the few cash-only restaurants in Chicago. They do have an ATM at the entrance. However, the fees are really high to pull out cash on site.

Instead, we recommend you visit your bank’s ATM before you go to save on service charges.

Conclusion: Kid-Friendly Breakfast Restaurants in Chicago

There you have it. Five reasons to visit one of the most kid-friendly restaurants in Chicago. Plus a whole menu of options to explore when you return.

Whether you go for the food, the multiple courses, the ambiance, the location, or the history you certainly won’t go home disappointed. Just don’t show up between 10 am and noon because the line will be around the corner!

👉 While we have global health insurance for our day-to-day lives, we also elect travel insurance with SafetyWing for our spurts of fast travel adventure!