A family restaurant in Mikocheni noticed something odd in its weekend sales: big tables of adults ordered a lot, but tables with young children left early and spent little. The parents explained why. The menu had nothing small or simple, the children's plates came out with spicy sauces, and the food arrived when the kids were already tired. The restaurant added a short kids' menu with small portions, mild food and quick service. Weekend family bookings grew, and parents started coming back on weekdays too.
The best kids' menu for restaurants and hotels in Tanzania has five or six simple dishes children recognise (chips with chicken, sausages or fish fingers, mini burgers, chipsi mayai, rice with mild stew, pasta), small portions at a fair price, a healthier side option like fruit or vegetables, mild seasoning, and fast service. Here is how to build one, what to charge and how to keep parents happy as well as children.
Why does a kids' menu matter?
Parents choose where the family eats, but children decide whether they enjoy it. A restaurant where children eat well and quickly becomes the family's default for birthdays, weekends and visitors. Hotels and lodges see the same effect: families remember the place where the children were happy. A children's menu is a small effort for a lot of goodwill.
What should be on a kids' menu?
- Chips and chicken: small portion of fries with grilled or crumbed chicken pieces. Almost every child's favourite.
- Mini chipsi mayai: a small, mild version of the classic. See chipsi mayai.
- Sausage and chips: simple and quick.
- Mini burger: a small beef or chicken burger with a few fries.
- Fish fingers: with fries or rice.
- Rice with mild stew or pasta with tomato sauce for children who want something softer.
Offer every main with a choice of side: fries, rice, vegetables or fruit. Keep sauces on the side and spice mild.
How big should children's portions be?
| Item | Ages 3 to 6 | Ages 7 to 12 |
|---|---|---|
| Fries (cooked) | 70 to 90 g | 100 to 130 g |
| Chicken or fish | 50 to 70 g | 80 to 100 g |
| Rice or pasta | 80 to 100 g | 120 to 150 g |
| Fruit or vegetables | A small handful | A side bowl |
Our portion guide has more detail for adults and children. Use smaller plates or fun boxes so small portions still look full.
Supa Fries cook from frozen in about 3 minutes, with no preservatives, so kids' meals come out fast and crisp. Ask for a restaurant quote.
Get a quoteHow should a kids' menu be priced?
Price kids' meals at roughly half to two thirds of an adult main, and include a drink in a set price if you can. Parents like one clear number. Food costs are lower because portions are smaller, and the real value is the adult meals and drinks the family orders. A kids' meal combo works like an adult combo; see our combo pricing ideas.
How do you make kids' meals healthier?
Parents notice and appreciate small healthy choices. Offer fruit or vegetables as a side, use water, milk or fresh juice instead of soda in set meals, grill rather than fry some proteins, and salt children's fries lightly or not at all. The World Health Organization advises limiting salt and free sugars for children in its healthy diet guidance. Fries can still be part of a balanced meal when portions are right; see are frozen fries healthy? and our tips on making fries less oily.
What about allergies?
Ask parents about allergies when they order and train staff to check. Common ones include nuts, eggs, milk, wheat (gluten), fish and shellfish. Know which dishes contain them, keep a simple allergy chart in the kitchen, and use clean oil and equipment when cooking for an allergic child. Wikipedia's overview of common allergens is a useful staff briefing.
How do you make restaurants family friendly?
- Serve children first, or at least quickly. Hungry children make the whole table unhappy.
- Offer high chairs and a clean, safe place for prams.
- Give a small activity: colouring sheets and crayons cost very little.
- Use unbreakable cups and plates for younger children.
- Train staff to be patient and friendly with children.
How do you make a kids' meal look fun?
Children eat with their eyes. Serve kids' meals on colourful plates or in small boxes, cut sandwiches into shapes, give dishes fun names, and add a small surprise like a sticker. Put fries in a little cone or cup so they are easy to hold. Keep sauces in small pots on the side so children can dip. None of this costs much, but it turns a meal into an experience children ask to repeat.
Should restaurants offer kids' birthday packages?
Yes. Birthday parties bring groups of children and their parents, often on quiet weekend afternoons. A simple package might include a kids' meal for each child, juice, a cake slot, a reserved area and a set price per child. Fries, chicken and mini burgers are reliable favourites at parties. Our fries for events and portion guide help you plan quantities, and combo pricing helps set the package price.
What mistakes should restaurants avoid?
- Adult portions at a discount. Big plates overwhelm small children and waste food.
- Spicy or heavily salted food by default. Keep it mild and let parents add more.
- Slow service. A 30 minute wait is long for a five year old.
- Only fried food. Parents want at least one lighter choice.
- Breakable glasses and sharp cutlery for small children.
Fixing these makes the restaurant easier for parents, and that is what brings whole families back again and again.
What drinks should be on a kids' menu?
Offer water, milk, fresh juice and one or two fizzy drinks, with water or juice included in the set meal price. Smaller cups with lids or straws help avoid spills. Milkshakes are a popular treat for weekends and birthdays, and a simple fruit smoothie made from banana and mango is a healthier choice parents appreciate. Keep added sugar modest, in line with the WHO advice above, and always have cold water ready on the table. Parents notice these small choices, and many will mention them when they recommend your restaurant to other families.
What changes for hotels and lodges?
Hotels should offer kids' options at every outlet: the buffet (a small children's corner with chips, chicken, pasta and fruit at a lower height), room service and the pool bar. Early dinner times for children are popular with families on safari, so the kitchen should be ready to serve simple kids' meals from 5:30pm. Our guide to frozen fries for hotels covers serving fries across outlets.
The Mikocheni restaurant now has a laminated kids' menu with pictures, and children choose for themselves. "When children order for themselves, they eat it," the manager says. "And their parents relax."
In short
The best kids' menu in Tanzania has five or six simple dishes children know, such as chips and chicken, mini chipsi mayai, sausage and chips, mini burgers, fish fingers and rice or pasta with mild sauce. Serve small portions on smaller plates, price at about half to two thirds of an adult main with a drink included, offer fruit or vegetables as a side, keep salt and spice low, ask about allergies, serve children first, and add a children's corner at hotel buffets.
Frequently asked questions
What should be on a kids' menu?
Simple familiar dishes like chips and chicken, sausage and chips, mini burgers, fish fingers, mini chipsi mayai and rice or pasta with mild sauce.
How many fries should a child get?
About 70 to 90 g of cooked fries for ages 3 to 6 and 100 to 130 g for ages 7 to 12.
How much should a kids' meal cost?
Roughly half to two thirds of an adult main, ideally with a drink included in one clear price.
How can kids' meals be healthier?
Offer fruit or vegetables as sides, water or milk instead of soda, grill some proteins and salt fries lightly.
How do restaurants handle children's allergies?
Ask parents when ordering, keep an allergy chart in the kitchen, and use clean equipment and oil for allergic children.
Put better chips on your menu
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