A guide to chain restaurants in London

Dining out in a new city can be challenging enough as it is, but with children, finding places to eat can require careful planning. While London is full of wonderful independent restaurants, chain restaurants can be a welcome respite for parents. Chain restaurants offer predictable menus, reasonable prices, food that’s of a consistent quality and they are generally child-friendly – all things that are even more important if you have a child with sensory issues. London has a number of chain restaurants. Those readers from the UK will be familiar with some, whereas others are more London-centric and may be unfamiliar. This guide will introduce you to some of the most popular London-based chain restaurants, helping you to navigate dining out with ease.

There are plenty of restaurants in London with more than one branch. We have picked those chains with a decent number of branches in London.

Chain restaurants in London

Italian

Pizza Express: Famous for its dough balls, Pizza Express offers a range of pizzas, a limited kids menu and traditional Italian desserts. Orders from the kids’ menu will come with activity packs to keep kids entertained. During school holidays, they often run offers whereby kids eat free (terms and conditions apply).

Pizza Union: Pizza Union is a low-frills pizza chain with a number of branches throughout London. With long sharing tables, no reservations and a buzzer system for collecting your pizza when it’s cooked, Pizza Union offers a casual place to eat thin and crispy wood-fired pizzas. The best thing? The prices are super reasonable and the food is quick.

Pizza Pilgrims: Pizza Pilgrims serve Neapolitan pizzas with soft, chewy crusts and high-quality ingredients from a number of restaurants across London (and the UK). The restaurants have a casual atmosphere that works well for families. They cater well for those with dietary issues, allowing for mozzarella to be swapped for a plant-based substitute, halal toppings and gluten-free bases available on most pizzas.

Franco Manca: Eating at Franco Manca is a solid option for families with kids who love delicious, authentic pizza. Known for its sourdough crust and fresh, high-quality ingredients, Franco Manca offers a variety of mouth-watering pizzas that appeal to both children and adults. With its friendly service, reasonable prices, and scrumptious pizzas, Franco Manca provides a dining experience that will satisfy the whole family.

Rudy’s: A new kid on the block in terms of chain restaurants, Rudy’s serve up Neapolitan pizzas. They offer a range of pizzas and the option to add a variety of extra toppings, allowing everyone to customise pizzas to their own tastes.

Zizzi: Zizzi offers an Italian dining experience that caters well to families. Zizzi’s Bambini menu is specifically designed for young diners, featuring smaller portions of Italian favourites like pizza, pasta, and risotto, along with healthier options such as chicken skewers with vegetables. The main menu offers a wide variety of Italian dishes to satisfy adult palates, including vegetarian and vegan options.

European

Bill’s: Bill’s offers a charming and family-friendly dining experience with a diverse menu that caters to various tastes and dietary requirements, making it an excellent choice for families with different preferences. Kids can enjoy dishes from the dedicated children’s menu, which includes favourites like fish fingers, mac and cheese, and mini burgers, all served with a drink and dessert. For parents, there’s a range of comfort food classics alongside healthier options.

Flat Iron: Flat Iron is a popular steakhouse renowned for its simple yet exceptional menu, focusing primarily on perfectly cooked flat iron steaks served with mouthwatering sides. The menu may be limited, but the casual, rustic ambiance, complete with wooden tables and exposed brick walls, makes it a comfortable spot for families with kids.

Wetherspoons: The Wetherspoons pub chain is not known for its high cuisine, but its range of food options and reasonable prices mean that many families on a tight budget find it to be a reliable option.

Brewdog: A bar chain like Brewdog may not be the first place you think of when dining with children, but they are surprisingly children-friendly. They usually have some sort of dining offer over school holidays (terms and conditions apply). Their Waterloo branch is particularly well-suited to families with a variety of family entertainment options. Children will be drawn to the indoor slide that connects the ground floor to the basement, adding an element of excitement to the visit. The venue also boasts gaming areas with ping pong tables and other activities like duckpin bowling (with smaller pins and lighter balls, making it a fun, fast-paced game), keeping kids entertained while waiting for food or after the meal.

The Real Greek: The Real Greek offers families a taste of Mediterranean cuisine. The menu features a variety of Greek mezze dishes, perfect for sharing and encouraging kids to try different foods. Their children’s menu, offers smaller portions of Greek favourites like souvlaki. With its riverside location, quick service and variety of dishes, it is an ideal spot for a leisurely family lunch or a quick dinner after exploring nearby attractions like Shakespeare’s Globe or the Tate Modern.

Asian

Wagamama: Wagamama is a Japanese-inspired chain that offers families a reliable and child-friendly dining option with a touch of Asian-inspired flair. Wagamama’s menu caters well to both adventurous eaters and those with simpler tastes. The kids’ menu, or ‘mini menu’, features smaller portions of popular dishes like mini chicken katsu and crispy fish bites.

Banana Tree: Banana Tree specialises in pan-Asian cuisine. Children will enjoy trying dishes like crispy chicken or katsu chicken with rice or noodles. The relaxed and lively atmosphere, combined with friendly service, makes it an ideal spot for families to unwind and enjoy a meal together.

Indian

Dishoom: Dishoom introduces families to the rich flavours of Bombay cuisine in a vibrant, kid-friendly setting. Dishoom pays homage to the Irani cafés of old Bombay, with its charming decor and welcoming ambiance. The menu offers a variety of delicious options that cater to all ages, but there is also a kids’ menu. Dishoom is a fantastic choice for a family meal for those who love Indian food.

Burgers

Honest Burgers: Honest Burgers is a popular burger chain that offers high-quality, locally sourced ingredients, Honest Burgers provides a menu that appeals to both adults and children.Kids will appreciate the simplicity of the menu, featuring juicy burgers, crispy fries (which come with a unique rosemary seasoning), and a selection of sodas.

Chicken

Nando’s: Although often erroneously believed to be Portuguese in origin, Nando’s is actually a South-African chain of restaurants famous for their flame-grilled peri-peri chicken. Offering spice levels to suit all tastes, their chicken comes in a variety of forms, with sides, in burgers, in wraps, or in pitta. Although they specialise in chicken they offer a range of non-meat options too.

Other

Wahaca: Wahaca offers a vibrant and family-friendly Mexican dining experience that’s sure to please both parents and children. The menu features a range of Mexican street food-inspired dishes, with a dedicated children’s menu that includes smaller portions of favourites like quesadillas, tacos, and churros for dessert. What makes Wahaca particularly appealing for families is its flexible dining approach – the small plates format allows for sharing and trying various dishes, catering to different tastes and appetites.

Have we missed one of your favourites? Let us know in the comments!