Kid-Friendly Restaurants in Kemah, TX: 8 Great Picks

The best kid-friendly restaurants in Kemah, Texas are on or near Galveston Bay, about 30 miles southeast of downtown Houston. Most sit along the Kemah Boardwalk, a waterfront complex on Highway 146, but three solid picks operate independently a short walk or drive away. Every restaurant in this guide was confirmed open via its official website or official social page in October 2026.

For this guide, "Kemah" means the incorporated city of Kemah, TX (ZIP 77565), which runs from the boardwalk on Kipp Avenue north to Highway 146 and west along Marina Bay Drive. That boundary excludes Skipper's Cafe — beloved breakfast spot, but technically in Clear Lake Shores — and Tookie's Hamburgers, which is in Seabrook. Both appear regularly on Kemah lists. If you want options in those adjacent cities, our kid-friendly restaurants in Clear Lake guide covers the immediate area. Kemah also works well as a day trip from Houston, so we've included timing notes throughout.

How we chose

We picked places that:

• Are confirmed open on their own official website or official social page as of October 2026
• Have a dedicated kids menu, an interactive feature, or a patio where children can move around
• Serve food that families with young kids will actually eat

We excluded Joe's Crab Shack, which closed its Kemah Boardwalk location in November 2024. The building is currently being converted into the entrance for a planned boardwalk water park.

On the Kemah Boardwalk

The boardwalk restaurants share a waterfront campus on Kipp Avenue. After dinner, the Kemah Boardwalk's rides, Ferris wheel, and game room are within walking distance of every table on this half of the list.

Aquarium Restaurant

Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah TX 77565 · (281) 334-9010 · aquariumkemah.com

This is the one you came for. The Aquarium Restaurant wraps its dining room around a 50,000-gallon tank stocked with sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish. Kids don’t glance at the fish between courses — they watch them the whole meal.

The deal most families don’t know about: Kids meals are 99¢ Monday through Thursday when an adult orders an entrée. On Friday Family Nights, kids eat free with a full-priced adult meal. That makes a waterfront dinner with a floor-to-ceiling shark tank surprisingly affordable on a weeknight.

What to order: The Ahi Tuna Nachos are the crowd-pleasing starter. For mains, fresh seafood, steaks, and the Castaway Combo for groups.

Kid add-on: The Stingray Reef exhibit (separate admission) lets children touch and feed live stingrays before or after dinner. Budget 20 extra minutes.

Reserve ahead: Online reservations through the official site are strongly recommended, especially Friday evenings.

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co.

Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah TX 77565 · bubbagump.com

Forrest Gump trivia placards on every table keep kids occupied between courses — flip the sign from “Run Forrest Run” to “Stop Forrest Stop” and your server comes over to quiz the table. The shrimp baskets are large enough for two kids to share, and the casual atmosphere handles strollers, loud toddlers, and drawn-out meals without anyone noticing.

What to order: The shrimp baskets in any preparation. The award-winning baby back ribs for the non-seafood contingent.

Patio: Water-facing patio for families who want fresh air. Happy hour runs Monday to Friday from 2 to 5 p.m. at the bar.

Saltgrass Steak House

215 Kipp Ave, Kemah TX 77565 · saltgrass.com

Saltgrass solves the family problem of one kid who wants steak and another who wants pasta. The kids menu includes the Wagon Boss Top Sirloin — a real grilled steak, not chicken strips rebranded — alongside grilled cheese, mac and cheese, and chicken tenders. Portions run large. Breads and soups are made from scratch daily.

Hours: Typically Monday–Thursday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Saturday 8:30 a.m.–10 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m.–9 p.m. Check the official site before you go; hours shift by season.

What to order: The chargrilled ribeye for adults. Wagon Boss top sirloin or chicken tenders for kids.

Landry’s Seafood House

1 Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah TX 77565 · landrysseafoodhouse.com

Landry’s is the sit-down anchor of the boardwalk — panoramic bay views from the windows, a full bar for adults, and a dedicated kids menu for guests 12 and under. Young diners choose from fried shrimp, corn dogs, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, and tilapia prepared multiple ways. Each kids meal comes with a beverage (juice, milk, or soda) and one side such as seasonal vegetables, rice, or fries.

Hours: Typically Sunday–Wednesday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Thursday 11 a.m.–9:30 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m.

What to order: Gulf seafood for adults; fried shrimp plate for the kids.

Pizza Oven

Kemah Boardwalk, Kemah TX 77565 · kemahboardwalk.com

This is the low-pressure option when kids have maxed out on sitting. The Pizza Oven bakes thin-crust pizzas in a stone hearth oven and is physically connected to the boardwalk game room — kids can rotate between slices and skee-ball without crossing a street. Wine and beer are available for adults. Personal-size pizzas work well for younger kids with small appetites.

What to order: The stone hearth thin-crust, ordered by the pie. No reservation required.

Off the boardwalk

These three restaurants sit within Kemah city limits, a short drive or easy walk from the boardwalk.

Crazy Alan’s Swamp Shack

310 Texas Ave, Kemah TX 77565 · theswampshack.com · (281) 334-5000

Crazy Alan’s is the neighborhood Cajun spot a block off the boardwalk, with a swamp-shack atmosphere that tends to hold kids’ attention before they’ve decided what to order. The kitchen runs from crawfish and crab fingers to blackened catfish étouffée and po’boys, with chicken strips and burgers for picky eaters. If you’re introducing kids to Cajun food, this is a lower-pressure room than a sit-down boardwalk restaurant. For more Houston-area Cajun options, see our best Cajun restaurants in Houston guide.

Hours: Typically Monday–Thursday and Sunday 11 a.m.–9 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–10 p.m. Open seven days a week.

What to order: The Premium Sampler or Swamp Trash Platter to cover the table. Crawfish combo in season. Chicken strips for those not yet persuaded by Cajun spice.

Insider tip: The sampler plates work well for families who want to try multiple dishes without committing to a single protein — the Premium Sampler and Swamp Trash Platter both cover the table.

T-Bone Tom’s

707 Hwy 146, Kemah TX 77565 · tbonetoms.com · (281) 334-2133

T-Bone Tom’s has been smoking briskets and ribs on oak in Kemah for decades, and the indoor dining room and outdoor Back Yard patio run on different schedules — the Back Yard stays open an hour later and hosts live music six nights a week. The “kids menu” kids menu (ages 12 and under) comes with curly fries and includes grilled cheese, a hamburger, and fried popcorn shrimp. For more Houston-area smoked meat context, our best BBQ in Houston guide covers the wider landscape.

Hours: Inside: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–10 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–11 p.m. Back Yard: Sunday–Thursday 11 a.m.–11 p.m., Friday–Saturday 11 a.m.–midnight.

What to order: Oak-smoked brisket or pork ribs for adults. kids menu grilled cheese or fried shrimp with curly fries for kids. Bread pudding for the table.

Why it stands out: Live music on the outdoor patio makes T-Bone Tom’s the most genuinely fun family dinner in Kemah that isn’t centered on a fish tank. Arrive before 6 p.m. to get a Back Yard table before the evening crowd.

San Lorenzo #1

3202 Marina Bay Dr Suite G, Kemah TX 77565 · (281) 535-4776

San Lorenzo is a family-run Mexican restaurant on Marina Bay Drive with lunch and early dinner hours six days a week. Fajitas, enchiladas, and a straightforward Tex-Mex menu make it the right call when the group has reached its seafood limit. The strip-mall setting is casual and unhurried, and outdoor seating is available. No reservations accepted; walk-ins only.

Hours: Typically Monday–Saturday 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; closed Sundays.

What to order: The chicken enchiladas with green chili sauce and the fajitas. Full bar available.

Save this: Kemah family dinner checklist

• Reserve the Aquarium Restaurant — walk-ins work but fill fast on Friday nights, when kids eat free.
• Check boardwalk hours before you go — seasonal shifts affect Bubba Gump, Saltgrass, and Landry’s.
• Stingray Reef at the Aquarium costs extra — allow additional time and budget if your kids want to touch stingrays.
• Arrive by 5 p.m. — the boardwalk is best at dusk; early arrival beats the dinner rush at every restaurant on the list.
• Bring loose bills for the boardwalk game room next to the Pizza Oven.
• San Lorenzo is closed Sundays — plan accordingly.
• For live music at dinner, head to T-Bone Tom’s Back Yard and sit outside.

More dining near Kemah

If you’re spending the night or making a longer trip, our kid-friendly restaurants in Clear Lake guide covers the surrounding area including Skipper’s Cafe in Clear Lake Shores. Families making the run down to the water from League City will find our kid-friendly restaurants in League City useful for the drive down. For the full picture of Kemah beyond the restaurants, the Kemah Boardwalk visitor guide covers rides, parking, and best times to visit. And if Gulf seafood is the whole point of the trip, our best seafood restaurants in Houston guide covers the broader metro.

Last verified: October 2026.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most kid-friendly restaurant at Kemah Boardwalk?

The Aquarium Restaurant at Kemah Boardwalk is consistently the top pick for families. Kids dine beside a 50,000-gallon tank with sharks, stingrays, and tropical fish, and weekday kids meals are 99 cents with an adult entree. Friday Family Nights offer free kids meals with an adult purchase.

Is Kemah Boardwalk good for young children?

Yes. The Kemah Boardwalk has multiple restaurant options with kids menus, a game room next to the Pizza Oven, and rides and a Ferris wheel within walking distance of every table. The waterfront setting gives kids something to look at even between courses. Bring a stroller if needed — the boardwalk surface is flat and paved.

Are there kid-friendly restaurants in Kemah off the boardwalk?

Three good options sit just outside the boardwalk: Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack on Texas Avenue (swamp-shack Cajun with crawfish, po'boys, and chicken strips for picky eaters), T-Bone Tom's on Highway 146 (oak-smoked BBQ with a kids menu menu and live music six nights a week), and San Lorenzo #1 on Marina Bay Drive (family-run Tex-Mex, open Monday through Saturday).

Does Joe's Crab Shack still have a Kemah location?

No. Joe's Crab Shack closed its Kemah Boardwalk location permanently in November 2024. The building is being converted into an entrance for a planned boardwalk water park.

How far is Kemah from downtown Houston?

Kemah is approximately 30 miles southeast of downtown Houston. The drive typically takes 35 to 50 minutes depending on traffic, making it a common half-day or full-day trip for Houston families.

Does Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack have a kids menu?

Crazy Alan's Swamp Shack does not publish a separate kids menu on its official website, but the menu includes chicken strips, burgers, and other casual items that appeal to younger diners. The restaurant bills itself as a family-friendly spot open seven days a week at 310 Texas Ave, Kemah TX.