What Are the Best Kid-Friendly Delivery Options?

Welcome to Ask Eater, a column from Eater SF where the site’s editors answer specific or baffling restaurant requests from readers and friends. Have a question for us? Submit your question in this form.

Dear Eater SF,

What are the best restaurants with child-friendly delivery options? There are three people in our household, and we usually order from Redwood City or Palo Alto, although we’re open to San Francisco.

Sincerely,
Parents Officially Over Cooking

Dear POOC,

How are you holding up? I can’t imagine what it must be like for parents these days, trying to work, teach, entertain, and short-order cook, all from the confines of home. So to at least help take the stress out of dinner, here’s the deal: We’ve been busy compiling big lists of restaurants doing takeout in SF, the East Bay, and on the Peninsula. If you specifically want delivery, for the city, we’ve got a short list of spots that do it well. And if you specifically want kid-friendly delivery, scroll on. In addition to the usual suspects in terms of menu items, a lot of restaurants are now doing family-style kits, offering more barbacoa for your buck.

Disclaimer: I don’t know what kid-friendly means to every family. I will never forget the day my six-year-old brother slurped his first Thai iced tea and drunken noodles — the kid’s eyes widened, and a street-cart obsessive was born. I often wonder if kiddy menus, dumbed down to burgers and dogs, in fact underestimate little people with big appetites. Then again, who can resist the charms of a crispy chicken nugget, and in these trying times, couldn’t we all use some creamy mac and cheese?

Kid-Friendly Delivery in San Francisco

4505 Burgers & Barbecue will silence all clamoring for cheeseburgers and fries. But also, the local meat purveyor is offering dinners for four — get pulled chicken or smoked brisket with a choice of three sides.

Rosamunde, the sausage king of San Francisco, has got dogs out for delivery. In addition to brats on French rolls and pretzel sticks (cue the applause), they’ve got a family pack with four sausages, four rolls, German potato salad, and all the fixings.

SF boasts beautifully blistered Neapolitan-style pizzas, but if you live with the kind of Kevin who only accepts plain cheese, order from Tony’s. The North Beach institution spins all styles of pies.

Nopalito is still sending out tacos around town. They’ve also got heat-and-eat meal kits for two, packing carnitas, pollo, birria, rice, beans, veggies, and tortillas. Beleaguered parents can also enjoy margaritas.

Z & Y Restaurant is still offering delivery from Chinatown. Those who insist on mild can load up on potstickers and tan tan noodles, while more adventurous eaters can have the scallion pancakes and chicken with explosive chiles all to themselves.

Kid-Friendly Delivery in the East Bay

TrueBurger in Oakland has got those burgers, shakes, and fries out for delivery via Caviar. Parents can double up, add bacon, and oh yes, beer.

Homeroom, the mac-and-cheese icon in Berkeley, is actually doing delivery across the Bay, via your delivery app of choice. When they say “mac and cheese for all,” apparently they mean it.

Arinell Pizza has a plain and simple cheese pizza that satisfies, with that thin and foldable crust. Both the Berkeley and Mission locations are open and doing delivery through DoorDash.

Obelisco Restaurant in Oakland serves up crispy tacos stuffed with shredded chicken for its littlest fans. The family favorite is now available through several different delivery apps.

Noodles Fresh in El Cerrito and Berkeley has lots of slurpable noodle options out for delivery, from stir-fries to soup bowls.

Kid-Friendly Delivery on the Peninsula

Gott’s Roadside in Palo Alto has got burgers, chicken tenders, sweet potato fries, and Nutella shakes all out for delivery.

31st Union is serving up comfort food and offering free delivery to San Mateo, Hillsborough, and Burlingame. Catch the fried chicken and biscuits family meal if you can, although those buckets of bird sell out fast. Still, pulled pork sandwiches are a solid consolation prize.

Milagros in Redwood City is serving up tacos as singles or kits, loaded with al pastor or carnitas, and enchiladas by the double, half dozen, or dozen. Plus, batched margaritas for grownups. Get delivery through DoorDash.

Mr. Teriyaki in Burlingame is now delivering its sweet teriyaki chicken and udon, plus lots of sushi options for more discerning small eaters. And there are party platters for a wild night in.

The one and only Koi Palace may have locked the palace gates, but the dumplings are still out for delivery via DoorDash and Uber Eats.

Zareen’s in Palo Alto has got chicken tikka masala, buttery naan, and sweet mango lassis out for delivery. Plus, the affordable Indian spot is sending freezer meals over to the East Bay.