11 Best Family-Friendly Places To Eat In Manchester, NH

places to eat in manchester nh
Dominica
Dominica 
Updated
| 5 min read

Located in northern New England, in the state of New Hampshire, the picturesque city of Manchester is located about an hours’ drive from Boston and is surrounded by beautiful nature, a thriving city, and plenty of fun activities. This family-friendly city is sure to have something for everyone.

But what is an exciting vacation without some awesome food? When traveling with children, finding the right place to eat can be difficult. You don’t want something too fancy, but you also don’t want fast food and finding something family-friendly, serving local food, can be challenging. But don’t worry! We have compiled a list of some of the best, family-friendly restaurants in Manchester, NH.

1. CJ’s Cactus Jacks

Come try this Fiesta Punch Mocktail! Mango Puree, White Cranberry Juice, Pineapple Juice, and Ginger Ale. #mocktailproject @nhliqourwine @mocktailproject

Posted by T-BONES and Cactus Jack's on Monday, 4 November 2019

This locally owned and operated and family-friendly restaurant serves American cuisine with a western flair. At CJ’s Cactus Jacks you will find a variety of items on the menu, from barbeque to Louisiana gumbo to Tex Mex, to vegetarian meals - they serve something for all tastes and palates.

The kid’s menu offers more than the all too common chicken nuggets and fries and you will find a large selection of dishes on their menu. Your little ones will have the option of grilled mahi-mahi, beef tacos, and grilled chicken salad to fill their bellies, and for dessert, they can top it off with a build-your-own ice cream sundae. Now that sounds like fun!

CJ's Cactus Jacks

Address: 782 S Willow St, Manchester, NH, 03103

Price Range: from 4.99 USD to 27.99 USD

Website: CJ’s Cactus Jacks

Visited this place?

2. KC’s Rib Shack


Take your family to New Hampshire’s most favorite BBQ spot. This laid-back, family-friendly restaurant serves southern style BBQ with their own sauces. All of their meat is smoked and seasoned with their own dry rubs. Children can also get a taste of their famous BBQ, as the kid’s menu offers a good variety of BBQ options.

Have a picky eater? No problem! The kid’s menu also serves peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and chicken nuggets. KC’s Rib Shack isn’t only known for their homemade BBQ sauces and BBQ, their menu also serves a large selection of burgers and hot dogs.

KC's Rib Shack

Address: 837 Second St. Manchester, NH 03102

Price Range: from 4 to 42 USD

Website: KC’s Rib Shack

Visited this place?

3. Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese


Who doesn’t love the cheesy, creamy goodness of macaroni and cheese? At Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese, you will find just that. With 21 different mac and cheese variations, you will find a dish for any taste. Each dish can be made to order, with customers able to change or add different cheeses to their meal. For those who are gluten-free, the restaurant offers gluten-free pasta.

With two locations in New Hampshire and one newly opened location in Massachusetts, come see why this restaurant is all the rage.

Mac's Macaroni and Cheese

Address: 497 Hooksett Rd, Manchester, NH 03104

Price Range: from 4.99 to 54.99 (family meal) USD

Website: Mr. Mac’s Macaroni and Cheese

Visited this place?

4. Chez Vachon


The Chez Vachon is a French-Canadian inspired restaurant that serves breakfast and lunch items. Choose from warm waffles and fresh crepes, poutine and oven baked omelets, to have a truly mouthwatering experience. The food isn’t the only thing that’s great. Everything on the menu is very affordable, with the most expensive breakfast item costing 8.99 USD.

Chez Vachon

Address: 136 Kelley St., Manchester, NH 03102

Price Range: from 4.99 to 11.49 USD

Website: Chez Vachon

Visited this place?

5. El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria


Come enjoy authentic Mexican fare with your whole family at El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria. Start with some crispy nachos with salsa and guacamole or begin with entrées such as tacos, quesadillas, fajitas, or enchiladas.

The children’s menu offers Mexican favorites, such as burritos, chicken quesadillas, as well as rice and bean plates. El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria’s family-friendly and relaxed atmosphere will give you and your family the perfect food experience.

El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria

Address: 10 Lake Avenue, Manchester, NH 03103

Website: El Rincon Zacatecano Taqueria

Visited this place?

6. Hooked Seafood Restaurant

Zahtar grilled swordfish with an artichoke feta orzo cake atop baby spinach topped with eggplant tapenade with a red pepper coulis....that's what's for dinner!

Posted by Hooked Seafood Restaurant on Saturday, 30 May 2015

Have a mouthwatering seafood experience at Hooked Seafood Restaurant. Choose anything from fish tacos to po’ boys to lobster rolls. They even have a raw bar, where you can taste ahi yellowfin tuna, oysters, smoked pastrami, salmon, plus much more. Children can eat traditional fish and chips.

Hooked Seafood

Address: 110 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH 03101

Price Range: from 8 to 19 USD

Website: Hooked Seafood Restaurant

Visited this place?

7. Red Arrow Diner

Posted by Red Arrow Diner on Monday, 29 May 2017

Posted by Red Arrow Diner on Monday, 5 June 2017

Opened in 1922, the Red Arrow Diner’s pledge is to create the most palate-pleasing diner eats known to mankind and they aren’t far off. They offer breakfast, lunch, dinner and dessert items 24 hours a day and provide an eclectic menu that serves traditional American fare.

Burgers, pancakes, french toast and pie are classic food staples in this diner, sure to make every family member happy.

Red Arrow Diner

Address: 61 Lowell Street, Manchester, NH 03101

Price Range: from 2.99 to 14.99 USD

Website: Red Arrow Diner

Visited this place?

8. Republic Café

65 and sunny out!! Come be the first to sit outside.. Perhaps the first to sit outside in February, EVER!! ☀️🌻🌵🌷☀️

Posted by Republic on Saturday, 25 February 2017

Come enjoy fresh, farm to table Mediterranean fare at the Republic Café. All of the ingredients are locally sourced from 75 farms within a 50 mile (80.5 kilometer) radius of the restaurant. The owners pride themselves on serving wholesome and fresh meals and you can choose between some of their daily specials or select one of their award-winning meals on their regular menu.

Pick anything, from their Moroccan red lentil stew to their falafel fried fish, their menu offers an eclectic mix of fresh Mediterranean dishes and they will make you want to come back for more.

Republic Cafe

Address: 1069 Elm St, Manchester, NH 03101

Price Range: from 6 to 20 USD

Website: Republic Cafe

Visited this place?

9. Cotton

IMG_6611
Source: Photo by Flickr user Sheri Wetherell used under CC BY 2.0

Experience high-end, locally sourced cuisine at the Cotton restaurant. Cotton is a certified local restaurant by the NH, with a farm to restaurant connection which verifies that all of their ingredients are locally sourced. Perfect to celebrate a big event such as graduation, a birthday or anniversary, the Cotton offers lunch and dinner options and provides high-end meals with an upscale feel.

The lunch menu serves dinner menu items that range from buttermilk herb fried chicken to pistachio crusted salmon. Meals on the menu can range from 7 USD to 25 USD. If you’re planning on visiting on a Friday or Saturday evening, reservations are strongly recommended, as they are a popular establishment and fill up fast.

Cotton

Address: 75 Arms Street, Manchester, NH 03101

Price Range: from 7 USD to 25 USD

Website: Cotton

Visited this place?

10. East meets west at Cafe Momo


It doesn’t get more exotic than this! Nepalese cuisine is the last thing you’d expect in New Hampshire, but here it is. Cafe Momo blends the culinary traditions of the east with modern concepts of the west to produce a truly unique dining experience. Vegetarians will find this place totally appealing as a world of delicious, mouth watering vegetarian delights await. But meat eaters have lots to look forward to, as well. Chicken tandouri generously coated in almond and cashew flour, lamb cooked the Nepali way, goat dumplings and even wild boar are just a few of the offerings for culinary carnivores. They even serve seafood prepared with a Nepalese twist.


The restaurant itself is tight and unassuming and unmistakably eastern in its appearance and its vibe. Nepalese trinkets and Oriental Asian ornamental pieces adorning the space reinforce the eastern connection and establish the tone and atmosphere of the place. But all these fuse together wonderfully with the excellent service and great food to create a warm and welcoming environment and an unforgettable Manchester dining experience.

Cafe Momo

Address: 1065 Hanover St, Manchester, NH, USA

Website: Cafe Momo

Opening hours: Monday Closed | Sunday 11:00 am - 8:00 pm | Tuesday-Thursday 11:00 am - 9:00 pm | Friday - Saturday 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

Visited this place?

11. Bring family and friends together at Puritan Backroom Restaurant


Puritan Backroom Restaurant has been bringing family and friends together since 1917. One look at the place and you understand why. It’s spacious, bright and welcoming yet the dining sections are strategically laid out to give families and groups a measure of privacy.

The chicken tenders are the hands-down favorite and the go-to meal for kids. This dish and the gratifyingly large servings define this place but are by no means the only good things about dining here. The Greek salad is exceptional and the mudslides are delightful. The onion soup is reportedly a must-try. Manchester sits on the shore of the Merrimack River and therefore has access to fresh seafood, which is excellent here. Seafood to try include the sweet sumptuous scallops and the tasty flaky haddock. The Puritan Backroom also features an excellent ice cream parlor and lets you order food from their menu to take out. This is definitely the place to take the family when on holiday in Manchester.

Puritan Backroom

Address: 245 Hooksett Rd, Manchester, NH, USA

Website: Puritan Backroom

Opening hours: Open Daily at 11:00 AM; takeout open beginning at 8:00 AM | Complete menu served until 11:00 PM Sunday-Thursday, until Midnight Friday and Saturday

Visited this place?

Marvelous dining in Manchester

Family trips are a time to build wonderful memories and they are also are a great chance to explore new countries and cities. Manchester, New Hampshire, adds a family-friendly atmosphere that many cities don’t have. This makes it easier to find fun activities but also wonderful family-friendly places to eat. I hope you will enjoy your stay in this great city and enjoy some of the local eats provided on this list.

Visited this place?
Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

History


Get Trip101 in your inbox

Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data

Words such as Fernweh and Wanderlust are in Dominica's every day vocabulary. She can’t sit still for longer than a month, until the travel-bug gives her the itch. Growing up in Europe, with a...Read more

 Want to contribute as a Local Expert?
Explore Lake Charles
Looking for accommodation?
x
Good things are meant to be shared!
Back to top
Visited any of these places? Click this button to activate our "Add a Tip" feature to share your experience.