Best Family Friendly Restaurants in Highland Park
12 hand-picked restaurants, critic-reviewed and ranked
Last Updated: February 2026
Our Top Pick
Magpies Softserve
Chef-created soft serve and pies that treat frozen dessert with restaurant-level creativity.
Notable Picks
8.9
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Family Friendly Favorites
Trendy Table Hotspots
Chef-driven Magpies brings scratch-made soft serve and over-the-top frozen pies to York Boulevard, carrying on the dessert-focused vision Warren and Rose Schwartz launched in 2016. Expect rotating dairy and vegan flavors plus cult pies that locals treat more like special-occasion cakes than casual ice cream cups.
Must-Try Dishes:
Cornflake Softserve Pie, Strawberry Shortcake Softserve Pie, Original Fried Softserve Pie (vegan corn almond)
What Makes it Special: Chef-created soft serve and pies that treat frozen dessert with restaurant-level creativity.
#2
Donut Friend
8.4
Vibes:
Sweet Treats Escapes
Instagram Worthy Wonders
Trendy Table Hotspots
Family Friendly Favorites
Since 2013, Donut Friend’s Highland Park flagship has been drawing lines for over-the-top vegan donuts and, increasingly, its in-house ice cream. With sundaes like the Taking Back Sundae and affogato-style creations built on their Creamo ice cream, it doubles as both a bakery and a serious dessert stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Taking Back Sundae donut ice cream sandwich, Vanilla Bean Creamo ice cream scoop, Off!ogatto espresso-over-ice-cream
What Makes it Special: Cult-favorite vegan donut shop that backs up its reputation with house-made ice cream and donut sundaes.
8.4
Family-run by the Sapien family for over 40 years, La Fuente is an old-school Highland Park staple for combo-plate comfort Mexican, big breakfasts, and frosty bebidas. Locals slide in after work for enchiladas, burritos, and beers at prices that still feel fair given the generous portions and long community history.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chilaquiles rojos with eggs, La Fuente steak plate, Taquitos con guacamole
What Makes it Special: Decades-old, family-run spot serving classic Mexican plates all day.
8.3
El Pescador is a long-running Mexican marisquería where towering molcajetes, ceviches, and whole-fish platters anchor a full bar with beer and cocktail happy hour specials. With TVs tuned to sports, big booths, and hearty portions, it’s a dependable early-evening meetup for groups craving seafood-forward Mexican plates and margaritas.
Must-Try Dishes:
Molcajete Double with mixed seafood and meats, Caldo de camarón, Shrimp aguachile
What Makes it Special: Seafood-heavy Mexican menu with true food-and-drink happy hour.
8.2
Opened in 2016, Gloria’s Cuisine LA channels Southern Mexican flavors and California produce into a bright all-day café. Plates like plantain-heavy breakfasts, chilaquiles, and salads make it a daytime anchor just off Figueroa.
Must-Try Dishes:
Chipotle or mole chilaquiles with eggs, Fried plantains breakfast plate, Esquite salad with roasted corn and quinoa
What Makes it Special: Southern Mexico–inspired brunch and lunch in a small, warmly run café.
8.2
Kitchen Mouse is a vegetarian, gluten-free cafe that treats sandwiches with the same care as its bowls and brunch plates, from the tempeh Reuben to stacked breakfast sandwiches on griddled gluten-free bread. Bright, cozy interiors and a leafy patio draw steady lines of families, veg-forward eaters, and neighborhood regulars.
Must-Try Dishes:
Tempeh Reuben Sandwich, Jo's Breakfast Sandwich, Avocado TLT
What Makes it Special: A health-conscious cafe where gluten-free, vegetarian sandwiches actually feel indulgent.
#7
Jane
8.1
Jane is a daytime bungalow cafe on York Boulevard known for brunch plates that mix American comfort cooking with Korean touches like kimchi fried rice and sticky wings. With front and back patios and consistently warm service, it’s a go-to for relaxed weekend hangs in Highland Park.
Must-Try Dishes:
Kimchi fried rice with egg, Chorizo huevos rancheros, Orange brioche French toast
What Makes it Special: A cozy bungalow cafe where brunch classics meet Korean-inspired dishes.
8.1
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Late Night Legends
A York Boulevard fixture since 1983, Troy Burgers #8 is a classic drive-in-style counter turning out charbroiled burgers, pastrami, and breakfast plates from early morning to 11pm on weekends. Late-night regulars lean on it for big-portion combos, orange bang, and a no-frills diner vibe that hasn’t changed much in decades.
Must-Try Dishes:
Pastrami Burger and Fries, Double Cheeseburger Combo, Breakfast Burrito
What Makes it Special: An old-school neighborhood counter with decades of late-night service and charbroiled burgers that feel straight out of LA’s classic drive-in era.
8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Comfort Food Classics
Family Friendly Favorites
Solo Dining Sanctuaries
Family-owned since 1969, Penny’s Burgers is a corner standby for charbroiled burgers, breakfast burritos, and old-school plates that cross between diner and fast food. It’s the kind of place where portions are generous, prices stay modest, and the menu quietly covers both American and Mexican comfort staples.
Must-Try Dishes:
Charbroiled cheeseburger with fries, Breakfast burrito with eggs, bacon, and hash browns, Carne asada fries or plate with rice and beans
What Makes it Special: A 1960s-era neighborhood counter slinging burgers, burritos, and plates all day.
#10
Tacos Ensenada
8
Vibes:
Cheap Eats Budget Brilliance
Family Friendly Favorites
Quick Bites Champions
Hidden Gems Heaven
This Figueroa outpost of Tacos Ensenada focuses on Baja-style seafood with fish tacos, shrimp burritos, and ceviche tostadas served in a casual, counter-service setting. It’s an easy, affordable way to get crisp, hot pescado tacos without leaving the neighborhood.
Must-Try Dishes:
Taco de pescado (fish taco), Burrito de camaron (shrimp burrito), Ceviche tostada
What Makes it Special: Baja-style fish tacos and shrimp burritos in a no-frills room.
Worthy Picks
7.8
The Highland Cafe is a neighborhood standby where locals fuel up on strong coffee, hefty breakfast burritos, and classic breakfast sandwiches. Skateboards on the wall, a casual crowd, and dog-friendly sidewalk seating make it a relaxed, slightly scruffy spot for a quick York Boulevard sandwich stop.
Must-Try Dishes:
Bacon Egg & Cheese Sandwich, Breakfast Burrito, Cali Burrito with Rojo Fries
What Makes it Special: A laid-back cafe with legitimately craveable breakfast sandwiches and burritos.
#12
Taco Fiesta
7.8
A practical Figueroa corridor counter spot that locals use for quick, satisfying taco plates and combo specials. The cooking stays simple and reliable, making it a useful everyday option rather than a destination play.
Must-Try Dishes:
Carne asada tacos, Chicken tacos, Chile relleno burrito
What Makes it Special: Reliable neighborhood tacos with strong everyday value.