Los Angeles Family Restaurants

No trip to L.A. is complete without some good Mexican food and Antonio's in trendy West Hollywood offers affordable but slightly unusual Mexican fare in one of the hippest sections of the city that will likely appeal to tweens and teens. Along with things like tacos, the menu at Antonio's features things like spare ribs and beef stuffed cabbage leaves. After the meal you can walk around the boutiques and tattoo parlors of Melrose Ave.

Eat the way locals eat with tables set in sand at Back on the Beach Cafe, which offers the ultimate in casual, kid-friendly dining. Located just off Pacific Coast Highway, Back on the Beach serves up hearty egg breakfasts as well as burgers and sandwiches for lunch and dinner, and is a wonderful place to stop on the way to -- or on the way back from -- your Malibu drive. Children may wander around the beach and maybe even enjoy a beach volleyball game while you settle the bill.

Here's a restaurant that you won't find in any tour books. Fritto Misto in Santa Monica is a personal favorite that serves up some of the best Italian food I've had outside of Italy in a friendly environment that is almost always crowded, but also very accommodating to small children and large crowds. Tucked away on a small street in Santa Monica that only the locals know about, Fritto Misto will tempt you to break that no-carb diet, but does offer some hearty salads for serious calorie counters.

Islands in Beverly Hills is one of those restaurants made for families. It has an ambiance that is just upscale enough that your kids will feel like they are in for a treat, but relaxed enough that you don't have to worry about the inevitable soda spills. Decorated with a tropical theme and featuring an extensive menu that includes everything from burgers to burritos, Islands is centrally located between Hollywood and the Beach.

World famous chef Wolfgang Puck offers casual fare the whole family can enjoy in a vibrant setting at the Wolfgang Puck Cafe. A great way to relax after the Universal City tour, you and your family can enjoy reasonably-priced pizzas, pastas and salads served with a gourmet flair.