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Suehiro

Japanese restaurants and minis can be tricky. 2 year olds slurping noodles or squeeling in delight often gets cool looks from those sophisticates over at the sushi bar. Thankfully there's Suehiro in Little Tokyo. Suehiro has a casual, diner vibe. Nothing fancy: blue vinyl booths, a stack of Japanese language magazines and Good Luck cats. During the week, the crowd is mainly lawyers from the District Attorney's office and other downtown employees. On the weekend, locals mingle with hipsters and tourists. If you're a real foodie, this may not be the best Japanese food you've ever had, but if you want good Japanese food at a place where your mini can feel at home, then this is it.

Suehiro is located at 337 E. 1st Street between Alameda and San Pedro. Open 7 days a week.

Mustard Seed Cafe

Across the street from that little corner of West Hollywood in Los Feliz, the Alcove, is the quiet and very family friendly Mustard Seed Cafe. A small restaurant with only a few tables inside and out, it has a large menu of good old fashioned breakfasts, turkey burgers, sandwichs and huge salads. The waitstaff is friendly and laid back - they never seem bugged by your kid or the fact they just dumped a bunch of snacks on the floor. The vibe here is definitely relaxed - a great little neighborhood restaurant.

Mustard Seed Cafe is located at 1948 Hillhurst at Clarissa in Los Feliz.

Mexico City

Mexican food is probably the most child friendly cuisine there is. Avocados, beans, cheese, tomatoes, tortillas, meat, and chicken: all great finger foods that mini's love. Looking for a kid friendly Mexican place that's not Acapulco? Try Mexico City. On weekend nights, Mexico City is loud and crowded. During the day, and especially during the week, Mexico City is quiet, fairly empty and great for minis. Besides kid friendly food, half the restaurant has booths (the ultimate seating arrangement for toddlers in my book) and large plate glass windows looking out onto Hillhurst. Not only can minis watch what's going on outside to stay occupied, they can also look at faded pinatas, papel picado and other folk art touches inside the restaurant. In terms of food, you'll either love it or hate it. If you're looking for an 'authentic' experience like Guelaguetza, you're going to be disappointed. If you're looking for good, standard Mexican food without the El Coyote, old school grease, you'll be fine. I personally like the gorditas, enchiladas and guacamole.

Mexico City is located at 2121 Hillhurst Ave just south of Los Feliz Blvd.

the Alcove

The Alcove is kinda like Home's trendy sister. Just up the street from Home, the Alcove also features a large patio, more entertainment industry types and a menu of salads and sandwiches. Unlike Home, there are no kid friendly booths but there is an amazing array of cakes, cookies and other baked goods. In terms of minis, the vibe isn't especially kid friendly (you won't see many of them there) but, assuming you can wrangle your kid(s) during the cramped ordering process, it's loud and busy enough to keep them amused and fellow diners generally unaware of any outbursts.

The Alcove is located at 1929 Hillhurst Ave. in Los Feliz.

Eat Well

Sporting three convenient locations, Eat Well has a menu full of great breakfasts and good lunches. The Silver Lake location has the usual great people watching (how early do these people get up to get dressed for brunch?) and plays the best music. In all honesty, listening to the Greatest Hits of E.L.O. really did make my scramble taste better. The Glendale location is more mellow with a not quite as great a playlist and is really dark since they don't open the drapes. There's also a West Hollywood location but I've never been there so I don't know what the hell it's like. On the up side, both Eastside locations are kid friendly (Silver Lake Sunday brunchers don't seem quite as happy to see toddlers as their counterparts in Glendale though) and have food your mini will like.

Eat Well is located at 3916 Sunset Blvd. (Silver Lake), 1013 Brand Blvd. (Glendale) and 8252 Santa Monica Blvd. (West Hollywood).

Astro Family Restaurant

If you live in Silver Lake, you've probably been to Astro or at least driven by. Astro is an old school diner with woodgrain formica tables, a spinning case full of pies and not-so-fresh looking fruit bowls, and large plate glass windows. The menu is long and to be honest, a lot of it isn't very good - I'd recommend staying with breakfast, sandwiches and burgers. But Astro isn't just about food, it's about ambiance. Few other neighborhood eateries have such a great cross-section of LA: cops, hipsters, gays, old folks, families. There's even that guy with the big glasses and Member's Only jacket that's almost always sitting at the counter. Outside of the unusually large selection of condiments kept on the tables which are impossible for toddlers to resist, Astro is a completely family friendly restaurant. It's loud with lots of people watching so your little one will be amused (and if not, no one will really notice).

Astro is located at the intersection of Fletcher Dr. and Glendale Blvd.

Swork

You know those times when your small one is getting crabby and you just want a break? Those afternoons when you're sick of sitting at home but don't want to wander aimlessly through Target? Well, if you live near Eagle Rock or Montrose, you can go to Swork. Swork offers the usual 97 versions of coffee, tea and cocoa beverages, but more importantly, they have a kids' corner - a play space with toddler high tables, some worn storybooks, and a bunch of toys. While you sit and sip your beverage of choice, junior makes friends and digs through the toy bin. The result: a few moments of quiet for you and an entertained kid. Bliss.

Swork has two locations: 2160 Colorado Blvd. at Eagle Rock Blvd. in Eagle Rock and 2140 Verdugo Blvd. in Montrose

Home

I know, I know. How many Jackie O. sunglasses, hobo bags, gauchos and shaggy 70s style haircuts does a person have to suffer through just to get a decent meal? Look beyond it. Past all the tangentially related hip entertainment industry types, are a great waitstaff, a charming hostess, and a huge menu of good food. On top of that, the location - a large patio with a koi pond/fountain in the center all shaded by trees - is ideal for keeping your small one amused long enough for you to eat.

Home is located at 1760 N. Hillhurst in Los Feliz.

Chowhound

Ever wonder where to find the best tamales at Xmas-time? Or how about King Cake for Mardi Gras? Need to know where the best Peruvian restaurant in Koreatown is? Then Chowhound is for you. The LA message board can answer these and hundreds of other food and restaurant related questions. It's an active board with lots of opinions - definitely worth checking out before you go out to eat.

Chowhound has message boards for cities all over the country as well as a bunch of other food related stuff.

Porto's

Located in lovely downtown Glendale, Porto's is a Cuban bakery and cafe serving sandwiches, salads and pastries in an always busy, always hectic atmosphere. Absolutely perfect for kids. You stand in a long line to order, get a number and, if the gods are smiling on you, find a table where you sit and wait for your food. The food... Potato balls and meat pies. Steak tortas and medianoche sandwiches. Guava or plain cheese rolls. Chocolate mousse and mango pastries. All that and so much more. Two things about Porto's though. One, if you're a vegetarian, Porto's may not be the easiest place for you to eat. Two, assuming your child isn't a vegetarian, the potato balls (seasoned meat in mashed potatoes encased in a thin fried skin) are perfect for young kids. I guess there's a third thing as well: Porto's makes delicious cakes with amazing decorations, perfect for birthdays.

Porto's is located at 315 N. Brand Blvd. in Glendale.