Families can eat well and stay on budget

Mr. Chipper (part of Keiki Breakfast menu)

Lane Muraoka, a Kailua native whose dad came from a big family, opened the first Big City Diner 20 years ago with large island ohana in mind. And as the father of two boys, Muraoka knew firsthand the importance of offering good-for-you kids’ meals when he created Big City’s menu.

“We decided we weren’t going to use processed cheese, we use real cheddar,” says Muraoka. “I wouldn’t want my own kids to eat chicken nuggets, so we have real chicken breasts and wings. Those are the kinds of things we’ve done so parents have healthy choices for their kids.”

Oven Roasted Turkey Special ($19.99 adult, $9.99 children)

Through Dec. 13, children 10 years old and younger can eat free at Big City Diner every Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. One complimentary Keiki Meal will be served with each purchase of an adult entree (must be $12 or more) and a beverage — offer is limited to two free Keiki Meals per table. This special is not valid on Thanksgiving and may not be combined with any other coupons or discounts.

The Keiki Breakfast menu (starts at $5.49) features items like French toast with sausage or bacon, Mr. Chip-per, a chocolate chip pancake served with a smile of real whipped cream, and Classic Keiki Breakfast.

Pigs & Peas In A Haystack (part of the Keiki Dinner menu)

Keiki Dinner menu ($7.29) allows young customers to choose from items such as Pigs & Peas In A Haystack, cheerfully concocted with diced ham, green peas, all-American macaroni and real cheddar, Guava-BBQ Chicken Breast and Keiki Loco Moco.

Kids’ breakfasts include 100 percent orange or guava juice, and for an additional $1.49, a fresh fruit cup can join the mix. Dinners include fruit punch or Vitamin Water Zero, and one can enjoy a small salad for just 99 cents.

On Thanksgiving Day, Big City will once again offer its Classic Eggs Benedict breakfast feast ($13.49) from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. And from 11 a.m. until the gobbler is gone, Big City’s Oven Roasted Turkey Special ($19.99 adults, $9.99 children 10 years and younger) will feature fresh roasted turkey with Portuguese sausage stuffing, house-made giblet gravy on garlic smashed potatoes and plenty more.