Regressing to childlike behavior is often a survival skill when it comes to “girl dinner.”

You know how kids can literally eat any combination of food and be fulfilled? The same goes for a girl dinner — a meal influenced by the basic need to eat coupled with possible time constraints, a budget, needing options or working with limited resources. It’s a meal that doesn’t follow any rules about what society says dinner should be.

The spectrum for what qualifies is vast, with some leaning into very clean and healthy dishes and others opting for a greasy smorgasbord or a combination of both. Sorry, food pyramid! Scroll through social media’s interpretation of the term and you’ll find personalized charcuterie boards, random DoorDashed items, half of the appetizers on a restaurant menu and repurposed leftovers.

When life is screaming at you, but your stomach is louder, several restaurants in Baltimore don’t skimp on the options. While some spots explicitly put a “girl dinner” on the menu, others have dishes that can just truly be considered one. Here are a few spots that have the perfect mix of a snack and a meal.

Mama Koko’s

• 100 E. 23rd St.

Mama Koko’s is the kind of place where you set up with a latte and your laptop in the morning, stay for the vibes, and suddenly it’s evening and you need a nighttime meal. (Please be advised that you’d better close that laptop at 5 p.m. or staff will kindly ask you to, as the Barclay venue transitions to evening service.) Order up a mix of bar bites and you’ll have the ideal girl dinner. I suggest pairing the smoked collard greens ($8) with the roasted sweet potatoes ($8), or the spicy Liberian meatballs ($10) with the red beans and rice ($9). Oh, and don’t skip out on the kettle chips and French onion dip ($9), a classier version of what you’d probably dig out of your pantry at home.

Pink Flamingo

• 300 W. 30th St.

Before indulging in the very tropical drinks that led Pink Flamingo to become a James Beard Award semifinalist for best new bar, try some interesting small bites that play with the palate. The Remington spot’s oxtail dumplings with braised meat and salsa macha ($18) will go fast, so don’t be surprised if you end up ordering more than one serving. There’s also the Spam chips and dip ($13) which pairs fried Spam, house-made French onion dip and furikake. If you’ve got any room left, split a cheeseburger with your friend.

The Worthington

• 2900 O’Donnell St.

At The Worthington, you’ll find a “girl dinner” right on the menu: It’s a 48-ounce martini glass filled with truffle and Parmesan French fries and their traditional Caesar salad ($25). For an additional $8, you can add a cutlet of grilled, spicy or crispy chicken. If you’re feeling extra fancy, you can also opt for a crab cake (an additional $32) or filet mignon (plus $30) as a topper, too. It’s no surprise that this dish has become a major hit at the Canton restaurant, drawing people daily, according to Samantha Fairbanks, director of sales and marketing.

Animal Boy

• 4801 Harford Road, Suite S2

Animal Boy, a sandwich shop in Lauraville, may be one of Baltimore’s most kid-friendly restaurants, as food reporter Christina Tkacik wrote late last year. That’s important because, well, moms are girls, too, and let’s face it, sometimes the kiddos are along for the “girl dinner” ride. Let them play with the toys available while you decide what to eat. If you’re not feeling one of their many sandwiches (which include several vegan options), pair one of their salads with the spicy cheese dip ($6), which is shredded cheddar cheese mixed with roasted peppers and served with chips.

Johnny’s

• 4800 Roland Ave.

Since 2024, Johnny’s in Roland Park has provided a “girl dinner” menu on Thursdays from 4-10 p.m. with “house-made healthy and indulgent options.” A salad entree that comes with complimentary fries is one of the highlights, but pricing for other items depends on what’s on the rotating menu, which is often influenced by what’s in season. Who doesn’t like surprises? A recent menu featured options like a $15 salad of the week and tempura veggies for $11. You might even find a quesadilla, loaded fries and other snacks on from time to time.

Motte Restaurant & Bar

• 1 N. Haven St.

Motte Restaurant & Bar offers Korean and American dishes out of their space near Highlandtown. Many of their appetizers are bursting with different flavors and able to satisfy whatever your tastebuds are craving. The Mayak egg, a soft-boiled egg soaked in a soy-based marinade on top of a toasted rice patty ($6), honey garlic wings ($15), and the Brussels sprouts ($15) under a light, creamy sauce and sprinkled with bacon are great starters — and they’re discounted during happy hour. Level up for dinner with the Motte Pizza ($20), which has bulgogi, mushrooms, bell peppers, onion, spinach and mozzarella.