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As we share every Friday, Arkansas has stellar restaurants and a rich cultural heritage of food and good eats. Agritourism offers an insight into how we feed the world, from soybeans to poultry to rice. But our reputation for barbecue, steaks, fried catfish, burgers, and tacos keeps us at the top of the list for foodies, which often attracts the attention of magazines and TV Shows.
Over the years, Food Network series, food competitions and “best of” lists have featured many Arkansas restaurants. Some of them feel really obvious and would be at the top of any Arkansans’ recommendations list. Others fill a surprising list where brews, gigantic bites, and creamy ice cream fulfill the indulgent bite for just one more taste!
So, where does the Food Network think decadence ends and delicacies begin?
The current season of Best Thing I Ever Ate features Duff Goldman and the Hawg Dog at Blacksheep BBQ Smokehouse in Yellville. A bacon-wrapped hot dog, flash fried, topped with house-smoked pulled pork and covered with tangy slaw. It’s a two-hands-and-a-fork kind of dinner, but pork on pork on pork….well, that sounds like a perfect Arkansas dinner!
9 Arkansas Restaurants Featured on Food Network
McClards BBQ | Hot Springs
The legendary classic, opened in the 1940s, is on the list of the Most Iconic Restaurants Coast to Coast. The best barbecue in Arkansas is only judged by your taste buds, but Al Capone often requested McClard’s when he occupied a whole floor of the Arlington Hotel. Thankfully, the original goat meat slathered in the secret sauce is not on the menu anymore, but the “pull off the bone” ribs, tamale plate, and secret sauce will keep you coming back.
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Eat My Catfish | Benton, Conway, Little Rock, North Little Rock, Fayetteville, Rogers, Siloam Springs
The best seafood restaurants in the country is an extensive list to be part of! But it’s no surprise that a restaurant where every day is Fish Friday is near the top. A housemade tartar sauce takes every plate over the top, but other specialties like seafood platters, boiled shrimp, crab legs, and crawfish offer variety on the menu.
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Purple Cow | Little Rock, North Little Rock, Conway, Hot Springs
A top kid-friendly restaurant in America, Purple Cow is a 50s-style diner with housemade purple vanilla ice cream. Kids and adults love the predictable menu that has something for everyone. The approachable menu includes things like the Elvis sandwich, corn dog nuggets, steak knife burgers, kraft mac and cheese (because kids love it!), and an adult shake that includes locally made moonshine!
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Heights Taco and Tamale | Little Rock
Trendy tacos are all the rage, and this spot does it better than most, including a new expansion to Bentonville and Fayetteville. As one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in America, it’s the perfect spot for college kids, young adults, and business travelers. But the only thing more talked about than the neon lights is the cheese dip. Arkansas is known as the birthplace of queso, and four family recipes combined to bring the perfect blend of cheeses and spices to one of the top dips in America.
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Loca Luna | Little Rock
Chef Mark Abernathy’s long presence in Little Rock is best displayed in this eclectic restaurant with a neighborhood dining feel. A favorite for date nights and business meetings, Loca Luna brings a variety of southern cuisine in an approachable menu, that seems to charm Rachel Ray in the best way. Chef Abernathy even shared his beloved Cream of Roasted Red Pepper Soup for viewers. Also featured on Little Rock’s Tasty Travels episode are Doe’s Eat Place, Faded Rose and Sticky Fingerz.
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Red Door | Little Rock
Red Door is laden with Southern food traditions right in its cultural heritage. Often voted Little Rock’s brunch of the year, the cathead biscuits and spreads draw crowds on the weekends. But that’s typical because it’s a dog-friendly restaurant where Chef Abernathy welcomes all patrons and provides dog biscuit treats for the wagging tail kind. An outdoor patio space ready for all seasons makes it easy for visitors to bring their four-legged family members.
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Onyx Coffee Lab – Bentonville, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville
While their first mention was long before their Rogers HQ was opened in an old mercantile store, Onyx brings New York vibes with their Bentonville Square location. But they quickly offer that every location provides a street vibe, mimicking the neighborhood where it sits. For many years, Onyx has brought national attention to Arkansas with its baristas performing well in cupping competitions and hosting a few of its own. And, if coffee is not your thing, several locations serve house-brewed stout drinks, milkshakes, cocktails, and even a new line of seasonal teas. Not to mention croissants, macarons scones and pastries made on-site at HQ.
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Cotham’s in the City | Little Rock
Over the top seems to be a thing in food awards, but this famous destination, just down the hill from the Arkansas State Capitol, draws crowds for lunch daily, usually seeking the best burger in Arkansas. The hubcap burger features a 16 oz meat patty on a 7-inch bun. If you can eat two, the owner grabs your tab for lunch. But, it’s a favorite of Arkansas politicians, and Bill Clinton even had it shipped in during his years at the White House.
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Sassy’s Red House | Fayetteville
While the barbecue is among the best in North Arkansas, Sassy’s hosts one of the most iconic foods in Arkansas – fried pickles. Sassy’s version is very thin, making a big pile easy to consume, especially when dipped in a housemade ranch that cuts through the tang.
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Feltner Brothers | Fayetteville, related to Feltner’s What-a-burger
The brothers offer insight to the team at The Kitchen for a game day special featuring an Ultimate Burger Bar with Feltner’s party sliders and special sauce. The celebrity chefs and Feltner Brothers work together to create a burger tower with red Solo cups and paper cake stands, which is an easy and creative way to display burgers at a tailgate or game day party.
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What do you think? Did they nail it with their list? Or do we have a few more places they need to visit?
Cover image used with permission from The Purple Cow Restaurant.
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