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Paragould sits at the intersection of the Arkansas Delta and Crowley’s Ridge, and for generations, people have passed through it on their way elsewhere. But spend a little time here, and you will discover plenty of reasons to make Paragould the destination, including a surprisingly varied local food scene.
You could easily eat your way around town, sampling a little here and a little there. In fact, sharing meals might be the best strategy. From a taco burger with more than 50 years of history to an old-fashioned drive-in, Paragould offers street tacos, pizza, and a burger worth driving out to the golf course to find. This Northeast Arkansas community has plenty to fill a lunch itinerary!
Dine and Dash | 7 Quick Lunch Stops in Paragould
Taco Rio
Some restaurants become part of a town’s story, and Taco Rio | Tex-Mex is one of those places.
What began as Taco Hut in 1972 has served generations of Paragould families from the same location for more than 50 years. This is old-school, local Tex-Mex comfort food, featuring tacos, enchiladas, burritos, nachos, and daily specials that keep regulars coming back.
But if it’s your first visit, start with one place: the Taco Burger. Take it from me it’s the best way to order, alongside the crunchy taco. It’s a burger made with soft taco meat, and if you know what you’re doing, you’ll order it with their house queso poured on top. (Yes, you’ll want a fork and knife to eat it!)
Fan favorites: Taco burger, but the daily special is typically the cheapest way to go
Find it: 1713 Paragould Plaza | Website | Facebook
Hamburger Station
Imagine the parking lot filled with cars and hungry diners pulling up for burgers, sandwiches, and baskets of fried sides. That old-school feel remains part of the Hamburger Station experience, even as the Hamburgular looks over your shoulder as you order.
Near downtown and the railroad tracks, Hamburger Station is the kind of place where sitting outside can change your lunch-break perspective. You can hear the trains and the sounds of a growing town as you dig into a made-to-order burger.
Fan favorite: Hum-Burger with grilled onions and a side of beer-battered onion rings or cheesy tots
Find it: 110 E. Main St. | Facebook
Carlos’s Street Tacos
When the lunch line starts forming, you know you have found something good. Carlos’s Street Tacos Downtown transformed a former mechanic-shop-style space into a colorful taco stop, with hand-drawn neon poster board signs, outdoor seating, and a steady stream of customers.
The pace is quick, portions are generous, and the extensive menu includes much more than tacos. Birria is one of the most frequently praised orders, but diners also point to pastor and asada tacos, chicken and rice, burritos, nachos and plenty of queso.
Fan favorites: Birria tacos with dipping sauce or pastor and asada street tacos
Find it: 301 S. 3rd St. | Website | Facebook
Dog N Suds
If your favorite old movies feature a drive-in scene, you already understand the appeal of Dog N Suds Restaurant. Pull up to order from your car or step inside, where the compact dining room feels like a remnant of another era. Dog N Suds has been part of the Paragould landscape for decades, and the vintage drive-in canopy and sign help preserve its throwback character.
Burgers and coneys fit the setting perfectly, but the real reason to make the stop may be the root beer. Root beer and root beer floats remain among the items diners mention most often.
Fan favorites: burger or coney with onion rings and a root beer float
Find it: 319 E. Kingshighway | Facebook | TripAdvisor
1812 Pizza Company
Downtown exploring works up an appetite, and 1812 Pizza Company gives you an easy excuse to stop. The Arkansas family-owned business started in Manila in 2013 and later expanded to Jonesboro and Paragould. Its Paragould location puts pizza right in the middle of a downtown day, making it easy to stroll, shop, and stop for something cheesy.
For lunch, you can go straight for a pizza or take advantage of a menu built for mixing and matching. Specialty pizzas range from classic meat-heavy combinations to Buffalo chicken, spinach-artichoke chicken and BBQ pulled pork.
Fan favorite: Pick a specialty pizza and share so everyone gets a slice.
Find it: 223 N. Pruett St. | Website | Facebook
George’s OMG
Do not let a packed dining room scare you away from George’s OMG. That may be your first clue that you have found where the locals are eating. The restaurant stays busy, but quick service is part of its reputation.
What started as a food truck grew into a brick-and-mortar restaurant with a menu full of bold flavors and hearty portions. Loaded fries, baked potatoes, sliders, tacos, sandwiches, and seafood all make the menu, making it a great choice when everyone in your group wants something different.
Fan favorite: The menu changes daily, so ask about what’s new and check the sandwich board for new items.
Find it: 1717 Paragould Plaza | Facebook
The Twisted Goose
For the final stop, head to Fox Hills Country Club, where Twisted Goose proves you do not need to play a round of golf to enjoy a good meal in the clubhouse. Don’t get too worked up here, we are still talking about an Arkansas country club where comfort meets convenience.
The menu leans into casual comfort food, featuring burgers, chicken, wings, sandwiches, and plates. The Old-Fashioned Burger comes on a sourdough bun, while Birdie Bites turn pepper jack cheese into crispy bites served with house-made chipotle ranch. Both are among the restaurant’s most frequently ordered items.
Fan favorites: Old Fashion Burger and Birdie Bites, or the Winner Chicken Dinner when you want a full plate
Find it: 2005 Country Club Road | Facebook
Save Room for Something Sweet
Dessert deserves its own Paragould itinerary. Start early at Batten’s Bakery because locals know the rule: when the good stuff is gone, it is gone. Fried pies are a longtime favorite, but my favorite are the cinnamon rolls and apple fritters.
Something Sweet has been baking in Paragould since 2011. Downtown, it offers cupcakes, cookies, brownies, cheesecake, scones, and specialty coffee, making it an easy afternoon stop, especially when you need a treat to take home.
And then there is Sonic. Yes, Sonic. I know we are passionate about America’s Drive-in in Arkansas. But Paragould takes the Arkansas Sonic run to another level with a location where your slush or ice cream treat can become part of an afternoon at the Sonic Patio, Pickleball & Playground, complete with playground space, pickleball courts, and a private party deck.
Paragould may sit conveniently along the route to somewhere else, but lunch is a good reason to slow down. Come for the taco burger, eat lunch beside the railroad tracks, order tacos from a converted shop, sip root beer at an old-fashioned drive-in or wander downtown with a slice of pizza in hand.
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