Some of the most lively discussions ever held are when people debate who has the best barbecue. There are enough secret recipes to make Fort Knox explode if they were stored there. The Arkansas Trail is blessed with a wealth of barbecue restaurants, dives, joints…whatever you want to call them.
You can choose from mustard and tomato vinegar sauces, dry rub, and thick or thin tomato based. Ribs, pulled or chopped pork, beef tenderloin and chicken are on most menus along with the familiar sides. Here’s a list to get you started on a tasty tour of the Natural State.
Backyard Barbeque Company
Magnolia
Beef, pork barbecue, potato salad, slaw, barbecue baked potatoes; homemade coconut cream, pecan, cream cheese, Oreo, and banana pudding pies
Benny Bob’s Barbecue
Blytheville
Barbecue chicken, ribs, pork, baked beans, cole slaw, hushpuppies, catfish, wings; homemade and fried pies
Big Jake’s Bar-B-Q
Texarkana
Barbecue plates, sandwiches, ribs, fries, baked potatoes; vegetables, desserts; kid’s menu; catering available; daily specials; special pricing for groups of 12 or more
Brothers BBQ
Heber Springs
Smoked pork and beef, ribs, sides including potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, fries, corn on the cob; barbecue nachos
Capitol Smokehouse and Grill
Little Rock
Barbecue, catfish, chicken, burgers; plate lunches; uses fresh Arkansas grown produce; breakfast; outdoor dining area available; dine in or take out. Named in the July 2010 issue of Maxim as one of the “Top 10 Temples of ‘Cue in the World.”
Couch’s Log Cabin Bar-B-Que
Trumann
Features American foods; barbecue sandwiches, platters and ribs are the house specialties.
Craig’s Brothers Cafe
DeValls Bluff
Barbecue sandwiches, plates, ribs, burgers; a true Southern barbecue shack that dates back to the 1940s. Slow-smoked meats, fiery sauces, savory coleslaw
Dixie Pig
Blytheville
Third-generation-owned restaurant, serving smoked barbecue since 1923; famous for its chopped pork sandwich known as “the pig sandwich,” homemade onion rings and fries, beans; additional sandwiches, barbecue and chicken plates; salads
Gene’s Bar-B-Que
Brinkley
Family restaurant serving four kinds of barbecue — pork, beef, ribs and chicken; fish, steaks; breakfast available all day; coleslaw, baked beans, fries; catfish, biscuits and gravy; fried pies. GROUPS: free meeting rooms
H B’s Barbecue
Little Rock
Quaint legendary barbecue “dive” located in a residential area; seats only 32; great slabs of meat with fiery barbecue sauce, ribs are served on Tuesday only; pork sandwich on an onion roll; featured in September 2006 Vogue Magazine. A descendant of the legendary Shack Barbecue run by members of the original Slaughter family
Hoots BBQ, Bakery & Grill
McGehee
Barbecue pork, beef and chicken, burgers, sandwiches, seafood, steaks; bakery features homemade pies, cookies, outdoor seating available; live entertainment in the bar
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner
Marianna
Believed to be by the Southern Foodways Alliance to be the oldest black-owned restaurant in continuous operation in the South; a cool neighborhood barbecue joint that has been in business for over 100 years; meats are smoked on-site; served on plain white bread with thin, vinegar-based sauce and cole slaw. The restaurant has received rave reviews and was featured in Saveur Magazine and on CBS This Morning. Named by the James Beard Foundation as an American Classic in 2012. Make plans to visit this legendary BBQ restaurant for a taste of some real southern food inspired by Arkansas.
Kibbs Bar-B-Que
Stuttgart
Ribs, beans, slaw, home-made fries; wings, burgers, chicken
Lindsey’s Barbecue, Catering & Hospitality House
North Little Rock
Opened in 1956 serving home-cooking and barbecue for lunch; chopped barbecue beef, pork, ribs, smoked links and chicken; fried chicken, catfish; variety of side items including mixed greens, pinto and baked beans, potato salad, onion rings, cabbage; homemade pies including egg custard, sweet potato, fried pies. GROUPS: facility can handle up to 350 guests on-site; no size limit off-site
McClard’s Bar-B-Q
Hot Springs
Legendary Arkansas barbecue restaurant established in 1928; meats pit smoked daily on the premises; sauce, cole slaw, beans and hot tamales made with old family recipes; famous for the “hot tamale spread;” featured in Southern Living and Gourmet Magazines and on “The Best of…” television show on Food Network.
Nick’s Bar-B-Q & Catfish
Carlisle
Serving Southern-style, award-winning barbecue since 1979; beef, pork, Polish sausage; smoked ham, turkey, chicken; variety of sides including Mac N Cheese, corn on the cob, potato salad, fried okra; homemade banana pudding, cobblers
Penguin Ed’s Bar-B-Q
Fayetteville
Serving hickory-enhanced, slow meats since 1993; barbecue ribs, chicken, pork, beef; smoked ham, sausage, ham, bologna, hot links; appetizers, salads, side items, sandwiches, desserts
Ralph’s Pink Flamingo BBQ
Fort Smith
Award-winning barbecue beef, pork, ribs chicken, sausage; salads; side dishes; desserts; winner of Kansas City Barbecue Society grand championship; the Pink Flamingo barbecue team has won over 150 different BBQ awards since 1998.
Ridgewood Brothers BBQ
Russelville
An established food truck on West Main St, the Ridgewood Brothers serve barbecue every Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. until they are sold out.
Rivertowne BBQ
Ozark
Rivertowne BBQ serves generous portions of mouth-watering smoked beef, chicken and pork seasoned with Rivertowne’s own dry rub and smoked on the premises daily. Rivertowne BBQ offers daily lunch and dinner specials Tuesday through Saturday.
Sassy’s Red House BBQ & Grille
Fayetteville
Traditional Southern barbecue with signature sauce developed in 1895; salads, appetizers, sliders, paninis, wraps, sandwiches; pork, brisket, chicken, ribs; steak, catfish, burgers; children’s menu; daily drink and food specials
Sims Bar-B-Que
Little Rock
Legendary Arkansas barbecue restaurant that has been around since 1937. Features mustard based vinegar sauce. Selected by Southern Living Magazine as a recipient of its ” ‘cue” awards in 2012. Menu includes pork, beef, ribs, chicken, smoked sausage and bologna; burgers, salads
Sugar Booger’s Barbecue
Huntsville
Ribs, brisket, pulled pork; coleslaw, baked beans, potato salad, mac and cheese side items; grilled cheese; tomato and vinegar sauce; chili, cobblers
Three Sam’s Barbecue
Mabelvale
Family-owned; pork and beef barbecue, burgers, chili dogs, onion rings, fries, chili; homemade desserts including peanut butter, strawberry and lemon ice box pies
Whole Hog Cafe World Champion Barbecue
Little Rock
The Whole Hog Café & Catering Company prepares the same award-winning recipes that won top honors in the 2000, 2002, and 2008 Memphis-in-May World Barbecue Championships – including 1st place in the Whole Hog category in 2002. Popular dishes include succulent pulled pork, tender beef brisket & smoked chicken, a variety of sides and of course, Whole Hog’s award-winning ribs. Seven sauces are featured including a Volcano sauce – which Whole Hog recommends to eat at your own risk!
Stubby’s BBQ
Hot Springs
Stubby’s BBQ in Hot Springs, Ark. has been slow cooking ribs, beef, pork and chicken over smoldering hickory logs since 1952.
— Arkansas Tourism & Southern Foodways Alliance
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