Must-see restaurants in Arkansas

  • The Root Cafe

    Arkansas

    Little Rock boasts a genuinely innovative dining scene, and even then, the Root is where local diners look for boundary breakers. The menu is exhaustively…

  • South on Main

    Arkansas

    This wonderful spot is a gastronomic pet project of The Oxford American, the South's seminal quarterly literary magazine. It embraces the foodways of the…

  • Three Fold Noodles and Dumpling Co

    Arkansas

    Look, when we got to Little Rock we weren't expecting blow-me-away Chinese food either, but then Three Fold comes along with its braised-chicken-noodle…

  • District Fare

    Arkansas

    This upscale little grocery counter slings some very fine sandwiches; the menu changes, but expect deli favorites with deliciously fresh meat and cheeses,…

  • Colonial Pancake House

    Arkansas

    A Hot Springs classic, with turquoise booths and homey touches like quilts and doilies on the walls, this is almost like your grandma's kitchen. Except…

  • Rolando's

    Arkansas

    An Ecuadoran is behind the concept of this nuevo latino joint, where customers enjoy a colorful dining space and solid mains like shrimp sauteed in a lime…

  • Big Orange

    Arkansas

    Sometimes you need a burger, and not just a burger but the sort of meat between two buttered buns that leaves you in a state of post-carnivore bliss…

  • Kelly's

    Arkansas

    Kelly's is a down-home diner of the Southern variety, where they specialize in a couple of dishes you have to order before leaving town. In this case, it…

  • Ottenheimer Market Hall

    Arkansas

    The River Market boasts 15 permanent food vendors that offer great eating variety in the heart of downtown. Trawl the stalls for some good-value breakfast…

  • Lindsey's Hospitality House

    Arkansas

    This big, buzzing restaurant is a locals' favorite for huge platters of barbecue. Chopped beef and pork comes nicely smoked, or you can opt for fried…

  • Skycrest Restaurant

    Arkansas

    Floor-to-ceiling windows offer grand views at Mt Magazine State Park's on-site restaurant, which serves Southern food in hickory wood–accented…

  • Mather Lodge

    Arkansas

    Big windows, stone accents, wooden furniture and a solid menu of American comfort food (burgers, pizzas and the like) are the backbone of the on-site…

  • McClard's

    Arkansas

    Southwest of the center, Bill Clinton's favorite boyhood barbecue is still popular for ribs, slow-cooked beans, chili and tamales. It's on the outskirts…

  • The Pantry Crest

    Arkansas

    A beloved local favorite, The Pantry specializes in the cuisine of Germany and the Czech Republic, serving up bratwurst, jaeger schnitzel, Hungarian…

  • Ohio Club

    Arkansas

    Opened in 1905, the Ohio Club used to host a (literal) murderers' row of gangsters, including Al Capone, Bugsy Segel and Lucky Luciano, plus celebrities…

  • Southbound Tavern

    Arkansas

    There are no big surprises on the menu at the Southbound – this is a roll-up-your-sleeves spot for burgers, pizza, and similar pub grub – but the food is…

  • Kebab House

    Arkansas

    A cheap and cheerful kebab spot is a joy wherever you are, and this is a fine example. The lamb is nicely seasoned, dips like hummus and baba ganoush are…