Arkansas BBQ Trail
Some of the liveliest discussions are held when people debate who has the best barbecue. There are enough secret recipes to make Fort Knox explode if they were stored there. Arkansas is blessed with a wealth of barbecue restaurants, dives, joints…whatever you want to call them. On this savory BBQ trail, you can choose from mustard and tomato vinegar sauces, dry rub, and thick or thin tomato based. Ribs, pulled or chopped pork, brisket, beef tenderloin and chicken are on most menus along with the familiar sides. We built this list around some of the most popular BBQ joints, but the BBQ trail is, by no means, a comprehensive list. It's just the tip of the barbecue "iceberg." Come chow down along the trail, enjoying all the different types of local ‘cue you’ll find here. Use the map below to plot your trip — whether you drive east to west or north to south, you’ll find delectable BBQ in all regions of the state.
Best BBQ Places
Brothers BBQ
Heber Springs, AR
Smoked pork and beef, ribs, sides including potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, fries, corn on the cob; barbecue nachos.
Craig's Brothers Cafe
DeValls Bluff, AR
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, AR
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.
Hoots BBQ, Bakery & Grill
McGehee, AR
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, AR
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.
McClard's Bar-B-Q
Hot Springs, AR
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.
Penguin Ed's Bar-B-Q
Fayetteville, AR
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.
Ridgewood Brothers BBQ
Russelville, AR
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, AR
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, AR
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.
Sturdi's Sho'Nuff BBQ & Catering
Fayetteville, AR
Meats are smoked with hickory and apple wood; made-from-scratch daily side orders; state-of-the-art barbecue food wagon; based on family recipes from the original Sho'nuff barbecue which was in Fayetteville during the 70s.
Three Sam's Barbecue
Mabelvale, AR
Family-owned; pork and beef barbecue, burgers, chili dogs, onion rings, fries, chili; homemade desserts including peanut butter, strawberry and lemon ice box pies.
Wright's Barbecue
Have barbecue the "Wright way!" We take people back to the method of open flame, 100% wood fire, on a pit barbecue, using pecan wood from central Arkansas trees. When you taste this award winning barbecue you'll understand why what started with a backyard smoker became a food truck and then a restaurant with four locations throughout the state. Serving brisket, pork, chicken, sausage, turkey, ribs, bacon burnt ends, southern sides, salads and more.
Backyard Barbeque Company
Magnolia, AR
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, AR
Barbecue chicken, ribs, pork, baked beans, cole slaw, hushpuppies, catfish, wings; homemade and fried pies.
Big Jake's Bar-B-Q
Texarkana, AR
Barbecue plates, sandwiches, ribs, fries, baked potatoes; vegetables, desserts; kid's menu; catering available; daily specials; special pricing for groups of 12 or more.
Capitol Smokehouse and Grill
Little Rock, AR
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, AR
Features American foods; barbecue sandwiches, platters and ribs are the house specialties.
Gene's Bar-B-Que
Brinkley, AR
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, AR
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.
Kibbs Bar-B-Que
Stuttgart, AR
Ribs, beans, slaw, home-made fries; wings, burgers, chicken.
Lindsey's Barbecue, Catering & Hospitality House
North Little Rock, AR
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.
Nick's Bar-B-Q & Catfish
Carlisle, AR
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.
Mickey's Bar-B-Q
Hot Springs, AR
Award winning barbecue; beef, pork, ribs, sausage; plates, sandwiches, side items.
Sims Bar-B-Que
Little Rock, AR
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.
Stubby's BBQ
Hot Springs, AR
Stubby’s BBQ has been creating fantastic barbecue memories and the tastiest sauce since 1952 when founder Richard Stubblefield Sr. (hence the name Stubby’s BBQ) first fired up his BBQ over fragrantly smoldering logs, slow-cooking the famous meats – ribs, beef, pork and chicken.