Arkansas has some delicious foods that might not be as well known in the rest of the country.
This is a state that boasts not only stunning landscapes but also a rich and diverse culinary heritage that often goes unappreciated.
These days Arkansas is a wonderful foodie destination. You will find amazing fine dining restaurants as well as fun, quirky, and delicious holes in the wall in the most unexpected places.
If you follow Somewhere In Arkansas on our social media you know that Emily and I travel all over Arkansas trying different restaurants and different foods. It is one of our favorite things to do!
Italian Spaghetti with Southern Fried Chicken
In the northwest corner of the state you can find one of the most unique of the food dishes in Arkansas! This dish is an Italian and southern fusion that most say was born out of necessity.
Tontitown, Arkansas was founded by a group of Italian immigrants and their priest back in 1898 and for a period of time became a landing pad for other Italian immigrants.
Those early immigrants were poor and chicken was the cheapest protein. The Italians adopted their southern neighbors way of cooking chicken, but added their own flair by serving it with a side of pasta and red gravy.
This delicious combination is still served in the Italian restaurants in the area!
The best place to try this amazing Arkansas dish is at the Venezian Inn.
Barbecue (with Coleslaw on top!)
Some “experts” like to say that Arkansas doesn’t have its own barbecue tradition and that we simply borrowed from the traditions of our neighboring states.
It is true that we are a crossroads for Barbecue. We serve both pork and beef barbecue and our sauces run the gamut from thick and tomato-y, to sweet and saucy, to thin and spicy, to tangy and vinegary.
However, I’ll tell you that I have eaten barbecue all over the US and some of the best is found in Arkansas.
In my opinion Arkansas is a highly unrecognized barbecue state.
The James Beard award winning, Jones BBQ in Marianna, Arkansas is one of the most venerated barbecue restaurants in the world and the oldest black-owned business in the nation.
One thing that decidedly is uniquely “Arkansas” is our habit of slapping a ladle full of coleslaw on a barbecue sandwich. The cool and crunchy coleslaw is perfection with the warm and spicy barbecue.
The barbecue pictured below is from Sim’s Bar-b-que in Little Rock which is one of our favorites.
In addition to barbecue you can find various other smoked meats around the state!
The concept of smoking meat is as old as the idea of eating and preserving food. But the cooks of Arkansas have taken this to an art.
Obviously, barbecue is the most well known smoked meat product…but we aren’t just talking pork or beef here. In Arkansas we smoke chickens and turkeys, hams, and sandwich meats, and even cheeses.
Burge’s is known for smoking turkeys and hams. In fact, their smoked turkey salad sandwich is one of our favorite sandwiches in Central Arkansas.
Coursey’s is located near the White River and is a perfect place to stop and grab some smoked meats and cheeses to have a sandwich on the river.
Traditional Arkansas Food – What to Eat in Arkansas
FAQ
What type of food is Arkansas known for?
What’s Arkansas State food?
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State
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Food type
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Food name
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Arkansas
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State grain
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Rice
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State grape
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Cynthiana (Vitis aestivalis)
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State nut
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Pecan
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California
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State nuts
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Almond, walnut, pistachio, and pecan
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What is Little Rock known for food?
What food was invented in Little Rock?