All Around Arkansas: Barbecue in The Natural State

            Photo by Darrell W. Brown.

            There are a few things Arkansas has no shortage of: Razorback caps, pickup trucks and great barbecue restaurants. In fact, some of the most famous barbecue restaurants in the country are located right here in the Natural State.

 

            The Southern Foodways Alliance, an organization that documents and studies the diverse food cultures of the American South, describes Arkansas’ barbecue style as “mostly pork—either sliced, chopped, or pulled—piled onto either a bun or two slices of plain white bread.” As Rex Nelson, a noted Arkansas foodie, has written, “There’s definitely not just one style of Arkansas barbecue.” Let’s take a look at a few of the most famous “meccas of meat” in the state.

 

            Jones Bar-B-Q in Marianna is the oldest operating barbecue restaurant in the state, cooking and selling meat since 1910. And according to the business journal Black Business, Jones is considered to be the oldest black-owned restaurant in the nation. Although it suffered a fire in 2021, the diner recovered and resumed operations thanks to an outpouring of support from the community. Jones' menu is simple: pulled pork served on Wonder Bread. The diner opens at 6 a.m. and closes when the food runs out. In 2017, it was inducted into the first class of the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

 

            Another legendary Arkansas barbecue restaurant (and my personal favorite) is McClard’s Bar-B-Q in Hot Springs. Alex and Gladys McClard began selling barbecued goat at their tourist court in 1928 after a guest who couldn’t pay his $10 bill gave the couple a barbecue sauce recipe. Its current location has been in existence since 1942 and has hardly changed (although goat has long been off the menu). McClard’s has won numerous national awards and was inducted into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame in 2018. The McClard Family sold the restaurant and its signature recipes to two Hot Springs businessmen in 2021, who then opened a second location in Rogers. If you go, get the ribs and fry platter—your taste buds will thank me.  

 

            Finally, Craig’s Bar-BQ in DeValls Bluff, which opened in 1947, is another Arkansas favorite. Three generations of Craigs have fed thousands of satisfied customers with a variety of smoked meats, most notably smoked and sliced pork sandwiches covered with a sauce made with hints of apple and bell pepper. Craig’s is also famous for its juicy hamburgers and its savory coleslaw.

 

            There are many other great barbecue joints in Arkansas such as Whole Hog Café in Little Rock, Smokin’ Buns in Jacksonville, Rivertowne in Ozark, Dixie Pig in Blytheville and the list goes on and on. However, I will end this column now as I’ve already gained 10 pounds just writing it.

 

            A proud sixth-generation Arkansan, Darrell W. Brown is a lover of all things Arkansas. He served several years with the Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism, and worked in all three divisions. He lives in Saline County with his wife and two beloved Boston Terriers.