As far back as I can remember, I’ve had an affinity for dairy bars. That’s probably thanks to A&J’s Dairy Bar, which operated in the north Pulaski County community where I grew up.
Like a typical dairy bar, A&J’s sold hamburgers, fries, fried pies, ice cream cones and sundaes. I ate there so much as a child that I can still remember its phone number — even though it’s been closed for more than 25 years.
Several years ago, while working for Arkansas Parks & Tourism, I was asked to work on a list of the state's most iconic dairy bars for an article on Arkansas.com. In my research, one name kept coming up — Salem Dairy Bar.
So one day, my wife and I pulled off the freeway at Congo Road in Benton to check it out. We had the cheeseburger basket with tater tots, and needless to say, we weren’t disappointed. After a few bites, I understood why many people rank Salem among the best dairy bars in Arkansas.
And while it didn’t have a little dining room with Pac Man and Donkey Kong arcade games, the look of the building and the taste of the food took me back to good ole A&J’s.
A few years later, my wife and I purchased a lakeside home in rural Saline County, not far from Salem. It didn’t take long to learn that, with the exception of a lone pizza carryout/delivery restaurant, Salem Dairy Bar was the only option for a hot meal closest to our little lake cottage.
After just a few months of living in Saline County, I learned that Salem Dairy Bar was truly a local institution, having made fresh cheeseburgers, chili dogs, shakes, corn dogs and onion rings for more than 50 years in the same building and locale.
"(It is) an old-fashioned hamburger carryout," Salem Dairy Bar owner Lucy Begley said in an article published two years ago in the Saline Courier. She said it is “similar to the old-fashioned Dairy Queen restaurants where customers can enjoy hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken sandwiches, shaved ice and all kinds of ice cream at the pick-up window.”
Begley has owned the dairy bar for nearly 30 years. She, along with about 15 other employees, keep it running. In fact, she's had employees whose parents worked there when they were younger.
In April 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, Salem Dairy Bar temporarily closed. In July, the restaurant reopened with reduced hours and a smaller menu offering sno-cones, ice cream and other summertime treats. A few months later, Salem’s full menu returned, as did its original hours of operation.
A word of caution if you plan to visit: all food is cooked to order and nothing sits under heat lamps. Therefore, plan to wait at least 15-20 minutes for your food. That’s why it’s best to call ahead with your order.
The food is well worth the wait. The restaurant is family-friendly, offering a kids’ menu and an area where children can play and eat alongside their parents.
Salem Dairy Bar is open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, but its hours change during the winter months. The grill closes at 7:45 p.m., so don’t show up and expect a burger then. But if you’re just in the mood for something sweet, you can still get a banana split at 7:55 p.m. The restaurant is at 6406 Congo Road in Salem. For call ahead orders or more information, call 501-794-3929.
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