Arkansas cooking leans on barbecue, catfish and breakfast. The restaurants below are in our directory, and where a page has limited information we say so.
Hot Springs: Best Cafe & Bar
Best Cafe & Bar has served visitors to Hot Springs National Park since 1933, in a building restored to its original look. Breakfast includes crème brûlée French toast with molasses butter, eggs Benedict with shaved country ham and homemade biscuits and gravy. It is usually busy on weekend mornings, so go early.
Harrison: T's BBQ
T's BBQ serves Arkansas-style barbecue and presents itself as an award-winning, family-friendly spot. Menu items listed on ordering pages include the Beef Brisket Plate and a Half Slab Plate, and the restaurant is known for fried pies. Reviews are mixed, with many praising tender ribs and quick service and a few finding the food lukewarm, so treat it as a casual stop. Hours are listed as Tuesday to Thursday 11 AM to 7:30 PM, Friday and Saturday until 8:30 PM and Sunday 11 AM to 2:30 PM; phone (870) 741-7675.
Paragould: Avocado's Grill
Avocado's Grill builds its menu around classic Mexican dishes: fajitas, burritos, chimichangas and enchiladas, plus nachos and a Ranchero Special. Names that come up on ordering platforms include the Monster Chimichanga and Nachos Mexicanos, and the pages show a lunch and dinner schedule.
Jonesboro: catfish country
Jonesboro has a long tradition of catfish restaurants, and a few small barbecue and seafood places in town are listed in our directory with limited public information. Because details for small local restaurants change, check hours and the address by phone or map before you drive there.
Planning notes
- Distances in northern Arkansas are long, so group Jonesboro and Paragould together and treat Harrison and Hot Springs as separate trips.
- Smaller restaurants often change hours; use the phone numbers on each page.
Practical notes
- Best Cafe & Bar lists Wednesday to Monday from 7 AM to 2 PM and can be reached at 870-474-6350.
- T's BBQ takes orders by phone or online for pickup; listed prices include the Beef Brisket Plate at $15.99, the Brisket Potacho at $14.99 and the Half Slab Plate at $19.99. Prices change, so confirm them.
- Avocado's Grill shows prices from about $5 to $23 on one ordering page, with online ordering hours of 11 AM to 2:30 PM and 4 PM to 8:45 PM.
Making a trip of it
Hot Springs is the easiest base, since Best Cafe & Bar sits in the middle of town near Hot Springs National Park, and a breakfast there pairs well with a morning walk. Harrison, in the north of the state, is a longer drive and works best as its own trip. Paragould is in the northeast, close to Jonesboro.
What to order first
At Best Cafe & Bar, the crème brûlée French toast is the signature. At T's BBQ, start with brisket or ribs and add a fried pie. At Avocado's Grill, fajitas and the Monster Chimichanga are the dishes ordering pages list most often.
Hours, menus and prices change. Each restaurant page lists the phone number we have; call ahead before a long drive, especially on holidays.