6 ARKANSAS EATS WORTH THE DRIVE

6 Arkansas Eats That Should Be On Your Bucket List

Spring has sprung out there, and that means it’s time to start planning those spring and summer road trips — which are always more enjoyable from behind the wheel of a great new Buick or GMC from McLarty Daniel Buick GMC of Bentonville. Arkansas is one of the most diverse and interesting states to explore, from the mountains to the valleys, from the Delta to the prairies. That includes your options when it comes time to sit down for breakfast, lunch or dinner. One of the best things about road-tripping is the food along the way, so read on for six restaurants in Arkansas that are definitely worth the drive.

Rhoda’s Hot Tamales Jones

714 Saint Mary St, Lake Village

About as far toward Mississippi as you can get without leaving Arkansas is Rhoda’s in Lake Village. It might not look like much on the outside, but inside is pure heaven: delicious handmade hot tamales swimming in nuclear orange drippings, available by the piece or by the dozen. You’ll also find homemade cakes, pies and cupcakes! Family-owned and operated, it’s about as down-home as you can get. And the tamales? Some of the best you’re ever going to eat: the perfect blend of spice, meat and cornmeal. If you’re a fan, definitely get in for one of the signature Southern dishes. You’ll be bragging to your friends about it later, guaranteed.

The Spudnut Shoppe

810 W Faulkner St., El Dorado

There are donuts, and then there are Spudnuts. Both have a hole in the middle, but one bite of a pillowy soft Spudnut, and you’ll wonder where all the wasted years went. One of the few remaining outlets of a chain that once had stores in several states, El Dorado’s Spudnut Shoppe, as you might expect, takes its name from the potato flour used to put the dough in their doughnuts. Browned darker than your average donut, the Spudnut will give you a whole new appreciation for the humble ‘tater. It’s a revelation on the lips: light as air and sweeter than you might imagine possible. Try their cinnamon rolls too — they’re to die for! Get there early, though. When the Spudnuts are gone in the morning, that’s closing time.

Dondie’s White River Princess

203 E Curran St, Des Arc

Buffets are usually hit or miss, but the seafood buffet at Dondie’s White River Princess in Des Arc will likely make you a believer. Perched on the bank of the White River and designed to look like a beached steamboat, the restaurant is usually packed with locals who come there every weekend to eat their fill of delicious fried catfish filets and catfish steaks, hearty barbecue, and good ol’ home cooking. Nearly every table features a stunning view of a meandering bend of the river, with the lovely arch of the Highway 38 bridge upstream. It’s a perfect spot to chow down while rubbing elbows with some of the folks who make that neck of the woods a great place to live.

Jones Bar-B-Q Diner

218 W. Louisiana St., Marianna

Arkansas is full of great barbecue joints — to the point that it might be hard for anybody to name one favorite. When it comes to old-school, bucket-list barbecue, though, Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna is definitely going to be right up there near the top of any true barbecue fan’s rankings of the state’s finest swine. Situated in a ramshackle two-story building, the diner’s pulled pork is so legendary that back in 2012, the restaurant was awarded the prestigious James Beard Award. That’s like the foodie equivalent of an Academy Award! To date, it’s the only Arkansas restaurant to have been so honored.

Ed Walker’s Drive-In & Restaurant

1500 Towson Ave, Fort Smith

America’s torrid, decades-long love affair with the automobile was just kicking off in 1947 when Ed Walker’s Drive-In & Restaurant opened in Fort Smith, just a stone’s throw from the Arkansas/Oklahoma border. A blast from the drive-in past, Ed Walker’s still retains all that old-school charm, with a menu featuring burgers, onion rings, plate lunches, barbecue, and catfish. It even offers a five-pound Giant Burger that Ed Walker’s boasts as the largest single-patty cheeseburger in Arkansas. The star of the show (and the part that makes it extra worth the drive) is their French Dip roast beef sandwiches, with mounds of thin-sliced beef and cheese, plus flavorful au jus to dip ‘em in. (Ask for extra napkins, you’ll thank us later.) As a bonus, they’ve been in business so long that they are the only drive-in in the state that offers curbside beer service.

The Oark General Store

117 County Road 5241, Oark

The charm of some places is more about the atmosphere and the challenge of getting there than it is anything you’re going to find on the plate. This is the case with the Oark General Store in the tiny community of Oark in Johnson County, 16 miles from Clarksville. Open since 1890, the store has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating store in the state. It has become a real driving destination in recent years, with everyone from bikers to sports car fans making the drive to say they’ve dined in the oldest of old joints in the state. Featuring a hearty menu of stick-to-your-ribs breakfast items, burgers, sandwiches, salads and pies, it’s definitely worth the drive through one of the prettiest parts of Arkansas.

Is that enough to make you loosen your belt and get road-tripping? It sure got us hungry writing it! While you’re in the mood to take a road trip, take the short drive to come see us at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC in Bentonville. We offer incredible deals on new Buicks and GMCs, plus plenty of terrific pre-owned vehicles that will get you there as well. Check out our great inventory of new and used cars online, or stop in for a test drive today!

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