FIVE ARKANSAS BARBECUE JOINTS THAT ARE WELL WORTH THE DRIVE

Summertime means plenty of sun, the kids out of school and ample opportunities to get out there and see a little more of this beautiful state we all call home. You’re lucky to live in Arkansas if you’re a foodie, as the state has more than its fair share of great food. Some of the best to be had: the state’s incredible selection of world-class barbecue joints, from inner-city establishments to little barbecue pits way out in the boondocks, Arkansas barbecue might not be as legendary as the cue in Texas, but we’ll put this state’s ribs, smoked chicken and maybe even a few of our brisket plates up against anything found in the Lone Star State.

Seen below, check out our list of five Arkansas barbecue joints that are well worth the drive, or worth a stop if you’re just out and about in the state. And if you need a beautiful new or pre-owned vehicle to get you there in style, stop in at McLarty Daniel Buick GMC and check out our great selection of new and used cars, trucks, vans and SUVs today!

JONES’ B-B-Q DINER
219 West Louisiana Street, Marianna
The East Arkansas Delta is the cradle of great Arkansas barbecue, and the little town of Marianna is home to what might be the greatest of them all: Jones’ B-B-Q Diner. A surprise winner of the James Beard Award — normally handed out to world-renowned five-star restaurants — Jones’ B-B-Q Diner has been around since the 1920s and is about as bare bones as you can get, situated in a simple cinderblock building with a handpainted sign out front. The pork butt and sides, however? Divine, even if they are served on plain ol’ white bread. Get there early, though, as they usually sell out quick.

MCCLARD’S BARBECUE
505 Albert Pike Road in Hot Springs
Another classic, old-line barbecue joint in a building that looks like it could be a set piece in a 1920s road movie, McClard’s Barbecue is a family-owned place that has been around since 1928. There’s even a fascinating story about how it came to be, with the McClard Family, who originally ran a small motel nearby, accepting the recipe for their barbecue sauce from a destitute boarder who couldn’t pay his rent. Though the author of the recipe is lost to time, thankfully, McClard’s is still around, dishing up some of the best barbecue in Central Arkansas with loads of their tangy, one-of-a-kind sauce. Bring cash, though, as they don’t accept cards.

SIMS BARBECUE
2415 Broadway Street in Little Rock
When a restaurant has been around over 80 years, you know they have to be doing something right in the kitchen. Little Rock’s Sims Barbecue, opened in 1936, seems to do everything right when it comes to down-home barbecue and delicious sides. A favorite of President Bill Clinton back before he had a few heart attacks and went vegetarian, Sims moved a few years back from their ramshackle building on 36th Street, but is still dishing up great stuff at affordable prices, serenaded by one of the best juke boxes in the city. One difference at Sims, other than the consistent quality of their hardwood-smoked pork and ribs, is their sauce: a yellow mustard/vinegar/brown sugar concoction that bears more resemblance to the barbecue found in South Carolina than any sauce served up in these parts. The sweet and tangy sauce is perfect, as are their soul food sides, homemade cakes and pies.

NICK’S BARBECUE & CATFISH
1012 Bobby Glover Highway in Carlisle
Serving up delectable barbecue and sides since 1972, Nick’s Barbecue and Catfish in Carlisle recently moved to a larger restaurant space near their old location to better serve the hordes of diners coming off I-30 to sample their delicious menu. Don’t fancy some of the best ribs and pulled pork in the state? That’s cool. As the name implies, Nick’s also serves meaty and delicious Arkansas-raised catfish and all the fixins, plus delicious onion rings, classic Arkansas cheese dip, homemade salsa and more, with scratch-made cheesecake, chocolate cakes and fried pies for dessert. Hope you don’t have too far to go once you leave, because you’ll leave Nick’s stuffed, guaranteed.

WHOLE HOG CAFE
Original location at 2516 Cantrell Road in Little Rock
While the original location of Little Rock’s Whole Hog Cafe — located in a bland strip mall a few doors down from an Office Depot — may not look as cool on the outside as McClard’s in Hot Springs or Jones in Marianna, one look at the hundreds of trophies and certificates from the nation’s top barbecue competitions should clue you in that the barbecue is going to more than make up for the lack of ambiance. Now the flagship of a small chain, the original Whole Hog serves up truly incredible pulled pork, brisket, smoked chicken, sausage and ribs as the core of a menu where the sides are just as good, including spicy baked beans, a creamy, mayo-based potato salad, and even southern faves like creamed corn and greens. Save room for dessert, too, as their huge, fudgy chocolate brownies might be the best in the state.

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