15 Arkansas Hole-In-The-Wall Soul Food Restaurants Locals Say Are Worth The Drive
Arkansas hides soul food treasures in places so unassuming they almost go unnoticed.
I set out to find restaurants where fried chicken crunches perfectly, greens simmer with care, and sides feel like they were made at home.
Each spot had its own charm, flavor, and loyal following, proving that sometimes the best meals come from the smallest kitchens.
Locals swear these hole-in-the-wall gems are worth every mile of the drive.
1. K Hall & Sons
Family recipes passed down through generations make this Little Rock treasure worth every mile.
The mac and cheese here doesn’t mess around, arriving at your table bubbling hot with a golden crust that could make a grown person weep with joy.
Regulars swear by the smothered pork chops, which come swimming in gravy thick enough to stand a spoon in. The portions are massive, so bring your appetite and maybe some stretchy pants.
Fun fact: The Hall family has been feeding Little Rock since 1976, making this one of the oldest continuously operating soul food spots in the state.
2. Bobby’s Country Cookin’
Tucked away in a building that looks like somebody’s converted garage, Bobby’s serves up comfort food that’ll make you forget your own mama’s cooking.
The fried catfish comes out crispy and golden, paired with hush puppies so good they should probably be illegal.
Locals line up early for Sunday lunch, when the yeast rolls come out fresh every twenty minutes.
The sweet tea is properly sweetened, meaning you might need a dentist appointment after, but it’s totally worth it. Don’t skip the banana pudding for dessert.
3. Homer’s Kitchen Table
Walking into Homer’s feels exactly like eating Sunday dinner at your favorite aunt’s house, assuming your aunt can throw down in the kitchen like nobody’s business.
The greens are cooked low and slow with just enough pepper vinegar to wake up your taste buds without setting your mouth on fire.
Everything comes served family style, encouraging strangers to pass dishes and share stories like old friends.
The cornbread is slightly sweet, perfectly crumbly, and arrives warm enough to melt butter on contact.
4. Cotham’s in the City
Originally housed in a mercantile store built in 1917, Cotham’s brings history with every heaping plate.
Their famous hubcap burger gets all the attention, but the soul food specials during the week are where the magic really happens.
Thursday’s fried chicken special draws crowds from three counties over, with birds that are brined, seasoned, and fried to absolute perfection.
The purple hull peas taste like summer in a bowl, seasoned with just enough bacon to make vegetarians question their life choices.
5. Walker’s Home Cooking & Catering
Miss Walker runs this place like she’s feeding her own grandkids, which means nothing leaves the kitchen unless it’s absolutely perfect.
The meatloaf comes glazed with a tangy tomato sauce that’s been tweaked and perfected over forty years of cooking.
Tuesday’s chicken and dumplings sell out by 1 PM, so plan accordingly or face serious disappointment.
The green beans are cooked with ham hock until they’re tender and flavorful, proving that vegetables can actually taste amazing when prepared with enough love and pork.
6. Jones Bar-B-Q Diner
James Beard Award winners don’t usually operate out of buildings that look like strong wind might knock them over, but Jones Bar-B-Q isn’t your typical award winner.
This Marianna institution has been smoking meat over hickory wood since 1910, making it one of America’s oldest continuously operating barbecue restaurants run by the same family.
They serve exactly two things: smoked pork and white bread. That’s it, and that’s all you need when the meat is this phenomenally good, with smoke rings and flavor that’ll haunt your dreams.
7. Monte Ne Inn Chicken
Perched near the historic Monte Ne area, this place has been frying chicken since before your parents were born, and they’ve got the recipe down to an exact science.
The birds arrive at your table crackling with a crust that shatters at first bite, revealing meat so juicy it should come with a splash warning.
Sides rotate daily, but the mashed potatoes with cream gravy are a permanent fixture for good reason. On busy nights, expect a wait, but watching the cooks work is half the entertainment.
8. Old South Restaurant
Stepping into Old South feels like time traveling back to 1955, when restaurants had jukeboxes and waitresses called everyone honey.
The chicken fried steak here is roughly the size of a dinner plate, battered and fried until golden, then smothered in white gravy that could probably fix all your problems.
Breakfast is served all day, which is excellent news for anyone who believes biscuits and gravy are appropriate at any hour.
The okra is fried to crispy perfection, converting even the staunchest okra haters into believers.
9. Neal’s Cafe
Neal’s operates on a simple philosophy: cook everything like you’re feeding your own family, and charge prices that won’t require taking out a second mortgage.
The daily lunch specials rotate through classic soul food hits, from smothered chicken to beef tips over rice that’ll stick to your ribs for hours.
Regulars have assigned seats, though newcomers are welcomed warmly and fed generously.
The cobbler changes based on what fruit is in season, and it’s always served warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream melting on top.
10. Calico County
Buffets sometimes get a bad reputation, but Calico County proves that all-you-can-eat can still mean high quality when done right.
The steam tables stay loaded with rotating soul food classics, from butter beans to fried okra to three different preparations of chicken.
Friday nights feature catfish, and locals arrive early to claim their spots before the rush hits.
The yeast rolls are baked fresh throughout service, and you’ll see people stacking them on their plates like they’re preparing for winter hibernation, which is completely understandable.
11. Susan’s Restaurant
Susan runs the front while her kitchen crew works magic in the back, creating soul food that tastes exactly like what you wish your grandmother made.
The pot roast falls apart at the mere suggestion of a fork, braised until tender and served with vegetables that cooked right alongside the meat, soaking up all those incredible flavors.
Monday’s red beans and rice special has achieved legendary status among locals, who plan their entire week around it. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable, and leftovers reheat beautifully the next day.
12. The Wooden Spoon
Named after the tool every great southern cook wields like a magic wand, The Wooden Spoon delivers comfort food that’ll make you want to loosen your belt and order seconds anyway.
Their specialty is slow-cooked meats that have been braised, smothered, or roasted until they’re fall-apart tender and packed with flavor.
The collard greens simmer all day with smoked turkey, creating a pot liquor so good you’ll want to drink it straight. Desserts are made in-house daily, with the peach cobbler earning particular praise from pie snobs.
13. Catfish Hole (Fayetteville)
While catfish is obviously the star here, the soul food sides are what keep people coming back week after week like clockwork.
The coleslaw has a tangy dressing that cuts through the richness of fried fish perfectly, and the hush puppies come studded with onions and jalapeños for a little kick.
Students from the nearby university mix with longtime locals, creating a diverse crowd united by their love of well-fried seafood.
The turnip greens are cooked southern style, meaning tender and well-seasoned, not that crispy raw stuff some places try passing off.
14. McClard’s Bar-B-Q
Since 1928, McClard’s has been smoking meats and serving soul food sides that perfectly complement their legendary barbecue.
The ribs are famous, sure, but don’t sleep on the Tuesday meatloaf special or the Thursday chicken and dumplings that sell out faster than concert tickets.
Their original sauce recipe allegedly came from a traveling guest who couldn’t pay his motel bill, and it’s been a closely guarded secret ever since.
The beans are thick, smoky, and slightly sweet, and the tamales are an unexpected menu addition that’s become a cult favorite.
15. Sims Bar-B-Que
Operating since 1937, Sims has perfected the art of combining barbecue with traditional soul food sides that make every meal feel like a celebration.
The baked beans here are legendary, slow-cooked with bits of burnt ends mixed in for extra smokiness and flavor.
Their hot tamales are a Delta tradition that might seem odd to outsiders but make perfect sense once you taste them.
The coleslaw is creamy and slightly sweet, providing the perfect cooling contrast to spicy barbecue sauce. Cash only, so hit the ATM before you go.