8 Must-Try Restaurants In Benton, Arkansas That Are Worth The Drive In 2027
A burger called The Big Moo stacks three jumbo patties with multiple cheeses and bacon. I can’t imagine finishing one, but I’m all for cheering on anyone who tries.
That burger lives in one Arkansas town with a surprisingly fun food lineup. One spot cooks your custom stir-fry on an iron grill with no added oil.
Another began with a backyard smoker, moved to a food truck, and grew into real restaurants.
I like the idea of a place where a breakfast burrito comes smothered in gravy. Sunday brunch there even includes a cinnamon souffle, which sounds like dessert wearing a breakfast costume.
Catfish, New York style pizza, and made-from-scratch pasta all share the same map too. So which stop gets your first visit, and how many can you fit into one hungry day?
1. Great Khan Mongolian Stir-Fry & Sushi
Picky eaters finally get full control at this Military Road stop, because you build your own bowl. You choose from hand-chopped vegetables, meats, seafood, and homemade sauces, then the kitchen takes over.
The grill is iron, and your stir-fry cooks on it without extra oil. That detail makes a giant bowl feel a little less guilty, which counts as a win.
Protein choices include chicken, beef, pork, turkey, and shrimp, with tofu available too. Mix them, match them, or pile on extra vegetables if you want more crunch.
Sushi shares the spotlight, so the name isn’t just for show. Regular rolls include California, Cucumber, and Crunchy Crab, while special rolls include the OMG Roll and Dragon Roll.
The AR Roll is a fun pick for anyone visiting Arkansas who wants a home-state nod on the plate. Starters like Edamame, Gyoza, Cream Cheese Wonton, Fried Shumai, and Shrimp Tempura make sharing easy.
Crab Legs, Stir-Fried Noodles, and Udon Soup or Rice Bowls round out the bigger options. Miso Soup, Seaweed Salad, and Avocado Salad work well if you want something lighter on the side.
The setting is casual and interactive, so it’s an easy choice for groups with very different tastes. One person can go fiery while another keeps things simple.
Save a little room for NY Cheese Cake or Mochi once the bowl is empty. The restaurant runs as a local family-owned business.
Smart move: try one sauce you’ve never tasted before. Your bowl, your rules, and nobody to blame but yourself.
Address: 1212 Military Rd, Benton, AR 72015
2. Verona Italian Restaurant
New York style pizza in central Arkansas? Yes, and it comes in more than one style.
Neapolitan Pizza and Sicilian Pizza sit on the menu beside Verona’s White Pizza and Verona’s Special Pizza. If your group can’t agree, ordering two kinds counts as smart diplomacy.
Appetizers lean classic and shareable. Garlic Cheese Bread, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks, Fried Raviolis, Italian Sausage, Mussels Marinara, and Fried Calamari all show up.
Chicken lovers get a long list to work through. Chicken Parmigiana, Chicken Florentine, Chicken Cacciatore, Chicken Marsala, and Chicken Piccata cover a lot of ground.
Pasta fans can settle in with Lasagna or Spaghetti & Meat Sauce. Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo is there too for anyone craving creamy comfort.
Need lunch you can hold with both hands? The sub lineup includes a Meatball Sub, Veal Parm Sub, Philly Cheese Steak Sub, and Chicken Parmigiana Sub.
The Meatball Parmigiana Sub is another option when one meatball sandwich simply isn’t enough. A Tossed Salad or Caesar Salad can balance things out, at least in theory.
Dessert deserves its own game plan. Tiramisu, Cannoli, and Italian Cream Cake make picking just one a little stressful.
Its spot right on I-30 makes it handy for road trippers cutting through the area. Pull off, grab a slice, and head back to the highway in a much better mood.
Pro tip for families: split a big pizza and a couple of pasta dishes. That way, the table gets a taste of several favorites without anyone feeling left out.
Address: 16925 I-30, Benton, AR 72015
3. Wright’s Barbecue
Plenty of barbecue dreams start in a backyard, but few end up as restaurants. Wright’s has served pit-smoked barbecue since 2016, growing from a backyard smoker to a food truck and beyond.
The meat is wood-fired and cooked low and slow. You can order Brisket, Pulled Pork, Ribs, Smoked Turkey, and Smoked Chicken by the pound.
Sausage comes in Original and Jalapeño Cheddar links. That jalapeño version pops up again in a few of the menu’s wilder creations.
Take the Woo Pig, a fitting name for an Arkansas sandwich. It piles pulled pork with jalapeño cheddar sausage, coleslaw, and barbecue sauce.
The Pumba stacks brisket, pulled pork, and jalapeño cheddar sausage together. There’s even a Wright’s Smash Burger made with brisket, which sounds like a very good idea.
Bowls bring more fun names to the table. The Rocketman puts chopped brisket and bacon burnt ends over mashed potatoes, while the Big John tops Fritos with chopped brisket and smoked beans.
Loaded Mac adds pulled pork to mac and cheese. BBQ Nachos work for anyone who wants a snack that eats like a full meal.
Sides go well beyond the basics. Poblano Creamed Corn, Collard Greens, Sweet Potatoes, Smoked Beans, and several potato salads are on the list.
Can’t choose just one meat? Build a plate with two or three and call it research.
Bringing a crew? Ordering meat by the pound makes it easy to share a spread and let everyone build their own plate.
Address: 17348 I-30, Benton, AR 72019
4. Burger Shack
Any burger named after a hubcap is making a big promise. Burger Shack offers Hubcap Burgers along with Regular, Double, Jumbo, and Double Jumbo sizes.
Benton natives Dara and Luke Moody opened the place on April 16, 2006. That’s a long run on South Market Street for a spot built around burgers and fries.
Specialty burgers give you plenty of directions to go. The Mountain Burger brings smoked ham, smoked bacon, Swiss, and American cheese together in one handful.
Other picks include the Chili Cheeseburger, Patty Melt, Jalapeño Jack Burger, BBQ Bacon Cheddar Burger, and Bacon Swiss Burger. Then there’s The Big Moo.
That beast carries three jumbo patties with multiple cheeses and bacon. Plan a nap afterward, or at least a long walk around downtown.
Sides read like a snack lover’s wish list. French Fries, Onion Rings, Cajun Fries, Tator Tots, Fried Pickles, and Jalapeno Poppers are all here.
Chili Cheese Fries or Tots and Loaded Fries or Tots take things up a notch. Frito Chili Pie and Smothered Tamales add a fun twist for anyone craving something different.
Not in a burger mood? Hot dogs, foot longs, chili dogs, and chicken baskets keep your options wide open.
A Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad Sandwich also makes the menu. It’s a lighter-sounding pick for the one friend who skipped the triple patty challenge.
Fun fact for your table: the Moody family roots run right in town. That hometown history gives your burger run a little extra flavor.
Address: 107 S Market St, Benton, AR 72015
5. Italy in Town
Date night planners, grab a pen for this downtown address. Reservations are highly recommended on Fridays and Saturdays, so don’t leave your evening to luck.
The food here is made from scratch, and the setting leans romantic. It’s the kind of spot where you might actually put your phone away.
The story behind it is touching. After original owner Chico Santos passed, friends and former staff reopened the restaurant in February 2022, with Jon Donnor as owner.
Start with Fried Cheese Ravioli, Fried Calamari, Crab Cakes, or Dipping Bread. Tomato Basil Soup makes a nice pick on a chilly Arkansas evening.
Pasta classics include Spaghetti & Meat Balls, Fettuccini Alfredo, and Lasagna. Pasticcio Di Lasagna and Tortellini Alla Panna give you a reason to branch out.
Gluten-free diners get real choices too. Penne, spaghetti, and fettucine all come in gluten-free versions.
Want something beyond pasta? A Ribeye special is grilled to order, and Salmon Rockerfeller also earns a spot on the menu.
Desserts make a strong closing argument. Creme Brulee, Cannoli, Tiramisu, Chocolate Lava Cake, and Cheesecake are all options.
Weekly specials keep things fresh for repeat visits. The restaurant also handles custom catering and private events if you’re planning a party.
Here’s a sweet strategy for two people. Order different pastas, swap halves, and split a dessert so the night lasts a little longer.
Address: 120 N Market St, Benton, AR 72015
6. Eat My Catfish
A restaurant name this bossy deserves your attention. Eat My Catfish focuses on U.S. farm-raised catfish and fresh, free-range Arkansas chicken.
Catfish comes in several styles. You can get a Catfish Dinner with 2, 3, or 4 pieces, or go Blackened or Grilled instead.
Shrimp fans have plenty of choices as well. Boiled Gulf Shrimp Dinner, Blackened Shrimp Dinner, Grilled Shrimp, and a Fried Shrimp Basket fill that part of the menu.
Starters lean Southern and snackable. Shrimp Gumbo, Boudin Balls, Patti’s Onion Rings, and Twisted Pickle Chips make waiting for your main plate easier.
Chicken gets real attention instead of playing backup. Tender Baskets come in 3 or 5 pieces, and Boneless Chicken Wings come in 8 or 12.
Can’t commit to one thing? Combos pair Catfish & Chicken, Chicken & Shrimp, or Catfish & Shrimp, and the All-3-Value Lunch Special brings in a bit of each.
Po’ Boys come filled with catfish, shrimp, or chicken. The shrimp option is a tasty nod to Gulf Coast flavors.
Feeding a crowd at home? Family Packs include a Catfish Family Pack, a Chicken Family Pack, and an Ultimate Family Pack with both.
Little eaters get a Kids’ Menu with chicken, catfish, shrimp, and mac and cheese. Nobody has to settle for a sad side dish as dinner.
The spot also sits on Military Road, which makes pairing it with another stop easy. A two-restaurant food day sounds like a solid weekend plan.
Address: 1205 Military Rd, Benton, AR 72015
7. ISHA The Taste of India
A plate of butter chicken can change your whole lunch plan. This Military Road restaurant brings Indian cooking to Benton, with fragrant curries, tandoori specialties, and plenty of choices for anyone eager to try something different.
The menu stretches well beyond familiar favorites. Chicken Tikka Masala, Chicken Curry, and Chicken Korma offer several ways to discover the restaurant’s rich, carefully seasoned sauces.
Start with Vegetable Samosas or Chicken Samosas before moving to the main course. Chilli Paneer, Gobi Manchuria, and Crispy Brussels Sprout Pakora give adventurous eaters even more to explore.
Vegetarians have a particularly interesting lineup here. Paneer Butter Masala, Aloo Gobi Masala, Saag Paneer, and Dal Makhani prove that a satisfying dinner doesn’t need meat.
The tandoori selection brings another side of Indian cooking to the table. Chicken Tikka, Tandoori Chicken, and Tandoori Shrimp offer smoky flavors straight from the grill.
Rice lovers shouldn’t overlook the biryani and mandi selections. These hearty dishes offer a different experience from ordering a curry with naan, especially when you’re hungry enough for a generous meal.
Garlic Butter Naan makes an excellent companion to the saucier dishes. A Mango Lassi offers a sweet, refreshing contrast when you’ve decided to turn up the spice.
Dessert keeps the adventure going. Gulab Jamun and Rasmalai introduce traditional Indian sweets, while colorful Falooda gives anyone with a sweet tooth another tempting option.
The restaurant also offers vegetarian and nonvegetarian thali platters for diners who enjoy sampling different flavors. With so many choices, this Benton stop gives curious eaters plenty of reasons to return.
Address: 1400 Military Rd, Benton, AR 72015
8. Dan’s I-30 Diner
Gravy shows up in some bold places at this roadside diner. The I-30 Burrito comes with fried potatoes and onions smothered in gravy, and it’s not alone.
The Southern Benedict swaps the usual muffin for a biscuit with sausage and two eggs. Then it gets smothered in gravy too, because why stop now?
Breakfast and lunch are both served, so it’s a good stop for a morning meal or midday bite. The atmosphere is friendly and family-like, a good match for a no-fuss road trip stop.
Morning classics cover plenty of ground. Ham & Eggs, Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs, Corned Beef Hash & Eggs, and Steak & Eggs are all options.
Prefer something off the griddle? French Toast and Sweet Cream Pancakes are ready for syrup duty.
Omelet choices include Spinach, Meat Lovers, Western, Spanish, and Ham & Cheese. You can also build your own if you’re picky about fillings.
Breakfast sides include Biscuits & Gravy, Grits, Ham Steak, and Golden Hashbrowns. Lunch sides like Fried Okra, Fried Squash, Pinto Beans, and Potato Salad feel very Arkansas.
Burgers include the Old Fashioned Burger, Bacon Cheeseburger, and Dan’s Signature Burger. A Classic Philly Cheesesteak and Traditional Club Sandwich round out the lunch lineup.
Breakfast Sandwiches and Meat, Egg & Cheese Biscuits or Muffins work well for a quick bite. They’re handy when the highway is calling your name.
With an address right on I-30, the diner is easy to reach on a drive. Just loosen your belt before the gravy round begins.
Address: 17018 I-30 N, Benton, AR 72019