What Food Little Rock is Known For

Taste your way through Little Rock's most iconic dishes.

Barbeque

Sitting at the crossroads of three legendary BBQ regions, Little Rock has created its own smoky identity. Pork takes center stage here, served sliced, chopped, or pulled on a bun or plain white bread, typically topped with coleslaw, pickles, and onions. You'll discover plenty of other proteins and sauce styles here too, from tangy to sweet.

A rack of dry rub ribs sitting on a tray with bbq sauce, pickles, coleslaw, and local draft beer from lost forty brewery.

Biscuits & Chocolate Gravy

Wake up to Arkansas' sweetest breakfast tradition: fluffy biscuits smothered in rich chocolate gravy. This Ozarks recipe combines flour, fat, and cocoa powder into a dessert-like meal that'll have you rethinking everything you thought you knew about gravy.

Cheese Dip

Cheese dip isn't just popular in Little Rock, it's a beloved dip in the city and was invented here in 1935. Every restaurant seems to have their own signature version of this creamy appetizer. And cheese dip is so beloved here, we host the World Cheese Dip Championship every year.

A couple holding out their cheese dip in muffin tins smiling with steins of beer during an event at an indoor outdoor baseball park.

Cornbread

What started as Native American ground corn cakes has evolved into countless variations featuring cheese, jalapeños, honey, and more, but one thing has remained consistent, cornbread is always made in a cast-iron skillet.

Craft Beverages

Since brewpubs became legal in 1991, Little Rock has cultivated an impressive craft beverage scene worth exploring. Beyond beer, the city is home to Arkansas' first post-Prohibition distillery and wineries offering wines made with the locally grown Cynthiana grape, known as the "Cabernet of the Ozarks" and the official state grape since 2009.

A group touring a distillery with the tour guide pointing to different parts of the machinery.

Eggnog

Eggnog has been Arkansas' favorite holiday beverage since the late 1800s, when Little Rock's social scene revolved around "floating islands of eggnog" each Christmas. Despite facing the temperance movement and Prohibition, eggnog persevered and remains a popular holiday tradition. Every December, the Historic Arkansas Museum hosts a spirited competition to crown Little Rock's best eggnog maker.

Fried Dill Pickles

Did you know fried pickles originated in Arkansas, not too far from Little Rock? In the 1960s, Bernell "Fatman" Austin, owner of the Duchess Drive-In, a restaurant located across the highway from the Atkins Pickle Company, became the first establishment to ever sell fried dill pickles. Today, you'll find them served as appetizers at many Little Rock restaurants.

Global Cuisine

Little Rock's food scene spans the globe with countless international restaurants. The annual International Greek Food Festival showcases this diversity beautifully, where volunteer cooks bring recipes and traditions from Greek, Armenian, Georgian, Romanian, Russian, Indian, Middle Eastern, and English backgrounds.

A person serving a greek chicken Gyro with tzatziki at the International Greek Food Festival.

Hush Puppies

These golden fried cornmeal balls are crispy on the outside, pillowy soft inside, and a must-have at every seafood spot. Enjoy them alongside Cajun food and seafood boils throughout Little Rock, they’re perfect for soaking up spicy sauces!

Possum Pie

Despite its name, this Arkansas original contains zero possum and 100% deliciousness. Layers of vanilla pudding, cream cheese, and chocolate custard nestle in a pecan shortbread crust, all disguised under a whipped cream topping (hence the name, as the pie "plays possum" with its hidden ingredients).

Southern Comfort

Get ready for all the Southern classics that'll make your heart sing: crispy fried catfish, savory biscuits and sausage gravy, and every comforting dish you've been dreaming about. Little Rock's restaurants serve these time-honored favorites with the skill and love they deserve.

State Fair Favorites

The Arkansas State Fair is your ticket to experiencing all the indulgent, over-the-top foods that make fair season a can't-miss culinary adventure. From funnel cakes to corn dogs, you'll find carnival favorites and creative new concoctions. Discover how to eat your way through this annual celebration of all things fried, sweet, and indulgent.

A close up shot of funnel cake topped with powdered sugar and chocolate at the Arkansas State Fair in Little Rock, AR.

To find restaurants serving up these foods and more, explore our restaurant guide.

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