Travelers should expect to find delicious food whenever they visit Arkansas. Located in the heart of the South, Arkansas is no stranger to good food and hospitality. Its Black-owned restaurant community keeps the legacy of Southern food alive in the state. From an array of delicious barbecue spots to some of the best soul food in the country, here are 10 Black-owned restaurants to support the next time you visit Arkansas.
Bobbi D’s Southern Cuisine
For delicious soul food in Little Rock, travelers should stop by Bobbi D’s Southern Cuisine. The restaurant is Black and family-owned. They’ve perfected the ultimate balance of flavor and seasoning to create soul-food goodness. Their menu has traditional soul food favorites that Black travelers seek in new destinations. From fried chicken and pork chop dinners to meatloaf and Thanksgiving-style dressing, Bobbi D’s is a cafeteria-style diner with food full of soul.
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Soul Food
- Menu Spotlight: Chicken Wing Dinner
- Before You Go: Bobbi D’s is closed on Sundays during summer.
Sho-Bo’s Kitchen
Located in Little Rock, Sho-Bo’s is a fun food truck filled with delicious grub. The food trailer opened in 2020 and has charmed the community ever since. They specialize in comfort foods of all sorts. From loaded Philly cheesesteak sandwiches to burgers and nacho fries, Sho-Bo’s Kitchen has exactly what travelers need. Another great, Black-owned restaurant in Arkansas, Sho-Bo’s won’t disappoint when it comes to delicious food made to order.
- Location: North Little Rock, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Comfort Food
- Menu Spotlight: Philly Cheesesteak Combo
- Before You Go: Many people suggest trying Sho-Bo’s incredible Cajun alfredo, filled with shrimp, fresh crab, and steak.
Sims Bar-B-Que
Best known for its incredible sauce, Sims Bar-B-Que has been serving the Little Rock community for years. Locals know it’s the go-to place for delicious barbecue and heart-warming side dishes. Now, folks come from all over to get a taste of the famous Sims Bar–B–Que sauce created by the original owners, Allen and Amelia Sims. The restaurant has perfected the art of American barbecue and keeps guests coming back for more every year.
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Barbecue
- Menu Spotlight: Slab Of Ribs
- Before You Go: Sims Bar-B-Que is open every day except on Sunday.
Chick’n Headz
Folks in Fayetteville can’t get enough of Chick’n Headz. Some argue it’s the best place to grab wings in the entire state. Black and family-owned, the owners of Chick’n Headz took a leap of faith in 2020 when they opened the restaurant. Now, their wings are the star of the show in Fayetteville, with various combo meals and flavors. The restaurant also has fried fish, tenders, and more.
- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Comfort Food
- Menu Spotlight: Traditional Wing Meal
- Before You Go: Chick’n Headz was voted one of Arkansas’s top 10 best chicken restaurants.
Yeh Mon
For delicious Caribbean cuisine, travelers can visit Yeh Mon. The restaurant has incredible reviews online. Visitors love their jerk chicken, oxtails, and Jamaican beef patties. Yeh Mon has a little bit of all of your favorite Jamaican dishes. It’s clear that the food is made with love and keeps coming back for more. The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner servings.
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Caribbean Cuisine
- Menu Spotlight: Jerk Chicken
- Before You Go: Yeh Mon has reasonable prices and is considered one of the best places for Jamaican food in Little Rock.
Kontiki African Restaurant
Travelers will find authentic African food being whipped up on South University Street at Kontiki African Restaurant. The restaurant combines traditional African food and unique infusions that merge African cuisine with American favorites. From jollof rice to fried plantains and cassava leaves, Kontiki African restaurant connects the Little Rock community to the motherland with every bite. The restaurant currently doesn’t have an active website, so travelers should check out its Facebook page for updated hours and menus.
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: African Cuisine
- Menu Spotlight: Rice Akara
- Before You Go: Kontiki was recently added to Doordash and Grubhub for travelers who want to dine in the comfort of their hotels.
Herman’s Ribhouse
Herman’s Ribhouse is one of the oldest Black-owned restaurants in Arkansas. Located in Fayetteville, the restaurant opened in 1964. Before then, it was a tavern where folks would gather to watch weekend sporting events. Now, Herman’s has a legacy of grilling up some of the best barbecue cuisine in the city. The restaurant is family-owned and operated, with a whole lot of love behind the charcoal, smoke, and delicious meats.
- Location: Fayetteville, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Barbecue
- Menu Spotlight: Ribeye Steak Herman’s Cut
- Before You Go: Herman’s Ribhouse is only open Wednesday through Saturday.
MeMe’s Twisted Potato
For vegan food in Little Rock, MeMe’s Twisted Potato is the place to go. The restaurant emphasizes that MeMe’s is not fast food. Everything is made to order, so be sure to give yourself time to wait for your food to be made hot and fresh. MeMe’s aims to showcase that vegan food can be delicious and that everyone can enjoy it with an open mind. They pride themselves on having fresh ingredients and hope that the restaurant delivers the best vegan food you’ve ever tried.
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Vegan
- Menu Spotlight: The Boss Hookem Burger
- Before You Go: Check out MeMe’s website for hours of operation and ordering instructions.
Certified Pies
Certified Pies is a Black-owned pizza parlor located in Little Rock, Arkansas. And according to the owners, the pizza isn’t authentic if it isn’t certified. Travelers will find a hefty menu full of traditional pizzas and a few with their own flares. Guest love their Boss Hog Meat Lovers, the Swang And Bang, Sweet James, and the Al Green pizza. If you’re not feeling pizza while in Little Rock, Certified Pies also has appetizers like fried pickles, mozzarella sticks, and even chicken sliders to enjoy.
- Location: Little Rock, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Pizza
- Menu Spotlight: Boss Hog Meat Lovers Pie
- Before You Go: Certified Pies serves hot and fresh pizza in Little Rock every day of the week.
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner
Jones Bar-B-Q Diner is one of the oldest restaurants in the country. Unfortunately, the Arkansas restaurant succumbed to a building fire a few years ago, forcing it to close. Now Jones is back and better than ever. The restaurant is serving hot, delicious barbecue like it has for decades. A true community staple, it is a must-visit when exploring Arkansas. Thanks to donations from the community, the restaurant has been back open since 2021.
- Location: Marianna, Arkansas
- Type of Cuisine: Barbecue
- Menu Spotlight: Pork BBQ Sandwich
- Before You Go: Jones Bar-B-Q Diner has been open for over 100 years.
There is plenty of good eating in Arkansas. The state’s Black-owned restaurants ensure travelers have their needs covered when it comes to good barbecue, seafood, soul food, and more. Make sure you visit one of these incredible Black-owned restaurants the next time you’re in town.
