Whole Hog Café

2516 Cantrell Road,
Little Rock (501) 664-5025;

12111 W. Markham St.,
Little Rock (501) 917-6124

Back Story: A longtime favorite of Arkansans, Whole Hog Café has won more awards than we can count, and remains Arkansas’ only “World Champion” barbecue café. It was even featured on Food Network’s “Tasty Travels with Rachel Ray” and listed in Fodor’s as a “don’t miss” in Arkansas.

The Dish: Smoked to perfection, the selection includes pulled pork, pork loin, beef brisket, smoked chicken, and of course, Whole Hog’s award-winning ribs, which are slathered in a top-secret, 16-ingredient glaze. Six sauces, ranging from sweet and mild, to tangy, to spicy, please every palate. Feeling adventurous? Try the barbecue nachos.

Lindsey’s Hospitality House

207 E. 15th St.,
North Little Rock (501) 374-5707

Back Story: Lindsey’s barbecue isn’t just a specialty; it’s a family tradition dating back to their first restaurant in 1954, opened by D.L. Lindsey Sr. Their homemade (and highly addictive) sauce has become so popular it’s sold by the bottle.

The Dish: Try a beef, pork or smoked link sandwich, or ribs with sides of fried okra and black-eyed peas. For dessert, order a fried pie. (Yankees: a fried pie is pie dough filled usually with fruit and then fried to flaky perfection, in a half-moon shape.) They’ve got peach, apple or chocolate. Good luck with that decision.

Burge’s in the Heights

5620 R St.,
Little Rock (501) 666-1660

Back Story: Steeped in tradition, Burge’s was founded in the ‘50s when Alden Burge began smoking turkeys in his Lewisville backyard. In 1962 he moved his operation to a dairyette on the corner of Arkansas Highways 29 and 82, and in 1977, he opened a location in The Heights.

The Dish: In addition to their popular smoked turkey sandwiches, Burge’s offerings also include burgers, catfish, smoked ham, chopped beef, sliced barbecued pork, smoked hot links and smoked, barbecued baby back ribs. We recommend a rack of ribs with a side of beer-battered onion rings.

Sim’s Bar-B-Que

2415 Broadway St., Little Rock
(501) 372-6868;

7601 Geyer Springs Road, Little Rock
(501) 562-8844;

1307 John Barrow Road, Little Rock
(501) 224-2057

Back Story: Sim’s has been dishing up delicious barbecue since 1937 when it was opened by Allen and Amelia Sims. They have three “sit down” restaurant locations in central Arkansas, and several carry-out express restaurants are in the works.

The Dish: Slow-cooked, hickory smoked items include pork ribs, whole chickens and brisket. They also serve more unique items like barbecued salad and smoked bologna sandwiches. Pair your meal with turnip greens and potato salad, and polish it off with a fried pie or a slice of homemade sweet potato pie. You won’t regret it.

Chip’s

9801 W. Markham St.,
Little Rock
(501) 225-4346

Back Story: Family owned and operated, Chip’s has been a Little Rock favorite since 1961, when Tom and Tina Chipman opened it as a neighborhood “drive-in.” Chip’s preservative-free barbecue sauces are bottled daily at their Markham Street location and are shipped all over the country for visitors who get hooked.

The Dish: Try their hickory smoked beef, pork, ham, chicken breast, turkey and ribs with sides of their crispy, golden fries and hushpuppies. For dessert, sample a slice of one of their homemade pies. Offerings include coconut, banana, pumpkin, pecan, lemon and, our favorite, chocolate.