Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
The region’s top dishes made their way to NWA
Northwest Arkansas is filled with thousands of restaurants. From national chains to family run businesses that have expanded to multiple locations, to bar and grills with their regulars that go multiple times a week.
Being centrally located between lots of big market cities, Northwest Arkansas is blessed to have tastes from a little bit of everywhere.
New Orleans, Louisiana
9+ Hours from NWA
Famous for their Po’Boys, many locations around the Northwest Arkansas area have grabbed onto the obsession from the bayou. Po’Boys are sandwiches that always consist of meat. Usually sloppy roast beef or fried seafood which could include shrimp, crawfish oysters and crab. A restaurant around NWA that serves Po’Boys is Boar’s Nest in Rogers and Fayetteville.
Kansas City, Missouri
3+ Hours from NWA Memphis, Tennessee
4+ Hours from NWA
Austin, Texas
8+ Hours from NWA
Now, this isn’t where we are going to try to solve the great debate of what city has the best BBQ in the nation, but simply embrace how Northwest Arkansas is surrounded by three legends in the BBQ world. One of the reasons why the great debate will go on forever is because every city has their own thing or flavor that is what makes that city BBQ royalty. Kansas City thrives on their Burnt Ends, Memphis loves their pulled pork, and Austin with their overloads of ribs and brisket. So, in NWA, all three of those flavors come together to meet and expand the BBQ loving community. A restaurant around NWA that serves BBQ based off of one of these cities is Penguin Ed’s in
Fayetteville. Ed first love for BBQ began when he lived in Kansas City and worked for KC Masterpiece.
Chicago, Illinois 9:30+ Hours from NWA
One of the most recognizable food items linked to a United States city is Chicago’s Deep Dish pizza. People come from far and wide to have a taste of that thick, filling pizza in Chicago. With layers and layers of toppings, sauce and cheese. A restaurant around NWA that serves that thick style pizza? Well, of course Marley’s Chicago Style Pizzeria in Fayetteville as well as other local pizzerias.
Amarillo, Texas 7+ Hours from NWA
Home of the world famous ‘Big Texan’ steak that is 72 oz. Now, every where in the country has steak, but the home of steak is Amarillo for that famous, thick piece of meat. You cannot find another place like that around that will leave you speechless with the size of meat. A restaurant around NWA that serves great steaks is Colton’s Steakhouse which can be found in many different locations not only around Northwest Arkansas but also into neighbor states.
Austin, Texas
8+ Hours from NWA
Understanding that Austin has already been on this list for their BBQ, but according to the Huffington Post, the city that is most well-known for a specific food is Austin, Texas and their Tacos. Located near the Mexican boarder, tacos have become a staple of the University of Texas college town. Like Fayetteville, Austin is filled with lots of Food Trucks for the students. A restaurant around NWA that serves great tacos and other Tex-Mex items is Maria’s Mexican Restaurant in Bentonville.
All of these cities may be famous for specific foods, but Northwest Arkansas will gladly be their neighbors and accept all kinds of delicious feasts.
These styles of food didn’t include the international treats that have so many locations throughout Northwest Arkansas such as Thai, Chinese food, Greek and many more food that has made its way into Northwest Arkansas. Please see our the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette’s Dining Guide section that publishes every Friday for more stories about our local flavors, recipes, and restaurant listings.