One thing people who visit the state from up north always want to do is eat some real southern food. Fried chicken is pretty much universal (I think we make it better down here), but many of our northern friends have never had a purple hull pea and scoff at frying okra. They don't know what grits are and they don't think they want to know. Do the right thing and show them some southern hospitality. Take them for some real country cooking.
1. Your Mama's Good Food
Amanda Galiano
Your Mama's Good Food is one of those local hole in the wall spots that everyone flocks to for lunch. I'm in love with their rolls. It's cafeteria style and meals range around $7-10. Your Mama's Good Food is located on 215 Center Street, in the Pyramid Building. 501-372-1811.
2. Bobby's Country Kitchen
Amanda Galiano
Bobby's has the best fried chicken and okra on the list. The daily selection of other entrees varies, but fried chicken is always on the menu. The plate lunch is a bargain at $7.50, and they often offer turnip greens, purple hull peas and other southern delights. Save room for pie. Located on 301 N.Shackleford Rd and openfrom 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday - Friday. 501-224-9500.
3. Ed and Kay's (Benton)
Amanda Galiano
Just outside of Little Rock is Ed and Kay's. They are famous for their "mile high" meringue pie, but I'm not that big a fan of their pies. What I am a fan of is their southern cooking. Ed and Kay's is a sit down restaurant, with a massive menu that includes fried chicken, purple hull peas, northern beans, beats, fried potatoes, jalapeno cornbread, smothered steak, it goes on and on. It's really a great place to get a southern food fix. You can save room for the famous pie. I'll load up on the food. Open Wed-Sunday and located on 15228 Interstate 30 in Benton. 501-315-6283.
4. Franke's
Amanda Galiano
Franke's is one of the oldest restaurants in Arkansas, first opening a location in 1924. They still offer a good, cafeteria style plate lunch. They probably have the widest selection of the restaurants on this list, with a pretty impressive daily menu. You can almost always find greens, fried chicken, macaroni and cheese and other southern comfort foods. They have excellent roast beef and a legendary custard pie. I find that I often spend more money here than some of the other places on the list, but if you stick to the plate lunch and don't get extras, it's a bargain. Located on 11121 N Rodney Parham Rd, 501-225-4487.
5. B-Side
If you like grits, try them at the B-side. They only serve breakfast, but they have the best grits in town. They also have chicken and waffles, biscuits and gravy and some other southern faves. B-side is a less "home style" and a little more refined than some of the other restaurants I mentioned, but it's still casual and fun. It's the only place I'd recommend for grits (aside from Ashley's and they're far from casual). 11121 Rodney Parham Road. Open 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, 8 a.m. - 2 p.m. Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday.
6. The Dixie Cafe
The Dixie Cafe offers sit down dining and it has more of a chain feel to it (it is an Arkansas chain). They have some good southern food, including chicken fried steak, mac and cheese, greens, squash and black-eyed peas. Their menu is more varied than some of the others on this list. They have sandwiches, some not as southern things and a kid's menu. Service is always friendly and the food is always good. 1301 Rebsamen Park Road, 501-663-9336.
