Finalists announced for 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Division of Arkansas Heritage is sharing a taste of the 2024 Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

The finalists for this year’s Arkansas Food Hall of Fame were announced on Monday.

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The categories that the restaurants were nominated for were People’s Choice, Gone But Not Forgotten, Food-Themed Event, Proprietor of the Year and Arkansas Food Hall of Fame.

“This year’s finalists embody the flavors, traditions and stories that define Arkansas,” Division of Arkansas Heritage director Marty Ryall said. “As we celebrate these restaurants, we honor not only the dishes they create but the communities they feed and the legacies they preserve.”

The finalists include:

•              Top Dog Catering (Lonoke County)

•              Bennett’s Seafood (Garland County)

•              The Purple Banana (Benton County)

•              BubbaLu’s (Garland County)

•              Beech Street Bistro (Ashley County)

•              Anderson’s (White County)

•              Juanita’s (Pulaski County)

•              Polar Freeze (Lawrence County)

•              Arkansas Pie Festival (Sharp County)

•              Mayhaw Festival (Union County)

•              Mt. Nebo Chicken Fry (Yell County)

•              Slovak Oyster Supper (Arkansas County)

•              Soup Sunday (Pulaski County)

•              Crissy’s Pub Style (Saline County)

•              Tusk & Trotter American Brasserie (Washington County)

•              Loca Luna and Red Door (Pulaski County)

•              Woods Place (Ouachita County)

•              Doe’s Eat Place (Pulaski County)

•              Big Banjo Pizza Parlor (Jefferson County)

•              The Faded Rose (Pulaski County)

•              Charlotte’s Eats and Sweets (Lonoke County)

•              Herman’s Ribhouse (Washington County)

•              Daisy Queen (Searcy County)

•              The Dixie Pig (Mississippi County)

•              Ray’s (Drew County)

•              Old South Restaurant (Pope County)

•              Dairyette (Montgomery County)

•              Hugo’s (Washington County)

•              Taliano’s Italian Restaurant (Sebastian County)

•              Brave New Restaurant (Pulaski County)

•              K Hall & Sons (Pulaski County)

Arkansas Department of Parks, Heritage and Tourism Secretary Shea Lewis spoke on honoring the finalists for their impact on the state’s food culture.

“Food is such a defining feature of Arkansas, having the potential to tell stories with just one bite,” Lewis said. “Our finalists are perfect examples of this, and we’re honored to recognize their impact on the state’s dynamic food culture.”

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Officials said honorees will be inducted into the Arkansas Hall of Fame during an event in September and more details on the event will be announced later this year.

More information on the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame can be found at ArkFoodHOF.com.

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