Arkansas's Fried Chicken Trail Is A Trip You Need To Take ASAP
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J.B. VanDyke
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If you asked someone who is not from Arkansas what Arkansans like to eat, fried chicken is fairly likely to go on the list they provide. Those people are not wrong. Arkansans do loved fried food, and fried chicken is truly an Arkansas classic. This fried chicken trail will take you about seven hours of drive time, and I’d recommend spreading out that adventure across several days, just to make sure you can handle all that pan-fried deliciousness and have some time to explore the attractions along the way.
You can find your itinerary at this link.
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We’re beginning our chicken fried adventure in the extreme southeast of the Natural State, at a little place called J.J.’s Lakeside Cafe. When it comes to a southern-fried buffet, you can’t do better than J.J.’s, and their chicken is absolutely succulent.
J.J.’s Lakeside Cafe is located at 1025 South Highway 65-82 in Lake Village.
J.J.’s Lakeside Cafe is located at 1025 South Highway 65-82 in Lake Village.
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We’re driving about an hour and 49 minutes to our next stop, this time to a little place called Dew-Baby’s. While the restaurant may not look like a palace from the outside, their pan-fried chicken is definitely the stuff of legend. You’ll want to finish your meal with their award winning pie, too.
Dew-Baby’s is located at 813 East Michigan Street in Stuttgart.
Dew-Baby’s is located at 813 East Michigan Street in Stuttgart.
We can’t leave a place called Chicken Country off the trail, can we? Chicken Country offers up lovely, fresh, fried chicken among their list of Arkansas favorites. The pieces of chicken you’ll get there are bigger than you’ll find at most restaurants, and they’re marinated before they’re battered and fried in peanut oil.
Chicken Country of Jacksonville is located at 1922 West Main Street in Jacksonville.
Chicken Country of Jacksonville is located at 1922 West Main Street in Jacksonville.
This little hole-in-the-wall fries up some fantastic food. It’s unpretentious, full of delicious flavors, and friendly service. Soul food done right is what you’ll find at David Family Kitchen, and that includes some spectacular fried chicken.
David Family Kitchen is located at 2301 Broadway Street in Little Rock.
David Family Kitchen is located at 2301 Broadway Street in Little Rock.
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If you’re looking for home-style flavor in an inviting atmosphere, you’re going to love the next stop on our chicken trail. Holly’s Country Cookin’ makes food like your grandmamma used to make, from recipes at home in any southern kitchen. Their fried chicken is a wonder to behold, but you can only get it between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., so plan ahead.
Holly’s Country Cookin’ is located at 120 Harkride Street in Conway.
Holly’s Country Cookin’ is located at 120 Harkride Street in Conway.
Next up we have a longstanding Arkansas eatery that’s been frying up delicious chicken as long as anybody can remember. You’ll love the throwback style of the Old South’s building and dining room, but you’ll love the fried chicken even more.
The Old South is located at 1330 East Main Street in Russellville.
The Old South is located at 1330 East Main Street in Russellville.
Calico County is basically the fried chicken capital of Arkansas’s second largest city, and they’ve got some southern-fried specialties that will have you driving westward again and again. One of those specialties is their absolutely succulent fried chicken. If you’re mouth is watering just thinking about it, don’t worry—they’ll serve you complimentary cinnamon rolls while you wait.
Calico County is located at 2401 South 56th Street in Fort Smith.
Calico County is located at 2401 South 56th Street in Fort Smith.
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The folks at the Monte Ne Inn are chicken experts. They do one thing and they do it well—they serve up perfect fried chicken family-style, to your whole table, so you can divide up the pieces however you want. Paired with southern favorite sides, this chicken has won awards again and again, making this little eatery the perfect place to end your spectacular journey on Arkansas’s chicken trail.
Monte Ne Inn is located at 13843 East Highway 94 in Rogers.
Monte Ne Inn is located at 13843 East Highway 94 in Rogers.
I highly recommend following this road trip with Arkansas’s pie trail. You might also want to try this barbecue trail and this cheese dip trail while you’re at it.
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