When a restaurant has been around for decades, it’s definitely doing something right. That can certainly be said for McClard’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant. Practically a state icon, it’s been serving up some of the best southern eats since 1928!

Every great success has a story behind it, and McClard’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant in Hot Springs is no exception!
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
It was opened by Alex and Alice McClard in 1928 as a tourist court, diner, and gas station, just a few blocks west from its current locale.
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
Everything changed for the McClards when a guest, who was unable to pay for his 2-month stay, offered an unusual form of payment – a recipe for "the world's greatest bar-b-q sauce." The McClards accepted the quirky offer, and the rest is history!
Today, McClard’s is a landmark with tons of accolades under its belt, including being voted one of The Travel Channel’s, “Top 10 Bar-B-Q Joints.”
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
A bar-b-q hotspot, it serves up 7,000 pounds of hickory-smoked beef, pork, and ribs every week.
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
And that’s in addition to 250 gallons of spicy bar-b-q beans, 250 gallons of Cole slaw, 3,000 pounds of fries, and 3,000 hot tamales.
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook

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The secret to McClard’s success is simple – the grub is consistently delicious, and that’s no coincidence.
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
Since day one, the family-run restaurant has stuck to the principles set forth by the original owners, such as using only the best ingredients, buying quality cuts, and never skimping on portions.
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
And there’s the famous sauce, which, of course, is still made the same way.
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
Don’t expect to verify the recipe, though. It’s a secret, and it’s locked up in a safe deposit box.
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook
Now “world famous,” McClard’s didn’t just figure out the recipe for success. It wrote it!
McClard's Bar-B-Q/Facebook

For more info, call McClard’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant at (501) 623-9665. You can also visit the restaurant’s website. And don’t forget to like McClard’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant on Facebook.

So, did you know about this iconic BBQ joint? Ever dined at McClard’s Bar-B-Q Restaurant? If so, what’d you order? And how was it? Tell us!

This is just one of the historic restaurants in Arkansas. Click here to read about another that’s been doling out its signature burgers since 1967.

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McClard's Bar-B-Q Restaurant, 505 Albert Pike Rd, Hot Springs National Park, AR 71913, USA