Barbecue for lunch or dinner is always a solid meal choice, especially in the Fort Smith, Arkansas area. Whether you’re a fan of tasty ribs, chicken, or brisket, these four restaurants will satisfy your craving for barbecue.
Neumeier’s Rib Room
If you love barbecue and music, Neumeier’s Rib Room is the place to go. It’s been an institution in Fort Smith since 1998 and features some of the best barbecues in the area. Delectable favorites on the menu include the pork loin baby back ribs, the chopped pork shoulder, and the chicken. Tamales are also a big favorite among the locals.
In addition to the great food, you’ll appreciate being able to dine out and enjoy great music too.
River Valley BBQ
Barbecue in Arkansas focuses a lot on pork. River Valley BBQ in Fort Smith has its fair share, but it’s also known for some very tasty beef brisket. The key to good barbecue is the meat and this restaurant cooks it just right. So you don’t necessarily need barbecue sauce to enjoy it. In addition to ribs, brisket, and andouille sausage, River Valley serves up dishes like corn nuggets, baked potatoes, salad, and sandwiches. The restaurant also offers up specials that change on a daily basis. It’s a good family-run restaurant to come to for lunch and dinner any time.
Ralph’s Pink Flamingo BBQ
Ralph’s Pink Flamingo BBQ started out as a barbecue competition team before becoming a full-fledged restaurant. What started out as fun competition outside of work quickly became about producing the best-tasting barbecue. One popular dish is the Judge’s Platter, which consists of three baby back ribs, brisket, two pieces of sausage, pulled pork, two sides, and bread. It’s perfect for sharing. Besides the barbecue, Ralph’s Pink Flamingo also has delicious salads, baked potatoes, and even a barbecue burrito on the menu. Save room for one of the restaurant’s sweet desserts too.
Because of the restaurant’s competition history, the interior features many of the awards that the team received while competing in the Kansas City Barbecue Society. You might also see some of the awards that the Fort Smith community has bestowed on the restaurant for its barbecue.
The Whole Hog – Fort Smith
The Whole Hog in Fort Smith offers many of the same dishes as the other restaurants on this list. It does manage to separate itself from the rest of the barbecue scene by offering food fast through features like a drive-thru window. Menu items include platters with a choice of pulled pork, ribs, chicken, brisket, or sausage with two sides and a roll. Outside of the traditional barbecue plates and sandwiches, try a specialty like barbecue nachos with your choice of meat or a loaded baked potato.
Barbecue is something that Fort Smith takes very seriously. Each of the restaurants on this list has their own unique take on ribs, chicken, brisket, and sausage, including a few barbecue fusion dishes. Stop in at one of these great restaurants the next time you’re in Fort Smith.
Photo by David McSpadden | Licensed under cc BY 2.0
Connect with us
