We have no shortage of food bites throughout Arkansas, so each week, we’ll be providing you with a snapshot of the goings-on inside the culinary world, from events and specials to restaurant openings and awards. Do you have news to share? Please email us at press@aymag.com.
It’s summertime, and there are too many farmers’ markets around the Natural State to count! Lucky for you, AY staff has scoured the web and created a list of them for you to check out. Click here to see what we found.
RYN, a farm-to-table tasting menu restaurant, is Conifer Restaurant’s next endeavor! The new restaurant will officially open on Thursday, June 19, at 9617 Price Coffee Rd in Bentonville. The opening of RYN marks phase one of opening Sun Painted Farm, where the restaurant is located.
After 11 years of serving the Little Rock community, Baja Grill: Little Rock will close its doors on June 28. Click here for more details.
The Croissanterie closed its downtown location in Little Rock Technology Park on May 30 to focus on its new location on Cantrell Rd. Click here for more details.
The presence of Chef Rafael Rios of Yeyo’s El Alma de Mexico and Chef Matthew Cooper of Conifer at the 2025 James Beard Awards marked a milestone for Bentonville’s rising culinary reputation! Click here for more details.
Petit & Keet, located at 1620 Market St in Little Rock, is adding Sunday nights to its hours of operation, beginning June 22. The restaurant will be open from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Sicaru Coffee Roasters opened its new coffee shop, co-working space and event venue over the weekend in Fayetteville. Located at 716 W. Sycamore St., the shop offers homemade prebiotic sodas, pop-ups and coffees galore.
Las Mamalonas Mexican Grill will soon open its first location in Little Rock at 2602 Shackleford Road. The opening date has not yet been revealed.
Bloom Cheese Collective, a multi-faceted cheese and specialty shop, held its soft opening over the weekend.
Buffalo Grill temporarily closed earlier this month due to unexpected plumbing issues. Repairs are underway, and updates can be found on its Facebook page.
An expanded version of ZAZA Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co. will be opening in a new area of Little Rock. Click here for more information.
Local Lime will be moving locations after 14 years in its current spot. This marks the first step in transforming the restaurant’s Little Rock location into a flagship experience. Click here for more details.
Benton’s Dale’s Donut Shop recently listed the business for sale, after 40 years of serving Saline County. At 919 Military Road, Dale’s will change hands as the owners seek new buyers. The business owners can be contacted at 501-303-0733 for more information.
The Feral PiG, located at 1104 N. College Ave. in Fayetteville, is scheduled to host its grand opening on Sunday, June 29.
R & M Coffee Bar & Café will bring its Southern soul (with a twist) to downtown Little Rock at 221 W. 2nd Street. It’s anticipated to open in August. Click here for more details!
La Pista, a fast-casual pizzeria serving artisan pizza, fresh salads and authentic Italian gelato, will open this summer at 1050 Ellis Ave, the former home of ZAZA’s in Conway.
Cafe Plain Jane’s, brought to you by the same owners of @ The Corner and Flora Jean’s, is set to open at the former Cañon Grill location in Little Rock’s Hillcrest neighborhood. Click here for more information.
After a successful start in Benton, Layne’s Chicken Fingers will open two new locations in North Little Rock and west Little Rock. Both locations are expected to open in mid-June.
Rotolo’s Craft & Crust, a Louisiana-based restaurant known for its elevated take on pizza and casual dining, is set to open its first Arkansas location in Conway. Click here for more information.
Bheemas Indian Kitchen will reportedly take over the former Khalil’s Pub & Grill space located at 110 S. Shackleford in Little Rock. The restaurant is currently located inside Asian Groceries on N. Rodney Parham Rd.
After five years on the square, Fayetteville’s Tula will move to a new location this summer. Currently located at 1 E. Center Street, Suite 160, the local Mexican restaurant will move to 102 N. Block Avenue. The current location will remain open until July 19.
Purple Cow’s expansion into Northwest Arkansas (Rogers) is still in the works.
Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe recently launched two limited-time summer items: Sweet Peach Tea and Watermelon Spinach Salad. Click here for more details!
Northwest Arkansas will be one of the first flagship locations for the renowned tea, soda and energy drink shop Usip. Located at 413 N. West Ave. in Fayetteville, the store will offer “college pride in every cup.”
Rock N Roll Sushi is bringing tropical flair to its menu this summer with two limited-time offerings: the Sweet Mango O’ Mine Roll and Mango Coconut Rockstars. Click here for more details!
Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, a popular fast-casual concept known for its sweet and savory crêpes, will open its first Arkansas location in Rogers this fall. Click here for more details.
Sweetgreen, a restaurant chain offering fresh, plant-forward and earth-friendly food, plans to enter the Arkansas market in two cities. Click here for more information.
Fayetteville Restaurant Week, July 20-26, invites foodies to experience limited-time menu offerings and special giveaways from dozens of participating restaurants! With an authentic, diverse culinary scene that offers everything from fine dining to food truck courts and a mix of local, international and fusion flavors, Fayetteville’s personality shines through its food.
The date of the 2nd Annual Delta Diamond Chef Awards Gala and Competition has been announced, and Chef Payne Harding will be there to defend his title! Click here for more details.
The Lady, an upscale pub that blends English sensibilities with Southern flair, is slated to open at the corner of Kavanaugh Blvd. and N. Filmore St. in Little Rock’s Heights neighborhood. Click here for more details.
Benny’s Bagels, a Dallas-based restaurant serving a variety of bagels, pizzas, salads, pastries and more, will open a second location at 826 N. Leverett Ave. in Fayetteville, the former home of Eureka Pizza.
Dog Haus, known for its gourmet burgers, brats and brews, is reportedly opening five new locations across Columbus, Ohio, and Fayetteville, Arkansas.
Crisis Brewing in Fayetteville has been approved to build a new facility to expand its production abilities and add extra space for parking, gatherings and more. The expanded area is expected to open in late 2026 or early to mid-2027, according to Fayetteville Flyer.
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