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.
Big Bad Breakfast’s new location at 1004 Oak St in Conway officially opened its doors on Tuesday, Dec. 9. Click here for more details.
Fuego Tortilla Grill will open its first spot outside of Texas in Fayetteville! The official opening date is set for Monday, Dec. 16.
Ria Pizzeria, the newest joint serving Neapolitan-style pizzas, will be opening very soon at 200 N 1st Street in Rogers.
Tamalcalli: The Tamale, Taco & Cerveza Stand will soon be serving Tex-Mex fare and cold libations in west Little Rock. The grand opening date is set for Jan. 5! Click here for more information.
Firecat Coffee, a new drive-thru coffee shop, recently opened up at 1560 S School Ave in Fayetteville. Frequent mayoral candidate Adam Fire Cat owns the joint!
Roost & Tap Kitchen will be opening around Valentine’s Day 2026 in the former home of Panera Bread in Conway. An entertainment district has also been approved for the area. Click here for more information.
Handshake, a new restaurant located inside Fayetteville Public Library, is set for its first full day of service on Tuesday, Dec. 9.
The Root Cafe at Breckenridge Village in Little Rock is now accepting non-perishable donations until Dec. 31 for its “Food for Friends” drive, benefitting the Arkansas Foodbank.
Yellow Rocket Concepts (Big Orange, Camp Taco, Local Lime, ZAZA, Taco & Tamale Co. and Lost Forty Brewing) is launching a new community-focused gift card program aimed at helping fight hunger across the regions it serves. Click here for more information.
Hazel’s Public House, a burger-forward restaurant brought to you by the team behind Allsopp & Chapple, is set to open at 225 E Markham St (formerly Big Whiskey’s) in Little Rock in early 2026. Click here for more info.
Insomnia Cookies, the cult-favorite bakery known for its warm, gooey, late-night cookies, is opening its first-ever Little Rock location at 417 President Clinton Ave in the River Market District. Click here for more information.
Parlay on 8th, Bentonville’s newest elevated sports bar, is opening soon in the city’s 8th Street Market.
Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café, a popular fast-casual concept known for its sweet and savory crêpes, will open its first Arkansas location in Rogers in early 2026.
Panda Express, a Chinese food chain restaurant, is coming to Little Rock at a location off Chenal Parkway. Click here for more details.
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.
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