Pimento Cheese at Paninis & Company
For whatever reason, some restaurants just tend to fall a bit under the radar. Here are 10 Underrated Places here in Little Rock…
207 N University Ave #210
Hours: Monday-Friday 7am-7pm; Saturday 10:30am-6:30pm; Closed Sunday
The Acai Bowl was my first love at Juice Bar but the addition of Panini & Company, and with it, sandwiches and salads, has really brought this place to a new level. And while all of the sandwiches are very good, don’t forget about the pimento cheese, which is truly one of the better versions in town. And that’s saying something.
1710 E 15th St
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-1:30pm; Closed Saturday & Sunday
A restaurant that opens for lunch at 10am?!!? It does exist and it’s pretty fantastic. Sandy’s keeps things simple, offering a small buffet of two entrees and all the sides you can stuff in your pie hole. It’s comfort food at its finest in this no-frills eatery on the edge of downtown. Here’s the menu. Personally, Friday is my jam because the chicken fried steak and chicken & dressing are both winners. You’ll never see me at Sandy’s on Tuesday or Thursday. I’d rather eat a bag of cat shit over fried chicken liver.
6010 Lancaster Rd
Hours: Monday-Friday 10am-6pm; Closed Saturday & Sunday
Plain and simple, HB’s is the best all-around bbq I’ve eaten at a restaurant in Little Rock. This hole-in-the-wall is popular among enthusiasts who enjoy pulled pork sandwiches, ribs, and sides like potato salad and baked beans. In a town that lacks really good bbq options, HB’s is definitely a shining star.
Tostada at Taqueria Karina
5309 W 65th St
Hours: Monday & Tuesday 10:30am-9pm; Closed Wednesday; Thursday 10:30am-9pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:30am-10pm
The best tacos in Little Rock reside at Taqueria Karina, highlighted by an al pastor that will blow your mind. Ok, that’s a bit over the top with hyperbole, but these are damn good tacos. And did I mention the carnitas? Order the carnitas. Actually, order anything you’d like, it’s all good.
303 Bowman Rd # 310
Hours: Open Daily 8am-10pm
Hey, El Torito isn’t just an awesome grocery store with pastries. It’s also a taqueria, and while the tacos at El Torito might be a notch below those at Karina, they are still pretty good and a must order on any visit. If you have a huge appetite, consider getting the mixed shrimp and beef fajitas. They come out sizzling and are sure to please.
Black Cod at The Terrace
2200 N Rodney Parham Rd #120
Hours: Monday-Friday 11am-2pm, 5pm-9:30pm; Saturday 5pm-9:30pm; Closed Sunday
Why do I always forget about going to The Terrace? The place never gets any attention, and that’s a shame, because the restaurant cranks out some good food. The black cod is excellent, as is the tomato soup, and the baba ganoush. The setting is calm, quiet, and sophisticated, and just a nice spot to grab a bite to eat. Get that baba ganoush!
Queen’s Deluxe at NYPD Pizza
6015 Chenonceau Blvd # 100
Hours: Open Daily 11am-9pm
Does NYPD Pizza make the best pizza in Little Rock? Maybe, maybe not. It’s very subjective, but order their Queen’s Deluxe (supreme pizza) and tell me it’s not a great pie. The pizza holds its own with the Vino’s of the world, but with that far west location, I think many folks tend to forget the place even exists.
Sushi at Kemuri
2601 Kavanaugh Blvd
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-2pm, 4:30pm-9:30pm; Friday 11am-2pm, 4:30pm-10:30pm; Saturday 4:30pm-10:30pm; Sunday 11am-2:30pm, 4:30pm-9pm
“Kevin, what are you talking about? How is Kemuri underrated?” That’s what you were thinking, wasn’t it? Just hear me out. I truly believe the food coming out of the kitchen at Kemuri is Top 10-quality in our city. The beef tenderloin is magnificent, as is the ceviche, and any of the sushi rolls. But anytime someone asks me about the best restaurants in Little Rock, I tend to forget about Kemuri. I shouldn’t. And here’s a bonus, it’s one of the few places open on Sunday night.
2725 S Arch St
Hours: Monday-Friday 11am-8pm; Closed Saturday & Sunday
Lassis Inn gets a lot of attention, as it should, but Brewster’s 2 Café is not too far away, and in my opinion, has even better fried catfish. The cheeseburger is also a hit.
200 N Bowman Rd #9
Hours: Monday-Thursday 11am-9pm; Friday & Saturday 11am-9pm
I’ve eaten at Lazy Pete’s 4-5 times and have never been disappointed. Wow, that’s not exactly a glowing endorsement, but the place is the definition of solid. People tell me they have good fried catfish, but I’ve always enjoyed the chicken wings.
