Arkansas Food Hall of Fame

Celebrate the Great State of the Plate!

Arkansas is filled with great food, great food traditions and great people who lovingly prepare all that food for the rest of us. The Arkansas Food Hall of Fame is the perfect place to honor our unique foods, legendary restaurants, remarkable cooks and influential food entrepreneurs, as well as culturally significant festivals and events.

Browse the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Winners, Nominees, and Finalists below!

This program, created and managed by the Department of Arkansas Heritage, is a statewide effort to recognize the “taste-setters” among us who provide an extra helping of good ol’ Arkansas hospitality. With multiple categories, there’s a recipe for recognition for everyone, from die-hard foodies to casual diners.

Arkansas Food Hall of Fame

A nomination period is open to the public annually. Final selection will be by a blue-ribbon panel of judges selected by the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Committee. Admittance into the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame will be a triumphant recognition of those long-standing restaurants that have also become legendary attractions in Authentic Arkansas. These are the places with the dishes we crave and will drive hours, if need be, just to take a bite. Eligible restaurants must be owned and operated in Arkansas and have been in business for at least 25 years; national chain restaurants need not apply. Each year, three honorees will be inducted.

Proprietor of the Year

Nominations from the public are welcome each year. Final selection will be by a panel of judges selected by the committee. This award is to be presented annually, and is designed to honor a chef, cook and/or restaurant owner in Arkansas who has made significant achievements in the food industry. To be eligible, the candidate’s restaurant must be owned in Arkansas and have been in operation in the state for at least one year. Again, national chains are not eligible.

Food-Themed Event

As with the other categories, public nominations are encouraged. Final selection of the honoree will be made by a jury chosen by the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame Committee. This annual award was developed to honor one of the many community food-themed events or festivals that make our state a great place to live. These events attract tourists and neighbors alike and serve up as much fun and hospitality as they do their signature foods. To be eligible, the event/festival must be held annually in Arkansas, and it must have been in existence for five years or more.

Gone But Not Forgotten

The Gone But Not Forgotten category honors the collective culinary legacy of a once-and-always influential Arkansas restaurant that has since ceased operations. The reason for the closure is not important. It is the influence that the food – and/or those who prepared it – still have on other restaurants that matters. Take a fond trip down memory lane to nominate an old favorite.