Interstate 40 runs right past Lonoke, and most drivers see nothing but an exit sign. That is a missed chance, because this small Arkansas town has a handful of kitchens ready to feed you well. You will find a renovated downtown dining room, a Mexican grill, a dairy bar, a biscuits-and-gravy café, a fried fish spot, and two Southern-style kitchens.
Some are minutes from the ramp, and others sit a short hop into town. Hours vary quite a bit from place to place, so a quick look at the schedule can save you a closed-door surprise. Here are seven stops that make a road trip break feel like part of the trip.
1. The Grumpy Rabbit
Swamp grits are not a menu item you see at every highway exit. At 105 Front St SW, this eatery sits right on a downtown corner in a renovated old building, an easy drive from I-40.
The menu leans into comfort food with a Reuben, a Patty Melt, The Grumpy Burger, a Pork Chop, and Blackened Redfish. Carrot cake is the dessert named in its own description, so save a little room.
Vegetarian travelers get real options here, including Swamp Grits, Spicy Spinach Queso, and Brussel Sprouts that are vegan. There is a full vegetarian menu, plus a kids’ menu and high chairs for families.
Table service, outdoor seating, takeout, and reservations are all available. Free parking is usually plentiful.
The kitchen is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 AM to 9 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 2 PM. It is closed Monday and Tuesday, so plan around that. Friday evening tends to be the busiest stretch, and meals typically land in the $10 to 20 range per person.
2. Mariachi Grill | Mexican
Sunday and late Friday evening are when the parking lot fills up at this Mexican restaurant in a shopping center at 45 Fannie Ln. It is close to I-40, and it keeps longer hours than most places in town, open daily from 11 AM, with a 10 PM close on Friday and Saturday.
The menu covers the classics. Look for Razorback Fajitas, Fajitas Jalisco, a Chimichanga, Nachos Tapatios, quesadillas, and a Taco Salad. Chips and salsa are vegan, and there is a full vegetarian menu.
The room is decorated with Mayan-inspired touches and ethnic artwork. Fresh flour tortillas are part of the draw.
Families can settle in with a kids’ menu and high chairs, and groups are welcome. Reservations are not accepted, so just walk in. Takeout is available, and free parking is easy to find.
3. Jackrabbit Dairy Bar
Crinkle-cut fries and a thick milkshake still go together nicely. Jackrabbit Dairy Bar at 511 Front St SW is a hometown dairy bar built around classic burgers and soft serve ice cream.
Burgers are the headliner, with chicken strips and fried pies also on the board. Shakes in chocolate peanut butter and banana flavors have earned particular attention.
Service moves quickly, which helps when you are watching the clock on a drive. You can eat on site at the outdoor seating, use the drive-through, or take your food to go.
Plan around the schedule, since it is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 7 PM and closed on weekends. There is no restroom, so stop elsewhere first. Dogs are allowed outside, and a kids’ menu is available.
4. Cozy Nook Café
Breakfast fans, take note: biscuits and gravy are the signature here. Cozy Nook Café at 106 N Center St is an artistic café that serves homemade meals along the town’s historic Main Street corridor.
Beyond breakfast, the café offers brunch, lunch, dessert, coffee, and a good tea selection. Comfort food and small plates fill out the menu, and there is a full vegetarian menu too.
Hours are limited. It opens Thursday and Friday from 8 AM to 4 PM, Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM, and Sunday from 8 AM to 4 PM, and it is closed Monday through Wednesday.
The setting is casual and quiet, which suits solo diners or anyone catching up on laptop work. Dogs are welcome inside and outside, and reservations are accepted. Kids’ menus and high chairs make it easy for families, and parking is free.
5. Sharks fish and Chicken
Few spots sit closer to the interstate. Sharks fish and Chicken is at 1690 N Center St, and it serves freshly prepared fried chicken and seafood.
It is open late, running Monday through Saturday from 10 AM to 10 PM and Sunday from 11 AM to 10 PM. That makes it handy when a trip runs past dinnertime.
Options include dine-in, drive-through, curbside pickup, takeout, and delivery. Service is quick, and the menu leans toward comfort food and small plates, with a kids’ menu available.
Meals generally cost $10 to 20 per person. Afternoons and evenings are the busiest times, and free parking is usually plentiful. Reservations are not accepted.
6. Taylor’s Kitchen and Catering
Pulling a trailer? Easy parking is a real plus at this family-owned diner on Court Street. Taylor’s Kitchen and Catering is known for fresh farm-to-fork breakfast burritos and a varied lunch lineup.
The menu includes sandwiches and a Greek salad, and healthy options sit alongside comfort food. Breakfast and lunch are the main draws, and catering is offered too.
Hours stretch from 7 AM to 8 PM on weekdays, with weekends closed. You can dine in, use the drive-through, or pick up curbside.
Free wi-fi, a kids’ menu, and high chairs round out the setup. Parking is free and usually plentiful, and a casual, family-friendly mood keeps the pace relaxed.
7. Tom’s Kitchen
Hamburger steak with green beans and a baked potato is the kind of plate that settles a long drive. Tom’s Kitchen at 116 S Center St serves homemade Southern-style cooking just south of I-40, near downtown.
Chicken strips, fries, and okra also show up on the menu, along with coffee and dessert. It is a dine-in and takeout spot, and the kids’ menu keeps younger travelers covered.
The schedule is a bit unusual. It opens at 11 AM Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday, closes at 7 PM, and stays open until 8 PM Friday. Sunday hours run 11 AM to 3 PM, and Tuesday and Saturday it is closed.
Quiet and casual, it makes a nice break from fast food. Free parking is available.
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