Best of the Best: Readers Choice 2026

Throughout the month of May, readers of arkadelphian.com were given the opportunity to cast a vote in our third annual Readers Choice Awards.

There were some surprises this year in a few of the 100+ categories, as some former runners up claimed the top honor in 2026, and some new names and businesses made the list. We contacted winners for a chance to further boost their recognition by way of thanking readers via advertising and inclusion in the photo gallery below.

We’re proud to present the winners, listed below in (mostly) alphabetical order in four main categories: Food & Dining; Business; Places; and People.

Food & Dining

Appetizers
🥇 Hamburger Barn
🥈 Walk Baby Love BBQ

Breakfast
🥇 Andy’s
🥈 Mattie’s

Coffee
🥇 JavaPrimo
🥈 Skully’s

Donuts
🥇 Donut Palace
🥈 Gurdon Donut Shop

Lunch
🥇 Hamburger Barn
🥈 Ouachita Valley Meats

Deli
🥇 Ouachita Valley Meats
🥈 Brookshire’s

Salad
🥇 Hamburger Barn
🥈 Fat Boys

Desserts
🥇 Bree’s
🥈 Ludwigs

Bakery
🥇 Ludwigs
🥈 Bree’s

Frozen Treat
🥇 Sonic
🥈 Andy’s

BBQ
🥇 Allen’s
🥈 Walk Baby Love BBQ

Steak
🥇 Fat Boys
🥈 Hamburger Barn

Hamburger
🥇 Fat Boys
🥈 Hamburger Barn

Fries
🥇 McDonald’s
🥈 Fat Boys

Pizza
🥇 Domino’s
🥈 Pizza Hut

Asian
🥇 The Wok
🥈 Tasty Hibachi

Mexican
🥇 Ambar
🥈 El Parian

Seafood
🥇 Fish Net
🥈 Flying Burger

Food Truck
🥇 Walk Baby Love BBQ
🥈 Skully’s

Catering
🥇 Walk Baby Love BBQ
🥈 Three-Seven Catering – Zach Mitchell 

Bar & Grill
🥇 Slim & Shorty’s
🥈 67 Grill

Cocktails
🥇 Slim & Shorty’s
🥈 67 Grill

Drive Thru
🥇 Andy’s
🥈 Chicken Express

Best Restaurant
🥇 Fat Boys
🥈 Hamburger Barn

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Business & Services

Small Business
🥇 Walk Baby Love
🥈Kimberlin’s Kards 

Large Business
🥇 Hostess
🥈 Hardman Lumber Company

Minority Business
🥇 Walk Baby Love
🥈 Williams Funeral Home

Women-Owned Business
🥇  Skully’s
🥈 Violet Fields

Nonprofit Organization
🥇 Group Living
🥈 Percy & Donna Malone Child Safety Center

Accounting Firm
 🥇 TRMP
 🥈 Echols, Thompson, & Kneebone, LLC 

Auto Repair Shop
🥇ATO, James Rollins 
🥈Cannon Auto

Barber Shop
🥇 Unique Barber Shop  
 🥈 Cut n Up

Bank
 🥇 Southern Bancorp
🥈Patterson Federal Credit Union 

Child Care
🥇 Fun Time Learning Center
🥈 Pediatrics Plus

Cleaning Service
🥇Steam Pro
🥈Next Level

Clothing
🥇 Violet Fields
🥈 Loft Boutique

Contractor
🥇 Paul White
🥈 Erwin Seale

Convenience Store
🥇 West Pine/Jordan’s Kwik-Stop
🥈 Circle K

Credit Union
🥇 Patterson Federal Credit Union
🥈 Twin Rivers Credit Union

Car Care/Detail
🥇 RP Detail (Roger Perry)
🥈 Dillon Rogers

Electrician
🥇 Daniell Electric
🥈 J.W. Rogers

Eye Doctor
🥇 Byers Eye Clinic
🥈 Tollett 

Feed Store
🥇 Atwoods
🥈 Clark County Livestock

Financial Advisor
🥇 David Sims
🥈 Blake Bell

Fitness Center
🥇 A-Town
🥈 Foundation Fitness

Florist
🥇 Mary & Martha’s
🥈 Pam’s Posies

Funeral Home
🥇 Welch Funeral Home
🥈 Williams Funeral Home 

Furniture
🥇 Lasters
 🥈 Ivan Smith 

Garden Supply/Nursery
🥇 Atwoods
🥈 Love Creek

Hair Salon
🥇 Rebel Child
🥈 Salon 620

Heating & Air
🥇 Daniell Electric & A/C
🥈 Goza Heat & Air

Insurance Company
🥇 State Farm -Roger Wingfield
🥈 Knight Insurance

Internet Service Provider
🥇 South Central Connect
🥈 Ritter Fiber

Lawn Care
🥇 Devin Nash
🥈 Judsen Coon

Liquor Store
🥇 Celebrations
🥈 Lucky Liquor 

Nail Salon
🥇 LTC
🥈 Tony’s Nails

Nursing Home
🥇 Twin Rivers
🥈 Nightingale

Pawn Shop
🥇 BJ’s/Quality Pawn
🥈 Arkadelphia Pawn & Gun

Pest Control
🥇 Legacy Termite
🥈 City Pest Control

Pet Grooming
🥇 Hair of the Dog
🥈 Time For Paws

Pharmacy
🥇 Heartland Pharmacy
🥈 Walmart Pharmacy

Plumbing Company
🥇 Matt Taylor Plumbing
🥈 Chris Green Plumbing

Real Estate Agency
🥇 Crye-Leike Pro Elite Realty
🥈 Bluebird Real Estate 

Roofing
🥇 Terry Palmer
🥈 Arkansas Roofing & Gutter

Small Engine Repair
🥇 Outdoor Power

Social Media Page
🥇 Arkadelphian
🥈 Kimberlin’s Kards

Thrift Store
🥇 The Beehive
🥈 Lighthouse Ministries

Tire Shop
🥇 Garner’s
🥈 ATO

Title Company
🥇 First National Title
🥈 Jackson Title

Towing Company
🥇 Beene’s Towing & Recovery
🥈 Phil’s Auto

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People

Best Accountant
🥇 Andrew Kneebone
🥈 Mark Manning

Best Administrative Assistant
🥇 Donna Sparks, Arkansas Realty Services
🥈 Rendi Curry, Arkadelphia Public Schools

Best Attorney
🥇 Clay Sexton
🥈 Taylor King

Best Bank Teller
🥇 Haley Nichols (PFCU)
🥈 Charley Bonner (Citizens Bank)

Barber
🥇 Matt Pittman
🥈 Nick Greenhalgh

Best Coach
🥇 Chris Kyzer
🥈 Todd Knight

Best Customer Service
🥇 Paul Shuffield
🥈 Kris Gravett

Best Dental Hygienist
🥇 Lindsey Mays, Dr. Derrick Ross
🥈 Hailey Ligon, Dr. Scott Byrd

Best Dentist
🥇 Dr. Derrick Ross
🥈 Dr. Scott Byrd

Best Elected Official
🥇 Jason Watson
🥈 Michael Ankton

Best Fireman
🥇 Marty Adair
🥈 Beau Bishop

Best Hairdresser
🥇 Makayla Robinson, Rebel Child
🥈 Amy Beard, Rebel Child

Best Landlord
🥇  Lori Stewart
🥈 Chance Leamons

Best Law Enforcement Officer
🥇 Jason Watson
🥈 Jason “Shorty” Jackson

Best Massage Therapist
🥇 Mary Liu
🥈 Pam Walker

Best Mental Health Provider
🥇 Peggy Burt
🥈 Theresa Pennington

Best Nurse
🥇 Brucilla Buford
🥈 Danielle Harrall

Best Nurse Practitioner
🥇 Cassie Gonzalez
🥈 Jordan Swayze

Best EMT/Paramedic
🥇 Ricky Clark
🥈 JD Windham 

Best Pastor
🥇 Greg Lathem
🥈 Rick Mays

Best Personal Trainer
🥇 Jason McCready
🥈 Jacob Coon

Best Photographer
🥇 Caroline Rose Photography
🥈 Jaycee Bearden

Best Physical Therapist
🥇 Todd George
🥈 Clint Walker

Best Doctor
🥇 Dr. Bryan McDonnell
🥈 Dr. Tony Dorman

Best Professor
🥇 Lonnie Jackson
🥈 Lisa Bell

Best Public Employee
🥇 Jason Watson
🥈 Randy Hill

Best Real Estate Agent
🥇 Kim Byrd
🥈 Falicia Samuels

Best Server
🥇 Sara Shockey (Fat Boys)
🥈 Allie Harris (Slim & Shorty’s)

Best Store Clerk
🥇 Cody Kimberlin
🥈 Kris Gravett

Best Teacher
🥇 Magen Atkinson (AHS)
🥈 Kristin Cloninger (AHS)

Best Veterinarian
🥇 Dr. Rob Rucker
🥈 Dr. Stephanie Bradshaw

Best Volunteer
🥇 Donna Sparks
🥈 Nicole McGough

Best Mechanic
🥇 Daniel Cannon
🥈 James Rollins

Best Charity Event
🥇 PCMCSC Duck Derby
🥈 Group Living Gala

Best Attraction
🥇 DeGray Lake
🥈 DeSoto Bluff

Best Night Out
🥇 Bettys Big Country Dance Hall
🥈 Slim & Shorty’s Trivia Night

Best Place to Take Kids
🥇 Caddo Valley Park
🥈 Arkadelphia Aquatic Park

Best Place to Work
🥇 Taylor King & Associates
🥈 Patterson Federal Credit Union

Best Place to Worship
🥇 Third Street Baptist Church
🥈 Trinity Temple Assembly of God

Best Event Venue
🥇 Blakelytown
🥈 Suttle Ridge