Polish kielbasa, German schnitzel, and frozen Ukrainian dumplings are not the first foods most people associate with Arkansas. But a handful of markets and restaurants across the state are bringing these European favorites to local shoppers and diners.
In Rogers, one specialty market stocks Polish sausage, Russian chocolates, and imported dumplings. A meat shop in Lonsdale offers Polish-style sausage, while restaurants in Little Rock, Hot Springs, and Springdale serve German and Central European comfort food.
The selection goes beyond Europe, too. Several international markets offer imported spices, snacks, and groceries that can be difficult to find at regular supermarkets.
Here are 10 Arkansas stops worth exploring, including where to shop for specialty ingredients, where to sit down for a European-inspired meal, and what to know before visiting.
1. European Gourmet of NWA, Rogers, Arkansas
Polish kielbasa, Russian chocolates, and German cold cuts all turn up on the same shopping list at this West Walnut Street market. For pierogi hunters in Arkansas, it is the strongest place to begin.
European Gourmet of NWA stocks foods from several countries rather than just one. Its published selection includes Polish sweets, Ukrainian foods, smoked meats, and specialty groceries that rarely show up at chain stores.
The freezer is worth a slow look. Frozen varenyky, the Ukrainian cousin of pierogi, are part of the lineup, and they cook up much like the Polish dumplings you may remember from a grandparent’s table.
Planning a family dinner with an Eastern European theme? You could build most of the meal here, from sausage to dessert, without hunting through three different stores.
Inventory at small import shops can shift depending on shipments. A quick call or a look at the store’s social media before you drive over can save you from missing a favorite item.
Bring a cooler if you live a long way off. Smoked meats and frozen dumplings travel much better when they stay cold on the ride home.
Address: 1149 W Walnut St, Rogers, AR 72756
2. Kara’s Packing Company, Lonsdale, Arkansas
Jalapeno Polish sausage might be the most Arkansas twist on a European classic. Kara’s Packing Company in Lonsdale sells it right alongside its regular Polish sausage.
This is a meat market first and foremost. The focus is on specialty meats and prepared foods, so the experience is closer to visiting a country butcher than browsing a supermarket.
Lonsdale is a small community in Garland County, not far from Hot Springs. That makes Kara’s an easy side trip if you are already spending a day around the lake country.
Hungry before you even get home? Sausage sandwiches are among the items people look for here, which means you can sample the product before you buy a few pounds.
You will not find imported jars of Polish pickles or boxes of pierogi here. What you get instead is the kielbasa side of the equation, made for folks who care most about the sausage.
Spicy links work well grilled, sliced into beans, or tucked beside fried potatoes and onions. The regular version is the safer pick for anyone recreating a traditional Polish recipe.
Address: 23049 AR-5, Lonsdale, AR 72087
3. Al Basit International Foods, Fort Smith, Arkansas
Spices sold in bags far larger than the tiny jars at most supermarkets are a good reason to visit this Fort Smith shop. Al Basit International Foods focuses mainly on South Asian and Middle Eastern groceries.
Let’s be honest up front. This is not a Polish deli, and you should not expect pierogi in the freezer.
So why include it? Imported specialties are the second half of this list’s promise, and Al Basit covers that well with teas, canned goods, frozen foods, and pantry staples from overseas.
Home cooks who make Eastern European food often lean on spices like caraway, dill, marjoram, and paprika. An international grocer can be a handy place to look for bigger quantities, though stock varies.
The halal meat counter is a big draw for many shoppers. If you cook with lamb or goat, it gives you options that typical grocery chains in western Arkansas may not carry.
Wander the aisles with an open mind. A new tea or snack might become your next pantry favorite, even if it has nothing to do with kielbasa.
Address: 3325 S 74th St, Fort Smith, AR 72903
4. Momo’s International Market, Fort Smith, Arkansas
How much can one small storefront hold? At Momo’s International Market, the answer is a surprising mix of North African and Mediterranean groceries.
Teas, seasonings, sauces, and pantry staples make up much of the selection. Shoppers looking for flavors from across the Mediterranean will find a more focused lineup than most big stores provide.
A fair warning belongs here. Polish dumplings and kielbasa are not confirmed items at Momo’s, so treat this as an imported specialties stop.
Mediterranean and Eastern European kitchens share more than you might guess. Pickled vegetables, olive oils, and spice blends can easily cross over into soups, stews, and side dishes.
Fort Smith shoppers get a nice bonus by pairing this visit with Al Basit across town. Between the two, you can stock up on ingredients from several regions in one afternoon.
Small markets often have limited space, so the shelves may change as products sell out. Asking staff about new arrivals is a smart way to discover something you did not know to look for.
Address: 1318 S Waldron Rd, Fort Smith, AR 72903
5. The Pantry Restaurant, Little Rock, Arkansas
Czech-born chef Tomas Bohm built The Pantry around the comfort food of Central Europe. Schnitzel and spaetzle sit on the menu in west Little Rock, a long way from Prague.
This is a sit-down restaurant, not a grocery store. You come here to eat, not to fill a cooler with sausage.
Spaetzle are small, soft egg noodles popular in German and Austrian kitchens. If you have never tried them, think of them as a cousin to the dumpling family that pierogi belong to.
The menu is not limited to European plates. Burgers, salads, and other familiar dishes give picky eaters in your group an easy choice.
That mix makes The Pantry a good pick for a family outing where one person craves schnitzel and another just wants a burger. Nobody has to compromise.
Polish pierogi are not a confirmed menu staple here. Still, the Central European roots of the cooking make it a natural stop for anyone exploring the foods of that region in Arkansas.
Menus can change with the seasons, so check the current offerings before you go.
Address: 11401 N Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock, AR 72212
6. The Pantry Crest, Little Rock, Arkansas
Hillcrest is one of Little Rock’s older neighborhoods, full of local shops and tree-lined streets. The Pantry Crest brings Czech and German cooking right into that setting.
Think of it as a sibling to the original Pantry. The two share a Central European focus, but this location leans into a dinner-centered experience.
Schnitzel is among the dishes that draw attention here. The thin, breaded cutlet is a staple from Vienna to Munich, and it has a long history in Czech kitchens too.
Evening plans in Hillcrest are easy to build around a meal. A walk along Kavanaugh Boulevard before or after dinner makes a pleasant way to round out the night.
Pierogi fans should know that Polish dumplings are not a confirmed regular item. The cooking does share traditions with neighboring Polish cuisine, including hearty meats and filling sides.
Hours at dinner-focused spots can differ from lunch places. Looking up the schedule ahead of time keeps you from showing up to a locked door.
Reservations may be helpful for larger groups, so plan ahead for celebrations.
Address: 722 N Palm St, Little Rock, AR 72205
7. Steinhaus Keller, Hot Springs, Arkansas
Keller is the German word for cellar, which gives you a hint about this restaurant’s old-world theme. Steinhaus Keller serves German comfort food in downtown Hot Springs.
Sausages, sauerkraut, and schnitzel anchor the menu. Hearty side dishes round out plates that lean firmly toward traditional German cooking.
Sauerkraut is a shared love across Germany and Poland. If kielbasa with kraut is your idea of a perfect dinner, the German sausage plates here come close to that comfort.
The interior carries a German theme, and the restaurant has a garden-style setting that sets it apart from other downtown spots. It feels very different from the bathhouse history most visitors come to Hot Springs for.
You will not be buying imported groceries here. This stop is all about sitting down to a prepared meal of Central European food.
Hot Springs makes it easy to plan a full day around dinner. Stroll Bathhouse Row or hike a trail in Hot Springs National Park first, then settle in for sausages.
Address: 801 Central Ave #15, Hot Springs, AR 71901
8. Bauhaus Biergarten, Springdale, Arkansas
Currywurst is street food royalty in Berlin, and you can order it in downtown Springdale. Bauhaus Biergarten serves it with a menu inspired by traditional German cooking.
Bratwurst and schnitzel join the lineup too. Big soft pretzels are part of the fun, making this an easy place to share plates with friends.
Curious what currywurst actually is? It is sliced sausage topped with a curry-spiced ketchup sauce, a German favorite since the years after World War II.
Downtown Springdale has grown into a lively stretch near the Razorback Greenway. Biking or walking the trail before a meal is a smart way to earn that sausage plate.
Kielbasa seekers should keep expectations clear. The emphasis here is German rather than Polish, so the sausages lean toward bratwurst instead of smoked Polish links.
Pairing a visit with European Gourmet in nearby Rogers creates a solid Northwest Arkansas food day. Shop for groceries in one city and grab a sit-down meal in the other.
The casual atmosphere suits relaxed outings.
Address: 326 Holcomb St #101, Springdale, AR 72764
9. International Grocery Store, Fayetteville, Arkansas
Students and families from around the world call Fayetteville home, thanks in part to the University of Arkansas. International Grocery Store helps fill their pantries with foods that ordinary stores skip.
South Asian and Middle Eastern ingredients make up much of the stock. Spices, rice, halal meats, and specialty pantry products line the shelves.
Cooks who love Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi dishes will feel right at home here. Basmati rice, lentils, and spice blends are the kinds of items that can be hard to track down elsewhere in town.
Pierogi are not a confirmed product at this market. It earns its spot as an imported specialties stop rather than a source for Polish comfort food.
There is a practical upside for any home cook. Dried herbs and whole spices often cost less in bigger bags, and many work in European recipes too.
Plan your Northwest Arkansas loop wisely. You can hit this market, swing up to Rogers for kielbasa, and still be home in time for dinner.
Address: 1224 N Lindell Ave, Fayetteville, AR 72703
10. Zam Zam International Market, Little Rock, Arkansas
The name Zam Zam comes from a famous well in Mecca, a nod to the market’s focus on halal foods. Zam Zam International Market brings those products to shoppers in Little Rock.
South Asian and Middle Eastern groceries fill the store. Seasonings, packaged foods, and meat selections are central to what it offers.
Ever started a recipe only to realize your local supermarket has never heard of one key ingredient? This is the kind of store that solves that problem.
Its focus differs from a Polish deli, so do not expect kielbasa or pierogi. What it does offer is a broader look at the international food scene in central Arkansas.
Little Rock shoppers can mix and match their stops. Grab dinner at one of the Pantry locations, then pick up imported spices and snacks here for the week ahead.
Talking with staff can point you toward items you may not recognize. A little curiosity at the checkout counter often leads to a great new dish at home.
Address: 9700 N Rodney Parham Rd, Little Rock, AR 72227
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