Lassis Inn

Named after the original owner, Molassis Watson, the restaurant is so famous it was inducted in the first round of inductees in 2017. The tiny, unassuming, blue house that sits in a residential neighborhood has a long history in Little Rock, starting out serving refreshing lunches of cold cuts to workers in 1905. Later on, as their popularity grew, they added catfish and ultimately, fish ribs or buffalo ribs, to the menu

Lassis served its first meal around 1905 and has been producing some of Little Rock’s best fish ever since. Much of the restaurant’s décor has been untouched since the early 1930s, and the catfish fillets and buffalo fish “ribs” have been menu staples for generations. It was a safe meeting place for the “Little Rock Nine” Black students in 1957, and today it’s Little Rock’s only James Beard award-winning restaurant.

It’s not that catfish is unique to Little Rock, or even the buffalo ribs that Lassis Inn is so well known for. No, it’s walking into a black-owned restaurant that was open almost a full decade before World War I, sitting in an old church-pew booth, knocking back a cold domestic and enjoying food that has been made with love and care for more than 100 years. That, my friends, is as singular and unique as it gets.

Step back in time at Lassis Inn, a historic diner in Little Rock renowned for classic Southern comfort food. Nestled in a nostalgic atmosphere, this family-friendly establishment promises a taste of traditional Southern recipes and timeless charm. Indulge in iconic Southern dishes, with the famed fried catfish leading the way.

Three establishments, Jones Bar-B-Q Diner in Marianna, Lassis Inn in Little Rock and Rhoda’s Famous Hot Tamales in Lake Village are the first inductees in the Department of Arkansas Heritage’s Food Hall of Fame.Make your travel list to dine at these three Hall of Famers as well as the nine award-winning finalists.

Lassis Inn is a classic catfish restaurant in Little Rock that has been serving up delicious food for over 100 years. They are known for their fried catfish, buffalo fish ribs, and their signature Lassis Inn sauce. I recommend trying the fried catfish or the buffalo fish ribs if you're looking for a local staple.

I’m not saying it’s the best fried catfish in town (we do have many excellent choices), but there’s nothing like eating a plate of it, along with some fried Buffalo ribs, inside the iconic Lassis Inn. The place is old, small, and home to the smallest booths on earth. Oh, and make sure you don’t dance.

A recent inductee to the Arkansas Food Hall of Fame, this little blue building has been serving up some of the state’s best catfish since 1905. Crowd favorites include the Big Bone Buffalo Plate and the catfish filets.

For an authentic taste of local life, spend a morning browsing the Bernice Garden Farmers’ Market in SoMa. Chat with artisans and farmers while shopping for handcrafted gifts and Arkansas-grown produce.

- Rating: 4.4/5 (28 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 518 East 27th St. Little Rock, Arkansas - Categories: seafood- Read more on Yelp