Conway, Arkansas, has options for steak and seafood, Southern comfort food, breakfast, wood-fired pizza, Italian dishes, doughnuts, barbecue, and international cuisine. This guide focuses on restaurants with current official websites or active local-tourism listings, then explains which place fits each type of meal. Because menus and schedules can change, check same-day hours before making a special trip.
Quick Answer
The best current restaurants in Conway, Arkansas, include Mike’s Place for steak and seafood, Stoby’s for breakfast and comfort food, La Pista Pizzeria for wood-fired pizza, Fresh Donuts for a quick morning treat, and Pasta Grill for Italian food and date-night dining. ZAZA’s Conway location closed in January 2025.
Key Takeaways
- Choose Mike’s Place for a polished steak, seafood, or Southern-inspired dinner.
- Choose Stoby’s for breakfast, cheese dip, sandwiches, burgers, and casual comfort food.
- Choose La Pista for wood-fired pizza, salads, pasta, gelato, and a relaxed group meal.
- Choose Fresh Donuts for a quick morning stop rather than a sit-down dining experience.
- Choose Pasta Grill for Italian dishes, seafood, steaks, family-style meals, or a date night.
How These Conway Restaurants Were Selected
No single restaurant is objectively the best for every diner. The primary picks below were selected because they had an active official website or current local-tourism listing during the July 23, 2026 review, offered a distinct dining use case, and provided enough current information to help you plan a visit.
Note: This is an occasion-based guide rather than a paid or mathematically ranked list. Restaurant menus, hours, reservation rules, and available dishes can change without notice.
Best Restaurants in Conway AR: Quick Picks
| Restaurant | Best For | Location | Why Choose It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mike’s Place | Steak, seafood, date nights | 808 Front Street | Southern and New Orleans-inspired menu with Gulf shrimp, whitefish, shellfish, aged steaks, and prime rib. |
| Stoby’s | Breakfast, comfort food, families | 805 Donaghey Avenue | A Conway institution serving breakfast, cheese dip, sandwiches, burgers, quesadillas, salads, and desserts. |
| La Pista Pizzeria | Wood-fired pizza, pasta, groups | 1050 Ellis Avenue | Neapolitan-style pizza, salads, pasta, panuozzos, Italian-inspired mains, and house-made desserts. |
| Fresh Donuts | Doughnuts, quick breakfast, takeout | 855 S. German Lane, Suite 4 | A straightforward morning stop when you want doughnuts or an easy sweet breakfast to go. |
| Pasta Grill | Italian food, steak, seafood, dinner | 915 Front Street | Italian favorites, Cajun-influenced dishes, seafood, steaks, desserts, family meals, and group dining. |
Mike’s Place: A Local Favorite for Steaks and Seafood
Mike’s Place is a strong choice when you want a full sit-down dinner centered on steak, seafood, and Southern flavors. Its official website describes an old-New-Orleans-inspired interior with brick, wrought iron, fountains, and plants.
Best for: date nights, family dinners, business meals, celebrations, and groups that cannot decide between steak and seafood.
What to order: The official menu includes Shrimp & Grits, Mike’s Whitefish, seafood crepes, crawfish etouffee, ribeye, New York strip, tenderloin, prime rib, burgers, sandwiches, salads, and a veggie burger.
- Address: 808 Front Street, Conway, AR 72032
- Phone: (501) 269-6453
- Published hours: Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.–10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m.–8:30 p.m.
Pro Tip: Check the current menu and call before a weekend dinner or large-group visit. Seasonal seafood and specials may change.
ZAZA Conway Is Closed: Try La Pista Pizzeria
ZAZA Fine Salad & Wood Oven Pizza Co. is no longer a current Conway restaurant. The Conway location closed on January 14, 2025. Its former space at 1050 Ellis Avenue is now occupied by La Pista Pizzeria.
Warning: Do not use older ZAZA Conway listings for directions or opening hours. ZAZA’s Little Rock operation and the former Conway location are separate.
La Pista Pizzeria is the more useful current recommendation for readers who want wood-fired pizza, fresh salads, pasta, gelato, or an Italian-inspired group meal. Its official menu includes classic Margherita, pepperoni, vegetable, truffle, meat-lover, and prosciutto pizzas, along with pasta, panuozzos, appetizers, salads, and chef’s mains.
- Best for: pizza, casual dates, family meals, group lunches, and Italian-inspired dishes
- Address: 1050 Ellis Avenue, Conway, AR 72032
- Phone: (501) 358-5577
- Published hours: Monday through Sunday, 11 a.m.–9 p.m.
- Planning tools: The official website offers current menus, online ordering, and a reservation-request page.
Stoby’s: Iconic Comfort Food and Breakfast
Stoby’s has served Conway since 1980 and remains one of the city’s most recognizable casual restaurants. It is a useful choice when your group wants breakfast, sandwiches, burgers, cheese dip, quesadillas, salads, or familiar family-friendly food.
Best for: breakfast, casual lunch, families, comfort food, cheese dip, sandwiches, and diners who prefer an informal local institution.
The current Conway menu includes Stoby’s Original Cheese Dip, spicy white queso, breakfast burritos, Eggs Benedict, burgers, pitas, sandwiches, quesadillas, soups, salads, chicken dishes, pies, cakes, and kid-friendly meals.
- Address: 805 Donaghey Avenue, Conway, AR 72034
- Phone: (501) 327-5447
- Published hours: Monday through Saturday, 6 a.m.–9 p.m.; closed Sunday
- Breakfast service: The online ordering page lists breakfast from 6 a.m.–11 a.m.
Pro Tip: Start with the original cheese dip if you want one of the restaurant’s signature items. For breakfast, arrive before the listed breakfast cutoff rather than assuming the full breakfast menu is available all day.
Fresh Donuts: A Quick Morning Sweet Stop
Fresh Donuts is a better fit for a quick breakfast pickup than for a full restaurant meal. Visit Conway currently lists the shop at 855 S. German Lane, Suite 4, making it a practical option when you want doughnuts, doughnut holes, or a simple morning treat to go.
- Best for: early morning takeout, quick sweets, coffee-break snacks, and road-trip treats
- Address: 855 S. German Lane, Suite 4, Conway, AR 72034
- Phone: (559) 779-7766
- Before visiting: Confirm the day’s hours and product availability, especially when making a special trip later in the morning.
Choose Fresh Donuts when speed and convenience matter more than table service. For a full breakfast with eggs, pancakes, sandwiches, and savory choices, Stoby’s is the more complete option.
YGFBFKitchen: Strong Local History, Unclear Current Status
YGFBFKitchen has a documented place in Conway’s food history. City of Conway coverage identifies MaryAnn Strange as the founder and explains that the business began as catering in 2018, added a food truck in 2019, opened a restaurant at 812 Chestnut Street in 2020, and planned a move to 800 4th Avenue in 2021.
That historical coverage also named Cajun Smothered Shrimp & Grits, Blackened Cajun Chicken Alfredo, and a Cajun Alfredo Steak Melt among its featured dishes. These should be treated as historical menu references rather than guaranteed current offerings.
Note: YGFBFKitchen is not included in the current Quick Picks table because its official website was unavailable during the July 23, 2026 review and public directories gave conflicting operating-status information. Do not make a special trip without direct, same-day confirmation from the business.
Pasta Grill: Italian Food, Seafood, and Date-Night Dining
Pasta Grill expands this guide beyond pizza and casual comfort food. Its official site describes a menu built around Italian dishes, steaks, seafood, desserts, and Cajun-influenced creations.
Best for: date nights, business dinners, pasta, seafood, steaks, family-style takeout, and groups that want a broad menu.
The current menu includes meatballs, calamari, crawfish dip, soups, salads, sandwiches, pasta, seafood, steak selections, and desserts. Family-style meals are also available for takeout, and the Conway location accepts reservations for groups of eight or more.
- Address: 915 Front Street, Conway, AR 72032
- Phone: (501) 205-8751
- Published hours: Lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday; closed Sunday
- Planning tools: Online ordering, a Conway waitlist, family-style meals, and group reservations
More Current Conway Restaurants by Craving
Conway’s current tourism directory includes more than the five primary picks above. These additional options broaden the guide for diners seeking barbecue, Indian food, Korean food, or an Irish-pub menu.
| Restaurant | Cuisine or Use | Address |
|---|---|---|
| Taj Mahal Indian Kitchen | Indian dishes and an alternative to standard American fare | 2850 Prince Street, Suite 79 |
| Hog Pen BBQ | Barbecue and casual Southern meals | 800 Walnut Street, Suite 3 |
| Bulgogi Korean BBQ | Korean barbecue and Asian dishes | 317 Oak Street |
| O’Malley’s Irish Pub | Irish-pub food, drinks, and a casual evening meal | 803 Harkrider Street, Suite 12 |
Use the Visit Conway restaurant directory to check contact links and discover additional restaurants by cuisine.
How to Choose Where to Eat in Conway
Choose Mike’s Place when dinner is the main event and your group wants steak, seafood, or a more polished setting. Choose Pasta Grill for Italian food, a date night, or a group that wants pasta, steak, seafood, and desserts on one menu.
Choose Stoby’s for breakfast, cheese dip, burgers, sandwiches, and casual family meals. Choose Fresh Donuts when you want a fast morning sweet rather than table service.
Choose La Pista for wood-fired pizza, pasta, salads, gelato, and a relaxed meal near Hendrix College. For a different cuisine, consider Taj Mahal Indian Kitchen, Hog Pen BBQ, Bulgogi Korean BBQ, or O’Malley’s Irish Pub.
Note: Diners with food allergies, celiac disease, or strict vegan requirements should contact the restaurant directly. A menu item that appears suitable may still contain hidden ingredients or be exposed to shared fryers, grills, utensils, or preparation surfaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best current restaurants in Conway, Arkansas?
Strong current choices include Mike’s Place for steak and seafood, Stoby’s for breakfast and comfort food, La Pista Pizzeria for wood-fired pizza and Italian dishes, Fresh Donuts for morning takeout, and Pasta Grill for Italian food, seafood, steak, and date-night dining.
What is the best restaurant in Conway for steak and seafood?
Mike’s Place is the strongest steak-and-seafood recommendation in this guide. Its menu includes Gulf shrimp, whitefish, seafood crepes, crawfish etouffee, ribeye, New York strip, tenderloin, and prime rib.
What is the best comfort-food or breakfast restaurant in Conway?
Stoby’s is a reliable choice for breakfast and comfort food. It serves breakfast specialties, cheese dip, burgers, sandwiches, quesadillas, salads, chicken dishes, pies, and cakes.
Where should I go for wood-fired pizza in Conway?
La Pista Pizzeria is the current wood-fired pizza recommendation in this guide. It operates at 1050 Ellis Avenue and offers pizza, salads, pasta, panuozzos, Italian-inspired mains, and gelato.
Is ZAZA still open in Conway?
No. ZAZA’s Conway location closed on January 14, 2025. La Pista Pizzeria now operates at the former ZAZA address at 1050 Ellis Avenue.
Is YGFBFKitchen currently open in Conway?
Its current Conway operating status could not be confirmed reliably during the July 23, 2026 review. The official website was unavailable, and public directories contained conflicting information. Confirm directly before making a special trip.
Which Conway restaurants have vegetarian or vegan options?
Mike’s Place lists a veggie burger. Stoby’s lists a veggie quesadilla and veggie breakfast burrito. La Pista lists vegetable pizza and several salads. Strict vegan diners should ask about cheese, dressings, bread, sauces, and shared preparation surfaces before ordering.
Do these restaurants offer gluten-free food?
Pasta Grill’s current ordering menu lists a gluten-free pasta substitution. That does not guarantee protection from cross-contact. Ask every restaurant about ingredients, shared fryers, grills, utensils, sauces, and preparation areas.
Are reservations recommended at these Conway restaurants?
La Pista accepts reservation requests through its website. Pasta Grill offers a waitlist and reservations for Conway groups of eight or more. For Mike’s Place, call ahead before a weekend dinner or large-group visit. Stoby’s and Fresh Donuts are more casual, but peak-period waits or limited product availability are still possible.
Sources
- Visit Conway Restaurant Directory — current local listings, addresses, phone numbers, and cuisine categories.
- Mike’s Place — current concept, menu, contact information, and published hours.
- Stoby’s Conway Menu — current menu, address, online ordering, and location information.
- La Pista Pizzeria — current address, hours, menu, online ordering, and reservation information.
- Pasta Grill Locations and Hours — Conway address, hours, menu access, waitlist, and group-dining information.
- AY Magazine’s ZAZA Closure Report and City of Conway’s YGFBFKitchen Profile — dated local-status and business-history information.
Conclusion
For a dependable Conway dining plan, choose the restaurant that matches the occasion. Mike’s Place works well for steak, seafood, and a polished dinner. Stoby’s is the local comfort-food and breakfast pick. La Pista covers wood-fired pizza and Italian-inspired casual dining, while Fresh Donuts is suited to a quick morning stop. Pasta Grill is a strong option for Italian food, seafood, steaks, family meals, and date nights.
ZAZA’s Conway location is closed, and YGFBFKitchen’s current Conway status remains unclear. Check same-day hours and current menus before leaving, especially for weekend meals, holidays, university events, or a long drive.
