Burnt End Barbecue, a barbecue joint from Kansas City, Missouri, blessed Arkansas with its award-winning sauces and a mouthwatering selection of meats.

The new Conway restaurant, the third and newest location of Burnt End restaurants, is the first in Arkansas.

Its doors opened January 2024, bringing a new favorite spot to locals.

According to the Burnt End’s website, a burnt end, the restaurant’s namesake, is “typically cut from the fatty end of a brisket after the fat has gotten nice and crispy, charred from the smoker.” 

The pleasant atmosphere adds to the culinary experience, with modern decorations, dimmed lighting and wooden accents that create a comfortable, relaxing vibe.

Burnt End Barbecue was recognized after winning first place at the American Royal Barbecue Championship in 2012 and 2015, which is proudly displayed on every table.

Burnt End’s Thick and Bold is its mildest sauce. This fan favorite is not spicy but has a bold flavor, as the name implies, and is also the thickest of the three sauces.

For some sweet heat, the award-winning Sweet Chipotle can add a zip of flavor to your feast. This sauce has medium spice and a tangy sweetness. While still not very spicy, it is the spiciest of the sauces. The sweetness further mutes the heat of the chipotle, allowing the consumer to enjoy the flavor of the chipotle pepper with less heat.

If you prefer a sweeter sauce with less kick, the Sweet Honey Glaze is a perfect match for a french fry or your meat of choice. The honey flavor is prevalent compared to other honey sauces that are just sweet, and the floral flavors take the spotlight in this sauce. 

The lavender mint cream soda mocktail is a delicious treat to accompany any meal. 

This beverage is light and refreshing with a noticeable lavender flavor contrasted with a hint of mint. 

While the cream soda is a noticeable base, the lavender takes the front seat in the concoction.

A Burnt End signature, the Burnt End Nachos, deliciously combines queso, its signature sauce, lime crema, pico de gallo, jalapeños and melted cheddar cheese, topped with burnt ends.

This signature appetizer’s beautiful blend of flavors and textures takes a typical American dish to the next level.

The chips are perfectly crunchy and don’t absorb too much of the sauce, ensuring they stay crunchy throughout the meal.

The fresh jalapeños add flavor, a bit of spice and a light crunch that ties each bite together. 

While the nachos were top-tier, there was a lack of burnt ends, which arguably is the main focus of the nachos.

Considering it is a shareable item, the dish would be significantly improved with either more burnt ends or cutting the burnt ends into smaller pieces to ensure each bite is graced with this delectable cut.

Although the two-meat platter for $19.95 is one of its signature dishes, the one-meat platter may be a better option for those who choose to enjoy an appetizer and dessert with their meal. 

This $16.95 platter comes with fries, coleslaw and a choice of turkey, pork burnt ends, pulled pork, sausage or pulled chicken.

The pulled pork has a delicious mild flavor and is fantastic on its own, but it pairs well with each of the three signature barbecue sauces.

Burnt End Barbecue’s french fries go above and beyond and are genuinely the best fry in town. 

These crinkle-cut fries make every other fry of this cut pale in comparison.

They are crispy, have the perfect potato-to-outer-layer ratio, and are so flavorful that ketchup is unnecessary.

The slaw has creamy sauce, crunchy cabbage and a subtle sweetness balanced by a bit of ground black pepper.

Mac and cheese is a staple for barbecue joints nationwide; unfortunately, this one is not up to par.

It’s a simple dish with a smooth and creamy sauce covering cellentani noodles.

However, compared to the rest of Burnt End’s menu, this side item lacks flavor; it’s not particularly cheesy and has no seasoning.

On a positive note, this allows another opportunity for the signature sauces to shine.

The best pairing is the sweet chipotle sauce.

This new favorite barbecue joint is a welcome addition to Conway’s restaurant selection.

The ambiance, flavor profiles, quality cuts of meat and delicious barbecue sauces put Burnt End Barbecue a cut above the rest.