South Dakota Restaurant and Dining Guide

Hey there, travelers and food enthusiasts! Are you ready to dive into the rich and delicious world of South Dakota's culinary scene? We are here to guide you through a scrumptious journey across the state, exploring its unique dishes, must-visit establishments, and some pretty rad tourist attractions. South Dakota is a treasure trove of flavors and experiences just waiting to be discovered.

In this epicurean adventure, we'll munch our way through cities like Sioux Falls, Rapid City, Custer, Brookings, and Spearfish, tantalizing our taste buds with local favorites such as Chislic, Kuchen, Pheasant, Buffalo Burger, and Indian Tacos. And, of course, I'll share some cool stories, historical tidbits, and amusing trivia to spice up our gastronomic escapade.

So, if you're a curious soul hungry for some fantastic eats and memorable experiences in the great Mount Rushmore State, stick with us, and let's chow down on the best of South Dakota!

Chow Down in Chislic City: Sioux Falls

Sioux Falls, South Dakota's largest city, is the perfect starting point for our flavorful expedition. And let me tell you, folks, their chislic game is on point! Traditionally made with cubed red meat, deep-fried, and served on a skewer, chislic is a must-try for every food aficionado. Botski's, The Attic East Bar & Grill, and The Barrel House are all top-notch joints to get your chislic fix. And if you're a kuchen connoisseur, you won't want to miss Pietz's Kuchen Kitchen & Specs in Scotland, just an hour's drive from Sioux Falls.

Once you've had your fill, head over to Falls Park to walk off those delicious calories, or take a stroll through Downtown SculptureWalk Sioux Falls, an open-air art exhibit. Trust me, the city's mix of natural beauty and creativity is the cherry on top of a perfect day.

The Rapid Rise of Rapid City

Next up, we're making tracks to Rapid City, where the pheasant and buffalo burgers reign supreme. Dakotah Steakhouse and Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge serve up some mean pheasant dishes, a nod to South Dakota's state bird. On the other hand, if you're craving something heartier, swing by Thirsty's for a juicy buffalo burger that'll knock your socks off.

After you've chowed down, check out the colorful, ever-changing Art Alley, or get up close and personal with some scaly friends at Reptile Gardens. Rapid City doesn't skimp on fun, that's for sure!

Custer's Tasty Treasures

Now, let's mosey on over to the charming town of Custer, nestled in the picturesque Black Hills. Home to the scrumptious kuchen and mouthwatering Indian tacos, Custer's got a little something for everyone. Swing by Laughing Water Restaurant, where you can savor both dishes alongside an unforgettable view of Mount Rushmore. And if you're craving a juicy buffalo burger, don't miss out on Black Hills Burger and Bun Co or Buglin' Bull Restaurant and Sports Bar – these two joints are local legends for their top-notch grub!

Once you've had your fill, explore the breathtaking Custer State Park or descend into the depths of Jewel Cave National Monument. Custer knows how to impress, both above and below ground!

A Bounty of Flavor in Brookings

Our next stop is the delightful city of Brookings, a haven for pheasant enthusiasts and burger lovers alike. Drop by Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge for a taste of their namesake dish, or grab a heavenly buffalo burger at Nick's Hamburger Shop. Your taste buds will thank you, I promise.

Afterward, immerse yourself in the stunning beauty of McCrory Gardens or delve into the world of art at the South Dakota Art Museum. Brookings has got it going on, folks!

Spearfish: A Culinary Oasis

Last but certainly not least, we venture to the enchanting town of Spearfish, where Indian tacos take center stage. Barbacoa's and Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant and Bar serve up their own unique spin on this tasty dish, and trust me, you'll want to try them all.

As for attractions, Spearfish doesn't disappoint. Be sure to check out Bridal Veil Falls, the stunning Spearfish Canyon, and the High Plains Western Heritage Center. Can you say "picture-perfect"?

There you have it, my friends – a whirlwind tour of South Dakota's incredible cuisine and captivating attractions. From Sioux Falls to Spearfish, each city has its own flavor, history, and charm just waiting to be explored. So, what are you waiting for? Grab your fork, put on your adventure hat, and dig in! South Dakota's culinary landscape is as diverse as its natural beauty, with each city offering its own unique take on local dishes. From chislic to kuchen, pheasant to buffalo burgers, and Indian tacos to boot, there's no shortage of mouthwatering delights to satisfy your cravings. And don't forget – nothing pairs better with good food than good company, so be sure to bring your friends and family along for the ride.

As you journey through the state, you'll also find a wealth of attractions to enjoy between meals. Whether you're marveling at the art in Sioux Falls, hiking through the Black Hills, or admiring the breathtaking waterfalls of Spearfish, South Dakota promises an unforgettable experience for visitors of all ages.

So, to all you food lovers and adventure seekers out there, I wholeheartedly encourage you to embark on your own culinary quest through the heart of South Dakota. You won't be disappointed – in fact, you just might find yourself coming back for seconds!

Must-Try Restaurants in South Dakota

Laughing Water Restaurant

12151 Ave of the Chiefs, Custer, SD 57730

Super friendly staff, tasty food, and great portions. I had the tatanka stew with fry bread and thought it was excellent. Needless to say, our visit to C...

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Good93 Reviews4.2

Pietz's Kuchen Kitchen & Specs

800 Fourth St, Scotland, SD 57059

Amazing pizza and selection, and if your grandma, family, mother, father or whoever ever made you Kuchen try Pietz's. For those who have never tried...

Superb10 Reviews5

Botski's

1914 S Sycamore Ave Unit 104, Sioux Falls, SD 57110

Amazing local joint! Fun people, excellent food (especially the chicken), best spot on the east side!!!

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Good45 Reviews3.9

Thirsty's

819 W Main St, Rapid City, SD 57701

Server was great, kept us in food and drink, checked in with a great attitude even though the place was very busy- Sam made it easy to enjoy our lunch an...

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Good76 Reviews4.1

Buglin' Bull Restaurant and Sports Bar

511 Mt Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD 57730

Best meatloaf (bison) I've ever had! Unexpectedly delicious and totally worth it!Kid-friendliness: Had kid menus and crayons to keep the little ones...

Take-Out

Superb139 Reviews4.3

Black Hills Burger and Bun Co

441 Mt Rushmore Rd, Custer, SD 57730

Closed on December 30, 2023 for good. They will be missed , but we are looking forward to April 2024 with their new concept!

Take-Out

Superb431 Reviews4.7

Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge

726 Main Ave S, Brookings, SD 57006

I've only had lunch here growing up, so I've only experienced the nice but still casual dining for lunch. My husband and I were very pleasantly...

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Superb44 Reviews4.7

Nick's Hamburger Shop

427 Main Ave, Brookings, SD 57006

Just a great Americana burger place. Great food, fantastic prices, hillarious fellow customers! Why go to any other burger place in Brookings?

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Superb74 Reviews4.7

Dakotah Steakhouse

1325 N Elk Vale Rd, Rapid City, SD 57703

Amazing meal with fabulous service from a very professional & hard working Sarah. Salty Cowboy cocktail was carefully made a so tasty. Fillet mignon ...

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Good301 Reviews4.2

The Barrel House

4701 E 54th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57110

It's good to be able to go to a good family bar that let's parents go out to eat and still relax! Did the patio when the weather was nice but w...

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Good84 Reviews4.2

Barbacoa's

305 W Jackson Blvd, Spearfish, SD 57783

Unfortunately, I’ve reduced frequency of my visits because the food and service just aren’t what they used to be. Tonight for example (at 6pm) they were ...

Take-Out

Good62 Reviews3.8

Guadalajara Mexican Restaurant and Bar

83 US-14, Spearfish, SD 57783

Top notch. Muy Bueno. Great service, wonderful atmosphere. It was lunch rush when we went, but the wait was short. Great chips and guac.

Take-Out

Superb111 Reviews4.4

The Attic East Bar and Grill

4601 E 41st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57110

Used to like coming here for the peanut butter egg burger, but now the menu is pretty much exactly the same as the menu for the Gruff. Annoying, because ...

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Superb64 Reviews4.3

Recently Opened Restaurants

Hunt Brothers Pizza

301 SD-248, Kennebec, SD 57544

Superb1 Reviews5

Tokyo Sushi & Hibachi

2233 Kansas Ave SE, Huron, SD 57350

I'm giving 5 stars for the sushi and service. I can't say anything about the hibachi. Just not my thing.

Superb31 Reviews4.8

Shooters Saloon

205 Commercial Ave, Wolsey, SD 57384

I go here a couple times a year on hunting trips. Its my favorite pizza.....anywhere.....maybe its because Ive been outside hunting all day but I doubt ...

Superb7 Reviews5

Walmart Bakery

100 Stumer Rd, Rapid City, SD 57701

Take-Out

Poor0 Reviews0

Walmart Bakery

7821 S Minnesota Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57108

Poor0 Reviews0

The B&B

Spearfish, SD 57783

A complete dump. Weirdest place I've ever been. And I've been to some weird places. Waited 25 minutes for a drink

Poor0 Reviews0

Lake Preston Indoor Country Club

325 Main Ave N, Lake Preston, SD 57249

Superb3 Reviews5

Fat Daddy's Smokehouse

320 Broadway Ave, Valley Springs, SD 57068

Great food, good variety of smoked meats. Homemade bbq sauce that you will love 5 stars

Take-Out

Superb5 Reviews5

A&B Pizza

1025 Junction Ave, Sturgis, SD 57785

This place was way better a few months ago. Even still, it was grossly overpriced for the quality. A medium was $30! I may be biased but I work at a good...

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Good22 Reviews3.6

Prohibition Pub

313 Garfield Ave, Dell Rapids, SD 57022

Was a really nice little establishment drink's we're ok shot's we're better

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Superb8 Reviews4.8

Ruby's Cakes And Flowers

194 N Lake Dr, Watertown, SD 57201

Did an amazing job for my wedding cake. I don't usually like cake since it's usually dry, but wanted a wedding cake anyway for the tradition. I...

Superb10 Reviews4.7

Matt's Place

15767 Sturgis Rd, Summerset, SD 57769

Fun local bar. Good selection of canned and bottled beer. Great prices. Vaguely reminiscent of UK pub.

Superb10 Reviews4.9

Valley View Country Club Restaurant

Sisseton, SD 57262

The server was phenomenal very polite very informative and good looking :-) food was very good and the atmosphere was okay it was a golf course

Take-Out

Superb14 Reviews4.5

Crumbl - Dawley Farm

5908 E 18th St, Sioux Falls, SD 57110

I loveeeeee crumbl. Wish I had more money for these cookies but they make even the simplest of cookie taste absolutely delicious!

Delivery

Superb71 Reviews4.7

Old Pine Coffee Co.

Speedy Mart, Parking Lot, 3275 Old Belle Rd, Spearfish, SD 57783

Old Pine is the best hidden gem out here in the hills. AMAZING coffee and the NICEST workers/owners. I don’t get over to this side of the state much, but...

Drive-Through

Superb17 Reviews4.8

Recent Reviews

Buzzards Bar

103 3rd St, Pukwana, SD 57370

Small town feel with big time flavor. Reminds you of home cooking with family. To be honest, the home town atmosphere is #1. Food is #2.

Superb20 Reviews4.8

McDonald's

131 Ryan Rd, Spearfish, SD 57783

Service was really good except for the from worker named Cynthia who was extremely rude 😡 0/10

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Drive-Through

Good196 Reviews3.5

La Corita

312 6th St W, Brookings, SD 57006

Amazing Food. They have the best tamales in town. They only accept cash so be prepared . The food is amazing you won't be disappointed.

Superb18 Reviews4.8

Big Dummy's

112 N Main St, Mitchell, SD 57301

Ordered her for the first time today the burger was great and they have the best breaded mushrooms' ever

Superb13 Reviews4.3

Culver’s

616 Centennial St S, Aberdeen, SD 57401

on Feb. 27,2024 around 5:15 pm went through the drive thru and ordered 2 -3 piece cod dinners. I never looked at the food containers until I got home in ...

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Good58 Reviews4.2

Camille's Sidewalk Cafe

1216 W 41st St, Sioux Falls, SD 57105

I ordered a hot wrap through Doordash and am incredibly disappointed. The wraps are so small. For $11, I'd expect more...literally. This is a photo ...

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Good37 Reviews3.4

Blue Tequila

105 W Main St, Elk Point, SD 57025

Awesome food, i had that enchiladas Rancheras that had 5 different enchiladas. Cleaned the plate and happily overstuffed.

Superb44 Reviews4.8

Mya's Teriyaki

316 W 5th Ave, Mitchell, SD 57301

The teriyaki chicken was great. Tender and flavourful. The yakisoba noodles were also pretty good. The orange chicken, as others have said, was mediocre ...

Good37 Reviews4.2

Pauly's Pizzeria & Sub Co.

1624 E Saint Patrick St, Rapid City, SD 57703

I have to give the biggest shout out to Pauly's Pizzeria & Sub Co.! Brian, the owner, took a huge part of his day to personally call me regardin...

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Superb89 Reviews4.7

Murph's Burgers & Fries

5312 E Arrowhead Pkwy, Sioux Falls, SD 57110

The guys there definitely care about you having an amazing experience eating food cuz they nail it on the head!!! I even have a big beard and kept it ...

Superb95 Reviews4.8

The Seed Coffeehouse and Eatery

600 Broadway St, Centerville, SD 57014

❤️ Wow! What a sweet, cozy and inviting cafe! Love love love! Coffee was delicious, my breakfast sandwich was to die for and the staff was SO SO kind! I ...