What To Eat in South Dakota
Good steaks are an expected pleasure in a land where cattle and buffalo roam. We also are especially fond of South Dakota’s ways to please a sweet tooth, from atomic sundaes in vintage soda fountains to bakeries that are devoted exclusively to cookies.
-
All sorts of berries are available for picking when summer comes to South Dakota, and bakers make the most of them in pies. The one known as bumbleberry is especially popular in local cafes. It is a mix of whatever's ripe, usually including blueberries, rhubarb, strawberries, raspberries, and, when available, huckleberries.
Absolutely Best At -
Bison meat makes good sausages and steaks as well as powerhouse burgers. Its sweeter flavor and more rugged texture, well-abetted by a kaleidoscope of spice, yields an only-in-the-West eating experience.
Absolutely Best At -
A dish unique to South Dakota, chislic is beef (sometimes bison) that is well-marinated, then deep-fried to crusty-edged succulence. Its origins are Russian, where pork was the favored meat. In fact, it has become a favorite way to prepare just about any wild game in the Mount Rushmore State.
Absolutely Best At
Showing Results:
The Cookie Jar Eatery
The Cookie Jar is a great sweet-tooth stop in South Dakota. There are big cookies and really big ones, pretty and plain, Monsters and snickerdoodles.
Horseshoe Bar and Grill
Horseshoe Bar in the South Dakota Badlands is worth a trek on the road less traveled. You'll encounter friendly faces and a small menu of affordable local meat.
Badlands Saloon & Grille
Wild West ambiance, large-portion meals, and close proximity to Badlands National Park are a few good reasons to visit Badlands Saloon & Grille.
Essence of Coffee
With a casual atmosphere and well-priced, satisfying meals as well as masterful coffees, Essence of Coffee in Rapid City is a South Dakota treasure.
Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge
This former gas station and snack shop has been serving local game and comfort food to 'hungry-mous' travelers since 1949. A super prairie stop, Roadfood-style.
Murdo Drive-In
Broasted chicken is served sizzling hot; burgers are hand-pattied; cyclones (milk shakes) are made from scratch at South Dakota's Murdo Drive-In.
Bumpin’ Buffalo
Bumpin' Buffalo serves fine burgers, but is more noteworthy for its chislic, a South Dakota specialty of marinated, deep-fried hunks of sirloin.
Bobkat’s Purple Pie Place
Pie's the thing here in Custer, South Dakota (bumbleberry and rhubarb are especially good); and there's a pre-pie menu of sandwiches, soup, chili and BBQ.
Tea Steak House
The Tea Steak House of South Dakota offers heartland beef at its best: filets, t-bones, sirloins, plus great hash browns all add up to carnivore satisfaction.