Food in Sioux Falls (Rapid City, Brandon: motel, houses, restaurants)

[fatman66]

Someone told me that Sioux Falls has the largest number per capita of restaurants of any city in the US. Even if that's close to true it seems like you folks like your food (as the name implies I dig that). In considering the move to South Dakota I'm feeling a little bad about leaving behind some of my Western New York regional foods. I'm sure that you have some regional specialties so I thought that I might get an idea of what kind of new and interesting food experiences we could expect.

Oh and by the way, we may be visiting the Sioux Falls area at the end of this month to take a look before making our final decision so any restaurants to try while we are in town for 3-4 days would be greatly appreciated (I'm sure you all have a decent amount of the big national chains but IMHO the local places are better and more fun). As always, thanks in advance.

[leroyleroux]

Well, I'll take a shot at it, though some others may have better information. I don't think you'll really find anything 'regional', at least not that I know of. The majority of people around are Norweigan or German, and their foods don't really get made in restaurants.

If you want the high end, I've always gotten great food at Minerva's downtown. I've heard also that Donnie something has great Italian food, but I don't know if that's a chain or not. And we recently discovered Hu Hot, which is a chain. We eat there once every time we are in town. There is a Michael's, which I believe is a steak place that I've also heard good things about.

There might be a little more 'food diversity' downtown, but I'm not sure.

[Chris19]

Sioux Falls has a decent selection of eating places but could always use more selection. If you like Chinese or Mexican, there are a number of good restaurants in those genres and many of these restaurants are independently owned and operated.

If you like good chicken, there are several places. Bob's (2 locations), The Keg (2 locations), and Hy-Vee (in the grocery stores) have yummy chicken. Hy-Vee also has very good carryout chinese food.

I agree that HuHot is a good place to eat. I have been there a half dozen times and get full real easily and loved the food. It is a Mongolian Grill that is a unique place to eat.

I love Old Chicago. Even though it is a chain restaurant, it has some awesome choices and atmosphere. The Chicago style pizza is yummy.

There is also a NY style pizza place downtown worth trying.

Other interesting places include Carnival Brazillian Grill, Spezias (a good reputation for Italian food), and several Japanese restaurants.

There are several steakhouses in Sioux Falls, but the steakhouses in neighboring small towns have a good product and are a better value. Hartford Steakhouse and the steakhouse in Brandon are both good places and they are within 10 miles from Sioux Falls city limits.

Sioux Falls a good array of restaurants, chain and independents, but I would like to see more diners, one or two southern restaurants, a German restaurant, and more seafood places.

fatman66, hope your visit to Sioux Falls is an excellent one.

[MJ1986]

Originally Posted by fatman66

Someone told me that Sioux Falls has the largest number per capita of restaurants of any city in the US. Even if that's close to true it seems like you folks like your food (as the name implies I dig that). In considering the move to South Dakota I'm feeling a little bad about leaving behind some of my Western New York regional foods. I'm sure that you have some regional specialties so I thought that I might get an idea of what kind of new and interesting food experiences we could expect.

Oh and by the way, we may be visiting the Sioux Falls area at the end of this month to take a look before making our final decision so any restaurants to try while we are in town for 3-4 days would be greatly appreciated (I'm sure you all have a decent amount of the big national chains but IMHO the local places are better and more fun). As always, thanks in advance.

I thought I heard that too (about the most restaurants per capita). They seem to be everywhere.

When I think of South Dakota foods, I think of buffalo burgers (burgers made out of buffalo meat... obviously ), chislic, frybread and kuchen.

Chislic: Chislic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It really isn't exotic or anything, but its a popular food on local bar and restaurant menus.

Frybread is the state bread. It's fried dough.

Kuchen is the state dessert... It's like a pie, but the crust is cake-like and has a fruit filled or custard type of filling. I haven't seen it around Sioux Falls very much, but its popular up in the north central part of the state.

Like Chris said, there's a pizzeria downtown that has NYC style pizza... I haven't eaten there yet. I'm sure if someone from NYC came to Sioux Falls to eat there, they would complain about how un-authentic it is. That's always how it goes! I want to try it though!

I would recommend Foley's, which is "fancy" steakhouse, and Cafe 334, which is downtown. I've heard excellent things about Cafe 334, but I have yet to eat there.

Spezia is local and has really good Italian food. Granite City is another good one, for American food. It is a chain, but I've always loved eating there.

There's some good Thai, Indian, Japenese, Chinese, and Vietnamese restaurants. I haven't delved into the exotic restaurants yet... well exotic IMHO.

For Sioux Falls "icons", I would say The Keg (fried chicken), Hamburger Inn (downtown, changed owners not too long ago...It was famous for its egg burger), B&G Milkyway (Ice Cream), and Bob's Cafe (broasted chicken).

[fatman66]

Originally Posted by MJ1986

Chislic: Chislic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
It really isn't exotic or anything, but its a popular food on local bar and restaurant menus.

I like the sound of Chislic, I'll have to try the Keg during our visit. If we end up leaving Rochester I'll miss this: Garbage Plate, History of Garbage Plate, Nick Tahou Hots

[DannyBanany]

Chris, Spezia has fantastic food! I always try to stop there in Sioux Falls. I didn't know that SF had a Mongolian Grill too. The one in Rapid City is really good but the atmosphere is somewhat like a cafeteria with fluorescent lighting and tacky pictures so it kinda ruins it for me. I also like Granite City when I was in Sioux Falls too.

The best Italina is the cioppino at Botticelli's in Rapid City. Mmmm...

[Jacks02]

Some other places I haven't seen mentioned that I enjoy going to are Bracco, Touch of Europe, Granite City, Inca Mexican Restaurant, and Johnny Carino's.

[Chris19]

The Milky Way, as mentioned in MJ1986's post, is a local mainstay. It has THE BEST ice cream in Sioux Falls. I love their cholocate ice cream cone dipped in chocolate. Irresistable, I must say.

[rjl78]

Originally Posted by DannyBanany

Chris, Spezia has fantastic food! I always try to stop there in Sioux Falls. I didn't know that SF had a Mongolian Grill too. The one in Rapid City is really good but the atmosphere is somewhat like a cafeteria with fluorescent lighting and tacky pictures so it kinda ruins it for me. I also like Granite City when I was in Sioux Falls too.

The best Italina is the cioppino at Botticelli's in Rapid City. Mmmm...

When I end up in Sioux Falls and meeting friends for lunch... They go to Hu Hots... that is just fine with me. I also enjoy Fortune on Benson for Chinese cuisine.

Funny you mention Mongolian Grill in Rapid... The last time I ate there was on my 28th Birthday... It was directly after my first chemotherapy treatment. Anyway had a nasty bad reaction to the medications and was knocked on my backside could not sleep or function very well. So I don't know if I could step foot in there again... I like the food well enough.

In Rochester last February foods were one of the highlights of the trip. In the motel I was staying there was a dutch eatery that was excellent. Then a couple a blocks away was a neat little Greek restaurant that was also great eating.

[nanjosbrand]

If you're hungry and want a lot of food for your money, try Marlin's. Great place for breakfast. I personally love LaNikkis Taqueria (I always mess up the name) for Mexican food. Almost authentic-as good as you can get in Sioux Falls in my opinion.
I definitely agree with MJ that you need to try chislic. I think Tinner's has decent food. Either way you go, I know you won't starve when you go to Sioux Falls.