SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — With Sioux Falls’s Burger Battle in full swing, plenty of other communities around the state are grilling up their very own burger battles.
Many different communities including Mitchell, Brandon Valley, Watertown, Brookings, Huron, and Deadwood will be hosting their very own burger battles across the state.
Director of Community Engagement for the Watertown Chamber of Commerce, Ashley Johnson, said that they have been doing their burger battle for the last couple of years and it’s been great for their community.
“The first one was in 2023, the previous few years we have done a couple of promotions to help our businesses thrive in a slower season,” Johnson said. “Burger battle kind of started as a way to help our restaurants because a lot of our restaurants were seeing lower numbers.”
Johnson added the start of the new year is typically difficult for restaurants.
“So we asked the restaurants what season or month would be best and their slower season is February, January, everyone makes resolutions for the new year,” Johnson said. “They are going to eat healthier which means they go out less, well that impacts restaurants.”
Johnson said the community has really come together to support the burger battle.
“It’s really fun for us because some of the people who have participated in our burger battle will go to TikTok or Facebook and they will go and post videos of themselves trying all of the burgers to bring awareness of the fact that we are doing this and I think that gets more people interested,” Johnson said.
A list of communities across South Dakota hosting burger battles can be found below.
Mitchell Burger Showdown
The city of Mitchell is kicking off their first annual burger battle which will run from January 1 – January 31.
Current participating business:
- Big Dummy’s Bar & Grill
- Blarney’s Sportsbar & Grill
- Bradley’s Pub & Grille
- Cattlemen’s Club Steakhouse
- Papa Murphy’s Pizza (Burger Pizza!)
- The Back 40
- The Depot Pub & Grill
Participants can vote by calling in their selections to 605-990-4500.
Brandon Valley Area Burger Battle
During the month of January, visit participating restaurants to try their BVA Burger Battle contenders From January 1 through January 31.
The Burgers:
- The Gruff Plates & Pours: “Porky’s Revenge” Burger”
- CHUDS Pub & Grub “The Moo’in Hawaiian”
- Bottom’s Up: “Jammin Slaw” Burger”
- 212 The Boiling Point: “The 212 Monster”
- Tailgators Grille & Bar: “Blatasaurus“
- Double D Saloon: “Afternoon Delight”
They ask that participants get the password to vote from your server when you order. You can click here to vote.
Watertown Burger Battle
The city of Watertown will be hosting their 3rd Annual Burger Battle from January 16 to February 28. They will be hosting restaurants from Watertown, Twin Brooks, Henry, Altamont, and Castlewood.
- 2nd Street Station | 15 2nd St SW, Watertown, SD
- Dakota ButcherSteakhouse | 1933 Willow Creek Dr, Watertown, SD
- Danger Von Dempsey’s ATY | 550 Airport Dr, Watertown, SD
- Dempsey’s Brewery, Restaurant, & Pub | 127 N Broadway, Watertown, SD
- Double Barrel Steakhouse | 106 Main St, Henry, SD
- Gunslingers | 203 Twin Brooks Rd, Twin Brooks, SD
- High Mountain Supper Club | 17530 SD15, Altamont, SD
- Labbies Sports Bar & Grill | 1414 9th Ave SE, Watertown, SD
- Minervas Restaraunt & Bar | 1901 9th Ave SW, Watertown, SD
- Page’s Place Cafe & Grill | 700 W Kemp Ave, Watertown, SD
- Sandy’s Bar, Grill, & Casino | 519 9th Ave SE, Watertown, SD
- Ship’s Inn Bar & Grill | 105 Main St, Castlewood, SD
- Tables Steakhouse | 121 Main St, Castlewood, SD
- Watertown Brewing Company | 113 E Kemp Ave, Watertown, SD
- Waverly Steakhouse | 121 1st Ave, Waverly, SD
- Willy’s Sports Bar, Grill, & Casino | 1401 9th Ave SW, Watertown, SD
You can also complete a Burger Battle punch card to be entered to win door prizes from participating businesses.
Brookings Area Burger Clash
The Brookings Area Burger Clash will run from January 1, 2025, through February 28, 2025, and will host restaurants from Brookings, DeSmet, Aurora, Clear Lake, and Flandreau.
- 14/81 Grill-The Roadhouse Burger
- Backyard BBQ-The Home Run Burger
- Bluejays (Egan SD)-1/2 Pound Southwest Popper Burger
- Boss’ Pizza & Sports Bar-The Quarter Founder
- Brookings Country Club-Smothered Barbacoa Smash Burger
- Cardinal Tap (Arlington)-Smokey Mac’n Brisket Burger
- CC’s Bar & Grill (Volga)-BBQ 3 Meat Bacon Cheeseburger
- Cottonwood Bistro-The Northerner
- Craft Chophouse & Lounge-Beer Cheese Burger
- The Depot-Hot N’ Bleu Cheesy
- Gatsby’s Speakeasy & Supperclub (Hendricks MN)-Candied Bacon Maple Jalapeno Burger
- Half Pint Steaks & Spirits (DeSmet)-The Whoa Nellie!
- Kattails (Lake Campbell)-The “Boom Boom Burger”
- Lemkes Bar & Grill (Aurora)-Cowboy Burger
- Lucky Dog Bar & Grill-Bourbon Burger
- Mad Mary’s Steakhouse-Green Chile Pablano Hamburger
- Mortland’s Burgers & More-(Elkton)-The Taco Burger
- The Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge-Tater Tot Hotdish Burger
- Pints & Quarts-The PQ 50/50 Burger
- Rub N Tug-The French Fried Onyum
- Shorty’s Hot Box-Grillaxy Invader
- Strikerz Bar & Grill-Pin Popper Burger
- Tables Steakhouse-The Gastro Pub Burger
- The Merc (Flandreau)-The Berry Big Dill
- Valley Restaurant & Catering-Poppin Burger
- Hy Vee Wahlburgers-Fiesta Burger
- Whiskey Creek-The Big Popper
- Wilberts-Mac’n Cheese Bacon Burger
You can cast your vote for Brookings Area Burger Clash here.
Huron Burger Battle
The city of Huron will be hosting their very own Burger Battle, which will begin on February 1 and go to February 28.
- Big D’s – 4 Cheese Pork Stacker
- Coborns – Texan Burger
- Coney Island – Coney Burger
- Firepit Pizza – Big Jon
- La Hacienda – Volcano Burger
- La Patrona – La Bomba Quesobirria Burger
- Prime Time – The Big Dipper
- Ryan’s Hangar – Bang Bang Burger
- Scoreboard– The Jammer
- The Plains– Peachy Bacon Bliss
Deadwood’s Gold Rush Burger Battle
This year’s battle will feature one business per week, lasting 18 weeks beginning on January 15 and ending in May. The battle is between all participating businesses, and customers can rank each burger they try over the weeks. The voting window for each business will be 10 days, starting on the Wednesday of their scheduled week until the next Friday.
You can find more information on their website here.
