Event Duration: January 1-31, 2022
Help Downtown Sioux Falls (DTSF) decide which restaurant has the best burger throughout January during the 9th Annual Downtown Burger Battle, presented by First Western Bank & Trust.
“Post-holiday exhaustion and freezing winter days are a downer, and it’s a delight to have something so over-the-top to look forward to,” said DTSF marketing manager Tenley Schwartz. “The turnout for the Burger Battle is insane. Last year, there were over 30,000 burgers sold.”
Judge the 27 participating downtown restaurants on their burger submissions’ performances in these five categories: patty, bun, toppings, creativity, and customer service.
“If you’re brave enough to attempt eating 27 burgers in one month, don’t go it alone! Find a friend to go in on the taste-testing with you and try a few at a time.” -Tenley Schwartz
“The winner receives bragging rights and the traveling Burger Battle trophy,” she said.
Either eat in or get your burger for carry-out or delivery if the service is offered.
Try to get a taste of them all, and vote on each burger on the DTSF Digital Passport app as you do.
“If you try them all, you may get some bonus swag,” said Schwartz. “We’re also hosting weekly gift card scavenger hunts on our social media pages during Burger Battle. Folks can follow along and win a $25 gift card to bankroll their burger habit.”
“We are really excited to be working with this year’s sponsor, First Western Bank & Trust. Their office is located downtown, and their team is full of burger lovers!” -Tenley Schwartz
Restaurants have free reign to create a burger that can be as simple or as extravagant as they desire.
Burgers can be on the sweet side, like EightyOne Arcade Bar’s submission: Homer’s in Heaven.
This beef patty is paired with applewood smoked bacon, sharp cheddar, jalapeño jelly all on a glazed Flyboy Donut.
Or the flavor profile could be savory with a twist.
For example The 605, the submission from Wileys, has a patty made of ground tenderloin filet and brisket and topped with candied bacon, caramel apple relish, Stensland Family Farms cheese curds, and a homemade caramel chipotle drizzle.
2021 Champion
Papa Woody’s // The Uptowner
This ½ pound ground chuck/brisket burger was seasoned with salt, pepper, and garlic. To pair with the burger, the pretzel bun had cream cheese, jalapeños, banana peppers, shredded cheddar, melted cheddar and muenster, wood-fired and charred pineapple tidbits, cherrywood bacon, and sweet chili sauce.
M.B. Haskett Delicatessen’s submission is also more savory. M.B. Hasket Patty Melt is a beef patty from Berrybrook Organics on Breadico rye with sautéed onions, gruyere, cheddar, dijon mustard, and mayonnaise.
With so many burgers to try, there’s bound to be one for everyone’s taste buds.
“My favorite feedback is hearing that someone tried a new restaurant and plans to go back–that’s what it’s all about,” said Schwartz.
The Lineup
+Blarney Stone Irish Pub // Raspberry Jalapeño Popper Burger
+Boki European Street Food // The Euro Burger
+Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen // When In Rome
+Chef Lance’s on Phillips // The Tuscany Burger
+Crave // The Elvis Impersonator
+Crawford’s // The Boujee Burger
+DaDa Gastropub // Meatloaf Burger
+EightyOne Arcade Bar // Homer’s in Heaven
+Falls Landing Bar & Grill // Southbound Burger
+Fernson Downtown // Murph Burg
+Holiday Inn Sioux Falls-City Centre // The ARC
+JL Beers Downtown // GochuJANG’s All Here Burger
+Leonardo’s Café // Slap Crispy Cajun Burger
+M.B. Haskett Delicatessen // M.B. Haskett Patty Melt
+MacKenzie River // Rise & Shine
+Minervas // The Local
+Monks Ale House // Salt of the Earth
+Ode to Food & Drinks // Black & Bleu Wagyu
+Papa Woody’s // The Trail Boss
+Parker’s Bistro // Raja Burger
+PAve // Le Fred
+Phillips Avenue Diner // Fat Randy
+Remedy Brewing Company // The Queen Bee Burger
+Swamp Daddy’s Cajun Kitchen // Coming Soon
+The Treasury at Hotel on Phillips // The Grifter
+TommyJack’s Pub // The Big Popper
+Wileys // The 605
And the Burger Battle isn’t only an inspiration for these restaurants.
“Friends are tagging each other on a Facebook post and plotting out their burger-consumption strategy, die-hards are creating spreadsheets with their rankings, and bakers are making burger-themed cookies and cupcakes,” explained Schwartz.
