2024 Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle: Glacial Lakes [Review]

Time is running out to find your favorite in the Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle, with a record 37 entrants in 2024.

The latest to hit my taste buds is the Queso-Birria Burger from Glacial Lakes Distillery and Cheezy Noodlez Gourmet Mac & Cheeze.

This is one of three burgers in this year's field to feature a collaborative effort between a downtown bar and a local food truck.

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Results/Townsquare Media

It's billed as:

Angus Pattie topped with our signature Birria. This burger comes with all the fixin’s including chipotle aioli, shredded lettuce, grilled onions, tomatoes, and house made smoked queso.

Like with a lot of the other burgers in this year's field, the abundance of sauce makes this one best enjoyed on-site and not taken to go.

That smoked queso, while quite messy, is a great compliment to the overall flavor of the burger.

What I really enjoyed about this offering was how well the burger and the birria worked together. Too often the different textures and flavors seem to compete with one another, but not on this one. It was hard to tell where one ended and the other began.

SCORECARD (Out of 5):

• Flavor: 5
• Patty: 4
• Toppings: 5
• Bun: 4
• Presentation: 4

You have until January 31 to sample as many of the 37 burgers as you can.

After you've polished one (or more) off, don't forget to download the official app downtown – The DTSF Digital Passport - to cast your votes on each burger.

2024 DOWNTOWN SIOUX FALLS BURGER BATTLE LINEUP/REVIEWS

Sioux Falls Restaurant Lands a Spot on the Food Network’s Best Burrito List

Gallery Credit: Jeff Harkness/B1027.com

Iconic Sioux Falls: Phillips Avenue Diner, a Downtown Gem

I'll never forget the best malt I ever had. It was many years ago at a new restaurant in Sioux Falls. The restaurant was housed in a silver Airstream trailer on Louise Avenue and was called The Market Diner. The malt was so creamy and I think it was probably the first time I'd ever had whipped cream on top of a malt.

The Market Diner was a unique '50s-style dining experience with neon signs, classic vinyl booths, stainless steel counter stools, and even a jukebox.

That was over 20 years ago. The Market Diner became Dixie Brothers Grill and eventually closed.

A few years later, the trailer was moved to a downtown location on Phillips Avenue, extensively remodeled and renamed Phillips Avenue Diner. The malts have not changed, nor has the diner ambiance.

POSE: Phillips Avenue Diner is South Dakota's Most Instagrammed Restaurant

My niece Ashlea and I ventured downtown and had lunch at Phillips Avenue Diner. The menu includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner favorites. It's diner classics turned up a notch.

The breakfast menu includes omelets, biscuits and gravy, corned beef hash, and of course waffles. Recently, Phillips Avenue Diner's waffles were named the best in South Dakota according to Food Network.

Ashlea had the Ranch Burger and it came topped with bacon, onion rings, American cheese, and BBQ sauce. She substituted sweet potato fries.

My selection was the Burger of Champions. You can substitute a chicken breast for any burger, so I had mine with chicken, Applewood bacon, ham, and American cheese. It also comes with a hard-fried egg on top, but I chose to hold that.

Eat local. Some of the best food and atmosphere can be found at local, non-national chain restaurants. Try Phillips Avenue Diner at 121 S. Phillips Avenue and explore downtown Sioux Falls while you're at it.

Check out the menu here and enjoy one of Sioux Falls' iconic restaurants.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown

Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives in Sioux Falls

In June of 2020, Guy Fieri and his crew from Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives came to Sioux Falls and made quite a stir.

In case you've never been lured into an hours-long binge of the show on Food Network, Guy Fieri visits places off the beaten path and tries out their signature dishes and visits with locals.

Gallery Credit: Ben Davis