First Contestants Revealed in Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle

Are your tastebuds watering yet?

As we wind down another year, it's just about time to enjoy one of our favorite events on the calendar - the annual Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle, which is getting ready to launch its 12th edition.

While we wait on the official announcement of the entrants, two different establishments have confirmed their participation in the 2025 event.

Southern Perfection BBQ is teaming up with WoodGrain Brewing Company at 9th Street and Phillips Avenue for The OhhGee! Burger.

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Meanwhile, The Cattitude Cafe, at 2nd Avenue and 11th Street, is taking things in a slightly different direction with their Ahi-Tuna Burger.

The 2025 Burger Battle runs from January 1-31.

All you need to do is head downtown, or order for pickup or delivery, and then vote for your favorites on the Downtown Sioux Falls Digital Passport app.

Each burger will be rated on a 10-point scale in 5 categories:
• Flavor
• Patty
• Toppings
• Bun
• Presentation

The burger with the highest score gets crowned champion at the end of the month.

Tour the 2023 Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle

January in Sioux Falls only means one thing...Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle! 32 savory burgers from local Sioux Falls restaurants looking for your stomachs and votes.

DTSF Burger Battle: Full Restaurant/Burger Lineup

If you've never participated in the Downtown Burger Battle, this is how it works:

Review the participating restaurants and their burgers
Make sure you check their schedule and hours before you go
Go to one of the restaurants
Eat the burger
Use the DTSF Digital Passport to vote and rate the burger
Repeat
And you could win prizes
And you help one downtown restaurant win the Burger Battle and reign supreme for one whole year!

Voting criteria consist of patty, creativity, toppings, bun, and customer service.

Gallery Credit: Townsquare Media Sioux Falls

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