South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota’s Best Hole-in-the-Wall Restaurants

What began as a derogatory term when it was first defined by the Oxford Dictionary in the 1820's as a 'small dingy place, especially a bar or restaurant', is now a term of endearment.

Hole-In-The-Wall.

It still means different things to different people, but these days there's a certain authenticity and charm that comes with it.

Recently, Tasting Table went on a quest to find these hidden gems and they've compiled a list in their story 'The Best Hole-In-The-Wall Restaurants In Every State'.

So which establishments are their picks for the Tri-State Area?

South Dakota: Ron's Cafe

Ron's Cafe on West Main Street in Rapid City, South Dakota has been serving up classic breakfast and lunch dishes like for more than 30 years.

So how old school is this place? They're only open Monday - Friday from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.

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Iowa: Canteen Lunch In The Alley

True to its name, you'll find this iconic eatery in a back alley off East 2nd Street in Ottumwa.

It dates back nearly 100 years and is so legendary that it has its own Wikipedia page.

The highlight of the menu is the loose-meat sandwich, made with ground beef in a cast iron cooker, and served with a short list of available toppings.

Minnesota: Al's Breakfast

You might just blink and miss it when you're walking down 14th Avenue SE in Minneapolis, but when you find it, you'll be glad you did!

But beware, things operate a little differently in this cramped space. With that in mind, Al's has even posted a handy 10-step list to help you survive your first visit.

The Jose' omelet and pancakes are crowd-pleasers.

The 10 Most Redneck Towns in South Dakota

Are you a 'Redneck?' I guess to some people, all of us in South Dakota are rednecks.

If we use the Jeff Foxworthy Scale of Redneckeness, I have, in fact, been too drunk to fish. So by definition, I am a redneck. And so are many people I know.

Not that being from the country is a bad thing, and it can be fun to poke fun at ourselves.

With that in mind, we found that the folks at RoadSnacks put together a list that claims 'These Are The 10 Most Redneck Cities In South Dakota.'

What is a Redneck?

The dictionary says that a redneck is someone "...who lives in a small town or in the country, especially in the southern U.S., who typically has a working-class job, and who is seen by others as being uneducated and having opinions and attitudes that are offensive."

Well, a few things. First, South Dakota isn't THAT kind of 'south.' We're to the south of North Dakota, but to the north of 'The South.'

Plus that definition sounds awful mean and serious. I thought we were having fun here.

RoadSnacks leaned into the funny, Jeff Foxworthy-based version of a redneck. Then they rounded up select data on places in SD to determine their rankings. RoadSnacks Redneck Criteria:

Small towns
Least amount of high school graduates
Number of bars per city
Number of mobile home parks per capita
Number of tobacco stores per city
Number of places to get fishing gear
Number of guns and ammo stores per city
Walmarts, Bass Pro Shops, and dollar stores nearby

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns

The Best Truck Stop Food in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

One of the best parts of any road trip is a stop at a truck stop. Whether you call them, travel centers, convenience stores, or just a gas stations; these oases are so interesting and fun.

In the middle of nowhere, you find the island of pavement, pumps, and people; getting gas, some rest, and fuel for themselves, AKA some classic truck stop food.

I'm partial to a Love's Truck Stop. They are usually big and well-managed. And as a connoisseur of gas-station coffee, Love's is one of the best. Plus, they have some delicious hot dogs.

I'm not the only one that enjoys a stop at a truck stop for good eats. The food blog LoveFood.com dug through user reviews to find the best truck stop food in each state.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns