If you are a lifelong South Dakotan, you may think you have seen everything there is to see and tried everything there is to try, but have you really? If you want to really experience the Mount Rushmore State and all of its goodness, we recommend checking out these 7 best little known restaurants in South Dakota.
- Rosie’s Cafe (Sioux Falls)
Jason Comes via Rosie’s Cafe / Facebook
Heidi Namken via Rosie’s Cafe / Facebook Stop into Rosie’s and find out what all the hubbub is about. This homestyle food will have your mouth watering. Try the homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and a roll all for under $6.
Address: 2202 West Madison Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
- Meridian Corner (Freeman)
Meridian Corner / Facebook
Meridian Corner Facebook There aren’t many places you can find parking for your truck, plus mouthwatering lamb chislic and infamous broasted pork chops, but Meridian Corner is one of those places. At the corner of Highway 81 and 18, this little mom and pop shop is worth stopping for! (Seriously, after seeing this chislic, can you understand why Meridian is one of the best underrated restaurants in South Dakota?)
Address: 43915 US-18, Freeman, SD 57029
- Charlie’s Resort (Lake City)
Charlies Resort / Facebook
Charlies Resort / Facebook A local favorite, Charlie’s Resort is located on Highway 10 by Lake City. Their menu features prime rib that may well be the best in South Dakota.
Address: 43880 SD-10, Lake City, SD 57247
- The Back 40 (Mitchell)
The Back 40 / Facebook
The Back 40 Facebook Based upon this picture alone, it is safe to say that this South Dakota dining bucket list restaurant is doing everything right. From homemade caramel rolls to burgers, and even roast and potatoes as good as grandma used to make, the Back 40 is serving up amazing food around the clock.
Address: 511 North Main Street, Mitchell, SD 57301
- Whimp’s Place (Burbank)
Bob Eastwood via Whimps / Facebook
Frank L. Moore Jr. via Whimps / Facebook There is no need to adjust your screens, folks, as Whimp’s really does make golden fried chicken that looks this amazing! (Are you more of a steak and potatoes kinda guy/gal? They have those, too.)
Address: 32028 White Streeet, Burbank, SD 57010
- The Prairie Dog Cafe (McLaughlin)
The Prairie Dog Cafe / Facebook
The Prairie Dog Cafe / Facebook Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this article, Prairie Dog Cafe has permanently closed.Eating at the Prairie Dog Cafe feels like you’re eating at home with family, which is a huge part of the cafe’s charm. Don’t be fooled, though, as charm isn’t all this cafe has to offer. Take, for instance, the pictured Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwich, which is just one of the many menu items that will have you wishing this cafe was in your home town.
Address: 123 Main Street, McLaughlin, SD 57642
- Toby’s Lounge (Meckling)
Toby’s Lounge / Facebook
TripAdvisor/Boeing777-400 This hidden gem is tucked in the small town of Meckling. The fried chicken at Toby’s is so good, you have to go see it (and eat it) for yourself. Warning: You’ll definitely love discovering one of the best unassuming restaurants in South Dakota.
Address: 31364 Meckling Road, Meckling, SD 57069
Have you been to any of these hole in the wall restaurants in South Dakota? Which is your favorite?
Jason Comes via Rosie’s Cafe / Facebook
Heidi Namken via Rosie’s Cafe / Facebook
Stop into Rosie’s and find out what all the hubbub is about. This homestyle food will have your mouth watering. Try the homemade meatloaf, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and a roll all for under $6.
Address: 2202 West Madison Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Meridian Corner / Facebook
Meridian Corner Facebook
There aren’t many places you can find parking for your truck, plus mouthwatering lamb chislic and infamous broasted pork chops, but Meridian Corner is one of those places. At the corner of Highway 81 and 18, this little mom and pop shop is worth stopping for! (Seriously, after seeing this chislic, can you understand why Meridian is one of the best underrated restaurants in South Dakota?)
Address: 43915 US-18, Freeman, SD 57029
Charlies Resort / Facebook
A local favorite, Charlie’s Resort is located on Highway 10 by Lake City. Their menu features prime rib that may well be the best in South Dakota.
Address: 43880 SD-10, Lake City, SD 57247
The Back 40 / Facebook
The Back 40 Facebook
Based upon this picture alone, it is safe to say that this South Dakota dining bucket list restaurant is doing everything right. From homemade caramel rolls to burgers, and even roast and potatoes as good as grandma used to make, the Back 40 is serving up amazing food around the clock.
Address: 511 North Main Street, Mitchell, SD 57301
Bob Eastwood via Whimps / Facebook
Frank L. Moore Jr. via Whimps / Facebook
There is no need to adjust your screens, folks, as Whimp’s really does make golden fried chicken that looks this amazing! (Are you more of a steak and potatoes kinda guy/gal? They have those, too.)
Address: 32028 White Streeet, Burbank, SD 57010
The Prairie Dog Cafe / Facebook
Editor’s Note: Since the publication of this article, Prairie Dog Cafe has permanently closed.Eating at the Prairie Dog Cafe feels like you’re eating at home with family, which is a huge part of the cafe’s charm. Don’t be fooled, though, as charm isn’t all this cafe has to offer. Take, for instance, the pictured Ultimate Pulled Pork Sandwich, which is just one of the many menu items that will have you wishing this cafe was in your home town.
Address: 123 Main Street, McLaughlin, SD 57642
Toby’s Lounge / Facebook
TripAdvisor/Boeing777-400
This hidden gem is tucked in the small town of Meckling. The fried chicken at Toby’s is so good, you have to go see it (and eat it) for yourself. Warning: You’ll definitely love discovering one of the best unassuming restaurants in South Dakota.
Address: 31364 Meckling Road, Meckling, SD 57069
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Little Known Restaurants in South Dakota May 16, 2019 Annie Sandmeier What are the best small town restaurants in South Dakota? Since South Dakota is home to so many small towns, this one is tough… If we had to name a few, however, it would have to be the previously mentioned Whimp’s Place (you haven’t lived until you’ve had a medium rare steak from Whimp’s!), Lee Street Station Cafe in Deadwood (which is not only one of the best breakfasts you’ve ever tasted, but one of the best places to eat in South Dakota), and the Hat Creek Grill in Edgemont (where home-cooking never tasted so good!). What are the best diners in South Dakota? A diner is a diner is a diner, right? Not in South Dakota! Visit Skogen Kitchen (Custer) for authentic Scandinavian fare, Philip’s Avenue Diner (Sioux Falls) for some retro food and fun, and/or the Corner Diner for homemade desserts galore. (You can discover even more of our favorite diners here.) What are the best kept secret restaurants in South Dakota? Psst… are you looking for some of the most secret, best underrated restaurants in South Dakota? You’ve come to the right place! We highly recommend Weimer’s Diner and Donuts in Custer, Big Fella’s Bar & Grill in Aberdeen (huge portions of amazing food… enough said!), and Grey Goose Store & Social Club in Pierre (the ONLY place to get prime rib in South Dakota).
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Little Known Restaurants in South Dakota
May 16, 2019
Annie Sandmeier
What are the best small town restaurants in South Dakota? Since South Dakota is home to so many small towns, this one is tough… If we had to name a few, however, it would have to be the previously mentioned Whimp’s Place (you haven’t lived until you’ve had a medium rare steak from Whimp’s!), Lee Street Station Cafe in Deadwood (which is not only one of the best breakfasts you’ve ever tasted, but one of the best places to eat in South Dakota), and the Hat Creek Grill in Edgemont (where home-cooking never tasted so good!). What are the best diners in South Dakota? A diner is a diner is a diner, right? Not in South Dakota! Visit Skogen Kitchen (Custer) for authentic Scandinavian fare, Philip’s Avenue Diner (Sioux Falls) for some retro food and fun, and/or the Corner Diner for homemade desserts galore. (You can discover even more of our favorite diners here.) What are the best kept secret restaurants in South Dakota? Psst… are you looking for some of the most secret, best underrated restaurants in South Dakota? You’ve come to the right place! We highly recommend Weimer’s Diner and Donuts in Custer, Big Fella’s Bar & Grill in Aberdeen (huge portions of amazing food… enough said!), and Grey Goose Store & Social Club in Pierre (the ONLY place to get prime rib in South Dakota).
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
What are the best diners in South Dakota? A diner is a diner is a diner, right? Not in South Dakota! Visit Skogen Kitchen (Custer) for authentic Scandinavian fare, Philip’s Avenue Diner (Sioux Falls) for some retro food and fun, and/or the Corner Diner for homemade desserts galore. (You can discover even more of our favorite diners here.)
What are the best kept secret restaurants in South Dakota? Psst… are you looking for some of the most secret, best underrated restaurants in South Dakota? You’ve come to the right place! We highly recommend Weimer’s Diner and Donuts in Custer, Big Fella’s Bar & Grill in Aberdeen (huge portions of amazing food… enough said!), and Grey Goose Store & Social Club in Pierre (the ONLY place to get prime rib in South Dakota).
