Must-Try Restaurants In Sioux Falls, South Dakota

Located in downtown Sioux Falls is a favorite local corner restaurant, the Phillips Avenue Diner. The restaurant was once a silver Airstream trailer known as Market Diner in 1996, but it is now set in a typical American retro diner with a juke box included. As its reputation is built on great reviews all over the country, people from South Dakota and beyond flock to this stylish diner. Phillips Avenue Diner offers a range of delicious sandwiches, mammoth burgers, and even waffles or pancakes for dinner. Try the Godfather burger packed with smoked mozzarella cheese, marinara, peppers, and even fried mozzarella sticks.

Since January 2004, the team at Foleys has served tens of thousands of guests from the United States and all around the world. The restaurant offers a range of fish and steak dishes from bone-in rib-eye, asiago trout, filet mignon, or a jumbo shrimp cocktail. Foley’s enjoys the catchphrase ‘Locally owned, internationally known’; indeed, voted as ‘local best’ for nine years, Foleys provides exceptional food and service that is worth trying out.

One of Sioux Falls’ unknown gems is Lalibela restaurant, situated on West 11th street and serving exceptional Ethiopian food from the friendly staff who always wear a smile. Worth trying are all kinds of Ethiopian delicacies. This includes tibes: tender pieces of marinated beef cooked with peppers, onions, tomatoes, and served with home-made injera, a special kind of sour flat bread or pancake. Locals recommend Lalibela’s famous sambusa made from ground beef with lentils, vegetables and traditional spices. This is all covered with a fried dough ‘pocket’.

Sitting on the east bank of the Sioux River in Falls Park is Falls Overlook Café. The cafe is placed in a restored 1908 hydroelectric plant with historic exhibits inside the building. Seating is available in- and outside the cafe, both with views of the falls. In the summer, the gardens are beautiful, and even in the winter, the cafe and trees are decorated with lights making it a wonderful location all year round. Falls Overlook Café serves a variety of salads and sandwiches including the green and healthy Queen Bee salad with chopped kale, prosciutto, raisins, and shredded parmesan. On the other end of the health scale there is the meaty Falls Reuben Panini with slow-cooked corned beef, sliced pumpernickle hoagie, and fresh sauerkraut.

Situated in downtown Sioux Falls, Crawfords is an upscale bar and restaurant surrounded by centuries-old quartzite and brick. It has a lively atmosphere, colorful dishes and an innovative cocktail, wine and beer list. Crawfords used to be the location of one of the first butchers in Sioux Falls, Bauch’s Meats way back in 1896. The original wooden beams from this era can still be seen throughout. With an interior that’s described as ‘wild west meets gypsy’ and gorgeous Moroccan chandeliers, no detail is left untouched. With dishes from prime cut steak to wild-caught salmon, the same can be said of the flavorful food on offer.

Located in the East Market arts hub, Sanaas Gourmet is a favorite with the locals and a popular meeting spot. The casual spot offers a 10-course buffet every Friday and Saturday with samples of delectable and flavorful dishes. It also serves light, healthy and affordable lunches. In keeping with its green policy, Sanaas’ meals are cooked daily from scratch and feature fresh, seasonal ingredients. Even the containers, washable linens and stainless cutlery here are 100 percent recyclable. With an array of deserts as well as gluten-free and peanut-free options, it is clear why Sanaas is such a popular choice among the residents of Sioux Falls.

Since 1997, Minervas has been known as one of the Midwest’s favorite dining destinations. The place providing a delicious menu of steaks, fresh seafood, or classically authentic pasta. Minervas’ guests are thrilled with the outstanding food and impeccable service on offer. The restaurant has since branched out into nine other locations across the region after being first established in Sioux Falls as a corner creperie. The team has a highly regarded reputation.

At All Day Café and Goodnight Bar, brunch isn’t just a meal but ‘a way of life’. With a relaxed and comfortable attitude, the friendly team serves brunch all day. They prepare the meals from scratch and use the best possible ingredients, complete with a modern comfort food twist. Their menu includes the legendary Country Club – turkey, ham, smoky bacon, with greens, tomato, mayo and eggs in between two slices of toast. There is also the Southwestern, which is all about the fluffy eggs, roast chicken, thick bacon, jack cheese, and verde sauce. The Goodnight Bar also provides an extensive cocktail menu to accompany the All Day Café.

Home to the only microbrewery in Sioux Falls, Monks House brewmaster teams serve an extensive selection of craft brews as well as an assortment of delicious food prepared fresh from the kitchen. Sit back and relax near their cozy fireplace, pool table and shuffleboard. At this place there is a choice of more than 40 tap beers, 150 bottle beers and a tasty food menu. Try their signature One Night in Bangkok pizza and taste a little heat, and a little sweet. This pizza has peanut sauce topped with chicken, julienne carrots, red onions, mozzarella, crushed peanuts, cilantro, Sriracha and pineapple. Or try the slightly insane mashed potato pizza topped with mashed potatoes, green onion, garlic, bacon, cheddar cheese, tomato. It, of course, also has a drizzling of South Dakota’s unmistakable ranch dressing.