As promised, we are saving the best for last! During 2020 when many states were locked down, South Dakota was one of the few states to open up early, thus expanding their economy and travel
As promised, we are saving the best for last! During 2020 when many states were locked down, South Dakota was one of the few states to open up early, thus expanding their economy and travel industries. In addition, South Dakota was one of the only states Fieri had not been to, so all this pooled together to get the ball rolling, helping Fieri to confirm his decision to film on location in the Queen City. You may recognize Guy Fieri from his Food Network show Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives. In all, he visited six restaurants, five in Sioux Falls, and one in Garretson, South Dakota.
Throughout our tour of Sioux Falls, we have come across several amazing eateries. Mediterranean dishes, French macarons, and even a black bean burger. However, on this blog post we will be examining the five establishments Fieri filmed at in Sioux Falls. Furthermore, we’ll have to save the Garretson stop for later travels. Therefore, one morning I drove up to see my friend Katie, and we decided to go on an epic restaurant marathon, and see how many we could fit in one day. So, in no particular order, we started off at Daily Clean Food and Drink for a fruit smoothie to jump start our eventful morning.
Daily Clean Food and Drink
Opening her business in 2018, Shaley Bolks wanted a place where customers could feel good about their menu choices, and order something healthy upon every visit. Weighing almost 330 pounds, Bolks decided to get aggressive with her weight loss, which also spurred her into opening her own restaurant. In fact, one of the items on her menu that helped her on her journey was her version of the veggie burger which she created herself. Previously only known to employees and trusted loyal customers, this menu item famously made it on the filmed episode. Knowing it would garner attention from current and future customers, Bolks made the smart business decision to quickly rewrite her menu, and add this now fan-favorite beef alternative to the ever-growing list of choices for patrons to choose from.
Another item featured was created by one of Bolk’s employees, and is called the “Mightiest Mac” which includes buffalo meatballs on top of a dish of homemade mac n’ cheese. However, even though these were among the handful of featured items on the DDD episode, I decided to go for one of their Thai Banh Mi pizzas, which my husband and I split when I got home later that afternoon. But knowing how much I love food, I’ll definitely be back to try more on their menu.
Check out their website (https://dailycleanfood.com/) to view all their vegan, gluten free and even dairy free meal options for your lifestyle. And finally, visit their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Daily-Clean-Food-Drink-275524566406252/) for daily specials and current events.
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Sat: 8am to 8pm
Sunday: 10am to 2pm
605-271-1736
6215 S Western Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Bread and Circus Sandwich Kitchen
Next up was a light lunch at Bread and Circus Sandwich Kitchen, which just like Daily Clean is a newcomer to the restaurant scene in Sioux Falls. Opening their doors in 2017, long-time friends Jordan Taylor and Barry Putzke chose to start their own business rather than work for someone else. And similar to Daily Clean, their menu mostly consists of farm-to-table fresh ingredients allowing these two entrepreneurs to get creative with their dishes.
So, upon meeting up with my friend and her husband, we were excited to sit down for a simple and relaxing lunch. Katie ordered the turkey club, her husband chose their Greet Feta flatbread, and even though I’m not vegetarian, I wanted to try their curry cauliflower dish. I absolutely love Indian food, and all things curry, and this dish alone won me over.
In fact, this prime location for their eatery became available at the perfect time, allowing Taylor and Putzke to jump on this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Previously the pizza joint named Taste of the Big Apple, Bread and Circus is capable of seating up to 50 guests inside, and nearly 100 more outside on their covered patio. This will be undoubtedly a popular place during the Summer, especially being so close to downtown shops. You could easily grab lunch here then peruse the quaint Philips Avenue shops and enjoy the Sculpture Walk.
Finally, since this is a farm-to-table restaurant oftentimes the menu changes seasonally depending on which ingredient is brought in from local farms, so be sure to visit their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/BreadandCircusSandwichKitchen/) for seasonal hours of operation, as well as daily specials. In addition, check out their website (https://www.breadandcircussd.com/) to view their seasonal and catering menu options, and place your order.
Summer Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs: 11am to 9pm
Fri – Sat: 11am to 10pm
Sunday: 11am to 9pm
605-338-2206
600 North Main Avenue
Suite 110
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Lalibela’s Restaurant LLC
Last on our list for the day was Lalibela’s Ethiopian Restaurant. Because of our fun-filled day of sight-seeing and shopping, we decided to grab our food to go. I’ve had Ethiopian food before, and as a matter of fact, there are two amazing Ethiopian restaurants close by my house here in Sioux City. it has to be some of the most uniquely and beautifully flavored food I’ve ever had. In fact, I remember going to their original location back in 2004 during my college years with one of my foreign exchange student friends from Uganda. So, I had high expectations upon order and receiving my meal, and they did not disappoint.
Back in 2003, owner Mulugeta Endayehu opened his business hoping to bring his love for Ethiopian food and culture to the Sioux Falls area. Rapidly becoming one of the go-to culinary options for residents of South Dakota, Endayehu started gaining a loyal customer base, with a handful of repeat customers driving well over an hour just to show their support.
Have you ever had Ethiopian food? Not sure what to order? Then I recommend taking a friend or two, and ordering the Beyaynetu, which is basically a veggie and meat sampler. If you like to experience different cultures, then you’ll enjoy this experience. The food is served on what is referred to as an Ethiopian flatbread, or pancake, called “Injera”, and it is amazing! Injera is the result of teff flour and water fermented over the span of 24 hours, creating a lovely spongey texture, with a slight sour flavor. I find myself craving this unique food item all the time. Finally, if you’d like to be even more adventurous, check out the rest of their menu on their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/Lalibela-Restaurant-LLC-166605096735747/).
Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tue – Sun: 11am to 9pm
605-271-0747
200 S Kiwanis Ave
Sioux Falls, SD 57104
Urban Chislic
The next day I came back up to Sioux Falls, and my friend and I finished our tour. Starting off with Urban Chislic for lunch, we were immediately greeted by vibrant colors depicting garage door graffiti on the wall. Guy Fieri specifically chose this restaurant for its mostly uncommon menu items, flash-fried cubes of venison, lamb, chicken, pork and beef. Mostly unknown around the country and the world, chislic is, for the most part, only found in South Dakota. And living here in the tri-state area my whole life, I had never heard of this dish that supposedly was introduced to the state back in the 1870s by John Hoellwarth who immigrated here from Crimea. Therefore, I chose one of their most popular menu items, Cuban chislic, over a healthy bed of rice.
After state legislatures declared chislic South Dakota’s staple food in early 2018, owners Erik Christensen, Chad Knutson, Hong Phrommany and Jon Steckler decided to open their restaurant later that same year. Initially operating out of a food truck back in 2012 before establishing their brick-and-mortar location, the group of four entrepreneurs wanted to continue the urban design with street art and man hole covers.
In all, I really enjoyed the flavors, and unique presentation of my meal. I even took some home to my husband who agreed we’ll definitely have to make a stop by when we’re in town, and maybe even sample some of their local beer selection on tap. Or perhaps I can even talk him into their “Gorilla Dumpster Challenge” consisting of over six pounds of chislic, kettle chips, cheese curds fries, along with eight different dipping sauces.
In fact, when you visit their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/uccorporate), you’ll find that Guy Fieri wasn’t the only celebrity to visit this Sioux Falls eatery. Just recently nationally recognized and world-famous Randy Santel took on this food challenge and won.
Finally, make sure you also check out their website (https://urbanchislic.com/) to view their dinner and lunch menus, as well as their catering menu for your next event. And while you’re there scroll down to the bottom of their home page and read up on regional and national newspapers that have written articles illustrating Urban Chislic’s notoriety and cult following.
Hours of Operation:
Mon – Thurs: 11:15am to 8:30pm
Fri – Sat: 11:15am to 9:30pm
Sunday: 11:15am to 8:30pm
605-275-6328
431 W 85th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Look’s Marketplace
After our lunch, we headed out to our last stop on our DDD tour, Look’s Marketplace, which happens to also be the longest standing establishment on our list, and one that has become more than just a Sioux Falls institution, but also an icon. Immigrating here from Germany, brothers Carl and August Look opened their butcher shop in 1883, then soon after a bakery, grocer and a wine cellar. Today patrons have their pic of not only shopping for their groceries, but also choosing from four different kitchens, a spacious dining room and bar, and two patios. And since Sioux Falls has become a Midwest favorite for breweries, Looks jumped on the bandwagon, and started brewing their own beer, creating everything from dark IPAs to light ales.
From brick oven pizza, to Lee’s famous house made soup of the day, to even a $55 Waygu steak, make sure you come hungry. Also bring with you a shopping bag because you are going to find some of the most unique grocery items found nowhere else. I use my crock pot all year round for multiple reasons (it’s time efficient, fool proof, and you can get creative with all the options available), therefore, I was super excited to find starter kits for pot roast, General Tso’s chicken, and even tikka masala. In addition, they have maple syrup straight from the best source of all, Vermont. I will definitely have to splurge a little bit more the next time I’m at Look’s.
For more information on souvenirs and products they sell, check out their website (https://www.looksmarket.com/). And visit their Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/looksmarketplace) for daily specials and current events or announcements.
Hours of Operation:
Monday: Closed
Tue – Sun: 8am to 8pm
605-336-3104
500 E 69th Street
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Plan your visit
Overall, I thouroughly enjoyed this tour. I can honestly say I followed in a celebrity’s footsteps, and I guess I can also say I checked something off my bucket list. So, now whenever I watch the Sioux Falls, South Dakota Diners, Drive-ins and Dives episode, I can genuinely be proud that I have physically been to each location. Each stop presented its own unique qualities, from the art, the location and obviously the food and drinks.
Originally airing on the Food Network January 1st, 2021, Guy Fieri and his team started off the new year in the great state of South Dakota. With the episode named “South Dakota Smorgasbord”, take this as a forewarning that you will be entering what Fieri calls “Flavor town”. In addition, and not surprisingly, every restaurant on this list, as well as many other Sioux Falls establishments have noticed an uptick in traffic since the Emmy award winning food critic’s Winter visit.
It took me a whole two days to conquer this list, and that’s with me driving an hour from Sioux City. So, if you live in or around Sioux Falls, make sure you plan a visit this Summer and enjoy some amazing food. My advice, start early and expect the unexpected.