Western South Dakota is the place to find the best buffalo burgers in the U.S. The homelands of the Lakota Sioux people, whose diet consisted mainly of buffalo (American bison), western South Dakota is now home to dozens of ranches that specialize in this delicious and nutritious meat. How nutritious is it? Try less than 1/3 the fat in skinless chicken breast, more iron than beef, and only 143 calories per serving.
If you’ve never eaten bison meat before, you owe it to yourself (and your health!) to give it a try. There’s no better place to start sampling than western South Dakota. Below are my picks for the best bison burgers in the region.
Firehouse Brewing Company, 610 Main Street, Rapid City, SD
http://firehousebrewing.com/Default.aspx
The Firehouse Brewing Company is a microbrewery, pub-style restaurant, live music venue and dinner theatre all rolled into one. Located in the heart of downtown Rapid City in the city’s original fire station, the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. Food and drinks are served on the first two floors. The third floor houses a dinner theatre. During summer months, enjoy live music and a view of downtown on the outside patio dining area. The bison burgers here are big and hearty, served with lettuce, pickle and tomato on the side. Added bonus: ask for a Firehouse sampler to try out each of the microbrews made on-site. Also take advantage of some truly unique shopping in the nearby shops and boutiques such as Prairie Edge, which sells high-end Native American-made products. Open year-round.
Dale’s Family Restaurant, 745 Battle Mountain Avenue, Hot Springs, SD
You won’t find Dale’s on the web, but this is where the locals (and those in the know!) go for tasty mom and pop diner fare at unbeatable prices. The service is very friendly and the atmosphere is no-nonsense but comfortable. Added bonus: Dale’s is right across the street from Evan’s Plunge, a 100% hot spring-fed indoor/outdoor pool and spa. Spend the day luxuriating at Evan’s Plunge then head across the street to Dale’s for a delicious buffalo-shaped bison burger patty. Open year-round.
Diamond Lil’s Bar and Grill, 677 Main Street, Deadwood, SD
http://www.themidnightstar.com/diamondlils.html
Diamond Lil’s is located on the second floor of Kevin Costner’s Midnight Star casino on Main Street in Deadwood. This atmosphere is pub-gone-Hollywood, with props, costumes and posters from Costner’s movies on every wall and a polished brass and wood bar dominating the center of the room. Expect standard pub fare, generous portions and reasonable prices. The bison burgers are so tasty here, you might be tempted to try all seven types offered on the menu. Be sure to ask for a table by the window for a good view of Deadwood’s Main Street. Added bonus: the casinos of downtown Deadwood are all within walking distance of Diamond Lil’s.
The Laughing Water Restaurant, Crazy Horse Memorial, Crazy Horse, SD
http://www.crazyhorsememorial.org/campus/restaurant.html
This unique memorial is the site of the world’s largest mountain carving, dedicated to the Lakota Sioux war chief Crazy Horse. The restaurant is housed in its own building adjacent to the Indian Museum of North America on the Crazy Horse campus. Crazy Horse Memorial is a must-see for any visitor to the Black Hills, and the bison burgers at Laughing Water are not to be missed. Other bison dishes include stew and tanka dogs (bison hot dogs). Added bonus: ask for a table near the wall-sized window and dine in front of a stunning view of the mountain carving-in-progress. Take note that while the Memorial is open year-round, the restaurant is only open from May-November.
The Cedar Pass Lodge Restaurant, Badlands National Park, South Dakota
http://cedarpasslodge.com/
Cedar Pass Lodge is a privately owned lodge, restaurant, campground and gift shop adjacent to the scenic Badlands Loop Road and nature trails of Badlands National Park. The bison burgers here are made fresh, and this is one of the few places where you can get an Indian taco (a locally popular dish that uses Indian fry bread rather than tortillas) made with buffalo meat rather than beef. Added bonus: you can’t miss the stunning geology of Badlands National Park. After dining at the Lodge, take a drive along the Loop Road or stroll along one of the several nature trails for a close-up view of this unique landscape .The restaurant is closed from mid-October to mid-April.
