This year marks the 12th annual Burger Battle, a tradition where local downtown restaurants create a burger with an extraordinary spin. Instead of a traditional American cheeseburger, these restaurants create a burger to try and win the title of the ultimate burger. This year there are 50 burgers competing to win that title. The Burger Battle is only for the month of January, from Jan. 1-31.
I went out and tried three burgers from different places: Tommy Jacks Pub, Swamp Daddy’s and Woodgrain Brewing Company Feat. Southern Perfection BBQ. These burgers were all wonderful and different in their own way. I did only try three so I barely made a dent in the 50 there are.
The first burger I tried was Swamp Daddy’s Creole Crown Burger. Their description of the burger is, “[A] traditional bun with a roasted garlic aioli, herb cheese spread, spring greens, tomato, pickles, a patty blend of brisket, short rib and ground chuck, topped with peppered bacon, andouille sausage gravy, spiked onion rings and loaded with smoked gouda cheese drizzled with sambuca infused barbeque sauce,” said Downtown Sioux Falls. As I bit into this burger I immediately loved the crunch of the onion ring and the mix of all the flavors coming together. The balance of the creamy sausage gravy and herb cheese spread with the tomato, pickles and spring greens was splendid. The patty was full of flavor, but was undercooked. The bun was also my least favorite of the three burgers I tried. The bacon was the perfect touch and the barbeque sauce made this burger even more enjoyable. I do not like barbeque sauce but this sauce was incredible and by far the best barbeque sauce I have ever had. The side paired with the burger was beignets. They were dry and not very satisfying to eat. I did like that the burger was served with a dessert instead of the traditional fries. Overall I would rate the Burger a 9.5/10.
(Kinsley Ernster)
The second burger I tried was Woodgrain Brewing Company Feat. Southern Perfection BBQ’s, The OhhGee Burger. “We start with a fresh ¼ Ib. chuck patty seasons and seared to perfection. Then topped with aged white cheddar. ¼ Ib. of 14 hour smoked pulled pork is placed on next, then layered with in house made chimichurri slaw and bacon relish. All of this awesomeness is secure between a freshly buttered and toasted potato bun. The OhhGee is accompanied by a side of Jo’s Southern Style Baked Mac and Cheese,” said Downtown Sioux Falls. This burger was unlike the other two burgers. It had smoked pulled pork and chimichurri slaw on top of the burger. I loved how unique this burger was compared to the other two and others on the list of 50. This burger was amazing and I enjoyed all of the flavors. The smoked pulled pork really came through and tasted incredible. I will say I do wish the slaw was more creamy. Also, there was almost too much pulled pork and slaw to the point where I could not taste the burger as much. The bun on this burger was also perfect and paired perfectly with the burger, pulled pork and slaw combination. The side with this burger, mac and cheese, was the best mac and cheese I have had. This burger was probably my least favorite but still incredible. My rating for this burger is an 8.8/10.
“Bite into the crack burger and get hooked! This ⅓ Ib masterpiece features a sweet and spicy secret sauce, creamy bacon-infused cheese, and fiery jalapenos, topped with crispy onions in a fresh bakery bun. Dare to get hooked?” said Downtown Sioux Falls. Tommy Jacks Pub’s Crack Burger was the third and final burger I tried. This burger was cooked to perfection and by far the best cooked out of the three. The bun was also amazing and not like any bun I have had on a burger before. I really enjoyed the bacon-infused cream cheese, it added the perfect mix of flavors and textures. I also thought the onion rings were a perfect touch. For the most part, this burger was amazing but what made it lose points while rating it was the secret sauce. I did not enjoy it very much. It was too sweet and needed to be a bit more spicy for my liking. The side of fries were incredible. These fries were the best fries I have ever had, served fresh and hot. In all, I would rate this burger a 9/10.
If you have never tried the Burger Battle out you should go try one before it is over. It is not only a fun experience, but it also opens you up to so many new places you might have never tried or know about in Sioux Falls. If you did not get the chance to try it out this year then make it a priority next year.
