For the past 12 years, Downtown Sioux Falls has been organizing a city-wide competition to see what business can make the best burger.
This competition, which is formally known as the Downtown Sioux Falls Burger Battle, runs for the entire month of January, with 50 participating restaurants. Some are expected with the likes of a few local breweries, such as Fernson and Woodgrain Brew Co; however, some are more peculiar, like CH Patisserie, which is a French bakery that sells a multitude of delicious sweets.
Last year, Chef Lance’s on Phillips won for the second time. Their Cuban Burger took the top prize and it was made up of an 8-ounce patty, with pulled pork, raspberry barbecue sauce and Swiss cheese on top. This year Chef Lance’s on Phillips looks to defend their title with their Poutine burger, which is made up of a patty, braised short rib, garlic mayo, fried cheese curds, smoked provolone and encapsulated in a toasted onion bun. This entree is served with a side of gravy and fries, though it has the option to be ordered without this.
CH Patisserie puts a bit of a spin on the standard for the burgers; they are one of just a few that do not have a standard bun for their burger. CH Patisserie has an onion smash burger with some bacon, cheddar and CHP sauce wrapped in a duck-fat croissant.
Nunzios joins CH patisserie in having an abnormal bun, as their burger actually is baked in a crust. Inside that crust, there is a prime beef patty, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese. This burger is served with a choice of Arrabbiata, Marinara or garlic basil Bechamel sauce.
CRAVE is a local staple in the competition, and this year, they have entered “The Chosen Juan” burger, which features a patty stuffed with Swiss cheese and topped with a fried egg, bacon aioli and crispy fried hash browns. This burger is served on a brioche bun, accompanied by a side of fries.
These competitors are just a few of the 50 Sioux Falls restaurants in the competition, and if any of the burgers mentioned above are of any interest, they will be available for purchase through the end of January.
