The Brookings Area Burger Clash is a mouthwatering way to show love for local restaurants. Created by Shane Andersen to help support the industry after the pandemic, this event brings the community together for a little friendly competition and a whole lot of flavor. From January 1 to February 28, 2025, you’ll have two months to sink your teeth into the area’s best burger creations and cast your vote for the next burger clash winner!
The 2025 Burger Clash Participants:
*Note restaurant hours are subject to change. Contact the restaurant directly for the latest hours and availability.
In Brookings:
Backyard BBQ: The Home Run Burger
Open Monday – Saturday 11am – 7:30pm.
House seasoned patty resting on top of crisp dill pickles. Topped with Swiss cheese, slow smoked pulled pork, creamy coleslaw, onion rings and honey toasted garlic sauce with a rib chaser.
Boss’ Pizza & Chicken: The Quarter Founder
Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday 4pm – 11pm, Sunday and Wednesday 11am – 11pm, Friday 4pm – 3am and Saturday 11am – 3am.
The iconic Founding Father Pizza reimagined as a handcrafted burger. A perfectly seasoned patty topped with Canadian bacon, pepperoni and mozzarella cheese, finished with a ranch drizzle and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper. This masterpiece is wrapped in our house-made pizza dough and baked until golden.
Brookings Country Club: Smothered Barbacoa Smash Burger
Open Thursday- Saturday 4pm – 9pm. Restaurant is open to everyone. Call ahead to make a reservation at 605.693.4316.
2 three ounce smash burgers topped with pepper Jack cheese and shredded barbacoa meat. Topped with fresh pico de gallo and presented with smoked Gouda cheese sauce.
Cottonwood Bistro: The Northerner
Open Sunday and Monday 7am – 5pm and Tuesday – Saturday 7am – 9pm
The Northerner is a hearty burger featuring a flavorful venison and bison patty, topped with crisp bacon, fresh lettuce, juicy tomato, red onion, and melted pepper jack cheese, all on a toasted artisan bun. Served with seasoned fries and a side of wild berry compote, it’s a delicious blend of rustic charm and bold flavors.
Craft Chophouse & Lounge: Beer Cheese Burger
Open Monday – Saturday 11am – 10pm and Sunday 10am – 9pm
Hereford patty topped with cheddar, caramelized onions, and maple bacon aioli- nestled on a soft pretzel bun. Served in a creamy beer cheese sauce. Sauce will be on the side for To-Go orders.
Kattail’s: Boom Boom Burger
Burgers are only served on Sundays from 2pm – 9pm.
Our burger is Farm fresh South Dakota Wagyu beef, cheddar cheese and fried onions pedals topped with our well known “Boom Boom” sauce on a toasted bun. Served with lettuce, tomato, and onion.
Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge: Tater Tot Hotdish Burger
Open Monday 5pm – 9pm and Tuesday through Saturday 11am – 9pm.
A hand-patted burger grilled over the fire topped with waffled potato hash and a mushroom cream sauce with corn and home kitchen flavor. It’s served on a toasted sourdough bun with a side of fried green beans.
Pints & Quarts: PQ 50/50
Open Monday through Saturday 4pm -10pm.
We got some bacon from Back Alley Meats and blended it with our short rib and brisket ground beef 50/50 and then added American cheese, pickles and our PQ sauce.
Rub N Tug: French Fried Onyum
Hours vary. Tuesday- Saturday 4pm – 8pm.
This is a French Onion season 1/3lb triple meat blended smoked patty. We then deep fry the patty and cheese. The patty is laid atop a slathering of French onion dip. Then topped with BBQ sauce, French fried onion tangles and spicy maple bourbon pickles.
Shorty’s Hot Box: Grillaxy Invader
Open Sunday 4pm – 8pm and Monday – Thursday 11am – 1:30pm and 4pm – 8pm. Restaurant hours may vary.
Prepare for a flavor invasion! A 1/4 lb burger patty topped with a crispy fried hashbrown, tangy popper spread, tender shredded pork, crunchy pickles and our savory homemade sauce. This cosmic creation is sealed in our out-of-this-world machine to lock in all the interstellar flavors. One bite, and you’ll be over the moon!
Strikerz: Pin Popper Burger
Open Monday – Sunday 12pm – 12am. Restaurant hours may vary.
It is our signature burger with one or two patties* our famous poppers with cream cheese bacon and pepper jack cheese and a zesty sweet chili sauce. Pairs great with any of our draft beers! *Extra patty available for a charge.
The Depot: Hot N’ Bleu Cheeseyah
Open Monday – Sunday 11am – 10pm.
1/3lb Burger, Bacon, Bleu Cheese Crumbles, Onion Tanglers with Sriracha.
Wahlburgers: The Fiesta Burger
Open Sunday – Saturday 11am – 8pm.
1/3 lb burger, pepper jack cheese, jalapenos, pickles, chipotle mayo and smoke salsa
Whiskey Creek: The Big Popper
Open Tuesday- Saturday 11am – 10pm.
A 5 ounce patty, topped with 3 ounces of pork, cream cheese, jalapenos, pepperjack cheese, bacon, along with house made wild berry jam and chipotle lime bbq, all on texas toast.
Wilbert’s Alehouse: Mac ‘N Cheese Bacon Burger
Open Monday – Saturday 5pm – 9pm.
A burger with macaroni and cheese and bacon and topped with more cheese.
Beyond Brookings
1481 Roadhouse: The Roadhouse Burger
Located in Arlington. Open Tuesday – Saturday 4:30pm – 10pm.
This is a 12oz fresh Angus burger with American cheese, chopped bacon, caramelized onions and topped with garlic cheese sauce. BIG FOOD-BIG FUN, at the 1481.
BlueJays: Southwest Popper Burger
Located in Egan. Open Sunday – Thursday 11am – 9pm, Friday and Saturday 11am – 11pm.
A 1/2 pound southwest popper burger.
Cardinal Tap: Smokey Mac’n Brisket Burger
Located in Arlington. Open Wednesday- Thursday 4pm – 11pm, Friday 4pm – 2am, Saturday 11am – 2am and Sunday 11am – 11pm.
A classic cheeseburger smothered in Smokehouse Mac N Cheese, Brisket and topped with our Smokehouse BBQ sauce.
CC’s Bar & Grill: BBQ 3 Meat Bacon Cheeseburger
Located in Volga. Open Monday – Thursday 4pm – 9pm, Friday and Saturday 4pm – 2am.
A fresh hand pattied burger with grilled onions, bacon topped with marinated steak.
Gatsby Speakeasy & Supperclub: Candied Bacon Maple Jalapeno Burger
Located in Hendricks, MN. Open Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 4pm – 9pm, Friday and Saturday 4pm – 10pm.
1/2 lb. Steakburger loaded with onions caramelized in maple syrup and brown sugar, candied bacon slices, house BBQ sauce, cheddar and pepper jack cheese, and topped with grilled jalapeños.
Half Pint Steaks & Spirits: The Whoa Nellie!
Located in De Smet. Open Monday – Thursday 4pm – 10pm, Friday 4pm – 11pm and Saturday 1pm – 11pm.
Inspired by the sassy and dramatic personality of Nellie Oleson from Little House on the Prairie, this burger is just as spicy! It features a tangy and zesty orange marmalade and sriracha sauce, complemented by a luxurious spread of cream cheese and fresh mozzarella. Sweet caramelized onions and bacon add depth in contrast, while fiery ghost pepper cheese gives it a final kick that Nellie herself would approve of—deliciously over-the-top and unforgettable!
Lemke’s Bar & Grill: Cowboy Burger
Located in Aurora. Open Monday – Wednesday 11am – 11pm and Thursday – Saturday 11am – 2am.
The Cowboy burger features bacon, pepper jack cheese, candied jalapeños, garlic jalapeño aioli and topped with crispy onions
Lucky Dog Bar & Grill: The Bourbon Burger
Located in Volga. Open Monday – Friday 11am – 9pm and Saturday 8:30am – 9pm.
Our fresh hand pattied burger topped with onions sautéed in our bourbon sauce and topped with Swiss cheese.
Mad Mary’s Steakhouse: Green Chile Pablano Hamburger
Located in Flandreau. Open Sunday – Thursday 5pm – 9pm and Friday and Saturday 5pm – 10pm.
1/3 Burger topped with a Green Chile Pablano Sauce with Pepperjack Cheese and Jalapeno Bacon.
Mortland’s Burgers and More: The Taco Burger
Located in Elkton. Open Tuesday – Saturday 11:30am – 2pm and 4pm – 8pm.
Our flame-grilled burger is topped with pepper jack cheese, pico de gallo, tortilla chips, & covered with hot sauce & guacamole
Tables Steakhouse: The Gastro Pub Burger
Located in Castlewood. Open Tuesday – Saturday 4pm – 9pm
The Gastro Pub Burger is our 6 oz Black Angus beef patty topped with bacon, caramelized onions & homemade beer cheese sauce. Served on a pretzel bun.
The Merc: Berry Big Dill Burger
Located in Flandreau. Open Tuesday – Thursday 7am – 9pm, Friday – Saturday 7am – 11pm and Sunday 9am – 3pm — Burger may not be available all hours.
A 1/3 pound burger topped with dill pickle cream cheese, cheddar & Swiss, raspberry bacon and special seasoning.
Valley Restaurant and Catering: Poppin’ Burger
Located in Volga. Open Monday – Saturday 7am – 8pm and Sunday 9am – 2pm
1/3 pound hand pattied burger topped with cream cheese, jalapenos and cheddar cheese all on our fresh baked bun. Served with choice of side.
Cook up more fun
As you work your way through the participating burgers, share your favorites on social! Tag @VisitBrookingsSD or use #VisitBrookingsSD and #BurgerClash2025.
Looking for a fun challenge or an easy way to track the restaurants you’ve visited? Download the checklist and start eating!
Frequently Asked Questions
Each burger can be ranked on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 is the least and 5 is the most) in three categories: taste, creativity and customer service.
Voting is completed after trying a participating burger. Each participating restaurant will have table tents with a QR code or a website link to vote. The program uses the honor system so please vote only time per meal.
Yes. Participants will only vote after trying a participating burger.
At the restaurant scan the QR code or type the link into a web browser to vote. Only vote once for the burgers you have tried.
Brownie (or burger) points if you try them all!
If you are a participating restaurant for the 2025 Burger Clash, Shane Andersen will be your primary contact for all questions.
As a restaurant display the Burger Clash table tents prompting guests to vote, share the Burger Clash on your social media and encourage guests to try your special burger, vote and share their experience with others.
If you are not a participating restaurant but want to get involved in the 2026 Burger Clash reach out to Shane at shanea@century21gka.com.
Absolutely! Share your experience with others on Tripadvisor, Google reviews, Facebook reviews or Yelp. Simply find the business you want to review on your preferred platform and leave your experience.
Need some help with what makes a good review?
– Be specific about your own experience
– Share the good, the bad and/or the OK
– Provide tips or recommendations others might want to know
2024: Pints & Quarts
2023: Rub N’ Tug BBQ
2022: Pints & Quarts
2021: Pheasant Restaurant & Lounge