Brookings Area

Burger Clash

The Brookings Area Burger Clash is a mouthwatering way to show love for local restaurants. Created after the pandemic and during a traditionally slower time to help support the industry. This event brings the community together for a little friendly competition and a whole lot of flavor. From January 1 to February 28, 2026, 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!

In Brookings

Backyard BBQ : The Aloha Burger
Juicy beef patty, stacked with tender, slow-smoked pulled pork, a grilled sweet and spicy pineapple slice, melted Monterey Jack cheese, topped with bourbon sauce, served on a special bun.

Brookings Country Club : The Cast Iron Crown Blue
Cast Iron, tallow seared beef, melted Swiss, crispy pancetta, Tabasco fried onions, and a punchy bleu cheese aioli on toasted white bread.

Buffalo Wild Wings : The Overtime Stack
The Overtime Stack is a play on a traditional patty melt. It stacks a patty melt on top of our classic fried pickles followed by an additional slice of Brioche bread to support sliced sirloin steak smothered in our BDUB’s beer cheese. Nothing would be complete without a good dipping sauce, so we invented a Buzzer Beater Sauce, bringing the whole sandwich together.

Cottonwood Bistro: Black Tie Butter Burger
A no-nonsense Midwest butter burger done right: double smash patties with a hard griddle crust, melted American with a touch of Gruyère, soft buttered onions, and a brioche bun brushed in brown butter. Rich, beefy, and unapologetic.  

Craft : Cuban Fire Burger
Beef Patty/Pulled Pork/Jalapeno/Pepperjack/Cubano Sauce/Cordon Bleu Sauce/Ciabatta Bun.

Danger Von Dempsey’s : The Das Kanonier
A German-inspired hand burger. House-made dough surrounds a filling of beef, cabbage, green onion, jalapeno and gouda. Topped with black truffle oil and everything bagel seasoning served with warm wilted winter greens salad drizzled with balsamic honey vinaigrette.

Domellie’s : Chimichurri Steak Burger
8oz Braveheart beef grilled and topped with our zesty herb chimichurri, fresh mozzarella, roasted cherry tomatoes, pickled onions and arugula all on a grilled sesame bun.

Hy-Vee : Peanut Butter Bacon Burger
Available Monday-Friday from 6AM-2PM only. 7 oz burger patty fresh not frozen, lettuce, onion tomatoes, with two slices of hickory bacon, top with peanut butter. Served on bakery fresh bun. 

Pheasant Restaurant and Lounge : The Game Day Burger
Touch down! A hand-patted Angus beef burger seasoned with a bold dry barbecue rub, served on a toasted sourdough bun. Topped with warm salsa queso, a cool dollop of guacamole, and crunchy corn chips. Served with classic French fries dusted in savory seasonings and served with our house-made French onion fry dip.

Pints & Quarts : Taco and Cash Burger
Certified Angus beef blend of brisket, chuck and short rib burger with sriracha cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, queso,  taco sauce sour cream, and Doritos.  

Rub N Tug : Bettah with Feta Sausage Burger
Our house blend sausage seasoning blended into ground beef, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, garlic pepper crunchy onions with two dollops of whipped feta spread on a soft pretzel bun. 

Strikerz Bar & Grill : Sweet Home Symphony
A juicy smashed patty stacked on chipotle aioli–toasted sourdough, layered with melty pepper jack and bacon glazed in our signature sweet-and-spicy sauce. Finished with crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, a drizzle of our house-made sweet heat blend, and a crunch of golden fried pickle chips. A perfect harmony of smoky, sweet, and spicy flavors that will make your taste buds sing.

The Depot : The Spicy Double Play
This 1/3 pound jucy burger features a jalapeno cheddar sausage link, onion tanglers, pepper jack cheese and their house made buffaQ sauce.

The End Zone : The Street Corn Smash
Locally raised beef, sauce, street corn, tortilla and bun.

Around Brookings

1481 Grill , Arlington: Black Hills Elk Burger
South Dakota sourced elk, custom ground in house with smoked bacon, topped with swiss cheese, mushroom sauce, served on a split-top bun and seasoned pub fried.

Blue Jays, Egan: Sweet Heat Hawaiian Burger
Double 1/4 pound Sweet Heat Hawaiian Burger served with Seashore Fries.

Cardinal Tap, Arlington: Caramel Apple Burger
8oz Patty with American Cheese, BBQ Pulled Pork, and Caramelized Apple Slices with a gourmet Caramel Glaze. 

CC’s Bar & Grill, Volga: Loaded Prime Rib Burger
A fresh hand pattied burger topped with a generous layer of tender sliced prime rib, sauteed mushrooms and onions, and melted Swiss cheese served on a buttery toasted bun. This rich and savory creation delivers deep hearty flavors in every bite!

Half Pints Steaks and Spirits, DeSmet: Frontier Fireburger
A hearty creation of juicy beef topped with crispy fried cheese curds, fiery jalapeños, and rich barbecue sauce—prairie comfort with a bold kick. Jalapeños may be held for those of more delicate constitutions.

Kattail Bar and Grill, Lake Campbell: Kickin’ Kranberry Burger
Only available Sundays from 2PM-9PM. 1/3 pound all beef burger layered with pepperjack cheese, topped with sweet-heat cranberry, jalapeño, and cilantro glaze, finished with a spread of cream cheese on the bun.

Lemkes Bar & Grill, Aurora: “Olive this Burger”
Hamburger, applewood smoked bacon, green olive aioli, swiss cheese, served on a brioche bun.

Lucky Dog Bar & Grill, Volga: Green Chile Chipotle Burger
A hand patty burger topped with green chile cheese curds, crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle aioli, served on a toasted Brioche bun.

Mortland’s Burgers & More, Elkton: Pickle Lovers Delight
Flame grilled burger topped with bacon, a smothering of homemade dill pickle spread, and loaded with pickles.

Prairie Fire Bar & Grill, DeSmet: Green Chile Bacon Jammer
Southwest heat meets smoky-sweet indulgence. A charbroiled brisket and chuck blend burger topped with house-made bacon jam (bacon, caramelized onion, brown sugar, and Hatch green chile). Finished with Hatch green chile queso on a toasted Kaiser roll. Bold, balanced, unforgettable.

Tables Steakhouse, Castlewood: The B.O.M.B 2.0
Our burger 6oz black angus beef patty is topped with homemade bacon jam, beer battered cheese curds, a slice of pepper jack cheese, and our Western Sauce all on a toasted ciabatta bun. 

The Merc, Flandreau: The Cowboy
A juicy 1/2 lb beef patty topped with warm house-made pimento cheese, swiss, seared chopped brisket, sauteed onion, and arugula on a butter-toasted brioche bun. 

The Ridge, Bruce: Smoked Carolina Gold Smash
Slow smoked brisket on top of a local 1/3 pound smash beef patty, topped with gouda cheese, candied bacon and pineapple, crispy fried onions, fried pickles, house-made Carolina bbq sauce on a brioche bun. 

The Valley, Volga: Jammin’ Bacon Burger
1/3lbs hand pattied burger topped with smoked gouda cheese, grilled onions, bacon jam and arugula on toasted Sour Dough. Served with your choice of side.