Here in Sioux Falls, we don’t mess around when it comes to burgers, especially in January, when the weather is bitterly cold, the carb overload begins to kick in!
The Downtown Burger Battle has become a full-blown winter tradition. Every January, downtown Sioux Falls restaurants throw down the spatula and compete to see who can create the most original, most mouth-watering, napkin-destroying burger in town. Bragging rights are on the line, along with a lot of satisfied stomachs.
The 2026 edition of the battle featured more than 50 downtown restaurants, each swinging for the fences with bold flavors and creative builds. When the smoke cleared and the votes were tallied via the DTSF Digital Passport app, Swamp Daddy’s emerged victorious, earning an impressive average score of 9.20 to claim burger royalty.
Download the KKRC Mobile App Now
But while Swamp Daddy’s may have taken home the crown, the real winner was Sioux Falls itself.
During this year’s Burger Battle alone, participating restaurants sold nearly 100,000 burgers, creating an economic impact of more than $3.5 million for the city. That’s a whole lot of buns, and an even bigger pile of lettuce (the money kind)…