Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Guy Fieri Forgot to Visit in Sioux Falls, South Dakota

When Guy Fieri’s classic 1968 red Camaro rolled into town in 2020, it was the first time he visited South Dakota for his Food Network show “Diners, Drive-ins and Dives.” The show had been airing for 13 years and 31 seasons before he finally showed up to visit the 50th state on his list. I guess he saved the best for last. 

Since 2007, he’d been road tripping around the country, and beyond, looking for local, independent restaurants that used fresh ingredients, time-tested recipes, and unique approaches to preparing the food. While he was in Sioux Falls, he stopped by six local restaurants to shoot for his TV show.

Guy visited the Queen City and Garretson in June of 2020. January 1, 2021, Season 33 aired the first South Dakota episode in a show called ‘South Dakota Smorgasbord.’

The first episode featured Lalibela Restaurant, South Dakota’s first Ethiopian restaurant located at 200 South Kiwanis Avenue in Sioux Falls. He had glowing reviews of the Injera Bread, which he tried making, but was poured too thick and he called it “beefy” and unfortunately, it wasn’t cooked through. He also tried an Ethiopian chicken curry dish called Doro Wot, and Misir Wot which is made with lentils instead of meat.

The other two South Dakota restaurants featured in the episode have since closed.

Only seven months after the show aired, Chef Omar closed O So Good in Garretson, South Dakota. It featured southern-inspired dishes including collard greens, which Fieri called “lights out greens,” and jerk chicken.

Guy and Season 8 winner of “The Next Food Network Star” and Rapid City resident, Justin Warner, visited Urban Chislic, the first South Dakota restaurant dedicated to the “state nosh,” chislic, although mutton chislic, the South Dakota original, wasn’t even featured. Traditional chislic is cubed, fried mutton served on a stick with lots of garlic salt and saltine crackers. Since Urban Chislic wasn’t traditional with all of their chislic, the show included the BBQ Pork Chislic Sandwich and the Regret Lamburger. Urban Chislic closed August 30, 2024.

Three more episodes aired in Season 33 featuring Sioux Falls restaurants. In an episode called “Spicin’ Things Up,” Bread & Circus Sandwich Kitchen at 600 N. Main Avenue was featured. Guy tried the very popular Vietnamese fried chicken sandwich which he said “everything was done right.” Chef Jordan Taylor also prepared Roasted Curry Cauliflower on naan bread.

In the episode “Savory Meat and a Little Sweet” Guy and Justin Warner, stopped by Look’s Marketplace at 500 E. 69th Street. They tried the Motor City Pizza and Porcules sandwich. Guy liked the concept of the restaurant/brewery/meat market/grocery store and said it was “unique to the world.”

The gluten-free, vegan friendly restaurant, Daily Clean Food and Drink at 6215 S. Western Avenue was featured on the season 33 episode called “Rib-Stickers.” Guy had the veggie burger called the No Bull Burger and the Mightiest Mac, a mac and cheese made with chickpeas and butternut squash and topped with bison meatballs.

Guy Fieri, along with his son, Hunter, and celebrity chef, Antonia Lofaso, made a visit to South Dakota in 2023. This time, they explored the west side of the Mount Rushmore state. The restaurant they visited was Justin Warner’s. Justin was the winner of Season 8 of “The Next Food Network Star,” and ironically, joined Guy for the filming of the Sioux Falls restaurants that were shown on “DDD”. Justin, his wife and son live in Rapid City and own Bokujo Ramen at 518 Mt. Rushmore Rd.

All of the South Dakota restaurants previously visited were good choices, but we think there are many more Mr. Fieri needs to put on his list. Here are a few restaurants Guy Fieri needs to visit when he comes back to Sioux Falls, which hopefully, will be soon. We’ll welcome you anytime to our great state. 

This list is only a small sampling of some exceptional Sioux Falls restaurants. We know there are more that need to be mentioned. That's where you come in.

If you want Guy Fieri to come back to South Dakota, you need to do some leg work and let him know which restaurants he needs to visit. E-mail storyideas@tripledinfo.com or https://www.guyfieri.com/contact#.

Remember, if it’s funky, he’ll find it. The show looks for restaurants with good food, a story, and those that have character. 

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own. 

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Beyond the well-traveled tourist paths, there’s a whole different world of food exploration throughout South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota. From tiny restaurants in historic towns serving up generations-old recipes to small town dive bars that not only have cheap, cold beer, but unique and unexpected homemade dishes.

We’ve created an exploration of off-the-beaten path restaurants nestled in the charming landscapes of the tri-state area. Take a detour from the ordinary and discover the extraordinary flavors as you travel the roads not-so-often traveled.