2026 Brookings area Burger Clash
Shane Andersen, your trusted Brookings Realtor and team lead at Brookings Home Team, has a special spot in his heart for Brookings area restaurants and how they operate. He started in the service industry at the age of 14 and worked in the restaurant profession for nearly 15 years. This Brookings Area Burger Clash was created to help our local establishments during a traditionally slow time of year, not to mention the challenges and struggles they’ve dealt with in relation to COVID-19. Continue reading for contest details or if you already know which burger you're voting for simply click the button below.
Brookings Area Burger Clash Details
From DeSmet and Aurora to Clear Lake and Flandreau, there are 28 area restaurants participating in the 2026 Brookings Area Burger Clash. These specially crafted burgers will be voted on by YOU, the customer, with the goal of visiting as many of these establishments as possible between January 1, 2026, and February 28, 2026.
Vote for Your Favorite Brookings Area Burger
If you’ve eaten an eligible burger at one of our great, local restaurants and you’d like to vote in the Brookings Burger Clash just click the link below (only 1 vote per burger, please). This year’s contest features 3 different categories: taste, creativity, and customer service—grading each of them on a scale of 1 to 5 with the higher score going to the best experience.
Brookings Home Team wishes every restaurant good luck and we hope everyone has fun with this contest! It’s a great time to eat some delicious food and help our local businesses at the same time. Help us crown the next champion of the Brookings Burger Clash! Don't forget to post a picture of your burger in the food page, for a chance to win 1 of a couple Gift Certificates to one of the participating restaurants.
14/81 Grill-Black Hills Elk Burger
South Dakota Sourced Elk, Custom Ground in House with Smoked Bacon. Topped with Swiss Cheese and Sautéed Mushroom Sauce to order. Served on a Split-Top Brioche Bun with Seasoned Pub Fries.
Backyard BBQ-The Aloha Burger
Our 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.
Bluejays (Egan SD)- Double 1/4 Pound Sweet Heat Hawaiian
Double 1/4 Pound juicy burger served with Seashore Fries.
Brookings Country Club(Limited Hours)-The Cast Iron Crown Bleu
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-Overtime Stack
This Stack Burger gets its name from stacking 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.
Cardinal Tap (Arlington)- Carmel 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!
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 Chophouse & Lounge-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.
The Depot-The Spicy Double Play
This 1/3 pound juicy burger features a jalapeno cheddar sausage link, onion tanglers, pepper jack cheese and our house made buffaQ sauce!!
Domellies-Chimi Churri 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.
Half Pint Steaks & 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.
Hy Vee-Peanut Butter Bacon Burger
7 oz burger patty fresh not frozen, lettuce, onion tomatoes, with two slices of hickory bacon, top with peanut butter. On bakery fresh bun. (Only served from 6am-2pm)
Kattails Bar & Grill (Lake Campbell)-Kickin' Kranberry Burger”
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.
We are only doing Burgers on Sunday’s. Our hours on Sunday are 2pm-9pm for our kitchen.
Lemkes Bar & Grill (Aurora)-Oliver This Burger
Hamburger, Applewood smoked bacon, Green olive aioli, Swiss cheese, Served on a brioche bun.
Lucky Dog Bar & Grill-Green Chile Chipotle Burger
We have a hand patty burger topped with green chile cheese curds, crispy bacon, pepper jack cheese, and chipotle aioli, served on a toasted Brioche 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.
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.
The Pheasant Restaurant & 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
Certfied Angus beef blend of brisket, chuck and short rib burger with sriracha cream cheese, lettuce, tomato, queso, taco sauce sour cream, and Doritos.
Prairie Fire Bar & Grill (DeSmet)-Green Chili Bacon Jammer
A bold, flavor-packed burger that brings the heat, the sweet, and the savory in every bite.
Rub N Tug-It's Bettah with Feta Sausage Burger
It’s 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 Heat 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.!
Tables Steakhouse-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 End Zone-Street Corn Smash Burger
Locally raised beef, sauce, street corn, tortilla and bun.
The Ridge (Bruce)-Smoked Carolina Gold Smash
A juicy 1/3 lb. local beef smash patty loaded with creamy Gouda and piled high with our house slow-smoked local brisket. We balance the savory with sweet candied pineapple and candied bacon, then add a massive crunch with crispy fried onions and fried pickles. Finished with our house-made Carolina BBQ sauce on a toasted brioche bun.
Valley Restaurant & Catering-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.
