South Dakota’s Top BBQ Spot Is in This Tiny Black Hills Town

I suppose the unofficial food of South Dakota is beef, with a side of beef. Steaks, hamburgers, chislic, most any beef-centric dishes are easy to find in the state.

But some good BBQ? That takes a little more effort to find. Though, I will say that over the last decade or so, the BBQ scene in SD has improved. When I moved here in the mid-oughts, a good BBQ pit was harder to find.

MORE SD EATS: From Garden to Grill: 8 Edible Bugs in South Dakota

But, nowadays, there are a few more space to get some slow-cooked, falling-off-the-bone, smoke-carresed meat.

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Keep scrolling to find the best BBQ in South Dakota (Image: Canva)

A Look at Yelp’s Favorite BBQ Spots in Sioux Falls

According to Yelp, there is a great lineup of BBQ places in and around Sioux Falls, like The Smoked Culture, Big J's Roadhouse, and my favorite, Southern Perfection BBQ.

While I would rate Southern Perfection BBQ as the best BBQ in South Dakota. The folks at LoveFood.com take a different view.

LoveFood is one of those organizations that scour the country for the best of the best of all kinds of restaurants. They make their lists by using "[G]enuine user reviews, awards, accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team."

So, I guess they aren't messing around. I like people who take their list-making seriously.

The Best BBQ in South Dakota

J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ PIT, Summerset

According to the food nerds at LoveFood, the best Bar-B-Que in South Dakota can be found in a little town along I-90 just north of Rapid City in the Black Hills.

MORE: Small-Town Fame: How One South Dakota Grad Ended Up on Late Night TV

J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ PIT, Summerset (Google Maps)

Texas BBQ Roots, South Dakota Style

Their pick for the best in SD is J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ PIT in Summerset, South Dakota. They have some of the "tastiest Texas-style barbecue in South Dakota," according to the review.

J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ PIT, Summerset, SD - Look for the 'BBQ' on the roof (Google Maps)

The pulled pork nachos and hot link sandwiches are now at the top of my 'Must Try" list for the next time I am west river in the Black Hills.

Started by Texas A&M University alum Justin Rhodes, this is authentic Texas-BBQ in the heart of the black hills.

J.R.'s Rhodehouse BBQ PIT, Summerset (Google Maps)

From Garden to Grill: 8 Edible Bugs in South Dakota

Hey, are you hungry? South Dakota has plenty of options for a good meal. From well-managed chains to fantastic local bars and grills.

But what if you wanted to be really different? What if you wanted to try hunting and gathering right in your own backyard?

I don't mean eating the tomatoes from your garden; I mean harvesting some of the most plentiful sources of protein on the planet: bugs.

South Dakota's Yummiest Bugs

We are surrounded by food every day, even here in South Dakota. So, before you head out for some backyard foraging, here's a list of bugs you'll find here in the Mount Rushmore State that would be at home on the dinner table.

A warning though, watch out for pesticides and other pest control chemicals when you are out on an insect roundup.

What Did South Dakota's License Plate Look Like the Year You Were Born?

The first number on a South Dakota license plate is the county that the car is registered. For example, Pennington county where Rapid City is has a '2' starting its plates. In Sioux Falls you have either a '1' or a '44' depending on your relationship to 57th street.

When established in 1956 (and revised in 1987) the first nine counties were ordered by population. Starting with 10 they are in alphabetical order through Ziebach, with Oglala Lakota County (65) and Todd (67) rounding out the list.

Today the top 10 plate numbers and populations don't correlate anymore. 1 and 2 are still 1 and 2, but Lincoln (44) is now 3rd in population. Beadle is 4 but it's now 11th in population. See the list by population here.

On January 1, 2023, South Dakota started issuing a new license plate design for license plates.

So, let's take a look back at what South Dakota license plates looked like over the last 100 years.

Gallery Credit: Ben Kuhns