When you think of the most iconic foods in South Dakota, which comes to mind? Chislic, right? While these skewered pieces of salted meat may sound a little strange at first (especially to newbies), your tastebuds will quickly be converted, and you’ll soon come to crave these mouthwatering cubes of deliciousness. All of that being said, when we heard that chislic is being called the most disgusting food in SoDak, we didn’t take too kindly to it, and here is why:
A 2017 article by Thrillist once listed the “Grossest Food in Every State.” To everyone’s surprise - or perhaps nobody’s - chislic was rated as SoDak’s most questionable food, thanks mostly to its name and appearance.
YouTube/Dakota Life
As per the article, “It may sound like an off-brand Chicklet, or some sort of prairie disease, but chislic is, in fact, dice-sized meat cubes (lamb, beef, wild game) seasoned and thrown into a deep fryer, then served to be eaten with toothpicks,” later adding how “the sight of shriveled-up cubed meat in a basket might make you feel like you have a strong case of the chislics.”
YouTube/Dakota Life
Declared SoDak’s “Official State Nosh” in 2018, chislic is thought to have been introduced to the area in the 1870s by a Crimean immigrant and has remained a beloved dish and tradition ever since.
Gomboc2008/Wikimedia Commons
Despite it being a state staple, nearly every region of SoDak makes the dish a little differently, with the capital city battering the meat, Sioux Falls just barely dusting it with flour and serving it with hot sauce, and Watertown serving it with a side of ranch dressing.
YouTube/Dakota Life
While we may disagree on the meat’s preparation, one thing is for sure (aside from needing saltine crackers on the side): Chislic is truly a meal that brings both families and South Dakotans together.
YouTube/Dakota Life
Despite Thrillist’s harsh critique of its appearance, they do also admit that “It’s actually delicious,” which we will chalk up to a win despite the rest of the blurb’s criticism.
YouTube/Dakota Life
For a more in-depth look at the history and importance of chislic in SoDak, check out this fun video from Dakota Life:
YouTube/Dakota Life
Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, the original Thrillist article previously linked to is no longer available to read. That’s okay, though! We’ll keep our chislic to ourselves, please and thank you. Native South Dakotans and new residents alike – have you ever tried chislic? Do you consider it to be one of South Dakota’s most famous foods? And are you a fan? To discover even more of South Dakota’s favorite foods, check out these 8 Iconic South Dakota Dishes.
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Iconic South Dakota Foods & Related Info January 04, 2023 Jennifer What are some of the most unique restaurants in South Dakota? SoDak cuisine doesn’t often make headlines, but the state is certainly home to its fair share of unique places to dine. In fact, some of the state’s eateries offer wild and unexpected experiences that simply can’t be found anywhere else! From themed restaurants to quirky local favorites, here are just a few of the most unique restaurants to try in South Dakota:
Back 40, Mitchell Desperados, Hill City Firehouse Brewing Company, Rapid City Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Show, Rapid City Phillips Avenue Diner, Sioux Falls Ruby House, Keystone Sickie’s Garage, Sioux Falls Wall Drug, Wall
What are the most beautiful restaurants in South Dakota? Surrounded by a mixture of sweeping farmland, unexpected natural wonders, and some of the most unique scenery in the country, diners in South Dakota are well-versed in dining with a view. From elegant waterfront restaurants and rooftop views to rustic, farm-to-table eateries, these are just a few of the restaurants in South Dakota with beautiful views (inside and out):
Arrowwood at Cedar Shore, Oacoma Blue Rock Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls Boar’s Nest, Lead Cedar Pass Restaurant, Interior Crave, Sioux Falls Drifters Bar & Grille, Fort Pierre Falls Landing Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls Falls Overlook Café, Sioux Falls River’s Edge, Yankton Latchstring Restaurant, Lead Legion Lake Restaurant, Custer Ode To Food & Drinks, Sioux Falls PAve, Sioux Falls River’s Edge, Yankton Vertex Sky Bar, Rapid City Wakeside Bar and Grill, Mina Wharf, Corona
A 2017 article by Thrillist once listed the “Grossest Food in Every State.” To everyone’s surprise - or perhaps nobody’s - chislic was rated as SoDak’s most questionable food, thanks mostly to its name and appearance.
YouTube/Dakota Life
As per the article, “It may sound like an off-brand Chicklet, or some sort of prairie disease, but chislic is, in fact, dice-sized meat cubes (lamb, beef, wild game) seasoned and thrown into a deep fryer, then served to be eaten with toothpicks,” later adding how “the sight of shriveled-up cubed meat in a basket might make you feel like you have a strong case of the chislics.”
YouTube/Dakota Life
Declared SoDak’s “Official State Nosh” in 2018, chislic is thought to have been introduced to the area in the 1870s by a Crimean immigrant and has remained a beloved dish and tradition ever since.
Gomboc2008/Wikimedia Commons
Despite it being a state staple, nearly every region of SoDak makes the dish a little differently, with the capital city battering the meat, Sioux Falls just barely dusting it with flour and serving it with hot sauce, and Watertown serving it with a side of ranch dressing.
YouTube/Dakota Life
While we may disagree on the meat’s preparation, one thing is for sure (aside from needing saltine crackers on the side): Chislic is truly a meal that brings both families and South Dakotans together.
YouTube/Dakota Life
Despite Thrillist’s harsh critique of its appearance, they do also admit that “It’s actually delicious,” which we will chalk up to a win despite the rest of the blurb’s criticism.
YouTube/Dakota Life
For a more in-depth look at the history and importance of chislic in SoDak, check out this fun video from Dakota Life:
YouTube/Dakota Life
Editor’s Note: Unfortunately, the original Thrillist article previously linked to is no longer available to read. That’s okay, though! We’ll keep our chislic to ourselves, please and thank you.
YouTube/Dakota Life
Gomboc2008/Wikimedia Commons
Native South Dakotans and new residents alike – have you ever tried chislic? Do you consider it to be one of South Dakota’s most famous foods? And are you a fan?
To discover even more of South Dakota’s favorite foods, check out these 8 Iconic South Dakota Dishes.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Iconic South Dakota Foods & Related Info
January 04, 2023
Jennifer
What are some of the most unique restaurants in South Dakota? SoDak cuisine doesn’t often make headlines, but the state is certainly home to its fair share of unique places to dine. In fact, some of the state’s eateries offer wild and unexpected experiences that simply can’t be found anywhere else! From themed restaurants to quirky local favorites, here are just a few of the most unique restaurants to try in South Dakota:
Back 40, Mitchell Desperados, Hill City Firehouse Brewing Company, Rapid City Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Show, Rapid City Phillips Avenue Diner, Sioux Falls Ruby House, Keystone Sickie’s Garage, Sioux Falls Wall Drug, Wall
What are the most beautiful restaurants in South Dakota? Surrounded by a mixture of sweeping farmland, unexpected natural wonders, and some of the most unique scenery in the country, diners in South Dakota are well-versed in dining with a view. From elegant waterfront restaurants and rooftop views to rustic, farm-to-table eateries, these are just a few of the restaurants in South Dakota with beautiful views (inside and out):
Arrowwood at Cedar Shore, Oacoma Blue Rock Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls Boar’s Nest, Lead Cedar Pass Restaurant, Interior Crave, Sioux Falls Drifters Bar & Grille, Fort Pierre Falls Landing Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls Falls Overlook Café, Sioux Falls River’s Edge, Yankton Latchstring Restaurant, Lead Legion Lake Restaurant, Custer Ode To Food & Drinks, Sioux Falls PAve, Sioux Falls River’s Edge, Yankton Vertex Sky Bar, Rapid City Wakeside Bar and Grill, Mina Wharf, Corona
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
SoDak cuisine doesn’t often make headlines, but the state is certainly home to its fair share of unique places to dine. In fact, some of the state’s eateries offer wild and unexpected experiences that simply can’t be found anywhere else! From themed restaurants to quirky local favorites, here are just a few of the most unique restaurants to try in South Dakota:
- Back 40, Mitchell
- Desperados, Hill City
- Firehouse Brewing Company, Rapid City
- Fort Hays Chuckwagon Supper & Show, Rapid City
- Phillips Avenue Diner, Sioux Falls
- Ruby House, Keystone
- Sickie’s Garage, Sioux Falls
- Wall Drug, Wall
What are the most beautiful restaurants in South Dakota?
Surrounded by a mixture of sweeping farmland, unexpected natural wonders, and some of the most unique scenery in the country, diners in South Dakota are well-versed in dining with a view. From elegant waterfront restaurants and rooftop views to rustic, farm-to-table eateries, these are just a few of the restaurants in South Dakota with beautiful views (inside and out):
- Arrowwood at Cedar Shore, Oacoma
- Blue Rock Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls
- Boar’s Nest, Lead
- Cedar Pass Restaurant, Interior
- Crave, Sioux Falls
- Drifters Bar & Grille, Fort Pierre
- Falls Landing Bar & Grill, Sioux Falls
- Falls Overlook Café, Sioux Falls
- River’s Edge, Yankton
- Latchstring Restaurant, Lead
- Legion Lake Restaurant, Custer
- Ode To Food & Drinks, Sioux Falls
- PAve, Sioux Falls
- River’s Edge, Yankton
- Vertex Sky Bar, Rapid City
- Wakeside Bar and Grill, Mina
- Wharf, Corona
