Aberdeen Burger Battle
Get ready, Aberdeen… it’s time to put our burgers to the test! The 2026 Burger Battle will kick off January 15th and run through March 1st with 15 burgers!
The 2026 Aberdeen Burger Battle is a community-wide food showdown where local restaurants compete for the ultimate title:
Best Burger in Aberdeen — 2026. But here’s the twist — instead of selecting just one favorite, you’ll rank every burger you try, making the results more fun, fair, and competitive.
This means every bite counts. Here’s how it works
- Visit Participating Restaurants – See all listed below. Each restaurant features a specialty burger created just for the Burger Battle.
- Burger Battle Passport: Save this image to your camera roll and edit it every time you make a burger stop—or print it out if you want a physical passport to carry along. Check off each burger you try and rate every stop. Share your progress with us or with friends—bragging rights absolutely encouraged. And yes, there might be something in it for you. Keep your dine-in or carry-out receipts. If you can prove you’ve tried all fourteen, turn in your completed passport and receipts to the Chamber at 516 S Main St. Be the first one to do it and you just might walk away with something!
- Scan to Rank – After trying a burger, scan the QR code at that location to submit your rank.
- Rank What You Try – Give each burger a score or ranking — the more burgers you try, the more impact your rankings have!
- The Burger with the Best Overall Ranking Wins – Rankings are averaged across all participants to determine the winner.
🏆 The Title Is On The Line
The restaurant with the highest overall ranking earns the title: 2026 Best Burger in Aberdeen!
Last year’s winner was the Wakeside Bar and Grill with their Big Buff Burger. The Burger Battle is a project facilitated by 2023 Leadership Aberdeen alumni, along with the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce, Aberdeen Downtown Association and the Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Special thanks to the following sponsors: Aberdeen Convention and Visitors Bureau, Agtegra Cooperative, Blackout Industries, Dakota Plains Real Estate & Development, Dakota Broadcasting, Demkota Ranch Beef, Helms and Associates, Pewtiful Plants, and Quality Quick Print. With these sponsorships and the business participation fee, the group will donate all net proceeds to the Salvation Army for food insecurity.
Our Contestants
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Allevity: Rubie Red’s Smash Burger
A double patty smash burger layered with melted gouda and provolone, bacon and a roasted red pepper garlic tapenade.
Business Info: 130 S Centennial St, Aberdeen, SD 57401- (605) 225-7733
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Buffalo Wild Wings: Bacon Mac and Cheese Burger
Two Hand Smashed Patties, Thick Cut Bacon, Parmesan crusted Mac and Cheese, Pickled Hot Peppers, Hatch Chile Aioli, all on a Challah Bun.
Business Info: 3401 6th Ave SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 262-0288
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Circus Sports Bar and Grill: Wild West Burger
Cajun seasoned and grilled beef patty, pepper Jack cheese, shaved ham, onion ring, and crispy bacon drizzled with a Circus buffalo and Circus barbeque sauce blend.
Business Info: 14 3rd Ave SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 229-1936
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Cuzco Peruvian Cuisine: The Lion Burger
A bold and juicy burger crafted with ground Brazilian Picanha steak, expertly seasoned with authentic Peruvian spices. Topped with a rich blend of melted cheddar and provolone cheeses, finished with sweet caramelized onions, fresh tomatoes, and crisp lettuce. Served with a side of golden sweet potato fries for the perfect balance of flavor and texture.
Business Info: 1007 15th Ave SW, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 725-2256
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Lager’s Inn: Meat Lovers Pizza Burger
Why choose pizza or a burger when you can have both? Our flame-kissed char-broiled burger is stacked high with pepperoni, Canadian bacon, and crispy bacon, then topped with your choice of melted cheese. Served with a side of rich marinara for dunking, dripping, or devouring — this burger delivers the full meat-lover’s pizza experience.
Business Info: 20 3rd Ave SW, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 229-0922
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Maverick’s Steak & Cocktails: Hot Honey Burger
Hand patted burger drizzled with Maria’s smoky hot honey and topped with smoked cheddar cheese, crispy bacon and hot honey pickled red onions on a toasted brioche bun. Served with choice of side.
Business info: 720 Lamont St, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 225-1314
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Mulligan’s: Freedom Burger
Taste the spirit of America – Two perfectly smashed patties stacked with melty American and cheddar cheese, crispy bacon, and our house made signature smash sauce!
Business Info: 715 N 10th St, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 725-4053
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Pop’s Big Easy: Pop’s Cajun Hot Sausage Burger Po’ Boy
Hot sausage and burger patty, topped with melted cheese, our secret special mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce and pickle on fresh po’ boy bread!
Business Info: 414 S Main St, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 725-3279
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Pounders: Popeye Burger
Two smash burger patties topped with our housemade spinach artichoke dip, pepper Jack cheese, jalapenos, and crispy wonton strips, on a toasted Brioche bun.
Business Info: 1702 6th Ave SE, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 725-2337
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Richmond Oasis: Philly Cheeseburger
1/3 pound steak seasoned burger with flash fried green peppers, onions, and baby Bella mushrooms, swiss cheese, finished with cheese sauce on a toasted Brioche bun.n
Business Info: 12845 South Shore Drive, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 225-1122
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The Market on the Plaza: Meatloaf Burger
Just like Mom used to make! It’s a meatloaf burger from the Market on the Plaza! Made with local beef and eggs, ketchup, stuffing and love, this is a simple burger that reminds you of what mom used to make. Uffda – this is good!
Business Info: 506 S Main St Suite 4, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 824-4189
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The Zoo Bar & Grill: Grand-Slam Burger
Wake up your taste buds and knock your hunger out of the park with The Grand-Slam Burger! This loaded masterpiece stacks a juicy beef patty with a perfectly fried egg, crispy ribbon hash browns, smoky bacon, melty American cheese, and a bold swipe of house-made chipotle aioli. It’s breakfast, lunch, and dinner all in one knockout bite.
Business Info: 1017 S Main St, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 225-9539
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Three22 Kitchen + Cocktails: Jalapeno Popper Burger
2 smash patties, pickled jalapeños, pepper jack cheese, and bacon. Loaded up with Jalapeño popper cream cheese, haystack onions and plum sauce.
Business Info: 322 S Main St, Aberdeen, SD 57401 – (605) 725-4322
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Wakeside Bar & Grill: Hungover Buff
Bison burger, topped with an over-easy egg, hashbrowns, bacon, pepper jack and cheddar cheese, bacon jam sauce and lettuce.
Business Info: 103 S Sunset Drive, Mina, SD 57451 – (605) 262-2121
Thank You to our Burger Battle Sponsors:
About this event and the Leadership Aberdeen Program
This event was originally organized by the 2023 Leadership Aberdeen class, a program of the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce. For 2024, several class alumni were determined to bring it back. Proceeds from the month-long event will again benefit the Salvation Army of Aberdeen. Their goal is to secure event sponsors and donations for food insecurity programs facilitated by the Salvation Army, while also showcasing the great burgers Aberdeen restaurants have to offer.
Leadership Aberdeen is a comprehensive leadership training program facilitated by the Aberdeen Area Chamber of Commerce. The program provides participants with the opportunity to sharpen their skills, share their experiences, and make life-long connections with fellow participants. Participants follow a 12-week curriculum which focuses on growing their individual skills by focusing on leadership attributes.
The class also gains broader knowledge of the businesses, opportunities and challenges in our community through tours of local businesses and hearing from local leaders on company philosophies, goals, and success stories. Plus, the class gives back to the community by facilitating a local project, like the Aberdeen Burger Battle, that will have a positive impact on the Aberdeen community.
The Salvation Army’s food pantry supplies free fresh produce, canned goods, and healthy frozen items that provide valuable meal supplementation while helping those in need maintain their independence and dignity. From sit down programs that provide nutritious hot meals and valuable human interaction, to mobile meals and weekend backpacks, they help the most vulnerable members of society escape the daily burdens of food insecurity.