The 9 Best Places for Appetizers in South Dakota!

Forget dessert, drinks, and the main course, appetizers are the best part of dining out! Whether chips and salsa, spinach dip, onion rings, cheese curds, or even fig and olive tapenade, appetizers are delicious and the perfect start to a wonderful meal. Head to one of these 9 South Dakota restaurants for appetizers so good that you won’t even bother ordering an entree!

Mavericks, Deadwood, SD

Deadwood is a party town with no equivalent and their dining is the same! Mavericks in downtown Deadwood is the perfect stop for delicious and reasonably priced fare after a night of drinking and gambling at the casinos or after a relaxing day of hiking in the surrounding Black Hills. Mavericks is located inside the Gold Dust Casino and serves up everything from steaks to ribs to barbecue. The menu has scrumptious appetizers like nacho platter, onion rings, white cheddar cheese curds, chislic, chips and salsa, Buffalo wings, breaded mushrooms, combo basket, boneless wings, pork riblets, egg rolls, and spinach and artichoke dip.

MacKenzie River Pizza Grill & Pub, Sioux Falls, SD

For over 25 years, MacKenzie River Pizza Grill & Pub has served up piping hot pizzas, burgers, and best of all, appetizers. The hip and modern menu includes starter favorites like mini cheeseburgers, fresh baked garlic bread, cowboy nachos, chicken club rolls, chorizo meatball skillet, blackened sirloin and bleu cheese, hummus platter, chicken quesadilla, fish taco skewers, artichoke dip, and wings with flavors of spicy Buffalo, barbecue bourbon, or Thai peanut.

Dakotah Steakhouse, Rapid City, SD

Dakotah Steakhouse provides an exemplary dining experience that can only be found in the Black Hills. This authentically South Dakota restaurant has a menu filled with ingredients and food staples of the region like elk, bison, and local produce. The diverse menu offers an array of tantalizing appetizers like pheasant poppers, steakhouse onion rings, walleye fingers, cowboy potato skins, Buffalo satay skewers, Dakotah territory chislic, and braised and barbecued buffalo bone.

Steerfish Steak & Smoke, Spearfish, SD

In scenic Spearfish, Steerfish Steak & Smoke serves up traditional southern food with certified premium steaks cooked on a hickory wood grill. There are over 20 appetizer options, so this restaurant is a great option for starters. Some of the starter menu options are bacon knots, calamari strips, walleye strips, barbecue bacon wrapped shrimp, Roosevelt mussels, pulled pork potato skins, stacked nachos, tempura asparagus, loaded fries, Rocky Mountain oysters, Black Hills bruschetta, wings, tacodillas, and much more.

Buglin’ Bull Restaurant and Sports Bar, Custer, SD

Visitors come to Custer for the beautiful scenery and wildlife of Custer State Park, but they stay to eat at the famous Buglin’ Bull Restaurant and Sports Bar. They offer a diverse menu with something for everyone in the family regardless of age or taste buds, and there is also a bull bar available with beer, wine, and signature cocktails. The menu highlight, however, is the delicious appetizer offerings which include Buffalo stuffed mushrooms, wings, onion rings, shrimp, pulled pork flatbread, mussels, nachos, and more.

Murphy’s Pub & Grill, Rapid City, SD

Murphy’s Pub is the favorite local watering hole and is an essential part of the fabric of Rapid City. Happy hour is held every night from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. with discounts on draft beer, wine, and well drinks, as well as discounted menu items including appetizers. The menu offers a blend of traditional pub food with a modern twist and local flair. Starter options include edamame, Mediterranean sampler, wings, sausage sampler, sliders, fancy fried pickles, and chips, among several other options.

kRav’N, Sioux Falls, SD

Family owned and operated, kRav’N has daily specials as well as affordable and tasty food. The menu offers traditional American fare and a variety of appetizers like cheese balls, jalapeno popper wontons, trio dip and tortilla chips, onion rings, spinach and artichoke dip, barbecue chicken nachos, steak nachos, chicken quesadilla, sweet potato fries, fried pickles, garlic bread sticks, and more.

Mavericks Steak & Cocktails, Aberdeen, SD

For almost two decades, Mavericks has been a favorite restaurant of Aberdeen locals. The welcoming atmosphere has friendly staff as well as warm decor. The menu is full of comfort food using only the highest quality ingredients. Appetizers include favorites like scallops, flatbread, nachos, chislic, wings, chips and salsa, and more.

Oggie’s Sports Bar and Emporium, Deadwood, SD

Another of Deadwood’s lively restaurants, Oggie’s has a welcoming and casual atmosphere with televisions lining the bar area showing games from every imaginable sport. Starter options include quesadillas, tacos, nachos, shrimp, wings, chicken tenders, cheese curds, onion rings, and pickles.

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