Burger Battle 2026
Burger Battle 2026 is well underway. Fernson Downtown and Totally Rad Eats features the Pickle Roll Burger! Our guy Beau Vondra knows how to make a great burger. Read more below about the contest, our entry, and our process to bring you something we are so proud of!
Burger Battle Rules
Burger Battle runs the entire month of January and this year there were 50 Burgers for folks to try. A truly daunting figure and doing some quick math its definitely over a burger a day! Whether you are a rookie to Burger Battle or a vet, the rules are simple. Get out, try a burger, scan the code on the DTSF table tent, rate the burger, and finally enter the restaurant code. Participation and voting is a super easy process and while fun, winning isn’t the only goal of the competition. The ethos of the event is to drive foot traffic and business to our downtown restaurants during a typically slow month for rerastuarants across the country. It’s a friendly competition and a time for Sioux Falls to get out and support their local favorites!
The Pickle Roll Burger
Sometimes you don’t need to reinvent the wheel or try to do too much. When it comes to some of the best burgers I have had in my life, there are only two constants that stick out - beef & cheese. They are the foundation of a great burger. We use two smashed certified angus beef patties, New School American cheese, dried beef pickle roll dip (more on this below), pickles, ruffles, on a Big Marty bun and served with fries or tots. The Pickle Roll Burger has the perfect ratio of beef, cheese, and toppings. Its true to its source material without being too much and something that you could easily have multiple times during the month!
What is a Pickle Roll? For Midwest natives it’s an impossible food to avoid with holidays, potlucks, or a cook out. For our resident transplants, the pickle roll is a pickle, cream cheese spread, and rolled up surrounded by dried beef. Salty, crunchy, and savory, the perfect triangle of flavors. Sometimes referred to as Midwest Sushi or Minnesota Sushi. We took this idea and created a dip to spread on the Big Marty bun. It’s accompanied by the first thing you need after a pickle roll, a crisp potato chip! At Fernson we always use real ingredients and the Pickle Roll Burger is no exception.
The Burger was designed to use a little Midwest nostalgia with a Fernson twist to bring you something new to try. Fernson is all about sharing, whether that be a beer, food, or time together. The potluck vibe is something that fits with us and we hope you that you bring a friend to try out the burger!
When Can I Get the Burger?
The Pickle Roll Burger can be ordered at any time of the day! We want to be able to include as many people as possible during Burger Battle. Third shifters or those with a non traditional schedule have not been forgotten at Fernson. We also added hours during Monday to accommodate as many people as we can! Hours are below:
Monday: 3PM-9PM
Tuesday-Thursday: 7:30AM-9PM
Friday & Saturday: 7:30AM-10AM
Sunday: 7:30AM-8PM
*Totally Rad Brunch runs 9AM-11AM during January
I love having a Prairie Sun with the burger and Beau is reaching for a Motel Hazy IPA or a Spagett. . Come try the burger and find your favorite drink with our award winning beers and we now have cocktails, and NA options. The Pickle Roll Burger is served fresh, hot, and with top shelf service from the Fernson Team. Thanks for reading and cheers to some friendly competition!