Olives, salsa lettuce, shredded cheese and meat top a large piece of fry bread to make up an Indian taco

Indian Tacos

A South Dakota Delicacy
Cedar Pass Lodge

For those in the know, those two words make mouths water and bellies rumble. But if you haven’t had this delicious local delicacy, there are only two things you need to know — what they are and where to find them.

Legend has it that Indian Tacos were born from a combination of necessity and toppings. Fry bread — the flat, deep-fried and crispy-yet-doughy foundation of this culinary masterpiece — came into existence in the late 1800s. American Indians are credited with creating the savory treat from government rations of flour, lard, baking powder and salt. It didn’t take long for fry bread to become a staple at powwows and in American Indian households across the country. The legendary flavor continues to attract new fans. In 2005, South Dakota lawmakers even declared it to be the state’s official bread.

 

Fry bread is delicious on its own, but the potential for toppings is almost overwhelming. Unsurprisingly, a culinary genius somewhere decided to top fry bread with ground beef, refried beans and a combination of lettuce, onions and tomatoes. (Sour cream is optional, and plenty of places like to put their own unique spin on the types of toppings.) The traditional Indian Taco was born.

 

Attend one of South Dakota’s powwows and you’re bound to find an Indian Taco stand. It’s also common to see signs or stands advertising homemade Indian Tacos in communities across the state. If you’re as hungry reading this as we got writing it, good news: South Dakota has some of the best places in the country to enjoy this unique delicacy.

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Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant

20681 SD Highway 240, Interior

Located right next to the Badlands National Park Visitor Center, the only place to eat inside the park is also home to what many believe is the best Indian Taco in the state. Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant's chefs make fresh fry bread daily and then pile it so high with toppings that it’s not uncommon for two people to share a single order.

Laughing Water Restaurant

1251 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse Memorial®

Only in South Dakota can you cure your hunger while taking in the majesty of the world’s largest in-progress mountain carving. Located on the Crazy Horse Memorial® campus, the Laughing Water Restaurant offers the Native American Taco with homemade fry bread, taco meat, refried beans, tomatoes, cheese, onions, salsa and sour cream. Your topping options don’t end there! Hungry customers have the option to get the taco with the restaurant’s succulent tatanka (buffalo) stew or take the sweet route with cinnamon, honey or a traditional warm berry sauce called wojapi (pronounced wo-zha-pee) — another South Dakota specialty.

Cheyenne Crossing & Stage Stop Café

21415 US Highway 14-A, Lead

Cheyenne Crossing began as a stop for stagecoaches in 1878. Almost 150 years later, the Black Hills landmark attracts a steady flow of visitors eager to explore the unique building located at the south entrance to Spearfish Canyon National Scenic Byway. Hungry souls are satisfied in a big way at Cheyenne Crossing’s legendary Stage Stop Café, which offers a variety of tasty morsels that includes a beef or vegetarian Indian Taco. The Indian Tacos are so good that they’ve been featured on Food Network TV and in Food Network Magazine. As you explore the Black Hills landmark, don’t forget to check out Dave’s Heifer Dust, a special blend of all-purpose seasoning that the store ships across the country.

Chasers Food & Spirits

8405 W 12th St., Sioux Falls

Salsa and sour cream come on the side, but jalapenos are a part of the Indian Taco experience at Chasers Food & Spirits on the western edge of Sioux Falls. Of course, you can ask them to hold the spicy peppers. The question is: Should you?

South Dakota State Fair

1060 3rd St. SW, Huron

Once a year, the South Dakota State Fair transforms Huron into the site of one of the biggest parties in the state. Carnival rides, live entertainment and celebrations of all things agriculture make this a must-see event, but it’s the food that keeps some coming back year after year. If you think Indian Tacos aren’t available, you might be confusing this with some other, less delicious event.

Indian tacos
South Dakota State Fair
Cheyenne Crossing
Cheyenne Crossing & Stage Stop Café
cedar pass lodge & restaurant indian tacos
Cedar Pass Lodge & Restaurant
South Dakota State Fair
South Dakota State Fair

Where else can you get an Indian Taco in South Dakota?

Due to its popularity, Indian Tacos are often served as lunch or dinner specials, even though they’re not listed on the menu. They also pop up at rummage sales, sidewalk stands, churches, schools and cultural centers. It’s highly recommended that you do a quick internet search to see if there will be a fresh fry-bread delicacy being served in the area you’re visiting, but here are a few places that are known to keep the delicious meal in regular rotation.

Rosalie’s Restaurant, Bakery and Lounge
98th Ave. E., Sisseton
Open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Wednesday, 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.

City Lights Bar and Event Center
316 S. 2nd St., Aberdeen
Business hours vary, so keep an eye on their Facebook page for delicious updates.

Silver Spur Restaurant
103 E. Main Avenue, Fort Pierre
Open 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. Friday through Saturday (closed Sunday and Monday).

The Pit
101 Ohio St., Wakonda
Check their Facebook page for up-to-date hours.

Native American Cultural Center
409 E. Clark St., Vermillion
Open from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday. (Please note that this is a cultural center and not a restaurant, so food is only available during specified times.)

Check Out Our Podcast

The Travel South Dakota Stories

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Episode 9: South Dakota on a Plate

South Dakota's culinary scene has been shaped by Indigenous people, immigrants, farmers, hunters ... and even church-basement ladies. Take a four-course road trip to meet some of the talented people making South Dakota so delicious.

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