Are There Any 'Long John Silver's' Restaurants in South Dakota?

Over the weekend I had the TV on and kept seeing a boatload (no pun intended) of Long John Silver's ads and I remember thinking to myself, wow, are they still even open?

I know the Sioux Falls Long John Silver's location which was formally on Minnesota Avenue has been closed for nearly a decade now. I believe that particular location walked the plank way back in October of 2014 when its franchise owner at the time was closing a number of underperforming restaurants throughout the region.

The empty Sioux Falls location eventually became a Gilberto's Mexican restaurant. But even they vacated the old Long John's building a few year's ago when they had the opportunity to move next door to occupy a vacant Wendy's restaurant that closed its doors in October of 2019.

Former Long John Silver's, now Giliberto's on S. Minnesota Ave (Google Maps)

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To be honest, I always kinda liked Long John Silver's food, maybe a little too much, as I was about 50 pounds heavier at the time I was eating their menu with a degree of regularity.

I remember those Long John Silver's hush puppies being as addictive as crack cocaine, which would help to explain why I looked like a distant relative of the Stay Puft Marshmellow Man back then.

Anyway, I digress.

With it being lent, Long John's and numerous other restaurants that specialize in a lenten-friendly menu have upped their advertising campaigns right now. So if all these Long John Silver's ads that are bombarding your TV at the moment have you jonesing for some fish and chips, you will need to do a little driving to find a Long John's location that is still open here in South Dakota.

Supposedly there are still three South Dakota Long John Silver's locations still in operation. With the closest being 160 miles north of Sioux Falls in Aberdeen. The other two can be found West River in Rapid City and in Spearfish.

But don't fear me hearties, the simple solution for all you hardcore Long John Silver's fans out there whose mouth is watering right about now for a big ole $6.00 shrimp basket is to hop in the car and head south. Shiver me timbers if there still isn't a Long John's location just 75 miles away on Sergeant Road in Sioux City right in front of the Southern Hills Mall.

Arrr matey looks like a road trip might be in order this weekend. Popcorn shrimp and hush puppies here we come!

Source: Long John Silver's.com

Sioux Falls Top Ten Restaurants

Sioux Falls has no shortage of amazing restaurants. There's a little something for everything here, but the question is, which are the best?

Well, according to Trip Advisor, these are the top ten eateries in the city of Sioux Falls. Is your favorite spot on the list? Take a look.

Dives Worth a Drive in South Dakota, Iowa and Minnesota

Almost every small South Dakota town has a watering hole. It’s where the locals go to kick back a few brews and engage in conversation.

Some of these establishments are located in buildings almost as old as the town itself. There might be a fresh coat of paint on the walls or new vinyl on the booth seats, but the ambiance is still reminiscent of a good ol’ dive.

If you think a "dive" is all about the sketchy clientele, the smell of the Devil’s lettuce, and stale Grain Belt, you’d be wrong. Not every dive has a bad reputation.

What makes a dive, a dive?

A dive has character. Neon beer signs and local memorabilia adorn the walls.

You might find a pool table, dart board, and a few video lottery machines.

The bartender knows the regulars by name and they know what you drink.

Some dives don't even serve food except for bags of chips and pickled eggs that sit in a jar of brine on the bar.

Dives aren't fancy. You might see 70's-style wood panels on the walls and wobbly tables leveled with a folded napkin.

Finally, the bathrooms. The bathrooms in dives are in a class by themselves and could be a whole topic on its own.

There are several small-town dives in our area with friendly faces, cheap booze with a burn, and even really good food! We use the term "dive" in the most affectionate way.

Here are some of the best and why you should go there.

Gallery Credit: Karla Brown