A food truck made famous by its bacon jam and its contender in the 2022 Sioux Falls Burger Battle just opened a permanent location in Sioux Falls.
Murph’s Burgers & Fries opened its first restaurant on Wednesday at 5312 E. Arrowhead Parkway with a full lunch and dinner menu. The restaurant features the famous bacon jam and grilled burgers on a small menu daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Murph’s food truck started in Sioux Falls last year and will stick around for seasonal service in addition to the new, permanent home of Murph’s Burgers & Fries.
The east side location is now open with its famous bacon jam and burger options such as the BBQ Bacon Burger on a short-list menu with fries and soda.
The restaurant also goes by “Murph’s Butterguts” on its growing social media following, which started when its owner claimed to create the original bacon jam.
More:Mediterranean restaurant opening soon inside Sioux Falls’ new Middle Eastern grocery
Murphy Lundie moved back about a year ago to South Dakota to realize his dream after a long stint in the Portland, Oregon food truck scene.
“I’m excited to be here, be back,” Lundie said about the move. “Butterguts was a name and a dream I’ve had to own a restaurant since I was a kid.”
His most-recent move after a summer of local travel was into the Fernson Brewing Company building downtown, where Lundie competed in the Downtown Burger Battle with “The Murph” burger.
He soon outgrew the space, looking eastward for a restaurant.
“I am leasing a space from Ron Nelson out on Arrowhead Parkway here. It’s easier to have a commissary, food truck and more outside of there,” Lundie said about his move and decision to leave Fernson.
”Downtown would’ve been chaotic to load up and unload the truck for all the events we’re trying to do,” he said. “We’re happy here.”
More:Here’s what downtown visitors will see in Sioux Falls’ new Steel District, Cherapa Place II
The bright-green logo has freshened up the new location, the former site of Grand Junction Grilled Subs. There’s seating for about 40 or so people with booths and tables. Lundie said once set up, more sandwiches and burgers will begin to appear on the menu.
“The east side will be fortunate to get a new restaurant specializing in burgers, directly across from the east side Walmart,” building owner Ron Nelson said.
Nelson said COVID-19 and some construction had originally blocked traffic to the former sub shop, leading to its closure, but said the burger spot is a good add.
Nelson said the strip mall, called the Splash City Center, will now have three restaurants: Murph’s Burgers and Fries, Kathmandu Indian Cuisine and Imperial Garden Chinese Restaurant, that he hopes will lead to good growth.