Sept. 9, 2021

The new Wahlburgers in the west-side Hy-Vee is getting favorable reviews from customers, store manager Jake Scheitler said.

The counter-service version of the popular national restaurant started by the Wahlberg brothers — chef Paul and actors Mark and Donnie — opened earlier this week in the grocery store at 26th Street and Marion Road.

Customers order at a new counter that’s outside the door to the Market Grille. For dine-in meals, they get a tabletop number and find a seat in the dining room, where they can order a beer at the bar.

“It was a good opening,” Scheitler said. “It’s not going to be like a Chick-fil-A opening, but honestly it was good.”

He has scanned social media posts for feedback and found “they had nothing but good comments to say about the quality of the food and the friendliness of the staff and how easy it is to order.”

While Market Grille still serves breakfast, the Wahlburgers menu has replaced the previous lunch and dinner options.

Hy-Vee’s version of Wahlburgers offers about 90 percent of the usual menu. “And with us being in South Dakota, we don’t have a liquor license at the store, so we don’t have the alcohol shakes,” Scheitler said.

The regular shakes and the signature cupcake versions, which come in chocolate, red velvet, birthday cake and mocha, are popular, he said, noting that the gourmet cupcakes come from the store’s bakery.

The menu features starters, sides, salads, Wahlbowls, burgers, sandwiches, shakes and desserts that come family-sized. Gluten-free buns and bread are an option, and there’s a kids menu with Smahlburgers, grilled cheese, chicken tenders, mac-and-cheese and all-beef hot dogs.

Burger prices range from $11 for the standard Our Burger to $15.50 for The Super Melt and Wahl-Apeno.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

“We clamor for certain things in Sioux Falls like Chick-fil-A,” Schleiter said. “It’s cool to have a partner like Mark Wahlberg, and we can partner with them and bring their food items into Sioux Falls. Usually, they go into bigger cities on the coasts. Sioux Falls probably wouldn’t have gotten a Wahlburgers if not for our partnership with the Wahlberg family.”