May 13, 2021

Pho Quynh is celebrating Asian and Pacific-Islander Heritage Month by featuring a different Asian cuisine every week for dinner. Through Friday, the cuisine is Hawaiian themed: Spam Musubi, a sushi-style snack made with teriyaki-glazed Spam and seasoned rice wrapped in crispy seaweed; and Moco Loco, a Hawaiian hamburger steak served with a fried egg and rice and covered in gravy. Following the Hawaiian specials, the restaurant at 1100 W. 12th St. will serve up Korean fare: tteok-kkochi, which are rice cake skewers, and japchae, a glass noodle stir fry. For the week of May 24, try a dim sum platter featuring Cantonese small bites.

“We hope to show Sioux Falls that there is a strong and vibrant Asian-American population in Sioux Falls, and also to inspire other Asian-owned businesses in the community to step out into the spotlight,” said Vinson Danh, whose parents, Quang and Quynh, opened their first Vietnamese restaurant in the city in 2007. “Our families, whatever their circumstances were, worked hard to build new lives in Sioux Falls by raising our families and building businesses. It’s about time that we show how proud we are of our community and our roots.”

Dinner hours are 5 to 9 p.m., and the specials are available for dine-in or takeout.

The Breaks Coffee Roasting Co. is putting dandelions to good use. One of the three new drinks for May features the yellow-headed sign of spring. “Dandelions get a bad rap for being a weed, but every part of the plant is edible, and we think that’s pretty neat. We made a tea with roasted dandelion root and star anise as well as a touch of panela syrup, then pour that over ice with a hint of cardamom syrup and oat milk. A lil bit of dried dandelion bloom goes on top for extra magic.” The other drinks are a mocktail called Ruby Rose and a cold brew dubbed Dark Sparkle with middle blackberries, lavender syrup and the nonalcoholic Lagunitas Hoppy Refresher.

Only a handful of spots remain for the third annual Urban Chislic Spice Challenge at 4 p.m. May 21. The challenge, which is described as “painful,” is free. Co-owner Hong Phrommany, who will attempt the challenge himself, said chef Ryan Tracy is keeping the dishes a secret. There will be three to five, and we’re guessing at least one is sure to feature Carolina Reaper peppers because the restaurant’s supplier, Magic Plant Farms, is the main sponsor. Twenty-six challengers have signed up already. Participants must be 18 or older and sign a waiver. Send your full name and cellphone number to [email protected].

Earlier this week at Urban Chislic, national food challenger Randy Santel successfully ate the Gorilla Dumpster in the one-hour time limit. He actually finished the 6.5 pounds of beef, chicken, pork and lamb chislic with kettle chips, cheese curds and fries in 50 minutes and 37 seconds.

WilLiquors kept its sense of humor Wednesday after an overnight burglary. Someone broke the liquor store’s glass door and stole seven bottles of high-end booze worth about $22,000, according to police.

Taqueria Suyapa has added desserts to the menu. Selection varies but offerings include tres leches, cheese flan, tiramisu and New York-style cheesecake. The food truck, which is parked along 271st Street in Tea, also can accommodate orders for whole desserts with a two-day notice. Call or text 605-400-1131.

Fernson Brewing Co. earned national recognition for its beer can artwork. The design for Vanilla Milkshake IPA was named one of the 30 best-looking beer cans in America by Ceros. For the fourth year of judging beer can designs, the international firm that offers a content creation platform to marketers and designs sought out nominations from its favorite designers. Two other varieties of Milkshake IPA are available in cans now: orange and pink guava.

Here’s a look at the featured menu for May at the Phillips Avenue Diner.

As a kickoff to the opening of the Sioux Falls Storm season Saturday, three food trucks are having a cook-off challenge. Fat Kid Filly’s, Watecha Bowl and Chubby’s are competing, and the only guideline they have is to use 3 ounces of beef. They’ll start serving food at 1 p.m. in the tailgating area at the Denny Sanford Premier Center, and judging begins at 2 p.m.

The traveling On the Hook Fish & Chips truck will be in Sioux Falls on Friday. Find the truck from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. in its usual spot at Tractor Supply Co. at 3520 N. Cliff Ave.

From the “it’s too cute not to share” file: Check out this woodland custom-ordered cake that Intoxibakes did recently!

Here are other headlines from the past week.

Menu reveal: Downtown’s newest fine dining restaurant opens this week

Downtown cafe closed for lunch this week but still taking cookie orders

Mr. Donuts to expand to Holiday gas stations

Colorado-based cookie shop to open downtown