What really sets the bison burrito apart is balance and intention, Faris explains.“ We don’ t just swap bison in for beef— we build the burrito around it. The seasoning is designed to complement bison’ s natural richness without overpowering it, and every ingredient is chosen for texture and flavor, from fluffy eggs to fresh, house-made components. It’ s hearty, but clean and satisfying, not greasy.”
Tatanka Cafe also serves up a unique dish known as the Elvis Special— generous spoonfuls of creamy peanut butter coupled with perfectly ripened slices of banana are tucked between 2 slices of golden brown French Toast, sprinkled with a dash of powdered sugar.
“ The Elvis Special started as a fun experiment inspired by classic comfort flavors and the legend of Elvis himself,” Faris says.
“ We wanted something indulgent but still thoughtfully executed— sweet, savory, and nostalgic all at once. After a few test runs, it became one of those items that people don’ t expect … and then can’ t stop ordering once they try it.”
Tatanka Cafe serves most of its breakfast items a la carte, including its buttermilk pancakes and turkey bacon.
Craving a burger, hot dog or brat? Tatanka Cafe takes its lunch and dinner menu to a whole new level, offering its signature locally sourced bison and wagyu beef in a variety of sandwiches all of which come on a brioche bun.“ Brioche adds richness without heaviness,” Faris explains.“ The slight sweetness and buttery texture complement savory proteins beauti-
fully and create a soft contrast to crisp or smoky elements. It elevates the experience— everything tastes more rounded and cohesive, instead of dry or overly dense.”
Faris loves the Tatanka Cafe bison burger, the restaurant’ s signature dish.“ It represents what we do best— local Black Hills Buffalo,” Faris says. He describes the sandwich as“ comfort food done right.”
Like nearly everything on the menu, the bison burger patty is made fresh, in house, never frozen.“ It’ s the kind of item that keeps people coming back and recommending us to friends,” Faris says.
For those wanting to stick with beef, Tatanka Cafe offers Wagyu beef, a heavily marbled meat with a buttery flavor and a tender texture. Faris says the flavor of the burger stands on its own.“ If we’ re going to serve beef, we want it to be memorable, not just filling.”
Tatanka Cafe is one of the select few places in the Black Hills to offer dirty sodas that combine classic sodas with unexpected flavors to create a symphony for the mouth.
The idea came about through experimentation. Both the Dragon Rush, which takes Sprite and combines it with Dragon fruit, Passionfruit and Blackberry syrup and the Dirty Rushmore, which combines Sprite with Cherry, Blue Raspberry, and Coconut syrup, are huge hits that can best be described as creamy, with a hint of citrus and a subtle sweetness. Faris especially loves the Dragon Rush.“ It hits that perfect balance of refreshing and indulgent without being overpowering.”
Local, organic, made fresh daily. Tatanka cafe isn’ t the typical drive thru. It’ s a drive thru for those who truly want to taste the difference made with love really means.
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605-745-3975 • 602 Jennings Ave. • Hot Springs
8 Down Country Roads March / April 2026