This is a great stop right on the highway! Al's Oasis has a restaurant, grocery store, and gas. Friendly staff and plenty of seating inside. They have a great deal for their lunch buffet, all you can eat and also plenty of good burgers and sandwich options. Delicious pies too! read more

Al's Oasis - Burger & fries - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

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Al's oasis is right off of I 90 by Chamberlain South Dakota. It carries everything from knickknacks to salted taffy to bad 80s diner food. The facility is well lit, well maintained, and staffed very well. Staff is friendly, accommodating, and at the restaurant the food will come out swiftly. If you're looking for a five star dining or Customer service experience, you'll get a mid one at best. Prices are a bit high here, considering, but if you're looking for a one stop shop for all the classic travel junk you'll need, this is a very efficient stop read more

Al's Oasis - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

Stopped here at Al's Oasis in for a chopped steak and mashed potatoes, $17 felt steep for what I got. The steak was flavorless and seemed undercooked (still pink inside), and the mashed potatoes didn't taste like real potatoes. Gravy was decent, but the tea was sour, though the root beer was a better pick. Service felt off, possibly due to recent ownership changes. Disappointing for a traveler's stop, will not rush back. Restaurant seemed dungy and floor was dirty. Not impressed at all. The store was nice, and clean. The prices feel like I am back in California! read more

Al's Oasis - Part of the meat looks raw. Chopped steak is typically cooked thoroughly. - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

The food and service were impeccable! Marie was able to my bosom burger cooked rare! And the raisin cream cheese pie was surprisingly delicious. read more

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Felt dirty. Service was subpar. Food was yikes. I don't even know what the burger is made of but it doesn't taste like beef or maybe it's freezer burnt. It's the first time in my life I took a bite and spit it out in my napkin. My husband had the bison burger, it's not worth $17. He said it was bland also and possibly freezer burnt. I don't know how this place seems so popular read more

Was hoping this place was as fun inside as it looks from the highway. I was so disappointed. Restaurant was dirty and food was tasteless and cold. Staff was not friendly either. Can't find anything good to say and I tried hard! read more

Everything is delicious and the service was fantastic. I was even able to shop for a pair of earrings that I just absolutely have not been able to find anywhere else. Love this place and we will be coming back. read more

Al's Oasis - The western omelette and it is delicious - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

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Very cool place, my name is Al, I'm happy to see that I have my own oasis. Highly recommend visiting to say you have been there! Appreciate the military discount as well. read more

First of all Al's Oasis is located inside a neat complex with a gift shop, a bar & a liquor store. The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated with an old West theme but unfortunately that's where the positives end. Being our second time at the restaurant & not having a positive experience the first time we had doubts about trying it again. We should've listened to our gut. We ended up ordering the Buffalo Omelet & the 2 Eggs & Meat. Both meals had quite small portions & were generally flavorless & quite disappointing. After trying the restaurant twice & not having a positive experience either time we will not be back for a third time. read more

Al's Oasis - Exterior Marquee. - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

We (there were 4 of us) drove across the river from Chamberlain to Oacoma for dinner. My husband wanted walleye and we were told this was the place to go. We ordered basic foods (salads and sandwiches) and it was okay. My husband liked his walleye. We did have quite a wait for our food to come out. When it did come it was edible but nothing special. The staff was friendly but it seemed there wasn't enough of them. Not sure I would repeat visiting there. read more

A true travel oasis for those who are driving on I-90 in South Dakota between Sioux Falls and Rapid City. This stop has it all - grocery store, liquor store, gas station, gift shop, restaurant, and even a shooting gallery. There isn't much on the roadside at times when you are on your I-90 road trip so this place provides the opportunity to pick up items you might have missed packing, grabbing a quick bite to eat, or loading up on supplies for your next adventure. This place will be a must stop for us when coming through this area again since it has everything all in one convenient place. read more

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While we did not eat there, we stopped to stretch, get out of the car & move around. The gift shop was meh and everything was extremely expensive. Definitely looks more fun from the outside, not much to do inside. We will not be stopping again. read more

Frustrating! Hubby wanted to go because years ago we always loved stopping there. I wish I would have paid more attention to the bad reviews. We have some allergies which is never good but this was more challenging than usual. We waited a crazy long time for our waitress to come. Even longer to place our order. When we finally got it the steak was just okay, but I would never order it again. The hot items on the salad bar looked old so we skipped it. The waitress forgot both dinner salads. The buffalo burger that had all the bad reviews was actually good, but the fries were cold. The sides to the entrees were room temperature. The waitress was kind enough to bring replacements. The fries were now fresh and hot but the veggies and rice had just a few hot spots. At least they tried to fix things. People don't mind too much if they have to wait a long time. But at least make sure the food is hot and fresh. read more

The salad bar was incredibly messy. Please clean it regularly. Food, was good but the quality has definitely taken a nosebleed dive in past year. I have stopped here for way over 30 years and it's disappointing to see the decrease in the quality despite all the advertising. Don't let this iconic place die out due to basic poor management. read more

Menu is stuck in the 50's but very pricy for what you get. I'm pushing 50 and we were the youngest people in there but at least 10 years. I don't understand the hype. Asked waitress for a recommendation on what was good and all I got was "ehhhhhhhhhh" so she clearly didn't think much of the food either. We payed $35 before tip for two "meals" that were flavorless and were basically frozen fried crap. I know they have been around forever but seems like a tourist trap from the old days to just skip and find some thing better read more

Al's Oasis - Bland retirement food for $35 - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

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AL, my pal, it looks like you have some work to do. Mainly in your restaurant. I was enticed to try Al's Oasis for dinner by the desk clerk at the Baymont. She said, " If you show your room key at Al's, you'll get 10% off." Hmmm, 10% off, I thought. I'll give it a try. So next door I trekked. As I entered Al's, I was a bit confused as to which way to go. The place was packed with this and that. Different stores all meshed together. Kind of like Wall Drug. In fact, it's a lot like Wall Drug. A miniature knockoff. Eventually, I turned right and made my way to the restaurant. I was seated right away. My order was taken by a jovial young fellow who mentioned that I should have the mashed potatoes with the bacon wrapped chopped steak that I had chosen. Sure, why not. Good choice, he said. It wasn't long before a hot plate was placed in front of me. Although it was a hot plate of roast beef! It looked really good, but it wasn't what I ordered. My flippit server apologized and moved the plate to the proper table. Soon after, another plate hit my table. It was a chopped steak, but not bacon wrapped and not topped with onions and mushrooms as advertised on the menu. Ugh! By that time, I was too hungry to complain, so I made do. Brushing aside the visiting flies, I forged ahead. It was good sure enough, but not as good as the bacon one would have been. AL touts his pies, so I figured that I deserved a slice. I'll have a slice of Pecan I asked. Oh, no Pecan sir, only chocolate and strawberry. Ok, chocolate, it is. And quite satisfying it was. After all that had transpired, Al's Oasis was a disappointment. It has its charm, though, in a slightly mundane kind of way. But for dining, you may want to opt for a different restaurant. Quick Tip: If you do end up eating at Al's, eat fast. Before the flies have a chance at laying their eggs. read more

I've stopped at Al's for years for a quick cup of coffee and pie while traveling down I-90! They have remodeled quite a bit and the restaurant area was very clean during this stop! There is a cute little shop and a grocery store attached! Their pies are as amazing as they look! I had coconut cream pie and my sister had pecan pie! Both delish! read more

Al's Oasis - Coconut Cream Pie - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

Food and service were ok, nothing great. Strawberry pie looked amazing, but tasted just ok...bison burger was underwhelming. Onion rings were amazing! Chicken finger and fries were good. Taco salad was only ok. Salad bar looked good until I noticed lots of flies...so definitely passed on that. The people working there were nice. read more

My husband and I both picked the pot roast. We've been on the road for a few weeks and a home cooked meal sounded perfect. It was only $15 each, came with a very large portion of beef with gravy that wasn't over salted, house salad, that could be upgraded to the all you can eat salad bar for $5 each bucks, choice of potato, vegetables and a dinner roll. Everything tasted good. The service was amazing. They go non stop and when they had a moment to relax, they were cleaning and dusting. read more

Al's Oasis - Al. - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

We were seated promptly, however our waiter did not take our order for 20 minutes. When the food came, there was no silverware. We had to wait again to get their attention and ask for silverware and napkins. The food was ok, other than the vegetables as they were barely cooked. Overall, a huge disappointment. read more

Came in on Wednesday evening to an almost empty restaurant. The two of us were seated and waited for 10 minutes while 5 employees stood and talked, wandered around and seemed to care nothing about the fact we were there. I love Al's, but this was ridiculous. When we simply walked out, the Arby's down the street was fine. read more

If there was an option for a negative review that's what I would give. We were seated and our order was taken within 15 minutes. Waited an hour before our food was brought out to us a few plates at a time. Everyones meal was cold and not correct. We watched all of the tables that came in after us get their food and finish before out waitress ever returned to our table. All they offered was a 10% discount. Do not go here. Horrible service!! read more

Ok, don't go here. They can't even make a grilled cheese sandwich. Worst food in SD and the entire Midwest. Recommend Arby's across the river. read more

I drove 2.5 hrs to try their Buffalo Burger and it was worth the ride! The burger was delicious! I added a bacon, jalapeños and yellow American cheese with a side of union rings. My meal was reasonably price and delicious! I read more

I came here while going across the country. The food was reasonably priced, along with many pies to choose from. There are good and bad things... Bad things like even though we got seated immediately, we wait for around for a bit before we could even be noticed. We ordered food and drinks at the same time, but got food first. They forgot the drinks and we had to ask twice before they arrived. The food was hot and not terrible. The bar portion did reek of cigarettes but it was separated, and the restrooms cleanish.. read more

I went last year and it was great. Just went recently. Service was good. Chicken tenders were rock hard and dry. Pie was mushy. This used to me my go to place on a I90 road trip but not any more. read more

We decided to go hear because we were hungry for pie. We'll we split a chicken tenders basket, was pretty good, and then we're going to split a piece of pie. Sorry we're out of pie. WAMP wamp. So no pie for us. read more

Al's Oasis - Chicken tender basket with waffle fries - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

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Not much staff but we were waited 9n in the restaurant without waiting.. The food was definitely nothing to write home about, but our server was friendly. The clothing and tchotchke store next-door was closing early as we were shopping in it The grocery store was OK, and had everything we needed but it's all self check out That Sinclair next-door was probably the best experience, most helpful read more

Staff was super friendly and helpful. The salad bar was fresh. The portions are huge! The pot roast was delicious, but enough for 2 or more. My Hubbard ordered his stead med rare and got a hockey puck. They fixed it and he said it was good. Yes I know this is a tourist trap roadside restaurant, but it was dirty and the bathroom was down right disgusting. Makes me wonder what the kitchen looks like. read more

7:00 in the evening. Was freezing inside. Waited a long time to have my order taken. I just left.

I ordered the buffalo burger. The patty was thin and overcooked to the point of being dry and tasteless. Very disappointing

This is a South Dakota MUST for anyone traveling by the area. No trip across the state is ever complete without a stop at the famous Al's Oasis. From its famous homemade pies with meringue as tall as the Eiffel Tower, to their hot roast beef sandwich that is piled high with tender SD beef that covers an entire dinner plate, the restaurant at Al's is a can't miss stop for anyone. Not to mention fun souvenirs if you need some to take home. read more

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I don't know what happened in the last 6 months but this was the dirtiest restaurant I have ever seen. Women's bathroom had fecal material all over, floors were gross and flies all over the day old salad bar. So sad-- used to be great. read more

The reason i am giving this such a low score is a couple of things. 1. Service. We were seated by a less than enthusiastic young server and given menus. Then we waited about 20 minutes to be served/asked about drinks. While we were waiting our server made eye contact with us multiple times but still ignored us. She chose to instead serve other tables (normally wouldn't care but these were things she could follow up with those tables later on). Later on when paying for my check another waitress was less than enthused for me to pay. She actually rolled her eyes at me. 2. Food. This is stuff you can buy at a grocery store. Mind you I know they are kind of in a food desert but I'd expect something a little original. The positive thing I can say is that it tasted as expected. Side note... 5 bucks to ADD a salad bar? Come on... 3. Presentation. The place needs a facelift. Bad. I get the whole western feel but this was dirty, outdated and in need of repair. Basically this is a place for standard American western food that gives teenagers their first job and desperately needs some management. Won't be back. read more

On the way to Sturgis decided to grab some lunch. Salad bar was good and food was good.

If you're a fan of home style cooking, fun decor, cheap coffee, or just need to step and rest for a few, this place is perfect. We stopped for lunch on a road trip and were delighted with the food, the prices, and even the gift shop. Fair warning, come with an appetite. I got the open-face turkey sandwich and they brought me half a Thanksgiving dinner! It wasn't really quite that much, but the portions are quite generous, the wait staff is friendly and efficient, and the food was great. The kitschy decor and the gift shop are just added bonuses. Side note, they were relatively busy when we got there (midday on a Sunday) and we did have to wait a little, but not more than 15 minutes and the food was definitely worth it. Great stop on a road trip! read more

Al's Oasis - Front of the building - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

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We arrived 20 minutes before closing. The staff were kind enough to let us in, though acknowledging that they'd start cleaning at close. We were worried that the quality of the food would be lackluster, but we were pleasantly surprised by food that was DELICIOUS! Definitely will have to come back for the famous Lemon Cream pie (all ran out by the time we got there). Much love to the staff for being straightforward, honest, and kind. "Fried Green Beans" - we're still trying to figure out why this appetizer was so tasty. Dipping in the ranch adds another layer of zingy flavor, but hardly needed because there must be magic in the batter the beans are fried with. A definite must order! "Grilled Walleye" - had to try this staple fish of South Dakota on my first tour through the state. It didn't disappoint! The fish is white, flaky, and not very fishy tasting. They did a great job cooking it juicy. Make sure to get the wild rice on the side! "Fried Fish Basket" - a little pepper in the batter makes these babies light up your eyes with every bite! I liked that they were more fish nuggets than a typical honking huge hunk in fish n chips. "Shrimp Scampi" - does NOT come on pasta, but still super good. Buttery, with Parmesan and herbs, and shrimps that are large and plump, I'd say it's almost worth the price. read more

Al's Oasis - Grilled Walleye - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

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Al's Oasis? More like a mirage, we stopped there while traversing our great state to grab a quick bite. Sat there for 10 minutes after being seated with no one asking us if we wanted drinks much less food. There was another table of two . . . that was it . . . left with no food and twenty minutes burned for this stop and still hungry. When we walked out the five staff members just watched us. Must be hard to find help in Chamberlain? I would recommend a vending machine over stopping here read more

Food was decent. Better burgers are available at a short drive across the river. Service was amazing, considering that they had two people serving tables during the entire two hours our party of six was present. Ambiance is always good, but if your looking for privacy, this isn't the place as the tables are scrunched together. Seems like the gift shop is more important than the restaurant. Just my opinion. With our waiter being so overwhelmed, I went to the cashier to get a to-go box and the response I got was, "for what? "My bad, obviously your food." If you get the pie, don't get the pumpkin. Our table ordered six pieces, and the best one was the strawberry, followed by the pecan! And the salad bar was decent, but it would have been nice to have a little more variety in the actual salads and sides like bacon bits and sunflower seeds to name a few, but it was nice to see hard boiled eggs. Overall, I've been to better places but this is by no means the bottom of the Barrell! Lastly, I haven't seen a pay phone in ages! So here's a picture of the one they have. You may have to teach the kids about read more

Al's Oasis - Pay phone by the entrance! - Salad Near Me - Oacoma, South Dakota

I'm going to say it, but I would skip this stop and go to someplace in Chamberlain or plan ahead with a picnic lunch. Take your lunch to the rest stop you see prior to crossing the Missouri River. I promise it is better. I ordered what I expected to be a philly and my husband ordered the bison burger. For an appetizer we had the cheese curds. My philly really was just dry, cold, and unseasoned ground beef served with stale fries - like that had been in the freezer and forgotten about for a year. The burger was like a premade frozen beef burger and was overly dry - and cold. His fries were the same. We saw our waiter for the initial drinks, order, and food delivery. We did not once get a drink refill, even when he saw they were empty and never brought us the check. The cheese curds were good though. read more