Swamp Daddy's Cajun Kitchen — Restaurant in Sioux Falls Township

My new lunch spot!

The Essentials: Food Made Fast and Fresh Clean Environment Served Hot Great Service Appreciable Ambiance and Environment Locally Owned Generous Portions

Delicious food conveniently tucked away in the newly renovated and historical Jones421 building.

I popped into Swap Daddy's Cajun Kitchen for a weekday lunch and was not disappointed. Immediately upon walking into the dining area I was greeted by the owner herself (taking orders nonetheless!) in a French Quarter inspired dining area loaded with vibrant colors and traditional Mardi Gras decor. Following Inkka's, the owners, suggestion I ordered the blackened shrimp in a butter sauce with a side of jambalaya and crisp french bread. My food came out quickly and was made fresh to order. The dining area and kitchen are separated only by a service counter so I was able to see the friendly and family oriented staff preparing my order in a positive and clean environment. It was served, conveniently, in a reusable to-go container (much needed for my ample left overs from the generous portion sizes). The first bite reminded me of the days I spent in New Orleans with a balanced flavor combination. The flavors and spices were inspired, complimentary to one another and thoughtfully put together. Each bite contained hand diced spices you could see for a truly authentic feel. It was a well crafted and executed dish that had just the right harmony of home cooking and chef creation. I have to admit I was a little leery about eating seafood in November in the Midwest, but yet again Swamp Daddy's did not disappoint. The shrimp was fresh and cooked perfectly.

The owner took a moment to introduce herself, check in on my meal and even wipe a few tables down. When the owner invited me back she mentioned each menu item is made fresh each day with no measurement of spices just experience, love and variety. Today, the spices were spot on! Not too spicy, not too bland and not too salty. Overall Swamp Daddy's was the total package experience including a great authentic environment with outstanding classic southern dishes and...

This building has a few eateries all hidden away like a mini food court. From Mexican food at Flying Santos, to bowls and gyros at Boki, to Louisiana Cajun at Swamp Daddy’s, these all serve great food and provide ample variety in cuisine to make it a great place to stop even with a large group with different tastes.

I have already reviewed Boki & Flying Santos, look for my reviews for more information on those two restaurants. Today was a return visit to Swamp Daddy’s.

The atmosphere is bright, cozy, and warm. Lots of interesting artwork to look at. Service was decent.

Alligator is an elusive protein to find in the Sioux Falls area but if you’ve always wanted to try it, you can find it here. I have yet to find an Alligator Jambalaya but you CAN find fried alligator bites here.

During this visit I tried the Alligator Po’Boy and the Blackened Shrimp which comes with Jambalaya. The Jambalaya was really excellent. One of the better Jambalayas I’ve had in the SF area. The shrimp was good, a bit heavy on the seasoning and was a bit salty but still good. The Po’Boy was also good. I didn’t quite understand the shredded cheese on it though. A traditional Po’Boy has your meat, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles, on French bread with a sauce or mayonnaise. I love cheese as much as the next guy but this was about as messy as eating a powdered doughnut. If the cheese is going to stay as an ingredient on this sandwich, I’d recommend melting it on top and not leaving it loose to fall out all over the place. The bread was spot on! Perfectly toasted on the inside and “so fluffy I want to die” on the outside.

This is definitely on the expensive side for value. Blackened shrimp and Po’Boy were both $20 each and the serving sizes were moderate at best. There were only a few pieces of shrimp on the blackened dish and 7 alligator bites the size of a tator tots on the sandwich.

Definitely recommend this place if you like trying new things but it’s probably not in most people’s budget to eat here regularly, especially...

Came here for an event with my girlfriend, and overall, it was disappointing.

First, the wait staff were excellent. They were hustling, checking on tables frequently, and doing their best to manage the situation. This review is not about them—they deserve 5 stars.

The food, however, was overpriced for what we got. Portions were small, and the flavors didn’t align with what I’d consider authentic Southern cuisine. Seasoning seemed to be optional. On top of that, I only received half of my order because the kitchen ran out of food? If you’re hosting an event, plan accordingly and have extra. My plate consisted of a small fish filet, five shrimp, and two hushpuppies. My girlfriend’s portion of jambalaya was also underwhelming. Neither meal was worth the $17.99 per plate. That said, I appreciate the kind waiter who comped my meal since it was incomplete—thank you to him. Another gripe—any restaurant charging over $10 for a po'boy should be shut down. Po’boys are supposed to be cheap; it’s literally in the name. Charging $17-$20 for one is absurd. To the owner, either lower the prices or increase the portion sizes (preferably both)—they don’t match right now.

Speaking of the owner, I overheard who I assume was him lecturing a staff member about responsibility on the restaurant floor. If you’re going to have that conversation, take it to the back where customers won’t hear. The irony? The entire time I was there, I never once saw him assisting the wait or kitchen staff—just standing around. If you expect responsibility from your employees, lead by example. For them, it’s a paycheck; for you, it’s your reputation.

As for the event, it was supposed to run from 7-10 PM, but by 9 PM, nothing special was happening, so we left. If this was meant to be a dance party, it never happened while we were there.

Would not return unless serious changes are made. This place would not survive if it were actually...