Al’s Oasis

FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO MAY ALREADY READ MY EARLIER REVIEW. MY DEEPEST APOLOGIES TO THE OWNER. I WAS MISTAKEN. My husband corrected me on which restaurant this was. I am here to correct it. Our breakfast was delicious & cooked properly. As I stated in my previous review...our waitress was wonderful. She was very sweet. I wish I could remember her name, but it's not coming to me. 👇👇OLD REVIEW👇👇 THAT IS MEANT FOR THE RESTAURANT 2 DAYS AGO We came here to eat breakfast because it had a 4.5 star review? I truly don't know how that's possible with the food that we were served. Our waitress was very efficient and pleasant. I loved the shopping Store connected to the restaurant.

We stopped for pie for lunch, and it was worth every bite. The service was on point and very friendly and professional. The kids also got to enjoy the big Buffalo's out front. We shopped their grocery store after we ate to pick up dinner, very convenient.

There are several signs along the highway leading up to the exit, making it easy to find. The server was friendly and the food was enjoyable—reminiscent of classic bar fare, making it a solid choice for a stop during a long road trip. Photos of the food are attached.

Al’s Oasis – A Memorable Stop Along I-90 Traveling through South Dakota, we discovered Al’s Oasis in Oacoma—a delightful blend of comfort food, local charm, and convenience. The menu boasts a variety of options, from classic American dishes to South Dakota specialties. The buffalo burger was particularly noteworthy, offering a taste of the region's culinary heritage. Equally impressive was the hot turkey sandwich, served with creamy mashed potatoes and rich gravy.​ The atmosphere exudes a rustic, Western charm, complemented by friendly and attentive staff. Beyond the restaurant, Al’s Oasis features a gift shop, grocery store, and even a saloon, making it more than just a dining spot—it's an experience.​ Conveniently located off I-90, Al’s Oasis is a perfect pit stop for travelers seeking hearty meals and a glimpse into South Dakota's hospitality. We enjoyed our visit so much that we returned for a second meal during our trip.

Meh. Decent Midwest food. Meatloaf and green beans were good. Gravy was a little thick and salty. Like salisbury steak gravy. Steak was not a $38 ribeye. Flavorless and a little chewy. Service was good. Neat little place.

Food was okay and portions were okay, but pricey for what you get. Steak unevenly cooked, bison burger small. Exception is the pumpkin pie which is very worthwhile, and the chislic.

Great place to stop for breakfast as you head west. Limited breakfast but what’s on the menu is excellent. Great staff and service too! Free parking…..

Restaurant was dirty. Food is not tasty. Oil they use for frying fries probably hasn’t been changed since this place opened. Only positive is that staff is friendly. This place seriously needs to rethink its entire approach. Places like this hurt the overall impression of South Dakota…

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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

be aware, this used to be a nice quiet place where one could get a decent plate of eggs. panhandlers roam the dining room and the staff could care less that their customers are being harassed. the food used to be palatable and eggs well made, the eggs I was served had hair in them, and were grossly overcooked i advise staying away from Al's.

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.

Watch out. They allow panhandle to approach your table and when you ask the restaurant to remove the panhandle they try to give you a lesson on how you should help the needy.

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.

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.

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.

Stood there and listened to the hostess complain about her work schedule to her friend, then walked away without acknowledging us, so we left. The reviews made it even less appealing with her attitude.

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

Food was dry cold greasy and bland all at the same time which was an accomplishment. The chicken could have been used to fight a biker with and the steak was either horse or boiled or both for 25$ just keep driving for your own sake save your self a gut bomb that will destroy your day.

Great place to eat when staying at the nearby hotels. We've ate in and they have a really good salad bar. We've also had take out quite a bit and it's always hot and plenty of condiments and the things you need when you're staying in a hotel room. Highly recommend.

Neither of our orders (burgers, fries) were exceptional. Adequate, but not exceptional. Service was average as well. A nice stop with several stores, small grocery, T-shirts and such. Prices were not excessive. If you just want grub, it is grub.

Loved my time at Al's Oasis. I was on a drive back from brunch with my Grandma's side piece and needed dinner. I got a sandwich and it was too good. I work at Jersey Mike's so I know sandwiches and this was amazing.

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.

LAST Chance Saloon. Worst customer service in all of Oacoma and Chamberlain. No wonder it's dead most the time. I went in for dinner and a beer on the bar side and sat down. The skinny bar manager and another lady was behind the bar. I sat there for ten minutes and. Not one look, glance, I'll be with you... and I was the only one at the tables. They didn't even acknowledge me, knowing they saw me walk in. But yet, their off staff at the bar was being waited on The wait is constantly in error and forever.

The restaurant at Al's oasis in chamberlain, so was really great. It looks like a boardwalk from the old west with different stores but everything is one big store and restaurant. Food was fabulous. Fun place to stop for a snack or full meal. Highly recommend

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.

Waited 20 minutes for them to act like they were doing me a favor and then tell me a hour before closing they already started cleaning and the menu was very limited never again nothing but a joke

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

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.

I have never seen so many flies. This place beats out any dairy farm on fly population! Food all over the floor. Unsanitary.

Don't order the country fried steak unless you like prefab steak. It didn't appear to be handmade there...idk. The mashed potatoes could be potato flakes??? IDK... However, the pot roast was ok. The service was good. The atmosphere is good. The food we had was a bit lacking. It really was a bit disappointing :-(

First visit since the pandemic and it was as good as ever. I had the walleye and it tasted fresh and was cooked perfectly. The server, Delroy was friendly and funny. The big surprise was the revamped grocery store - you walk in and there's a full Buffalo mount. The selection seems expanded, too. And I always have to check out the gift shop.

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!

The atmosphere is amazing. The food is even better. If you don't get pie while you're here, you're not doing Al's right. I've been stopping at Al's during trips since I was little and it never disappoints.

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.

The staff was friendly and attentive. The atmosphere was casual; the restaurant is attached to a gift shop. The food was mediocre. The bacon wrapped steak gave us a stomachache; the dinner buffet had two entree options, a decent salad bar and several potato options. Not very good quality for the price. There wasn't much else around for us to choose from.

The spouse and I are on a mission to find the best fried pickle chips. Right now, Al's Oasis is the winner. The pickle chips are perfectly crispy, no sogginess here. Don't skip them. The bison burger and BLT were both good also. A solid 4.5 star roadside stop.

Al's Oasis has been a fond memory since early childhood. They have never disappointed until now. From the renovations completed at the restaurant and gift shop, to the service, and food. You are no longer greeted with people that have a smile and appear genuinely happy to see you. The change in the gift shop and where you pay for your meal looks dark and uninviting. One staff working the gift shop area kept her back to everyone while talking on the phone. The food was less than impressive. The salad bar was pitiful looking and that used to be a high light. So sad to see a long-standing iconic restaurant become just another place.

Food, service, ambiance is good. Nice bar & for us heading to the Black Hills it's a good place to stop.

Bison Burger was amazing! Great place to eat while traveling, great staff and service!!!

This is probably my fifth or so visit but only the second one that I can remember. I was traveling with my mom and she insisted we stop here. I didn't find it that great. Everything looks old and dirty. And I get that it intentionally looks old. I think the only plus is that the kitchen was fast and our server was attentive. There was not much on the menu that drew my attention and the price for the salad bar was too high for what was on it. Additionally, there is a bakery/grocery store and a gift store.

Customer service wasn't the best, but the food was amazing, I highly recommend getting the chicken strips and fries because they are to die for. The ambiance is great it gives me old western town vibes.

Great stop in the middle of SD. NO outdoor dining- but they're happy to do takeout. I got the walleye which came with fresh green beans and wild rice. JJ got the buffalo burger with bacon- seemed excellent (bacon was a revelation, patty could have been bigger). Kids were happy with their grilled cheeses and Mac n cheese. Fries crispy.

Looking for a cool place to stop by on your way across South Dakota? Look no further than Al's Oasis. Conveniently located in the middle of the state, Al's seems to cater to truck drivers and tourists. While one would expect the quality of food to suffer, it actually was very good. Also a plus: the service was actually pretty good as well. Well worth the stop after driving for hours on I-90!

OrOrdered French dip sandwich with aus juice and they managed to dump the container of juice inside the grocery bag with the silverware and my coffee creamer. What a mess. The roast beef was tough stringy and no flavor and the waffle fries were even worse. Unfortunate since we had many memories of the old Al's with lots of nostalgia but clearly the new ownership has not made improvements

Breakfast buffet was not very good. Coffee was bad, bacon over cooked, eggs were very watering & under seasoned. Cheesy potatoes were ok after you put ketchup on them. $13/all you can eat. Pancakes seemed like they came from Costco or Sam's Club. Seems like they've just given up.