It’s no secret that South Dakota has some of the best - and most underrated - natural scenery in the country, but with our largest cities so spread out across the state, there just aren’t as many restaurants out there that don’t feature a view of the city skyline. We went looking for a more secluded spot that serves up a scenic view along with your meal and found a few that offer a magical experience. Cedar Pass Restaurant and The Latchstring Inn are certainly excellent (and more well-known) options, but we decided to look at another awesome spot: Laughing Water Restaurant at Crazy Horse Memorial.

Located in the heart of the Black Hills, Crazy Horse Memorial is a massive 6,532-foot tall granite mountain that became the canvas for sculptor Korczak Ziolkowski to begin on a memorial dedicated to Lakota leader Crazy Horse and the heritage and culture of Native American Indians.

The Laughing Water Restaurant truly offers one of the most spectacular views of the epic monument, which has been in progress since 1948.

The dining area offers a sweeping panorama of the enormous sculpture, which is considered the world’s largest, even though it is far from completion.

Their menu offers a diverse spread of options featuring traditional Native American meals, as well as modern American food.

If you have never tasted buffalo before, here’s your chance. The Tatanka Stew is definitely a favorite among visitors, and the buffalo burger is quite tasty too!

One of the most original - and delicious - dishes is definitely the Native American taco, which is served on home-made Indian fry bread instead of tortillas.

Actually, you really should just order anything with the fry bread… the dessert with wojapi (warm berry sauce) is equally exquisite!

The service is excellent and the staff is super knowledgable and happy to help if you have trouble picking a dish (which you will… everything is delicious and you’ll want to taste it all).

The restaurant follows seasonal hours. During the Off-Season, Laughing Water is open 11:00 a.m. to 4:100 p.m. Monday - Friday and from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends. The summer season (May 17 through October 9th), the restaurant is open from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekends.

For information about Laughing Water Restaurant and special events, head on over to the Crazy Horse Memorial website for more details!

Crazy Horse Memorial is located at 12151 Avenue of the Chiefs, Crazy Horse, DS, 55730.