Texas State Fair Foods
A Guide to Iconic Eats and New Treats
Each year, the State Fair of Texas emerges as a beloved showcase of culinary creativity, where fairgoers can indulge in a smorgasbord of foods as diverse as the Lone Star State. With a reputation for innovation in the kitchen, Texans draw from a rich tapestry of cultural traditions, infusing classic fair favorites with bold, regional flavors. The fair, held at the historic Fair Park in Dallas, offers an extensive food map that guides visitors through a gastronomic journey, from the Midway's classic games to the concession stands bursting with inventive culinary delights.
The fairgrounds become a vibrant testing ground for new and daring food concoctions, pushing the boundaries of traditional fair cuisine. Each year brings a list of new food offerings aiming to tantalize taste buds and garner acclaim, such as the esteemed Big Tex Choice Awards, which celebrate the most creative contributions to the state fair's menu. While some producers boldly venture into the world of deep-fried novelties, others perfect fair food staples, ensuring there's something for every palette.
Attending the State Fair of Texas is an experience that is as much about savoring unique and mouthwatering dishes as it is about enjoying the carnival atmosphere and festive activities. Food stands peppered throughout the fair offer everything from deep-fried sweets to gourmet dishes often with an unmistakable Texas twist. This culinary adventure becomes a central part of the state fair's allure, inviting guests to explore flavors and dishes that are as memorable as the fair itself.
Food History of Texas State Fair
The State Fair of Texas, established in 1886, has a long-standing tradition of being a vibrant showcase for a variety of foods that reflect the cultural diversity and innovation of the Lone Star State. Over time, the fair's culinary range has evolved, demonstrating a rich history intertwined with Texas's identity.
Early Delicacies:
1886: The inaugural year featured simple yet popular items such as vanilla ice cream, watermelon, hot candy, and oysters.
1887: Subsequent years introduced fairgoers to more robust entertainment and dining options.
Turning Point in Fair Fare: In recent years, the array of foods at the State Fair of Texas has expanded exponentially, especially with the inception of the Big Tex Choice Awards in 2005. This annual competition has sparked a creative surge among producers, with them aiming to craft the most inventive and appealing fair foods, many of which incorporate a deep-fried technique.
Examples of Award Winners:
Deep Fried vanilla ice cream
Deep Fried peanut butter (how long does butter last?)-jelly-banana sandwich
Various other inventive deep fried concoctions
These competitions have captured the public's imagination, making headlines and drawing crowds eager to taste the latest and greatest in fair food innovation.
Staples on the State Fair Scene:
Corny dogs
Candy apples
Other hearty hand foods
Foods at the State Fair of Texas are a testament to the state's culinary evolution. They reflect a history that is as much about community and celebration as it is about sustenance.
Signature Foods and Classics
The Texas State Fair offers an enticing mix of flavors representative of the state's diverse culinary landscape. Attendees look forward to traditional Southern dishes, Tex-Mex staples, and iconic sweets that have become synonymous with the fair experience.
Fried Chicken and Variants
State Fair of Texas attendees never miss out on the different deep fried chicken offerings, playing with classic recipes and introducing bold flavors. Variants like the Hot Chicken in a Waffle Cone merge convenience with spice and sweetness while creating a perfect blend of textures.
Chicken-Fried Bacon (how long does bacon last?): A twist on the Chicken Fried Steak, substituting steak with bacon for a savory snack of crispy chopped bacon.
Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack: Combining the heat of buffalo sauce with the comforting sweetness of pancakes.
Tex-Mex and Southern Blends
Tex-Mex cuisine is a cornerstone of Texas fair food, with Cheddar cheese playing a starring role in many dishes. Southern cooking's influence is evident, offering rich and hearty flavors designed to satisfy.
Queso Fries: Fries smothered in melted cheese with a sprinkle of Tex-Mex spices.
Fried Green Tomatoes: A Southern classic that finds its place next to spicy, cheese-filled empanadas.
Fried Monte Qristo Texas BBQ Sandwich: Layered with brisket, American cheese, and smoked turkey breast with Swiss, then fried golden brown and dusted with powdered sugar. All drizzled with raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce.
Deep Fried Honey Butter Brisket Swirls: Buttery, flakey dough is layered with 16-hour, slow-smoked, chopped brisket, then rolled and hand cut into swirls of smokey goodness. After deep frying it's served with a secret honey butter sauce.
Sweet Treats
Visitors indulge in an array of sweet treats, from airy cotton candy to funnel cakes loaded with powdered sugar. These desserts are not only delicious but also serve as edible icons of the fair.
Funnel Cake: A warm grilled cake, often smothered in powdered sugar and served piping hot.
Cotton Candy Tacos: A playful take on a classic, wrapping sugary cotton candy in a crunchy taco shell.
Deep Fried Texas Oatmeal Cream Pie: An oatmeal sweet whipped cream pie dipped into Dr. Pepper-flavored pancake batter, fried, drizzled with red soda reduction, covered with marshmallow or chocolate sauce.
Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas: Hot traditional Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas are topped with vanilla-caramel-infused bananas, sweet bourbon syrup, crushed candied pecans (how long do pecans last?), and sweetened mascarpone cheese.
Mini Churros Deep Fried: Called Churreos. Mini churros are deep fried and tossed in cinnamon sugar. Then add a drizzle of chocolate syrup and cream cheese icing.
Bread Pudding: Bread pudding is tossed in a blend of cinnamon sugar and candy pecans. It's then drizzled with a combination of salted caramel bourbon sauce and a New Orleans praline sauce.
Angel Food Cake: Two slices of fluffy angel food cake are fried in butter oil until perfectly charred and placed on a sweet whipped cream topping. A cold spoon of delicious peach pie filling tops it off.
Fair Icons
Certain foods have risen to iconic status at the State Fair of Texas. The Fletcher's Corny Dog, for instance, deep fried Texas style, is a staple that fairgoers eagerly anticipate each year alongside massive, smoked turkey legs.
Corny Dogs: The quintessential fair treat — a hot dog on a stick, coated in cornmeal (how long does cornmeal last?) batter and deep fried to golden perfection.
Turkey Leg: Smoked, seasoned, and oversized, these are a meal in themselves and a highlight for meat lovers. served with jalapeño ranch dipping sauce.
New Food Introductions
Every year, the State Fair of Texas introduces an array of new deep fried foods (What wine goes well with fried foods?) with sweet and savory flavors that capture the imagination and tantalize taste buds. From innovative takes on classic favorites to entirely novel concoctions, these offerings are a highlight for many fairgoers.
Big Tex Choice Awards Newcomers
The Big Tex Choice Awards is a much-anticipated event where the most creative and delectable new food items are showcased. In 2023, the fair saw exciting additions, including the Bao Bun Taco Trio. This standout offering features three distinct bao buns: one filled with crispy fried chicken, another cradling pork belly (What wine goes well with pork belly?) burnt ends, and the third stuffed with chopped brisket.
Gourmet Innovations
Beyond the awards, the fairgrounds become a testing ground for gourmet innovations each year. Vegetarians and meat lovers alike can find something new to savor. Notable mentions from the current fair include the surprising Fruity Pebble Pickle and a vegan delight that has garnered attention. Gourmet options extend to reimagined dishes such as fried cacio e pepe and a fusion of Taki ramen in a tostada, blending comfort food with adventurous flavors.
Cooking Techniques and Ingredients
The Texas State Fair is renowned for its creative culinary experiences, which largely hinge on the cooking techniques and choice of ingredients. Fairgoers can expect to find an assortment of foods where deep-frying expertise is matched with unique batters, unexpected flavor combinations delight the palate, and local produce adds a fresh touch.
Deep Fried and Batter Choices
Deep frying is a hallmark of Texas State Fair cuisine. Vendors use various batter types to encapsulate ingredients before they are deep fried in hot oil. Choices range from traditional cornmeal or flour-based mixtures to inventive pancake batter coatings. For example, chicken is marinated in spicy Buffalo sauce, then enveloped in a pancake batter that's rolled in jalapeño breadcrumbs before being deep fried to perfection.
Notable Batter Ingredients:
Cornmeal
Flour (how long does flour last?)
Pancake batter
Jalapeño breadcrumbs
Save time and effort by ordering cornmeal and flour online!
Unique Flavor Pairings
The fair is a breeding ground for novel taste combinations. Vendors often fill their deep fried creations with cream cheese for its rich texture or incorporate hickory smoked bacon for smokiness. Combining savory with sweet, items like brownies might be layered with cream cheese icing or paired with hot honey for an unexpected zing.
Examples of Flavor Pairings:
Savory queso with sweet hot honey
Spicy poblano ranch dressing or brown sugar chipotle sauce drizzled over brisket
Fresh and Local Products
Texas State Fair vendors frequently highlight local agriculture by incorporating fresh and local products in their recipes. Olive oil, commonly used for a lighter fry or as a dressing base, and goat cheese, which adds a tangy flair to dishes, are sourced from Texan producers. These ingredients are essential to the fresh fare that balances the heavier fried items.
Locally Sourced Ingredients:
Olive oil
Goat cheese
Skip the lines and order your olive oil online for a stress-free shopping experience!
Specialty Foods and Creative Twists
Every year, the State Fair of Texas becomes a playground for culinary innovation, intertwining diverse international flavors with traditional Texan cooking. Visitors can expect a range of food options from creative interpretations of classic dishes to health-conscious servings that cater to various dietary preferences.
At the forefront of the fair's food scene are International Influences, where the global meets the local. This year features:
Birria: A delectable Mexican stew that has been reinvented with a Texas barbecue twist.
Oaxaca Cheese: Known for its melting qualities, it’s paired with Tex-Mex favorites to create fusion dishes.
Creole Étouffée Beignets: A nod to French and Creole heritage, combining rich étouffée fillings in a traditional beignet dough.
Panko: This Japanese-style breadcrumb is used to add a light, crisp texture to fried Texas specialties.
Health-Conscious Options
In response to the growing demand for healthier fare, vendors serve Health-Conscious Options such as:
Dish Description Chicharron Nachos A keto-friendly take using chicharron as a base in place of tortilla chips (how long do tortilla chips last?), topped with nutritious toppings. Strawberry Cream Sando features fresh strawberries and a lightly sweet whipped cream topping between slices of fluffy milk bread, offering a relatively lighter dessert option.
Kids' Favorites
The fair caters to younger palates with Kids' Favorites, ensuring that there’s delight for every age:
Fruit Loop: A breakfast cereal classic that’s been revamped into various sweet treats still boasting its colorful charm.
Oreo: This cookie continues to be a crowd-pleaser, often found deep-fried or as a key ingredient in creamy and indulgent desserts.
Texas Twist: A conceptual name given to traditional items like pretzels (how long do pretzels last?) or other snacks that have been transformed with fun, kid-friendly flavors.
Beverages and Refreshments
At the Texas State Fair, visitors can quench their thirst with a variety of traditional and unique beverages. A staple of the fair is freshly squeezed Lemonade, often found at numerous stands throughout the fairgrounds. This classic refreshment is a must-have for fairgoers, especially when the Texas heat is at its peak.
Sweet Tea is another Southern favorite that makes a prominent appearance at the fair. It offers a refreshing balance of sweetness that pairs well with the variety of foods available. Served iced, sweet tea is a go-to drink for patrons seeking comfort in a familiar taste.
For those seeking a bit more zest in their beverages, the array of Margaritas does not disappoint. These are typically offered in both traditional and Texas-sized options, with various flavors to choose from. It's not unusual to see fairgoers enjoying a frozen margarita to beat the heat and add a festive twist to their experience.
Traditional Beverages Description Lemonade Freshly squeezed, available at multiple stands. Sweet Tea Iced and sweet, a Southern classic. Margaritas Offered frozen, with several flavors, in standard and large sizes.
In addition to these favorites, the fair might also introduce visitors to flavorful and innovative snack concoctions and variations of the aforementioned drinks. While exploring the fair, attendees have the opportunity to savor these beverages that embody the spirit of Texas.
Vendor Profiles and Stories
The State Fair of Texas showcases a diverse array of food vendors, each with unique stories and offerings that contribute to the fair's reputation for culinary creativity. From award-winning concessionaires pushing the boundaries of fair food to family-operated food stalls with generations of history, the vendor profiles reflect not just food, but tradition and innovation.
Award-Winning Concessionaires
Award-winning concessionaires often become big draws at the State Fair of Texas, their reputation solidified through success in the Big Tex Choice Awards. This competitive event spotlights inventive culinary creations and is a prime opportunity for concessionaires to gain notoriety. Judges and fairgoers alike anticipate new flavors, making winners and finalists much-celebrated throughout the fair's duration.
Family-Run Food Stalls
Family-run food stalls form the backbone of the State Fair of Texas experience. They bring with them stories of recipes passed down through generations, contributing authenticity and tradition to the fair. These food vendors create a warm, inviting atmosphere, often providing customers with heartwarming tales about their journey and the passion behind every dish they serve.
Culinary Entrepreneurs
Culinary entrepreneurs are a pivotal part of the food vendor landscape, continually innovating and expanding the fair's gastronomic horizons. These business-savvy individuals not only serve delicious food but also contribute to the fair's economy. Drawing upon the latest food trends and their creative spins, they entice fairgoers with both savory and sweet concoctions that push the boundaries of typical fair cuisine.
Fair Food Navigation
Navigating the vast array of food at the Texas State Fair requires a strategic approach. First and foremost, fairgoers should obtain the New Foods Map, a valuable resource that guides visitors through the newest and most talked-about dishes. This map is digitally downloadable or can be zoomed in on via the fair's website, ensuring one can plan their culinary journey with ease.
At Fair Park, the layout is designed with convenience in mind, and the map will often highlight notable locations such as the Midway, where traditional and inventive fair foods can be sampled. To sample the offerings, visitors will need to purchase tickets, which serve as the currency for all food and beverage transactions at the fair.
Here’s a simplified way to navigate fair food:
Download the New Foods Map: Mark the must-try new arrivals.
Start at the Midway: It's the heart of classic fair cuisine.
Plan for variety: Balance indulgent treats with lighter options.
Allocate tickets wisely: Prioritize unique items that catch your interest.
Remember, navigating the food scene at the Texas State Fair is part of the fun. Knowing the layout of Fair Park and having a map can help visitors make the most of their culinary experience.
Visitors' Experiences and Reviews
Visitors to the Texas State Fair have diverse tastes and preferences when it comes to the array of foods offered. The fair is a showcase of creativity and culinary innovation, with a tradition of serving both classic and imaginative foods.
Popular Favorites:
Fletcher's Corny Dogs: A staple at the fair, guests frequently mention their crunchy texture and satisfying flavor, often accentuated with a dollop of yellow mustard.
Deep Fried Pho: This dish has been praised for its originality, earning the title of 'Best Taste - Savory'.
Biscoff Delight: A sweet sensation recognized as 'Best Taste - Sweet', combining cookie butter's comforting flavors.
Unique Offerings:
Visitors are intrigued by unconventional concoctions such as:
Deep Fried Sauerkraut (how long does sauerkraut last?): Described as tart and buttery, these are likened to hush puppies and suggested to pair well with Russian dressing.
Exotic Twists:
Dim Sum Loco Burritos: This fusion dish with shredded pork, fried potatoes, and other fillings wrapped in egg roll wrappers, then deep-fried, garners attention for its bold flavors.
Beverages with a Twist:
Dirty Soda: A new sensation which allows fairgoers to customize their drinks with a variety of bases and syrups.
While reviews from various sources like Eater Dallas contribute to the overall experience narrative, it is the firsthand experiences of fairgoers that truly shape the reputation of the fair's food offerings. These highlights capture just a glimpse of what visitors can expect to encounter flavor-wise at the State Fair of Texas.
