Happy State Fair of Texas! We always love going to the fair and trying all of the fried foods. And wow, this year, there’s an insane selection! From fried pho and famous corn dogs to birria bombs and bacon bread pudding, there are so many delicious options to try! Read about the best foods at the State Fair of Texas below.
Updated October 2023
BEST STATE FAIR FRIED FOODS
BISCOFF DELIGHT
We can definitely see why this dish won a Big Tex Choice Award -- it's truly heavenly! Choose between red velvet, Oreo, peanut butter, salty pretzel, and hazelnut flavors of fluffy NY-style cheesecake. It's coated in Belgian chocolate & Biscoff cookies, and served in a stick!
Made by: Stephen El Gidi
BIG TEXAN
Ever had Texan-style fries?! If you haven't, you must try this heaping pile of crispy fries or tots with over-the-top toppings including juicy and smoky shredded brisket, crunchy bacon bites, and tons of cheese and barbecue sauce!
Made by: Fryed
BOURBON BANANA CARAMEL SOPAPILLAS
One of the 2023 Big Tex Choice Award Winners, this heaping pile of sopapillas is topped with bananas, bourbon syrup, and crushed Nilla Wafers. This is definitely a must-try if you're a fan of Tex-Mex and such a fun take on a classic dessert!
Made by: Cody & Lauren Hays
CHICHARRON LOADED NACHOS
We've never thought of using pork rinds as chips for nachos, but we're sure glad someone did! These loaded nachos are topped with queso, beef fajitas, barbecue meat, jalapenos, and spicy Cajun seasoning.
Made by: Borracho Nacho Bar
CHURREOS
Get the best of both worlds with churreos, a combination of churros and oreos! This dish starts with deep-fried dough tossed in cinnamon and sugar, filled with chocolate syrup and cream cheese icing, then topped with crushed up oreos. Share a few with friends to satisfy any sweet tooth!
Made by: Mac Loaded
CLASSIC FUNNEL CAKES
You can't go wrong with a funnel cake! These are the quintessential State Fair food, and capture the essence of fried food -- they're literally fried dough topped with powdered sugar! In our opinion, Fernie's are the best because they're always massive and the perfect combo of crispy and soft.
Made by: Fernie's Funnel Cakes
CORNBREAD SAUSAGE BOMBS
If you took an entire barbecue plate and deep-fried it, it would be this dish. This explosion of flavor features delicious smoked sausage, pimento cheese, and jalapeños, which are all battered in homemade cornbread.
Made by: Crazy Ottos & Gulf Coast Grill
CORN DOGS
Fletcher's has been a State Fair fave for over 80 years and sells over 500,000 of them at the fair each year. Try the classic Original, spicy Jalapeno and Cheese, and the gooey Cheesy Pup which reminds us of a grilled cheese! They even offer veggie dogs for vegans and vegetarians!
Made by: Fletcher's Corny Dogs
CREOLE ETOUFEE BEIGNETS
Taste all the flavors of New Orleans all in one bite! These beignets are sweet on the outside, topped with powdered sugar, and savory on the inside with onions, bell peppers, celery, shrimp, smoked sausage, and steamed rice. They're served with a side of etouffee sauce which is to die for!
Made by: Gulf Coast Grill
DEEP FRIED ALLIGATOR EGGS NEST
If you've never eaten alligator meat, now is your chance! These deep-fried balls of gator goodness are full of alligator meat, cheese, onions, garlic, and jalapenos, then topped with a chipotle ranch sauce and laid on a bed of fries. It tastes like chicken, but maybe even better, we promise! (Featured header image)
Made by: Chef Cassy
DEEP FRIED BIRRIA BOMBS
Birria is all the rage nowadays, for good reason! This dish captures a Mexican fave perfectly, featuring birria, Oaxaca cheese, and home-style mashed potatoes, plus consomme and a poblano pepper ranch!
Made by: Tony's Taco Shop
DEEP-FRIED CANDY PECAN BACON BREAD PUDDING
This dish starts with a classic bread pudding which is deep-fried to crispy, caramel perfection! Then, it gets even more delicious with candied bacon pecans, cinnamon sugar, and two sweet caramel sauces!
Made by: Cajun Cowboy
DEEP-FRIED CHARCUTERIE BOARD
If you're a fan of the "girl dinner" trend, aka delicious snacks, this is the fried food for you! These little fried pies are stuffed with cheese, herbs, balsamic, salami, and apples, then fried and topped with stuffed olives. We can definitely see why this dish was 2022 Big Tex Choice Award Winner!
Made by: Nevin's Concessions
DEEP FRIED PHO
A winner of this year's Big Tex Choice Awards, the Fried Pho is a must-try! Pho noodles, beef and veggies are wrapped in dough like a burrito and fried, served with a warm broth for dipping.
Made by: Magnolia Beer Garden & The Cajun Cowboy
FRIED CACIO E PEPE
Transport to Italy via a bite of deep-fried goodness! This dish features fresh pasta smothered in authentic Italian Pecorino Romano cheese and ground black pepper, which are then fried and topped with more cheese! Dip yours into marinara sauce to make it extra delizioso!
Made by: Eataly
DEEP FRIED COOKIE DOUGH
This one is an oldie but a goodie, a Big Tex Choice Award Winner back in 2007! Delicious bites of cookie dough with chocolate chunks are battered and ran through the deep fryer, then drizzled with chocolate sauce and powdered sugar.
Made by: Chef Abel
FRIED FIREBALL SHOT
Fireball...you either love it or you hate it. If you're a fan, take a shot out of a fried angel food cake shot glass, which is both infused with and filled with Fireball! It's truly the perfect built-in chaser!
Made by: Pizza & Nachos
FRIED TURKEY LEG
It wouldn't be the fair without a giant turkey leg! These ones are colossal, created by a Texas barbecue staple. They're seasoned perfectly, and crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside! Napkins reccommended.
Made by: Smokey John's BBQ
JACK'S FRENCH FRY BUCKET
There's nothing better than a classic, heaping pile of crispy french fries. This huge bucket of french fries is perfect for carrying around the fair or sharing with friends! Plus, the owner, Jack, hasn't missed a State Fair in his lifetime -- 75 years!
Made by: Jack's French Fries
MORE FRIED FOODS & FAIR FUN
Explore this year's Big Tex Choice Award nominees.
See which dishes were the 2023 Big Tex Choice Award winners.
See how to save money on State Fair tickets.
