The best time of the year is officially 52 days away which means it’s time to introduce the 10 Big Tex Food finalists! So start your Fair food plans early & stay tuned for the 27th when The State Fair of Texas announces the 3 winners in the categories of best taste savory, best taste sweet and most creative!
Updated August 2023
THE STATE FAIR FOOD FINALISTS
Out of 57 entries from the Fair food vendors, these ten creations have made it to the final round! With a combo of sweet and savory, you can expect everything from fried classics, to sweet tooth cures, comfort food, and more. This year, the fair has partnered with local fave Karbach Brewing Co., which has tons of great German brews to wash down all your delicious fried foods!
BIG TEX CHOICE AWARDS
The 2023 Big Tex Choice Awards event is closed to the public this year, but you can follow @StateFairofTX for live updates! All finalists will be available at the fair, so check out the pics below and start planning what you want to indulge in this year. Images courtesy of the State Fair of Texas.
Savory Finalists
Deep Fried Cheesy Crab Tater Bites
These delicious tater tots are made with crab, potatoes, and cheese then fried to the perfect golden brown! The best part is the cheesy Cajun sauce that's poured on top, full of flavorful spices, onions, and peppers. Created by Isaac Rousso.
Deep Fried Pho
This deep-fried spin on Vietnamese comfort food is full of noodles, veggies, and herbs, served w a side of pho broth! Created by Michelle Le.
Loaded Fries Pizza
This dish combines the best of both worlds…pizza and fries! The pizza base is layered with buttermilk ranch dressing and mozzarella cheese, then topped with sizzling french fries, huge chunks of bacon...and you guessed it, more cheese! The liquid cheddar cheese pull the dish together perfectly, along with fresh chives for a (small) dose of veggies. Created by Tom Grace.
OX-cellent Soul Roll
Think of a spring roll, but stuffed w oxtail! The oxtail meat is slow-cooked for several hours, then rolled up and fried with potatoes, cheese, and flavorful veggies like peppers and onions. The spring roll is served with delicious hush puppies and garlic chili sauce for dipping! Created by Kerston and Shawn Thorns.
Turkey Ribs
Thanksgiving flavors have arrived early this year with this twist on a holiday classic! The juicy turkey meat is deep fried until crispy on the outside, then served with stuffing seasoned fries and homemade gravy. Try it "Texas style", which comes with barbecue sauce flavored fries, jalapeños, and pickles. Created by Abel Gonzales.
Sweet Finalists
Biscoff Delight
New York cheesecake gets even richer with this heavenly sweet dish! Each slice of cheesecake is coated in Belgian chocolate and crunchy Biscoff cookies, then drizzled with Biscoff spread which has a caramel flavor. Created by Stephen El Gidi.
Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas
Your favorite Mexican dessert just got even better! Fluffy sopapillas are topped with fresh bananas, sweet bourbon syrup, crushed Nilla Wafers, mascarpone cheese, candied nuts, and coated in powdered sugar. Created by Cody and Lauren Hays.
Fernie’s Fried Cherry Pie in the Sky
A heavenly twist on America’s favorite pie, deep fried and served with another fave, Blue Bell Ice Cream! This out-of-this-world creation starts with flaky, buttery pie crust that's made from scratch. The filling has layer after layer of sugared tart cherries and crumbled shortbread cookies, all topped with a heaping pile of whipped cream! Created by Christi Erpillo and Johnna McKee.
Sweet Encanto
This sweet and fruity Latin American dessert is on the lighter side, but still super indulgent! The dish starts with a thin round waffle, topped with rich dulce de leche, sweet cream, raspberry jam, and condensed milk. Fresh fruits like kiwi, strawberries, and shredded coconut are then layered on top! Created by Tony and Terry Bednar.
Trail-Ade
The Texas heat will definitely still be around in September, and this refreshing mocktail is the perfect way to cool off! It's made with summer fruits, cucumbers, mint, and homemade lemonade blended together. You can even take home the souvenir cowboy boot cup, which is perfect for all your fair photos! Created by Ruth Hauntz.
STATE FAIR OPENING WEEKEND
The State Fair is officially 52 days away so mark your calendars for opening day on September 29th! Get your season passes & premium tickets at BigTex.com/Tickets and make your plans to enjoy the fair through October 22nd!
Share this article with your state fair crew and start thinking about which dish you’re most excited to try!
