Updated October 2020
You’ve been to The State Fair of Texas. You’ve snapped a pic with Big Tex. And finally you’ve tried the iconic food. But did you know that some of your favorite state fair vendors have year-round operations?! With this year’s fair moving to a drive-thru food experience, we wanted to round up some of the vendors that make their delicious food all year long for you to visit or check out!
FRIED COOKIE DOUGH, FRIED PB&J SANDWICH, FRIED BUTTER
COCINA ITALIANO
When we think of the fair we typically think of all the fried foods, mainly desserts! While the fried dessert options are of a more American style, their origin comes from restaurant and catering business, Cocina Italiano. Currently they are running an “Anything Goes Saturdays” promotion where you can get The Original Fried PBJ&B, Fried Cookie Dough, Fried PBJ&Strawberry and even Fried Jambalaya!
Where to find them: Restaurant, catering
CORNY DOGS
FLETCHER'S CORNY DOGS
Fletcher’s is the OG state fair food that was actually invented at the State Fair of Texas in 1942! It’s definitely the main go to if you’re attending the fair, especially when getting a photo in front of Big Tex! While they do events and catering, you can catch them at one of their many pop ups around DFW that they are currently doing from their food truck. Cue the mustard and ketchup! And bonus, you can now get an original Fletcher’s Corny Dog at any Golden Chick in Texas!
Where to find them: Pop ups, Golden Chick until 10/25
BUFFALO CHICKEN IN A FLAPJACK
CATERING BY ALLAN WEISS
Catering by Allan Weiss is an event catering company that launched the Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack that won Best Taste in the Big Tex Choice Awards in 2011! If you can’t imagine what that might look like, we were right there with you! A chicken strip is covered in pancake batter, jalapeno bread crumbs and fried to perfection to dip in syrup served on the side. Based on their culinary creation, you know the catered fare has to be incredible!
Where to find them: Catering
SMOKED TURKEY LEGS, QUAIL WRAPPED IN BACON, SAUSAGE ON A STICK, FRIED CHEESECAKE
BBT CONCESSIONS INC.
BBT CONCESSIONS INC.
BBT Concessions is a tough company to track down via the internet, but man oh man they serve up some of the best state fair foods you can get your hands on - mainly meat! At BBT you can chow down on smoked turkey legs which are a classic fair staple in addition to the boujee bacon wrapped quail and topped off with fried cheesecake for dessert.
Where to find them: Call (972) 333-0329 to book
TURKEY LEGS, SAUSAGE ON A STICK
SMOKEY JOHN'S
At Smokey John’s it's all about the meat and home style sides! Their brick and mortar restaurant is located off West Mockingbird in Dallas but they also do catering, too. At the state fair you’d know them for their turkey legs! If you take part in the 2020 Big Tex Fair Food Drive-Thru event, they will be selling their Smoked Turkey Legs and Sausage On A Stick as add-on options which you can also enjoy sliced at their restaurant.
Where to find them: their year-round restaurant!
FRIED COLLARD GREENS, CHICKEN WINGS
CHEF CASSY'S FOOD TRUCK
Chef Cassy’s is a black owned pop up and food truck concept of comforting food options. The dishes are award winning, original recipes from Chef Cassy like Deep Fried Alligator Eggs that were named a Big Tex Choice Award Finalist in 2015! What Chef Cassy’s is best known for is a fun take on a southern classic; Fried Collard Greens paired with traditional chicken wings, of course!
Where to find them: Pop ups
PIESHAKES, FRIED PULLED PORK “FUNYUN” DINGS, CHICKEN NOODLE SOUP ON A STICK
SCRUMBSCIOUS BURGERS & PIESHAKES
Get ready for all the cheat foods because that’s what the state fair is all about right?! Scrubscious’ brick and mortar location in Forney is home to all the drive-in classics like burgers, fries and shakes. Scratch that, pieshakes! These gourmet milkshakes are made exactly as they sound, with a slice of pie thrown inside. They offer pieshakes at the fair along with Fried Pulled Pork “funyun” Dings and their famous Chicken Noodle Soup On A Stick which is deep fried chicken noodle soup balls served with sauce!
Where to find them: their restaurant!
FUNNEL CAKES, FRIED GRILLED CHEESE, FRIED BURNT END BURRITO
WINTER FAMILY CONCESSIONS, LLC
You might better recognize the name as Fernie’s Funnel Cakes started by Wanda who also goes by her middle name of Fernie! She is actually the one who introduced funnel cakes to our beloved state fair and the family run business has won many awards for the deep fried favorite. In addition to the well known funnel cake they serve up Fried Grilled Cheese and the Fried Burnt End Burrito which earned the title of a savory finalist in last year’s Big Tex Choice Awards!They are actually taking part in a State Fair To Go - Texas Edition concept that brings fair foods you can make at home to your door in cute little shipped boxes.
Where to find them: Possible pop ups, State Fair To Go boxes
SAUSAGES AND TURKEY LEGS
HANS MUELLER
The Hans Mueller Sausage tent is probably one of the most recognizable spots at the fair serving up award winning meats from handcrafted recipes like the giant turkey legs fairgoers love to order! You can get these turkey legs along with their other specialty meats delivered to your home for a taste of the fair yearround.
Where to find them: Shipping nationwide
FRUIT IN A CUP, MACHETES, MANGONADA (FRUIT ICEE)
FRUTERIA CANO
Fruteria Cano is a family owned business with several locations in DFW selling healthy, Mexican go-tos like customized fruit cups, all natural milkshakes, real fruit juices and treats. Alternative to deep fried fair foods, these refreshing snacks are the perfect thing to grab with the warm Texas weather without sacrificing your sweet tooth!
Where to find them: 8 DFW locations
WEBSITE | MULTIPLE LOCATIONS
DESSERT PARFAITS, FRIED CHICKEN
PEARLIE'S SOUTHERN KITCHEN
Fried chicken and parfaits wasn’t even a combo in our heads until just now and it sounds delicious! Pearlie’s dessert parfaits are the most well known of their offerings with options like chocolate, strawberry and classic banana pudding. But all their food sounds amazing like ox tail delicacy dishes, smothered cabbage and authentic fried chicken.
Where to find them: Delivery
GIANT PIZZA SLICES, LEMONADE, FUNNEL CAKE BACON QUESO BURGER
TCG FOOD SERVICE LLC
TCG FOOD SERVICE LLC
How iconic is the state fair lemonade? It’s truly a must and accompanied by giant slices of cheesy pizza sounds like a perfect combination. But these only lead up to the star of the show from TCG Food Service which is the Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger - try saying that 5x fast! It’s crazy to think of all those ideas thrown into a burger but it's been a crowd favorite for the daring foodies who try it.
Where to find them: Catering and pop ups. Call (972) 489-1243 to book
