Here Are A Dozen Edible Reasons To Visit The State Fair Of Texas

Only in Texas will you find deep-fried Froot Loops, a funnel-cake burger, or deep-fried chicken soup on a stick.

The massive gathering known as the State Fair of Texas opened in Dallas this past weekend; it runs through October 22. More than two million people are expected to attend this year, and if you’ll be one of them, you’ll find a whole lot of foods there that you almost certainly won’t ever see anywhere else—and most of them are deep-fried.
Vendors have the opportunity to enter their new food offerings into a contest to choose the tastiest and most creative foods at the fair. We’ve rounded up a dozen of our favorite finalists and semifinalists. Yee-haw!

Deep Fried Chicken Noodle Soup on a Stick

Created by Sherry & Chris Howard
The flavors of chicken noodle soup, fried and served on a stick. They’re accompanied by a broth sauce for dipping, plus a side of crackers.

Deep-fried chicken soup on a stick, at the State Fair of Texas

Deep Fried Froot Loops

Created by Gracie & Milton Whitley
The classic cereal is surrounded by whipped marshmallow, battered and fried, and topped with powdered sugar. Pretty sweet!

Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger

Created by Tom Grace & Edna Sutton
The winner of the awards for both Most Creative and Best Taste: Savory, this burger features buns made of funnel cakes, with a beef patty, bacon, and creamy queso.

Gulf Coast Fish Bowl

Created by Clint Probst
This quaffable aquarium is filled with Nerds candy and Swedish Fish swimming in a Blue Curacao-based boozy drink, and capped with a pineapple slice. It was crowned winner of the Best Taste: Sweet category.

Surfin’ Turfin’ Tator Boat

Created by Melissa & David Harrison
A baked potato is stuffed with lobster and grilled steak, and topped with cheddar and romano cheeses. A single lobster claw tops off this treat.

Pinot Noir Popcorn

Created by The Parish Family
Kettle Corn is dusted with a pinot noir wine-flavored powder, and mixed with cheddar cheese-flavored popcorn for a savory flavor pairing.

Fernie’s Fried Texas Sheet Cake

Created by Winter Family Concessions
Not your average brownie, this chocolate cake is covered in ground Cocoa Puffs, panko, and cinnamon sugar, and then fried and glazed with a Dr. Pepper-based icing and served with pecans, whipped cream, and a rose-shaped strawberry.

The Tamale Donut

Created by Justin Martinez
Slow-cooked pork carnitas blended with masa and hand-shaped into a donut form, fried until crispy on the outside, and finished with jalapeño salsa.

Fat Smooth

Created by Tami Nevins-Mayes
Three mini cream puffs, coated in a Café Du Monde beignet batter and fried, then drizzled with chocolate and caramel sauces.

Texas Fajita Fries

Created by Nick Bert
Breaded and deep-fried beef fajita strips are seasoned with a Sriracha spice mix and served in a bread cone, on a bed of fried onions and jalapeños, with sides of guacamole-sour cream hot sauce and pico de gallo.

Oreo Beer

Created by Barrera’s
We don’t actually have further details on this one, so let’s all use our imaginations as to what exactly this is. Oreo-infused stout? Beer actually brewed with Oreos? We’re so confused…and intrigued.

Beer-Battered Beef Jerky

Created by Crazy Otto’s
The name pretty much says it all. Beef jerky, beer-battered and fried.

About the author

Kathryn Maier

NYC Food & Drink Editor

Kathryn has eaten her way around the globe, seeking out local delicacies in more than 40 countries and counting. After receiving a Master's degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, she began writing about travel, food, and drink, and has held editorial roles at luxury publications including Conde Nast Traveler and the Robb Report. When she's in NYC, she can generally be found on a barstool at one of the city's best cocktail bars or at home sipping fine wine with her cat on her lap.