A Highly Opinionated Guide to the New State Fair Foods

Lay’s Potato Chip Drink

We were most intrigued by this semifinalist in the Big Tex Awards, calling it “unhinged.” After trying it, we get it and we like it. The drink is mango and OJ mixed and poured into a cup lined with a honey sriracha sauce for spice (kids and those with sensitive palates can get it plain). It’s topped with sweet cold foam and served with a cap of Lay’s sweet and spicy chips.

Fernie’s GOAT Funnel Cake and Float

This year, the Fernie’s sisters’ invention is the GOAT, a funnel cake topped with Dr. Pepper syrup, Blue Bell ice cream, caramel bits, and El Fenix’s pecan pralines. The pecans are served whole with a praline coating and pair with the funnel cake wonderfully. Flavor-wise, it is for people who love their sweets with a side of sweet.

There is also the GOAT float, a Dr. Pepper float with the same ingredients. We got a version spiked with Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream, which tastes like Bailey’s with extra vanilla notes. All the ingredients sound like a sweet explosion, but the Dr. Pepper makes a light and refreshing drink.

Fat Bacon Pickle Fries

Everyone knows about the cotton candy-coated bacon that won Best Taste — Sweet in the Big Tex Awards. The Roussos have a second dish that does the most. It features deep-fried pickle slices topped with chunks of giant bacon, pico de gallo, jalapeños, sour cream, and a heaping helping of queso. It is a massive and messy serving, so get extra sporks and napkins.

Oktoberfest Pizza

The folks who brought us loaded fries pizza last year returned — but this pizza is for the grown-ups. The white sauce has a bit of Dijon mustard mixed in, which creates a tart base. On top is a mixture of cheeses with grilled white onions, bell peppers, bratwurst-style sausage, and sauerkraut. The crust is substantial, with enough hold to stand up to everything happening on top of it, and the edges are dusted with garlic powder. Pictured is one regular-sized slice cut into two pieces for easy eating.

Fried Matcha

Sandoitchi and its fried matcha are on another level. It includes a fried tempura ball of matcha ice cream coated with matcha sugar, and the ingredients, which are not the typical deep fryer batter at the fair, taste markedly different. With it comes a sando with bread fried in clean oil that tastes like butter. That is stuffed with whipped cream, then topped with freshly sliced strawberries, matcha syrup, and two mochi sticks coated with matcha. The aesthetics of the presentation are museum-worthy.

Holy Cheesus

It might look like just another slice of pie, but this is made by people who take food seriously. Texapolitan Pizza makes its dough using 00 flour developed for America that works at the temperature of its ovens. A proper wood-fired oven is a no-go at the fair. The crust bubbles up, but the temps also mean it gets the crispiness Americans prefer. It’s topped with garlic-infused olive oil, seven cheeses, dolloped with a mixture of ricotta cheese and mascarpone, and cracked black peppers. Savvy customers can ask for the El Diablo version, which has red pepper flakes — and we recommend that to pull out the flavors of the sharper cheeses in the mix. It’s essentially a quattro formaggi on steroids.

Beso de Angel

Tony’s Tacos landed in the finalists for its Drunken Taquitos, and while you’re there, check out its new sweet dish too. This buñuelo is folded into a taco shape and then filled with strawberry sweet cream, preserves, and whipped cream, then drizzled with caramel and sweetened condensed milk. The finishing touch is a piece of sliced fresh strawberry. The name perfectly captures the vibes.

Stiffler’s Fried Smokey Elote Corn Ribs

Can one have too much fried food? Yes. Can vegetarians eat anything at the fair? Also yes. Enter the elote corn ribs. The beauty of this bite is that it comes quartered, so you aren’t stuck eating a giant piece of corn (or convincing a kid to) in public, which is always awkward.

Milton’s Amish Doughnuts

Yes, there is a doughnut under all of that, and yes, we did include a proof of life photo. This sourdough doughnut gets coated with glaze and topped with a cream cheese whipped topping that strongly compliments the fermented dough. The oversized fresh blueberries and strawberries cut the sugar and make it healthy...right?

Texas BBQ Rib Deviled Eggs

A first-time vendor finally brought deviled eggs to the fair. This variation has a slice of barbecued ribs and cole slaw with mayo and oil dressing atop a deviled egg. The textures are difficult to manage together, and the rib slides off. Commit to the bit and eat it in one bite. The flavors go together well if the textures fight each other a bit.

It’s Bananas, B-A-N-A-N-A-S

The family behind the now-defunct Highland Park Soda Shoppe brings a banana pudding soda to its offerings. The cup is coated in caramel sauce, then filled with banana ice cream, chunks of Nilla Wafers, banana pudding, and whipped cream. If you love banana pudding, this is a must.