State Fair of Texas Food: What to Eat and What to Skip
The State Fair of Texas food is half the reason people come. Here’s how to eat smart — what’s worth the money, what’s worth the calories, and how to pace yourself through a full day at Fair Park.
The State Fair of Texas has been running its Big Tex Choice Awards — a competition for the best new fried food — since 2005, and it’s turned the fairgrounds into one of the most legitimately interesting food events in the country. Every year brings new contenders: fried butter, fried Thanksgiving dinner, fried Oreos, fried everything. Some are gimmicks. Some are genuinely great. Here’s how to tell the difference and make the most of your food budget at the fair.
The Big Tex Choice Awards — What They Are and Why They Matter
Every year before the fair opens, vendors submit new fried food creations to compete for the Big Tex Choice Awards in categories like Best Taste and Most Creative. Winners are announced before opening day, and the winning items immediately become the most sought-after foods on the midway.
The awards are worth paying attention to because they separate the genuinely good new items from the novelty-only ones. A Best Taste winner is almost always worth trying. A Most Creative winner may be more spectacle than substance — fun to look at, occasionally worth eating.
Pro tip: Look up the current year’s Big Tex Choice Award winners before you go. The winning vendor booths get long lines by midday — arriving early or going late in the afternoon gives you the best shot at a shorter wait.
The Classics You Have to Try
Fletcher’s Corny Dogs are the single most iconic State Fair of Texas food — a hand-dipped, deep-fried corndog that has been at the fair since 1942. There are multiple Fletcher’s locations across the fairgrounds. If you eat one thing at the State Fair of Texas, it should be this. The line moves fast and it’s worth every dollar.
Fried butter on a stick was the dish that put the Big Tex Choice Awards on the national map. It sounds absurd and it kind of is, but it’s also genuinely delicious in the way that things that probably shouldn’t exist sometimes are.
Texas-sized turkey legs are everywhere at the fair and they’re excellent — smoky, well-seasoned, and substantial enough to share. Good value compared to most fair food on a per-calorie basis, if that’s a calculation you find yourself making at a state fair.
Fried Oreos and fried cheesecake are staples that have been at the fair for years and remain crowd favorites. Not flashy, but reliably good.
The New Fried Foods
Every fair brings 6–10 new fried food contenders competing for the Big Tex Choice Awards. They range from genuinely creative and delicious to concept-only novelties that are better as a photo than a meal. The winners are announced before opening day each year — check the State Fair of Texas website or social media for the current year’s lineup.
New items tend to sell out or have the longest lines on opening weekend. If there’s a specific new item you want to try, go early in the day or visit on a weekday when crowds are lighter. By the second or third week of the fair, lines for new items stabilize significantly.
Budget note: New fried food items typically run $8–14 each. They’re shareable — most are served in portions designed for one but comfortable to split two ways. Budgeting $30–50 per person for food at the fair is realistic if you want to try several things.
Non-Fried Food Worth Eating
The fair is famous for fried food but there’s more than that on the grounds. The Food & Wine building features sit-down dining options with table service — a good choice if you want a proper meal rather than walking and eating. It books up on weekends so go early or visit midweek.
BBQ is well-represented across the fairgrounds — several vendors smoke brisket, ribs, and sausage on-site. For a Texas fair, the BBQ is taken seriously and worth a stop if you want something savory and substantial.
Funnel cake is the universal fair food that needs no introduction. The State Fair of Texas version is good, reliable, and available everywhere on the grounds. A solid choice when you want something sweet without committing to a full novelty item.
What to Skip
Standard fair midway food — generic nachos, basic hot dogs, and anything that looks like it came from a concession stand at a sporting event — is overpriced and underwhelming compared to what else is available. The fair has so much genuinely interesting food that spending money on a $12 plate of mediocre nachos is a real opportunity cost.
Some novelty items are more concept than food — designed to get photographed and talked about rather than actually eaten. If something sounds more like a dare than a dish, it probably is. The Big Tex Choice Award winners are a reliable filter: they’ve been judged by people who actually eat them.
How to Budget Food at the State Fair of Texas
Food at the State Fair of Texas is priced in “Coupons” — the fair’s internal currency. Each coupon is worth $1, and most food items cost between 6 and 14 coupons. You buy coupons at booths around the fairgrounds or in advance online.
A realistic food budget for one adult who wants to try several things — a Fletcher’s Corny Dog, one or two new items, a sweet, and a drink — is $35–50 in coupons. Families with kids should budget $25–35 per person. Drinks add up fast — water and sodas typically run 3–5 coupons each.
Coupon tip: Buy coupons in advance online — the fair sometimes offers bonus coupons with advance purchase. Unused coupons can typically be used on future visits or refunded, but check the current year’s policy on the State Fair website.
Eat before you arrive: Having a real meal before you get to the fairgrounds lets you focus on tasting and trying rather than eating to fill up. You’ll spend less and enjoy more.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most famous food at the State Fair of Texas?
Fletcher’s Corny Dogs — hand-dipped, deep-fried corndogs that have been at the fair since 1942. They’re the single most iconic State Fair of Texas food item and a must-eat for any visitor.
What are the Big Tex Choice Awards?
The Big Tex Choice Awards are an annual competition for the best new fried food at the State Fair of Texas, judged in categories including Best Taste and Most Creative. Winners are announced before opening day each year and become the most sought-after items on the fairgrounds.
How much should I budget for food at the State Fair of Texas?
Budget $35–50 per adult if you want to try several items including a classic, one or two new items, a sweet, and drinks. Families with kids should budget $25–35 per person. Food is priced in Coupons — the fair’s internal currency at $1 each.
What is the State Fair of Texas coupon system?
The State Fair of Texas uses Coupons as its internal currency — each coupon is worth $1. You buy them at booths around the fairgrounds or in advance online, sometimes with bonus coupons for advance purchase. Most food items cost 6–14 coupons.
Can I bring food into the State Fair of Texas?
Outside food and beverages are generally not permitted into the fairgrounds. Check the current year’s policy on the State Fair of Texas website before your visit — policies can change year to year.
What time should I arrive to beat the food lines?
Arrive at opening (typically 10am) for the shortest lines at popular food vendors. Lines for new Big Tex Choice Award items peak between noon and 3pm on weekends. Late afternoon — after 4pm — also sees shorter lines as some visitors leave for the day.
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