We categorize State Fair of Texas food in two ways: There are the old faithfuls you can’t skip, like Fletcher’s corny dogs, Fernie’s deep fried peaches and cream and funnel cakes. And then there are the new hotnesses, the winners and finalists from the annual Big Tex Choice Awards.
Allow us to present you with a third kind of fair food: brand-new dishes that might otherwise fly under the radar.
But we can’t let that happen, can we? This list includes frozen ranch water, the oh-so-trendy quesabirria tacos, lobster corn dogs and a bag of eggrolls. Many were Big Tex Choice Awards semifinalists. Even though they weren’t among the top 10 finalists, some of these are can’t-miss items.
Here’s a map of where to find each of these new foods at the State Fair of Texas.
New food and drink at the State Fair of Texas in 2021:
- Bacon jam corn bombs: hushpuppies topped with bacon jam and ranch
- Bag of Eggrolls: Yup, this is just what it sounds like. But expect off-the-wall flavors like mac and cheese eggrolls and pizza eggrolls.
- Big Tex Bowl: mac and cheese topped with brisket, cheddar, fried onions, chives, bacon, jalapeños and barbecue cream sauce
- Bucket of fries: This pot of potatoes comes topped with cheese, beef and bacon.
- Chicken on a stick: Not what it sounds like. This is a serving of rice and lo mein — together — topped with a pork egg roll and grilled chicken on a stick.
- Country fried shrimp grits: Each order is deep fried into a square shape, them topped with shrimp and crawfish sauce.
- Dallas Hot Bird Dog: The Fletcher corny dog family created this one; read more about it here.
- Deep fried pancakes: Each individual bite is fried and comes with a choice of maple butter, blueberry sauce or pecan butter syrup.
- Deep fried PB & Razbrûlée: A jazzy name! The fair calls this “the shabby chic of fair foods.” It’s basically a PB-and-J crème brûlée.
- Deep fried peach cobbler soul rolls: This dessert is peach cobbler, in an egg roll, fried and served and cinnamon-sugar and Blue Bell ice cream.
- Deep fried shrimp étouffée: Fans of the fried gumbo balls — the two-time winner of the 2021 Big Tex Choice Awards — might be drawn to this fried dumpling filled with shrimp, onion, celery, tomatoes, green peppers and cheese, served with creole mustard, chipotle ranch or hot sauce.
- Deep fried toffee: A square of chocolate and toffee gets encased in biscuit and fried.
- Fried capirotada: This Mexican bread pudding comes with dulce de leche and cinnamon on top.
- Frozen ranch water: 25% of the calories of a margarita, but still with the same booze! Ranch water is made with tequila, Topo Chico and lime. Customers can buy added flavoring like passion fruit, paloma, raspberry or watermelon.
- Gobble Balls: You’ve got the team from Ferris Wheelers BBQ to thank for the name. Gobble Balls are turkey nuggets, deep fried and served with barbecue sauce.
- Helmut’s Strudel: Options include apple, cherry or cheese strudel.
- Lobster corn dog: This bougie dog comes with a side of remoulade for dipping.
- Quesabirria: Perhaps the trendiest taco in Texas right now, this quesabirria is served the traditional way, with consommé. Each taco is stuffed with steak and cheese, then grilled.
- The Realest Cheesesteak: It’s a cheesesteak with cheese, steak, chicken, onions, bell peppers and banana peppers.
- Southern Fried Lemon Ice Box Pie Balls: The lemon ice box pie recipe is a secret. Balls of it are then wrapped in a pâte sucrée dough with graham crackers, lemon zest and brown sugar, then fried. They’re garnished with flair: edible gold glitter.
- Texas brisket banh mi: The traditional Vietnamese sandwich gets a Texas twist with chopped, smoked brisket and barbecue sauce, alongside cilantro, cucumber, pickled daikon and carrots. Spice it up with honey Sriracha aioli.
- Texas Easter Eggs: Each fried ball is stuffed with meat, cheese and peppers, then decorated with colored ranch. They’re served in an Easter egg carton.
- Texas fried FRITOS pie: FRITOS corn chips come dressed with cheddar and Texas chili, then get dipped in the deep fryer.
- Texas fried surf and turf: This one’s fancy! Filet mignon medallions are filled with chunks of lobster and a slice of jalapeño, then wrapped in bacon. Tempura fried asparagus comes on the side with a drizzle of horseradish Hollandaise.
- Twice-fried albondigas: These Mexican meatballs are made with rice, veggies and spiced beef. They get double fried and plated atop tomato sauce. Crema Mexicana and cotija cheese come on the side.
