Big Red Chicken Bread
The 2019 Best Sweet Taste award went to this chicken-wing-topped donut glazed in icing flavored with Texas’s popular Big Red soda.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Ruth’s Stuffed Fried Taco Cone
A cone-shaped tortilla filled with slow-cooked barbacoa, black beans, and cilantro lime rice claimed the 2019 Best Savory Taste title.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Fla’Mango Tango
The 2019 Most Creative award went to a deep-fried mango twist drizzled with citrus glaze and served alongside strawberry mango sorbet.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Arroz Con Leche
This deep-fried cinnamon-spiced concoction coated with puffed rice cereal stole the 2018 Best Sweet Taste award.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Cotton Candy Taco
The 2018 Most Creative award-winner was a graham cracker taco shell stuffed with organic cane-sugar cotton candy.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Deep Fried Chicken Noodle Soup on a Stick
Classic chicken noodle soup, fried and served on a stick alongside savory broth.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Deep Fried Froot Loops
Froot Loops folded into whipped cream and then fried create this fair-worthy breakfast dish.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Deep Fried Shepherd’s Pie
Cream and cheddar cheese potato balls filled with ground beef, gravy, and mixed vegetables.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Deep Fried Peaches
Vendor Christi Erpillo deep fried peaches coated in cinnamon, ginger, and coconut tempura batter to win the 2009 Best Taste award.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Deep Fried Skillet Potato Melt in a Boat
This potato skin hugs a Babybel cheese loaf, diced sausage patties, and skillet potatoes.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Fat Smooth
Cafe Du Monde beignet batter coats these deep-fried Belgium mini cream puffs, topped with powdered sugar, chocolate drizzle, and caramel sauce.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Fernie’s Fried Texas Sheet Cake
Dr Pepper icing finishes a deep-fried chocolate brownie coated in ground Cocoa Puffs, cinnamon sugar, and panko.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Fernie’s Hoppin John Cake with Jackpot Sauce
A combination of black-eyed peas, white rice, green onions, spicy smoked sausage, and a secret blend of spices come together for a dish that ran away with the 2018 Best Savory Taste award.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Fernie’s Orange You Glad We Fried It
A creamy blend of chiffon orange cake, whipped cream, and orange preserves fill these fluffy puff pastries.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Surfin’ Turfin’ Tator Boat
A baked potato cradles seasoned steak and lobster meat crowned with a single lobster claw.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger
This hearty creation sandwiches a grilled burger patty, queso, and bacon between two funnel cake buns and left the 2017 fair with the Best Savory Taste and Most Creative awards.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Gulf Coast Fish Bowl
The 2017 Best Sweet Taste winner was a fish bowl filled to the brim with boozy blue punch, Nerds, and Swedish Fish and then topped with a pineapple lid.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Pinot Noir Popcorn
Kettle corn coated in pinot noir burgundy wine powder mixed with cheddar cheese popcorn.
photo: State Fair of Texas
State Fair Fun-L Cake Ice Cream
Powdered sugar and pieces of funnel cake take center stage in this fair-inspired ice cream flavor.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Sweet Bakin’ Bacon
Sponge cake filled with cream, wrapped in bacon, and of course, deep fried.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Texas Fajita Fries
Deep-fried beef fajita strips sprinkled with a sriracha spice mix sit in a bread cone.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Texas Fried Hill Country
Two green tomatoes serve as the buns for a flash-fried mozzarella and basil sandwich.
photo: State Fair of Texas
Texas Twang-kie
Moist cornbread cake filled with grilled chicken white bean chili.
photo: State Fair of Texas
The Tamale Donut
Deep-fried pork carnitas and masa get a drizzle of jalapeno salsa.
photo: State Fair of Texas
