The State Fair of Texas is known for taking culinary creativity to new heights, and 2022 is no exception. Fairgoers have the opportunity to taste all of the finalists of the Big Tex Choice Awards and decide if they agree with the judges’ selections for “Best Taste – Savory,” “Best Taste – Sweet,” and “Most Creative.” Additionally, a select portion of the 2022 semi-finalist dishes will also be offered at this year’s Fair.
In addition to the deep-fried delicacies that are debuted each year as part of the Big Tex Choice Awards, our concessionaires continue to create new delectable delights for fairgoers. For a full list of new foods and where to find them, visit BigTex.com/NewFoods.
2022 New Foods
Bayou Bowl
Located at Mac Loaded by the Texas Beer & Wine Garden
A loaded bayou explosion! This concessionaire takes their three-cheese macaroni and tops it with shrimp and lump crab after being cooked to perfection in garlic scampi butter. Then, they drizzle this culinary creation with a mouth-watering Cajun cream sauce, accompanied by a piece of succulent andouille sausage and a side of perfectly toasted French bread to sop up all the Cajun goodness.
Chamoy! Pickle
Located at Candy Pickle Factory in the Tower Building food court
This treat will have your tastebuds in a pickle. Pickle meets candy in a major way with the chamoy stuffed candy pickle. A big, juicy pickle is first wrapped in a fruit roll up. Then, the pickle is stuffed with fruit gushers, coated with chamoy sauce, and sprinkled with tajin.
Cajun Lobster Bisque Croquettes
Located at Crazy Otto’s by Big Tex and at Gulf Coast Grill by the Lagoon
Croquette’ is French for a fancy, filled tater tot! Cajun Lobster Bisque Croquettes are lightly seasoned potato balls filled with a mixture of rich lobster meat and creamy brie cheese, and fried golden brown. Three generous croquettes are served with a side of Cajun lobster bisque for dipping – a rich and creamy lobster soup-based dipping sauce that is the perfect complement to the croquettes. The whole order turns the heat up when it is topped off with our Cajun seasoning. Get an order of three, mon cheri!
Cherry Dipped Waffle Cone
Located at Once Upon a Cone on the Midway by Giant Slide
We all scream for ice cream, especially served to you from a Big Tex-sized ice cream cone stand! Once Upon a Cone keeps it classic and simple with soft-serve ice cream made from high-quality milk, sugar, and cream. This cone is dipped into a vat of cherry topping, leaving you with a sweet and creamy treat.
Chismosa
Located at Ranchero Fajitas on Nimitz
From seasoned vendor the Garza family, the Chismosa is a new twist on a beloved brunch classic: the mimosa. With a name that translates to “nosy person,” this drink is inspired by brunch-goers favorite pastime—catching up on all the latest gossip! This frozen mimosa combines champagne and orange juice with a chamoy and Tajín rim, giving fairgoers delicious fruity flavor with a little bit of a kick. To get your brunch on, follow the sounds of popping champagne bottles to Nimitz, where Garza’s Ranchero Fajitas stand is ready to satisfy all your bubbly needs!
Cookies and Cream Mini Donuts on a Stick
Located at Tracy’s Mini Donuts by the Top o’ Texas Tower
Do-nut hesitate to check out this portable sweet treat! Homemade mini donuts are dipped in a glaze base and then sprinkled with Oreo crumbles. Served on a stick, you can carry these donuts with you wherever you go as you enjoy the rest of your Fair day.
Crispy Dilly Dog
Located at Trio on the Green by the Coliseum and at State Fair Foot Long Corndog by the Hall of State
This item begins as a juicy dill pickle, then it is cored and filled with an all-beef hotdog. To complete the creation, it is dipped in freshly made corndog batter and rolled in perfectly seasoned breadcrumbs, fried to a golden crisp. Once out of the fryer the masterpiece is finished off with a drizzle of zesty chipotle mayo – you could say it’s a big DILL!
Deep Fried Honey
Located at Jack’s French Frys in Cotton Bowl Plaza
Have you heard the buzz? There is a new fried food in town… nature’s perfectly sweet treat, as only Texas can imagine – Deep Fried Texas Honey. Raw and all-natural Texas honey is wrapped and deep fried, producing a perfect caramelized honey treat. The creation is then topped with powdered sugar, a cinnamon sugar concoction, and of course raw Texas honey from Texas’ own Rescue Bee Ranch for a dessert that’s as sweet as can ‘bee!
Deep Fried Praline Cheesecake Eggroll
Located at Mac Loaded by the Texas Beer & Wine Garden
A dessert like none you’ve had before, this Deep Fried Praline Cheesecake Egg Roll is sure to be a sweet escape! Rich and creamy praline cheesecake filling is wrapped in an eggroll wrapper, then deep-fried to golden perfection. The eggroll is drizzled in a delicious homemade praline sauce and topped with candied praline pecan crumbles to please even the sweetest tooth!
Deep Fried Southern Dessert Dumplings
Located at Ruth’s Tamales on Nimitz near the Livestock Birthing Barn
These delightfully indulgent dumplings are a mashup of two southern favorites, sweet potato and pecan pie with a twist that might make even grandma jealous! Actual pieces of sweet potato and pecan pie – yes, including the crust! – combined with morsels of dark chocolate are folded into a wonton wrapper, deep-fried, and dusted with powdered sugar. Like any good dumpling, they are served with a special sauce, Ruth’s homemade rum-raspberry chipotle dipping sauce.
Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Roll
Located at Gourmet Royale in the Tower Building food court and on Nimitz near the Livestock Birthing Barn
This crazy delicious Deep Fried Strawberry Shortcake Crunch Roll is dipped into homemade pink waffle batter infused with strawberry purée and fried to perfection. Then it is drizzled with cream cheese icing and covered with an addictive strawberry crunch – consisting of vanilla Oreo cookies, strawberry JELLO mix, and melted butter. Finally, the crunch roll is carefully dusted with confectioners’ sugar and garnished with a fresh strawberry for the sweetest treat of Texas.
Deep Fried Texas Country Cookout
Located at Benavides Foods on the Midway by the Pirate Ship
This hearty dish includes an array of flavors celebrated throughout the great state of Texas! It starts with a healthy serving of well-seasoned pulled pork, then they mix in a generous amount of herbed goat cheese and homemade special sauce. This tasty Texas-sized patty is then coated in breadcrumbs to give it just the right amount of crunch in every bite. To finish, it has a dollop of coleslaw and potato salad on top of this deep-fried masterpiece, drizzled with sweet homemade jalapeño BBQ sauce, giving you that delicious Texas tang!
Dim Sum Loco Burritos
Located at The Dock in the Embarcadero Building
The east meets southwest with Dim Sum Loco Burritos! Dim Sum means “touch of the heart” and this culinary masterpiece is a touch of the heart – deep in the heart of Texas. Traditional Tex-Mex flavors of smoked shredded pork, lightly fried diced potatoes, onions, bell peppers, and mildly spicy, super melty pepper jack cheese are rolled burrito-style in egg roll wrappers and deep-fried to a crunchy golden brown. The flavors are complex and loaded with umami with lingering flavors of cumin and chipotle. These burritos are then served with charred beer-battered sweet, smokey Shishito peppers and a thin, salty meaty broth garnished with cilantro and diced green onions as a dip for both. Each dish comes with a fortunate cookie, is decorated with a Texas flag, and served in a food tray lined with fiesta tissue to celebrate all the cultures coming together in this one spectacular dish. Trust us, you won’t need the fortune cookie to tell you this is a must-try at the 2022 Fair!
Dirty Soda
Located at Stiffler’s Mom’s Cookie Factory on the Midway
A Midwest trend gets a refreshing, Texan twist! This decadent drink is made with a beverage base of your choosing from soda to sparkling water, then made “dirty” and oh-so-delicious with a spike of cream, flavored syrup, and fresh fruity add-ins. Fairgoers looking for a tasty concoction will enjoy all the custom combinations with odes to State Fair landmarks. From a classic dirty soda like the “Midway,” made with a soda, pineapple, and coconut cream, or the flavorful “Funhouse” made with sparkling water and a mix of grapefruit, mango, and fresh lemon. If you’re feeling creative, simply make your own mixture – there’s a flavor for every fairgoer.
Doh-Muff
Located at Vandalay Industries on Nimitz and on the Midway
Known as “Fried Jesus,” Abel Gonzales is back with another fried concoction! Starting with a fluffy doughnut stuffed with Bavarian cream and coated in banana nut muffin batter, the Doh-muff is then dropped into the fryer and deep fried to that perfect golden crisp. To top it off, the creation is then covered with pecan butter glaze, fresh bananas, and strawberries. It’s up to you to decide if it’s a doughnut or a muffin, but one thing’s for sure – it’s a sweet State Fair treat you’re sure to love.
Fat Elvis
Located at Holy Biscuit in the Tower Building food court
Bringing a new food concept to the Fair, Isaac Rousso has a full lineup of different biscuits at this food stand. The Fat Elvis is a mouthwatering explosion that starts with a blend of creamy peanut butter and strawberry jelly whisked together. To start, they take a warm out-of-the-oven biscuit and spread a thick coat of peanut butter and jelly onto the biscuit. Then they layer delicious marshmallow fluff and fire toast it just for a second to give it a golden-brown campfire taste. As thick-cut juicy bacon comes off the griddle, it finds its home on top of the marshmallow fluff. At the same time, the fried plantain bananas are coming out of the fryer caramelized and ready to complete this delicious decadent food experience. You’ve never tasted a biscuit like this!
Fried Soul Food Eggroll
Located at Dickel’s Smokehouse across from the Lagoon in Cotton Bowl Plaza
A twist on a southern staple that is guaranteed to become a State Fair favorite! An eggroll is filled with tender, barbecue-flavored marinated chicken, combined with grandma’s old-school-flavored collard greens then mac and cheese. The eggroll is then deep fried to golden perfection and topped with a fusion sauce bringing together Southern and Asian flavors that perfectly complement the dish.
Fried Spicy Beef Empanada
Located at Chimichurri & Milagro Taco outside of the Automobile Building near Big Tex Circle
It’s no secret that Texans love their spicy food, and these fried spicy beef empanadas are no exception. Ground beef is sautéed with a hard-boiled egg, green olives, aji peppers, salt, pepper, olive oil, and a spice blend. This mixture is wrapped up in a pastry and fried until crispy. While traditional empanadas usually taste on the mild side, the aji peppers add a savory twist and heat that are sure to satisfy.
Funnel Cake Chicken Sandwich
Located at the Dock in the Embarcadero Building and at Fernie’s Funnel Cake Factory by Big Tex Circle
Do you love savory foods but also have a sweet tooth? You can get the best of both worlds with the Funnel Cake Chicken Sandwich! A juicy, country-fried chicken breast filet is sandwiched between two signature 5-inch Fernie’s funnel cakes, fried to golden brown perfection. After being drizzled with your choice of honey or syrup, this creation is finished off with a dusting of powdered sugar.
Hand Dipped New York Cheesecake
Located at Drizzle Cheesecakes in the Tower Building food court
You can have your cake and eat it too with Drizzle’s New York-style cheesecake on a stick. Each piece is dipped in magic-shell Belgian chocolate and rolled in a variety of toppings including hazelnut, crushed Oreos, red velvet cake, strawberry crumble, and more. Be sure to check out this new vendor’s other specialty flavored cheesecakes like pumpkin spice.
Loaded Queso Fries
Located at The Spicy Hut across from the Hall of State by the Esplanade
There’s no such thing as too many toppings, and these loaded queso fries really do have it all. Crispy golden French fries are smothered in delicious queso Blanco. Then come all those delicious toppings – the cheesy fries are topped with bacon, sour cream, Pico de Gallo, and jalapeños for a true flavor explosion.
Motherclucker Chicken Sandwich
Located at Palmer’s Hot Chicken on the Midway near the Greenhouse
There’s a new bird in town, Nashville Hot Chicken! This elevated fried chicken sandwich will make your mouth water. A filet of juicy Nashville Hot Chicken is fried and then paired with homemade pimento cheese and pickles, the perfect combination of creamy and crunchy.
Pearlie’s Soul Slider: Hot Honey Chicken and Sweet Potato Pie Waffle
Located at Pearlie’s Southern Kitchen in Nimitz Terrace
If you enjoy chicken and waffles or have been dying to try the classic combination, come indulge in this new southern fried chicken and sweet potato pie waffles slider. This curated twist on a classic recipe incorporates a crispy fried chicken filet sandwiched between sweet, thick, and fluffy Belgian waffles stuffed with Pearlie’s heirloom sweet potato pie recipe, which has been handed down three generations. The waffles’ extra deep pockets absorb the warm buttery maple sweet syrups after it is topped with crispy, savory bacon.
Pickle Pizza
Located at Pizza by the Giant Slice in the Tower Building food court and at Pizza, Funnel Cakes, & Lemonade by the Children’s Aquarium
This tasty treat takes a State Fair classic – pizza, and Texifies it. What’s more Texan than juicy, mouthwatering pickles and ranch? Pickle pizza starts with hand-tossed dough, it’s then layered with a creamy homemade dill-flavored ranch sauce base, smothered with mozzarella and cheddar cheese, and the final topping: savory, crunchy, dill pickles. And in true Fair fashion, you even have the option for fried pickle pizza if you’re feeling spicy. For all the pickle lovers, this one is a huge dill!
Pork Belly Burnt Ends Pizza
Located at Texapolitan Pizza on Lone Star Boulevard by the Hall of State
Naples, meet Texas barbecue! The pork belly burnt ends pizza combines Neapolitan pizza with classic Texas BBQ pork. Texapolitan pizza dough is made from 00 flour imported from Italy, kosher salt, fresh yeast, and water. The smoked pork belly burnt ends pizza consists of red sauce, mozzarella, smoked pork belly burnt ends, fresh jalapeños, cotija cheese, and Pit Commander Barbecue Sweet Heat BBQ sauce. Each pizza needs only 90 seconds in the 900-1,000-degree wood-fired brick oven to reach thin, crispy perfection.
Pupusa
Located at Tony’s Taco Shop in the Centennial Building with the Texas Auto Show
From El Salvador to Texas, pupusas are a worldwide sensation. It’s corn! The traditional dish resembles a corn pancake and is made with corn mix then stuffed with pork and cheese or spinach and cheese. This dish is accompanied by curtido, a pickled cabbage relish, and tomato salsa before being cooked on a hot griddle to golden perfection. Be sure to keep the tradition alive and enjoy this taste of Latin cuisine new to the Fair this year.
Raspberry Chipotle Sopapilla Cheesecake
Located at Baileys in the Tower Building food court
Sweet raspberries and spicy chipotle are blended with cream cheese to create a sweet treat with Texas heat. The spicy cream cheese filling is topped with our homemade sweet raspberry glaze, topped with a crispy buttery sugar-coated crust. Served with a drizzle of raspberry compote, whipped topping, and chopped pecans, with candied jalapeños available upon request.
Shaking Beef Salad
Located at Chan’s Chicken on a Stick near the Gateway shopping pavilion
An iconic dish taken to a whole new level – Big Tex’s level, that is. Shaking Beef is a French-inspired Vietnamese dish, they take beef and cut it into small cubes – the size of playing dice – before sautéing. Then they mix in cucumber, lettuce, tomatoes, red onion, pepper, and soy sauce, in the skillet.
Texas Hot Bull Ride
Located at Shrimp Doc in Cotton Bowl Plaza
Nashville hot chicken ain’t got nothing on Texas Hot Bull Ride! They took shrimp and battered it up with a special Texas seasoning. It is tossed in a sauce that is hot and smoky with a smidgen of sweet. To cool its heels a little, it’s served up with a side of zesty ranch dressing. Texas Hot Bull Ride is sure to take your tastebuds for a wild ride. Hold on tight, partner!
Texas Ranch Hog Wings
Located at Nevin’s Grand Stick across from the Hall of State near Big Tex Circle and in Cattle Barn One
After one bite of Texas Ranch Hog Wings, you’ll start to believe that pigs CAN fly! First, they take fall-off-the-bone pork and season it with our secret blend of spicy ranch salt. Then, they drizzle the creation with a special homemade sauce and garnish it with fresh green chives. Talk about being in hog heaven!
Texas Twosome
Located at Highland Park Soda Fountain in the Tower Building food court
Two Texas favorites collide into a taste explosion. Texas grilled cheese meets Mexico’s Pepper Belly, also known as FRITOS® pie, for a match made only in Texas. They grill Texas toast and add a thick layer of American cheese, stacked high with Fritos, chili, and jalapeños to add a Texas kick. Only in Texas can two state favorites come together to give you a savory treat that requires no need to dip the chip and has enough cheese to make Wisconsin jealous.
You can download a map on our website for all the locations of the 2022 New Foods at BigTex.com/NewFoods.
The 2022 State Fair of Texas will open on Friday, September 30, and run through Sunday, October 23. Daily admission tickets are available now at BigTex.com. Plan your visit now, so you can try all these tasty treats in celebration of this year’s theme: “Treats of Texas.”
