A Guide to the Texas State Fair

Things to Know Before You Go

• You can purchase your admission ticket(s) online or in-person. However, you are only able to redeem it on the day you chose at check-out (if purchased online). Premium admission tickets, though, allow you to redeem it on the day of your choosing.

• Coupons are one dollar each and these are what you will use to purchase food/drinks and get on rides. To play any of the games, you’ll have to purchase a Big Tex Game Card. You can find them at the booths and kiosks near the gaming areas.

• You can purchase your coupons online with your admission ticket or in-person. There are booths all across Fair Park if you run out and are looking to stay a bit longer.

• You can pick up a copy of the State Fair’s Visitor Guide inside the gates or pull it up on your phone. It has a map of Fair Park and even directions to some of the booths and fun fair food items mentioned below.

• There are 12 gates through which you can enter Fair Park.

• There will be animal encounters, parades, and free live musical performances. See the official Visitor’s Guide for more information and a comprehensive list of all of the FREE, family-friendly activities going on during the 2023 Texas State Fair.

• Wednesday mornings (10am to 1pm) are sensory-friendly! There is even an itinerary to help you make the most of these three hours at the Texas State Fair. The Midway will also have its lights and music/sounds turned off from noon until 1pm on Wednesdays.

• There are days throughout the week offering various discounts on admission tickets, food/drinks, rides, and parkin. You can read more about them in our guide on how to save money at the Texas State Fair!

What to Eat at the 2023 Texas State Fair

We visited five major areas of Fair Park and several food vendors within each of those areas. We tried to be as accurate as possible in our descriptions. Our hope is to help you navigate the maps portrayed inside the official 2023 Texas State Fair guide.

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Note that we came in through Gate 6, where our Lyft/Uber dropped us off at the intersection. However, we were picked up at Gate 1, the taxi/rideshare pick-up area.

Although there are dozens of food items, below are the ones we highly recommend you try as well!

First Avenue

If you enter Gate 4 or Gate 8 and walk straight ahead, you’ll end up on First Avenue. You’ll find tons of food stands, the Bud Light Stage, this year’s NEW, life-sized dinosaur exhibit, and “cheep” beer at the Beer Barn. There are also picnic tables and games with prizes!

• Fishbowl Cocktail at Gulf Coast Grill – While your group is waiting in line at the Beer Barn, consider sending someone to the Gulf Coast Grill for a Fishbowl Cocktail. It is big enough that two people could easily share it.

The Grand Area

Perpendicular to First Avenue is the Grand Area. Gate 5 is right at the entryway of the Grand Area.

You’ll find everything from shopping at the Grand Place to relaxing at the Magnolia Beer Garden. Hang out, rest your feet, and enjoy one of the 2023 Big Tex Choice Award finalists from Holy Biscuit.

Fernie’s Funnel Cake Factory

Fernie’s Funnel Cake is returning to the State Fair for their 54th anniversary!

This year, their NEW Fried Cherry Pie in the Sky, a pie tart made with pastry dough, shortbread cookies, and cherries, was a Big Tex Choice Award finalist!

Keep an eye out for these other Texas State Fair classics from Fernie’s:

• Funnel Cakes – Known as the creator of the Texas State Fair funnel cake, we couldn’t leave without grabbing one!

• Funnel Cake Chicken Sandwich – A sweet spin on a favorite, this chicken sandwich is made up of a country-fried chicken breast filet in between two 5-inch Fernie’s funnel cakes. It is then refried, drizzled with your choice of honey or syrup, and topped with powdered sugar.

• Funnel Cake Shake – This creamy shake is made up of funnel cake flavored ice cream, whipped cream, rainbow sprinkles, a cherry, and a mini Fernie’s Funnel Cake.

The Tower Building Food Court

Right behind the Grand Place is the Tower Building Food Court. This indoor eating area has even MORE food stands and a ton of larger tables. If you’re looking to snag some of the more unique fair food items, this is the place to be!

• Chicken & Waffle Sliders at Darlin’s Chicken and Waffles – Yet another sweet spin on a classic, these sliders have piece of fried chicken sandwiched between the two, cutest waffles with LOTS of powdered sugar and syrup on the side. Grab one of these, among other food items, at a discounted price on Thrifty Thursdays!

• The NEW Fruity Pebble Pickle at the Candy Pickle Factory (and the Rainbow Popper on Thrifty Thursdays).

• You’ll also find one of the Smokey’s John’s Bar-B-Que booths here! Scroll to the bottom for our recommendations from them.

The Funway, Midway & Kidway

If you enter in through Gate 6 (also the DART MLK Station drop-off) and continue to walk straight, you’ll find the Funway. It is clumped together with the Midway and the Kidway (here, you’ll find rides for children 2 years and under).

You’ll also find a wide array of food stalls, additional rides, games, and the iconic Texas State Fair Ferris wheel. Just behind this area, you’ll also see Big Tex’s little brother, Neon Tex.

If you find yourself here with the kiddos, be sure to find the NEW Cotton Candyrita at Stiffler’s Mom’s Cookie Factory. Made with a cotton candy infused margarita, the cup is then finished with a pink sugar rim and fresh, pink cotton candy.

Chef Cassy’s Booth

Chef Cassy Jones has always loved to cook. She grew up surrounded by great cooks and spent time cooking with love for her 5 children. When her daughter went off to college, Chef Cassy went to culinary school. Shortly after, she began working in catering and was encouraged by a customer of hers to apply to be a vendor at the Texas State Fair. And the rest is history!

She has been a vendor for the last 10 years and actually got her booth after her first application!

You can find her at the base of the Top O’ Texas Tower at the end of the Midway. Look for a sign that says, “Fried Collard Greens.”

• Fried Collard Greens – I beg of you, please try these! Chef Cassy mixes collard greens with cream cheese before wrapping them in wonton wrappers and frying them. She says to think of them like egg rolls, but instead of being filled with bland cabbage, they have tasty, seasoned greens inside.

• Honey Pecan Wings – Chef Cassy takes her fried chicken wings and drizzles them with her handmade honey pecan sauce. She also offers fried chicken wings plain, with buffalo sauce, OR drizzled with her unique peanut butter and jelly sauce!

Fun Biz Fair Food

Fun Biz Fair Food is a family run business that contributes to fairs all across the country. Their emphasis is on locally sourced goods that have never been shipped or frozen, including their meats, dairy products, and produce.

You’ll find two of them, Get Fried and Spud Ranch, near the Midway. Spud Ranch is along the Gate Way while Get Fried is on Coliseum Drive.

• Fruity Pebble Shrimp Po’Boy at Get Fried – This wacky creation was pleasantly tasty! The creaminess and slight kick from the sauce, with the crunchiness of the fried shrimp, went surprisingly well together. The flavor from the Fruity Pebble cereal garnish added a fun splash of color and a subtle twist to the Po’Boy.

• Fried Pickle Chips at Get Fried – These pickle chips are to die for! They are perfectly seasoned and generously breaded. Pair it with the creamy ranch on the side and you’ll fall in love!

• Turkey Legs at Get Fried – Made fresh-to-order without any added enzymes, these turkey legs will be some of the best you’ve ever had. They are constantly roasting right in front of you and the smell alone will stop you in your tracks.

• Potato Twister at Spud Ranch – Serving all varieties of baked potatoes with tons of toppings, including options like brisket, alfredo, and chili, Spud Ranch is Fun Biz Fair Food’s newest vendor. We tried their classic Tater Twister, which you can also add seasoning, dipping sauce, and bacon to if you like!

Nimitz/Nimitz Circle

At the entrance of Nimitz Circle is the Chevrolet Main Stage. Here, you can enjoy an extensive line-up of live bands!

Just behind the stage at Gate 1 is where you’ll enter/exit if you take a Lyft/Uber or Taxi.

Nimitz Circle is home to several food stalls and vendors. If you continue walking, you’ll come across the Texas Wine Garden. The nearby Yuengling Flight Stage features stand-up comedians, with the cutest courtyard lit up with string lights at night, and FREE samples of Yuengling beer.

If you’re not much of a beer fan, you’ll also find a bunch of FREE samples being offered at the Go Texan Pavilion, including Texas brands like Desert Door Texas Sotol from Driftwood!

For other freebies, check out our guide on how to save money at the 2023 Texas State Fair.

• Chismosas at Garza Ranchero Fajitas – Thanks to the Garza family, they’ll have a mimosa on-hand for you, day or night, at the 2023 Texas State Fair. The Chismosa is a frozen mimosa with a Chamoy and Tajín rim.

• Fried Lemonade & Pickle Margaritas at Stiffler Family Concessions – I wasn’t sure what to expect with the Fried Lemonade, but what we got was so tasty! Make sure to take advantage of that lemon sauce at the bottom of the cup. Perfect for the fall season, you’ll also find Fried Pumpkin Pie on the menu!

2023 Texas State Fair Food Stands with Multiple Locations

Vandalay Industries

Chef Abel, nicknamed “Fried Jesus,” has created so many amazing, original creations over the years. His Fried PB & J was the first winner of the Big Tex Choice Awards and continues to be their best seller!

We highly recommend trying these Texas State Fair food items at the Vandalay Concessions booth (in Nimitz Circle and along the Funway) that we absolutely loved:

• NEW Turkey Ribs – A 2023 Big Tex Choice Award winner.

• Fried Butter – The butter and fried dough mixture actually tastes cheesy! If you’re intimidated to try it, this is your sign that you should!

• Fried Cookie Dough – Make sure to rip into this piece of heaven and get it on video (if you can wait that long).

• The Doh-Muff – This Texas State Fair food item is a yeast doughnut battered in Banana Nut Muffin batter that is deep fried, stuffed with Bavarian Cream, and topped with a Pecan Butter Glaze, fresh bananas, and strawberries.

• Fried Lobster in Champagne Gravy – Although this is one of the pricier Texas State Fair items, it comes with a side of fries, and everything is so tasty!

Some of Chef Abel’s other original creations that we wish we had a chance to try are:

• Fried Jambalaya
• Fried Lobster
• Fried Coke

Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs

Of course, when you’re at the Texas State Fair, you have to get a corn dog from Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs! We were thoroughly impressed, since we’ve unfortunately never had one. We especially loved that they offer all-beef and vegetarian options too!

Or try the Fletcher’s Dallas Hot Bird Dog, a turkey corn dog dipped in a special fiery batter, and stuffed with mac and cheese, fried jalapeños, and drizzled with hot sauce.

Nevin’s Concessions

Nevin’s Concessions, a women-owned business, has been a vendor at the Texas State Fair since 1949. It’s even considered State Fair royalty around these parts.

You can find their three booths near the Chevrolet Main Stage, behind Cotton Bowl Stadium near Nimitz Circle, and inside the Grand Area.

• Fried Charcuterie Board – This 2022 Best Taste Savory Winner is stuffed with salami, mozzarella cheese, and green apples, fried inside a wonton wrapper, drizzled with honey, and served with a side of olives and goat cheese.

Fun Fact: The Fried Charcuterie Board’s Creator, Josey Nevins Mayes, is the youngest concessionaire to win a Big Tex Choice Award!

• The Stuffed Pig – Food on a stick is a common occurrence at the Texas State Fair, from corn dogs to chicken on a stick. Now we can add Stuffed Pig to the list: pieces of pork wrapped in bacon and covered in a Bourbon Glaze.

• Texas Ranch Hog Wings – Flash fried pork wings, tossed in their secret spicy ranch salt, and topped with their homemade sauce, Lil Red’s Damn Serious Sauce, and fresh chopped chives. It was also a 2022 Big Tex Choice Semi-Finalist!

• NEW Rest in Heavenly Peach – Two pieces of charred angel food cake served with peach pie filling and whipped cream.

Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que & Home Cooking

Notorious for their fresh smoked turkey legs, homemade peach cobbler, and their BBQ, Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que is notorious in Dallas! We were so excited to see them at the Texas State Fair again this year!

This family-owned and minority-owned business has been a loyal vendor at the Texas State Fair for the last 40 years! You can find them inside the Tower Building Food Court and near Nimitz Circle.

Following the reputation of their mouthwatering peach cobbler, they created the Ultimate Brookie Monster, which was actually a 2022 Big Tex Choice Awards Finalist! It is made with fresh chocolate chip cookies, Oreos, marshmallows, and covered in triple chocolate brownie batter. Finally, it’s battered and deep fried!

We also had to get their Deep-Fried Reese’s with ice cream because why not?! You can snag this yummy classic at a discounted price on Thrift Thursdays at their Nimitz booth and on the Funway. Plus, you can find their Mini Chopped Brisket Sandwich at the Tower Building Food Court and in Cotton Bowl Plaza.

Try their NEW Deep Fried Honey Butter Brisket Swirls, a cinnamon roll made with 16-hour, slow-smoked, chopped brisket, deep fried, and served with their secret honey butter sauce.

More 2023 Big Tex Choice Awards Finalists

Deep Fried Pho

Rice noodles marinated in pho broth, beef, herbs and beans sprouts, rolled up in a tortilla, and fried. Extra broth with sriracha, Hoisin, and jalapeños is served on the side.

Loaded Fries Pizza

Pizza crust covered in ranch and topped with cheese, fries, and bacon.

Ox’cellent Soul Roll

Spring roll stuffed with beef oxtails, potatoes, smoked gouda, mozzarella, celery, bell peppers, onions and butter. It’s then deep fried and served with garlic chili sauce and hushpuppies.

Biscoff Delight

New-York style cheesecake covered in Belgian chocolate and coated with Biscoff cookie pieces.

Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas

Sopapillas topped with vanilla, caramel-infused bananas, bourbon syrup, candied pecans, sweet mascarpone cheese, crumbled Nilla wafers, and powdered sugar.

Sweet Encanto

Sliced fruit, caramel dulce de leche, and sweetened condensed milk sandwiched between a waffle and wafer.

Trail-ade

Lemonade, fresh fruit, and cucumber in a souvenir, cowboy boot cup.

A Guide to the 2023 Texas State Fair: Final Thoughts

We tried to be as descriptive as possible to help you navigate this one of a kind event. Every year brings new entertainment and foodie creations, but one thing remains the same: you can’t miss it!

In summary, come prepared with your admission ticket, money for additional coupons, and a sense of adventure because there is a lot to see (and taste)! To save you and your family/friends a few bucks, don’t forget to read our guide on how to save money at the Texas State Fair this year!

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Last Updated 2 years ago ago by Jessica Serna | Published: September 21, 2023