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It's Bite-Sized Insanity on a Stick Again This Year for the State Fair of Texas Food Finalists

is an editor for Eater's Texas region. She lives in Dallas, where she's written about James Beard-celebrated and Michelin-recognized restaurants and she loves nachos. Every year, the State Fair of Texas vendors try to outdo themselves, dreaming up the next over-the-top creation to shock and delight fairgoers. 2025 is no exception. But there is a big shake-up among the finalists. Typically, we see 10 finalists, most of whom focus on the food, and get one, maybe two, drinks in the mix. This year, there are 15 finalists, and a new category called Sips to house all the drinks submissions that have been overshadowed by battered and fried bites in years past. Our take is simple: This is a smart move. The first two, if not three, weeks of the Fair take place in the ultra-hot dregs of September. All Fairgoers could use an excuse to stay hydrated. How much will people care about the drinks? Usually, drinks are the least interesting part of the announcement of the finalists, but let's find out if these five selections can turn that around. The finalists will battle it out on Thursday, August 21, at 2 p.m. CST. One winner from each category will be selected by a soon-to-be-announced panel of judges, which often includes a selection of local chefs, influencers, and Dallas celebrities. The Big Tex Choice Awards are streamed online on the Fair's Instagram and Facebook accounts, and they're generally a pretty entertaining time. The State Fair will be open from Friday, September 26, to Sunday, October 19. Explore the finalists below, and get Eater Dallas's hot takes on each based on vibes alone. Savory finalists Brisket balls of fire. State Fair of Texas Brisket and Brew-Stuffed Pretzels Created by Glen and Sherri Kusak Taking some brisket and sharp cheddar beer cheese, stuffing it in pretzel dough, and cooking it is not the most explosive idea in Fair history, but it will get the job done. This seems like it will be a slam dunk. For dips, we're going for the spicy mustard, but we won't judge you if you prefer barbecue sauce. (Maybe a little.) They call it crab and mozzarella arancini, we call it anarchy. State Fair of Texas Crab and Mozzarella Arancini Created by Stefan T. Nedwetzky It sounds good in theory: Maryland blue crab, white rice, mozzarella cheese, red bell peppers, and spring onions in a ball, deep-fried and covered in breadcrumbs. But this has the potential to go bad real fast. If the crab is just a little off, the stench could be a disaster. The vendor — the chef behind Texapolitan Pizza, which blew us away at a tasting last year — promises it is made in small batches for the best quality product. That better be true. Pastrami and mashed potatoes do work in a taco if you deep-fry it. State Fair of Texas Deep Fried Deli Tacos Created by Brent and Juan Reaves Based on the name alone, this is an immediate yes. The tacos are filled with pastrami, mashed potatoes, white cheese, and chives. There is a green sauce to dip it in (does that mean salsa verde or like mystery green sauce? TBD). We'd drop good money to get a bite. The Vietnamese crunch dog is an immediate yes. State Fair of Texas Vietnamese Crunch Dog Created by the Le Family Have you had a crunchy Vietnamese corndog? If so, you already know this is going to rule. Fletcher's corny dog already rules the Fair, and we will continue to eat them out of a sense of tradition, but we've had some soft, chewy corny dogs on off days before. That never happens with a crunch dog coated in Panko and bánh mì crumbs. Plus, pickled veggies and sriracha mayo? Hell yes. Part slider, part deviled egg, completely tempting. State Fair of Texas Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders Created by Kendall Williams A wagyu slider that's part deviled egg is also an immediate yes, out of sheer curiosity. Eater Dallas is particularly fond of both of those things. Put applewood bacon and aged cheddar on it, too? Say less. Sweet finalists That's one sour lemon. State Fair of Texas Candy Lemon Sour Face Created by Chef Heather J. Perkins Maybe we're masochists, but our curiosity about this ensures we will eat it. Will we like it? Unclear. This chef took a candy-dipped lemon and added that acidic sour stuff from sour candy to it. We're giving it at least a lick. Thrill us and chill us baby. State Fair of Texas Chill and Thrill Delight Created by Tony and Terry BednarOur curiosity about this take on salpicon de frutas from Colombia is piqued. We generally like what the Bednars make (they were responsible for drowning taquitos last year, and birria bombs in previously years, both of which should be tried). The winning entry from this duo in 2025 is a 'Texas-sized' cup of mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, and strawberries soaked in watermelon juice and topped with shaved mango sorbet. Dang, that sounds so refreshing. Plus, our doctor won't scold us about eating it. Two wins in one. Now that's a… cheesecake? State Fair of Texas Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake Created by Stephen El GidiFrom the guy who created Biscoff Delight cheesecake, which took the Fair by storm two years ago, comes Dubai chocolate cheesecake, which is almost certain to do the same. It is served in a cup and combines pistachio spread, kataifi, tahini, and New York-style cheesecake with a chocolate drizzle. Ugh, okay if you insist. Dubai comes to the Fair — Dubai chocolate, that is. State Fair of Texas Rousso's Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries Created by Isaac and Joey RoussoIsaac Russo is forever bucking to be king of the Fair, and his entry last year, Cotton Candy Wrapped Bacon, was a new classic. This year, he made the finals with some funnel cake fries featuring a Dubai chocolate topping. Would eat, why not? This seems like a dangerous idea. State Fair of Texas Tex's Toast á la Mode Created by Michelle and Jayse Edwards French toast with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream and a thousand pounds of sugar in the form of caramel, maple syrup, and a cinnamon cereal for some crunch? Oh god. Sigh. Yes, but we'll regret it. This feels like a 'last bite on the way out' order. Sipper finalists If the song 'Kokomo' were a person, this is what it would look like. State Fair of Texas Coconut Quadruple Created by Binh Tran and My Vo You had us at coconut water-based coconut slushy topped with coconut ice cream and coconut flakes served in a coconut. There will be no drink more refreshing at the fair. Cookie chaos sounds about right for this one. State Fair of Texas Cookie Chaos Milkshake Created by Brad Weiss Is a shake a sipper, or is it a sweet? The Fair's powers that be have decided it's a liquid, but this one has snickerdoodle chunks, Golden Oreos, and classic Oreos, so we're dubious. Would take a sip (nibble?) though. Hold our beer, we're diving in. State Fair of Texas Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up Created by Tom Grace Inject this one into our veins, stat. A good old-fashioned lemonade made with fresh-squeezed lemons and sugar, plus honey and freshly cut jalapeños? Move over sauvignon blanc and jalapeños, we've got a new hot fave. Of note: you can add booze to it. We'd rather not, thank you. State Fair of Texas Nevins Dirty Red Bull Tex-arita Created by Josey Nevins Mayes and Tami Jo Nevins Mayes Look, no one hates Red Bull more than we do. No thanks. If you're into that sort of thing, this is sweet cream liquor, blue razz Pop Rocks, watermelon Red Bull, and blueberry Red Bull. We strongly recommend you don't, but if you must, please add alcohol. Lean into the hangover; it's going to get you either way. This may be the strangest Fair mash-up for the year. State Fair of Texas Poppin' Boba Rita Created byJustin Martinez Loving the idea of combining a boba drink and a margarita. The available flavors will be mango and strawberry. I'm also loving that we can make it 'dirty' with some creamy cold foam and a Tajin rim; sounds absolutely gross, and we're down. Eater Dallas All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.