The State Fair of Texas announced on Thursday its 15 Big Tex Choice Awards finalists, the roster of foods and drinks that will garner big attention during the annual Dallas festival Sept. 25, 2026 through Oct. 18, 2026
Perhaps the biggest surprise? Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs, a company that’s been at the State Fair since the 1940s and rarely changes its menu, is selling a chocolate corny dog. It’s one of the five finalists up for a Best Taste – Sweet award
While each of these 15 items could potentially become viral sensations, the list will be culled to four winners on Aug. 18, 2026, when a team of Instagram influencers, TV personalities and restaurant reporters will vote on the three best-tasting dishes in each category: savory, sweet and sipper
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Judges will also choose “most creative,” an award that tends to go to a particularly peculiar drink or dish
Since 2005, the State Fair has hosted the Big Tex Choice Awards, an opportunity for concessionaires to concoct wild menu items that give Dallas the reputation for serving the “most outrageous” food compared to other national festivals, a Yelp survey found
It’s because of the Big Tex Choice Awards that we have Fried Bubblegum and Fried Beer. Oprah Winfrey even visited the State Fair in 2009, seeking proof for another puzzler: Fried Butter
Which of these State Fair gut-busters will wow you this year? Tell me online which ones you want to eat the most — and the least
Below are each of the 15 finalists. We’ll update this story with details on each one
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5 ‘savory’ finalists
Among the five finalists in the 2026 savory category, three are tacos
Burger Chop Tater Tacos: State Fair concessionaire Tom Grace, won two trophies in 2017 for his Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger, is back in 2026 with a pair of burger tacos. Inside each taco, burger pieces are topped with mozzarella and American cheese, Buffalo ranch coleslaw, garlic-parmesan Buffalo sauce and tater tots. Here’s the kicker: The tortilla is made of cheddar cheese tater tots, flattened and formed into a taco shape
Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos: The “two step” part denotes that the two tacos are different from one another, yet both feature a whole roasted jalapeño. One has pineapple pork sausage and melted mozzarella stuffed into the jalapeño, then wrapped in a blue corn tortilla. The second features brisket wrapped around the jalapeño and layered with mozzarella with red pickled onions and a drizzle of barbecue sauce or house made “habanero fuego” salsa in the taco
Flamin’ Crunch Pizza: Yep, it’s a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos pizza. This one also comes from Grace, who has been a concessionaire at the State Fair for decades — and is a frequent Big Tex Choice Awards finalist. The pizza has a base of jalapeño cheddar queso and mozzarella and cheddar cheeses. After it’s baked, cooks add jalapeño queso blanco, Buffalo ranch dressing and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dust
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Golden Crunch Melt: This grilled taco is filled with marinated chicken pastor, fire-roasted peppers, caramelized onions, smoky chipotle mayonnaise, crispy potato strings and three cheeses. It’s finished with smoky chipotle crema
Nacho Wings: Think of these as loaded fries topped with chicken wings: A bed of french fries are topped with chicken wings tossed in taco seasoning. Then comes nacho cheese, cilantro, green onions, cotija cheese, tomatoes, pickled red onions, jalapeños and ranch. Concessionaires Lauren and Cody Hays won “most creative” in 2023 for their Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapilla
5 ‘sweet’ finalists
This category features two food trends: matcha drinks and espresso martinis
Also, among the five finalists, two are cheesecakes
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Berry Me in Matcha: The creator of 2023’s winning dessert, Biscoff cheesecake, enters the 2026 contest with a matcha cheesecake. His slice of cake on a stick comes dipped in Belgian white chocolate and rolled in crushed matcha cookies, then drizzled with white chocolate and strawberry jam. Concessionaire Stephen El Gidi enjoyed his State Fair cheesecake stand so much, he opened a year-round dessert shop in Irving in 2025, then got his cheesecakes into Costco
Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar:Â
Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog
Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone
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5 ‘sipper’ — or drink — finalists
Corn Flake Shappé
Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float
Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard
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Sunset Soft Serve Rita
Tropical Coco Fresca
