The State Fair of Texas announced four brand new vendors, three new soft spaces, and seven new food stands will be joining the 2023 State Fair food lineup. Offering new and unique foods and experiences for all at the most Texan place on Earth, the Fair prides itself on its hand-picked selection of vendors and concessionaires who bring in droves of fairgoers each year and keep them coming back for more with their delicious foods. Enjoy some of the best eats the Lonestar state has to offer at the 2023 State Fair of Texas, themed “Explore the Midway.”
Here’s the list:
2023 NEW VENDORS
EATALY Located in Cotton Bowl Plaza
This nationwide phenomenon, Eataly, has strived to connect with the Dallas community by working with local chefs and retailers since it began operations here in December 2020. Since the Fair is the largest community event in the region, it made sense for Eataly to expand its eatery onto the fairgrounds. With a menu full of authentic Italian food, Eataly created a new twist on a classic: Fried Cacio e Pepe. Perfectly cooked pasta tossed with rich cacio e pepe sauce made with authentic Italian Pecorino Romano cheese and freshly ground black pepper, deep fried to crispy perfection and topped with a sprinkle of Parmigiano Reggiano, served with a side of house-made marinara sauce.
POUND CAKE EXPERTS Located in Tower Building
Sandy Duncan has made it her mission to make pound cake cool again. Founded in 2017, Pound Cake Experts has become a community staple, traveling to local fairs and events across the metroplex and frequently selling out due to popular demand. Sandy is bringing her ten best-sellers with her to the Fair, including the unique Red, White, & Blue Crumble. A delicious medley of red velvet, blue velvet, and butter pound cake is crumbled into bite-sized bits over a bed of soft serve.
SANDOITCHI Located in Tower Building
The brainchild of a Michelin star chef and three friends with backgrounds in fashion, Sandoitchi is a pop-up concept that travels across the country serving innovative Japanese sandwiches known as “sandos.” One of their featured items is a Strawberry Cream Sando, layered with juicy strawberries and velvety Chantilly cream nestled between clouds of pillowy Japanese milk bread that eats more like a dessert than a sandwich.
STAY CHEESY Located in Tower Building
Since she was five years old, Cheyne Hickey has worked at her family’s legendary concession stand Nevins, learning the ins and outs of what it takes to be a restaurant vendor. In 2020 she opened her own food truck named Lil Red’s, serving up gourmet sliders and fresh-cut French fries all over the metroplex. This year she is debuting her own concession stand, focusing on the classic grilled cheese and her own upscale version of a crowd favorite aptly named the Boujee Grilled Cheese. Layered with a creamy brie spread, deli turkey, fresh arugula and green apple slices, Havarti cheese, and handmade cranberry mayo.
2023 NEW STATE FAIR OF TEXAS SOFT SPACES
CANOSAUR’S CANTINA
Located at Leonhardt Lagoon
Nestled within the Dinosaurs at the Lagoon exhibit, Canosaur’s Cantina is a prehistoric paradise where ancient creatures and delectable delights merge to create an unforgettable experience and relaxing atmosphere for fairgoers of all ages. The Cantina will have tasty food for those young and young at heart with items ranging from tacos and quesadillas to adult beverages like La Barbie, a 24-ounce iced drink with cotton candy, Red Bull, watermelon lime soda, and vodka wine gummies.
JUICY’S TEXAS TAILGATE
Located near the Texas Star Ferris Wheel
On any given day at the Fair, you may want to sit back, relax, and see how your favorite team is doing on the big screen, and there is no better place to watch the game than at Juicy’s Texas Tailgate. This new area was created as the ultimate sports fan destination with multiple large televisions, and plenty of seating and a variety of foods that range from the classic half-pound corndog to BBQ ribs and decadent desserts like Fried Snickers, Fried Twinkies, and Fried S’mores.
DICKEL’S SMOKEHOUSE
Located in Cotton Bowl Plaza near the Children’s Aquarium
Dickel’s Smokehouse has been a staple of the Fair for many years. This year it returns as a newly redesigned soft space with increased lighting and a rustic charm featuring a circular bar and picnic tables for families to sit in the shade and enjoy Dickel’s slow-cooked favorites.
2023 NEW STATE FAIR OF TEXAS FOOD STANDS
BORRACHO NACHO BAR
Located in Cotton Bowl Plaza
Borracho Nacho Bar, an outdoor stand, will be making their State Fair debut with a signature menu item: “Build your Own Chicharron Nachos.” This decadent dish begins with fresh pork rinds that are fried to a golden, crispy crunch and seasoned with just the right amount of Cajun-style seasonings to ensure a mouthwatering kick. Next, you can add smoked beef fajita meat and top it with delectable freshly made queso, then finished off with a full serving of savory chopped beef barbecue.
THE CAJUN COWBOY
Located on First Ave.
If you’re looking for all things Cajun at the Fair this year, look no further than The Cajun Cowboy! This new stand’s first-ever featured menu item will be a Blooming Onion, a colossal onion battered in Cajun seasonings, deep-fried, and served with a delicious signature dipping sauce. Other menu items will include 2023 Big Tex Choice Awards Finalist Deep Fried Cheesy Crab Tater Bites, Deep Fried Bread Pudding, Pie Tin Shrimp, and an Authentic Muffaletta.
EAST MEETS WEST BBQ BY FERRIS WHEELERS
Located on the Funway
East meets West at this new food stand that brings a twist on southern BBQ right to The State Fair of Texas, serving up BBQ Egg Rolls, TX Chili Potstickers, Banana Pudding Mochi, as well as debuting their featured menu item called the Bao Bun Taco Trio. This trio brings the fluffy steamed bao bun to a meat-lovers paradise, one filled with fried chicken, another with pork belly burnt ends, and finally, a bao filled with chopped brisket.
FRYED
Located on the Funway
Fryed will reinvent the way you enjoy your tater tots and French fries. Fryed’s feature menu item, the Big Texan, starts off with either their signature fries or crispy tater tots. Those are then topped with Fryed’s famous hatch chili queso, Texas-smoked shredded brisket, and hickory smoked bacon pieces drizzled with their signature barbecue sauce. Along with the Big Texan, there are other styles to try out, including buffalo chicken, Mexicano, and sweet potato s’mores! Fryed will also serve a gourmet third-pound cheeseburger, chicken strip baskets, and sweet potato waffle fries.
PINEAPPLE DOLE SOFT SERVE®
Located at Leonhardt Lagoon
Explore the new Dinosaurs at the Lagoon exhibit and enjoy this classic sweet treat for those young and young at heart. The smooth, tropical pineapple treat is a fruit-flavored phenomenon that is craved around the world! Fans love this refreshing and creamy dessert with its truly unique, true-to-fruit taste.
STIFFLER’S STEAK STOP
Located on the Funway.
Steak lovers will be over the moon about this new food stand that knows how to turn up the heat with their Jalapeño Margarita and juicy Steak Bowls, made-to-order, with mouth-watering bites of prime sirloin steak, served in a bowl with your choice of homemade rustic mashed potatoes, wine-marinated mushrooms, sautéed onions, and bell peppers. You can top it off with your choice of a zesty chimichurri sauce, their homemade Cowboy Butter Sauce, or both.
TEXAS SOPAPILLA FACTORY
Located in Cotton Bowl Plaza
What’s Texas without a good sopapilla? Their feature item is the Strawberry Shortcake Sopapillas, which provide a fun Fair twist on the classic strawberry shortcake. These sopapillas come coated in powdered sugar and topped with all the traditional strawberry fixin’s. Other sopapilla flavors this outdoor stand will be serving include this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards winner for Most Creative, Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas, along with various other flavors like Chocolate Lovers, and even Cinnamon Toast Crunch™.
If your stomach is already growling and your tastebuds are watering, stay tuned for more food-related reveals as we get closer to Opening Day of the 2023 State Fair of Texas.
The State Fair of Texas themed “Explore the Midway” opens Friday, September 29 and will run through Sunday, October 22, 2023.
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