The deep-fried drama is heating up. With just weeks to go before opening day, the State Fair of Texas announced the finalists for the 21st Annual Big Tex Choice Awards.
Back in June, the State Fair broke records with 76 entries submitted by 50 different concessionaires. The entries were judged on four key Fair-food criteria: uniqueness, creativity, presentation and, of course, taste. After multiple rounds of sampling, the field was narrowed to 30 semifinalists — each of which will still be available for purchase at this year’s fair.
Now, the top 15 finalists are gearing up for the ultimate culinary showdown. Their goal? To impress the judges and earn one of four coveted titles at the Most Texan Place on Earth.
The 2025 Finalists
Brisket & Brew Stuffed Pretzels – Glen & Sherri Kusak
Smoky brisket meets melty beer cheese in hand-rolled pretzels stuffed with slow-smoked meat and sharp cheddar blended with a bold brew. Baked to golden perfection and topped with sea salt, they’re savory, portable and perfect for dipping in BBQ sauce or spicy mustard. A fair-day flavor bomb — lederhosen optional.
Crab & Mozzarella Arancini – Stefan T. Nedwetzky
These golden, crispy rice balls are packed with Maryland Blue Crab, mozzarella, herbs and a touch of lemon. Handcrafted in small batches, each arancini is fried to perfection and served with house-made marinara.
Deep Fried Deli Tacos – Brent & Juan Reaves
Pastrami, mashed potatoes, white cheese and chives come together in a crispy fried tortilla for the ultimate deli-meets-taqueria mashup. Served with a spicy green sauce, it’s bold, cheesy and delish.
Vietnamese Crunch Dog – The Le Family
This corn dog wraps marinated meat in fluffy batter and a crispy panko–bánh mì crumb coating. Fried golden and topped with sriracha mayo and pickled veggies, it’s a bold, crunchy bite of Vietnamese street food meets fair classic.
Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders – Kendall Williams
A Cajun-spiced Wagyu patty, aged cheddar and crispy bacon get sandwiched between two deep-fried deviled egg halves. Crunchy, creamy and totally over-the-top, these sliders are served with a tangy house-made sauce for one bold bite of fair magic.
Candy Lemon Sour Face – Chef Heather J. Perkins
This candy-dipped lemon packs a punch of sweet and sour in every bite. Tart, tangy and bursting with flavor, it’s a mouth-puckering treat that delivers a wild ride for your taste buds.
Chill & Thrill Delight – Tony & Terry Bednar
Inspired by Colombia’s salpicon de frutas, this fruity refresher features diced mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe and strawberries soaked in watermelon juice and lime. Topped with mango sorbet, it’s a sweet, tangy and cooling treat perfect for a sunny day.
Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake – Stephen El Gidi
This decadent cup layers rich Belgian chocolate with pistachio spread, crunchy kataifi and creamy tahini. Chunks of New York-style cheesecake add tangy smoothness, topped with chocolate drizzle, pistachio cream and crushed pistachios for a nutty, creamy and indulgent treat.
Rousso’s Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries – Isaac & Joey Rousso
Crispy funnel cake fries drizzled with warm Belgian chocolate and topped with pistachio cream and knafeh pastry pieces.
Tex’s Toast á la Mode – Michelle & Jayse Edwards
Warm French toast bake topped with Blue Bell Vanilla Ice Cream, drizzled with caramel and maple syrup and finished with a cinnamon cereal crunch. It’s a sweet, comforting Southern treat you won’t want to miss.
Coconut Quadruple – Binh Tran & My Vo
A fresh young coconut served with an ice-cold coconut slushy, topped with soft-serve coconut ice cream and coconut flakes.
Cookie Chaos Milkshake – Brad Weiss
A creamy cookie butter milkshake packed with snickerdoodle, Golden Oreo and Oreo chunks. Topped with whipped cream, cookie dough, a Biscoff cookie and cookie butter drizzle, all rimmed with crushed Biscoff for a crunchy, over-the-top treat.
Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up – Tom Grace
A fresh lemonade shake with honey and jalapeños for a Texas kick, rimmed with chamoy and Tajin. Topped with real honeycomb, it’s a bold, refreshing Fair favorite.
Nevins Dirty Red Bull Tex-arita – Josey & Tami Jo Nevins Mayes
This patriotic cocktail layers sweet cream liquor and Blue Razz Pop Rocks, then mixes Watermelon and Blueberry Red Bull margaritas. Topped with Pop Rocks, fresh blueberries and watermelon, it’s a fun, fizzy adult treat that really pops.
Poppin’ Boba Rita – Justin Martinez
A frozen lime margarita with wine-infused poppin’ boba pearls bursting with mango or strawberry flavor. Upgrade it “dirty” with creamy cold foam, coconut syrup and a Tajin rim for a tropical, tangy twist.
How to Try Them
These 15 finalists will battle for the four titles on Aug. 21, at 2 p.m. CST. The Big Tex Choice Awards event is closed to the public.
Whether they win a title or not, all 30 semifinalist dishes — including the 15 finalists — will be available to try during the 2025 State Fair of Texas, running from Sept. 26 through Oct. 19.
It’s not just a fair, it’s a fried-food fantasy, and you’re invited to taste your way through it. Come one, come all, come hungry
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