The Minnesota State Fair is back, and while there might not be one single dish that screams “must-eat,” there’s still a fantastic range of food to explore. Some are truly delicious, others are skippable, and a few unfortunately fall into the “needs improvement” category. Is my judgment getting harsher, or are the misses just more pronounced this year? It’s hard to say, but let’s dive into the highlights and lowlights of this year’s fair food scene.
Let’s start with the Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing, a truly unique item from LuLu’s Public House that defies easy categorization. This is state fair food genius – it’s innovative, and they serve it efficiently (despite a long line, we were enjoying hot, perfectly fried ranch in just 12 minutes). I initially described it as similar to a cream cheese wonton, but it’s closer to a deep-fried ravioli. The filling is intensely ranch-flavored. (UPDATE: On a return visit, the ranch flavor was more balanced with cream cheese, creating a much better, less overpowering taste!). As a fair food novelty, it’s brilliant! Personally, one bite is enough for me, but I’m eager to hear what others think.
To guide your culinary journey, I’ve categorized the foods. “Blue Ribbon Winners” are my top picks – dishes I genuinely loved and would happily eat again. “Honorable Mentions” are for well-executed foods that are worth trying. Lastly, “Participation Ribbons” are for items that simply didn’t impress me. Do you agree with my assessments? Disagree? The fun of the fair is all about trying new things and sharing opinions, so let’s keep it light and enjoy the experience!
BLUE RIBBON WINNERS: The Best Fair Food of 2024
These are the standouts, the Best Food finds at the Minnesota State Fair this year. If you’re looking for the top culinary experiences, start with these Blue Ribbon winners.
Chicken Chorizo Paella at Paella Depot ($14): This is paella perfection. The chorizo is fantastic – tender and packed with flavor – and the chicken is equally well-prepared. The rice boasts a delightful caramelized crunch, and the addition of fresh snap peas, carrots, and other vegetables is a welcome touch. It’s no surprise that Paella Depot delivers such quality, considering owner Doug Huemoeller’s background as the former owner of Kitchen Window, where he spent years teaching paella classes and selling paella pans. You have options to add seafood or a fried egg, and even a mild hot sauce for extra kick. I chuckled at the “Paella is the hotdish of Spain” slogan on their truck… but Doug has a point! Located near the Miracle of Birth Building.
Turkey Kristo at Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop ($16): You can always expect farm-fresh ingredients, vibrant vegetables, and a burst of flavor from the Farmers Union. This Turkey Kristo is a warm, slightly sweet take on a Monte Cristo sandwich. While it’s not as bright or texturally complex as their usual fare, and might be heavy on a hot day, it surprised me in the best way – our group devoured the entire sandwich. It features Ferndale Market turkey on Texas toast, topped with white cheddar from CannonBelles in Cannon Falls, local apple butter, and a spicy brown mustard mayo. It might not be for everyone, but we absolutely loved it. Find it on the north side of Dan Patch Avenue near the Snelling entrance.
Koshari at Kosharina Egyptian Cuisine ($15 for chicken): What a fantastic discovery! I had never tried Koshari before, but I instantly loved this bowl of rice and lentils with chickpeas. I opted for the chicken, and the crucial element is the garlicky vinegar “dakkah” sauce – don’t skip it! It’s hearty, perfect for sharing, and a truly new and wonderful culinary experience. Located south of the grandstand under the ramp.
Quesabirria Taquitos at El Burrito Mercado ($13): These are perfectly executed, deep-fried taquitos filled with flavorful quesabirria beef and topped with their incredible salsa verde. They are easy to eat while walking around the fair. And if you ask if they’re spicy, the team will enthusiastically ring a bell and shout, “IT’S NOT SPICY!” They’re right, it’s not. Enjoy them with the refreshing Agua de Sandia Loca watermelon drink with chamoy. Find them in the International Bazaar.
Wrangler Waffle Burger at Nordic Waffles ($12): I’ve been critical of Nordic Waffles in the past for some overly adventurous waffle sandwiches, but they’ve truly hit it out of the park with this one. Caramelized onion in the waffle batter adds just the right savory note, the burger is well-seasoned, and the spicy Whataburger-style sauce ties everything together beautifully. This is essentially a patty melt with two patties served in a waffle, and I am completely on board. Located in the West End.
Ba’bacon Sour Cream + Onion at Baba’s ($14): I begrudgingly admit that I consistently love Baba’s, even though another hummus bowl might seem predictable. But is this truly new? Well, they’ve never created a sour cream and onion hummus before, and it genuinely tastes like the best sour cream and onion dip you’ve ever had. Paired with beef bacon, sumac tater tots, caramelized onions, and chive oil, it’s simply fabulous. Find it south of Little Farm Hands on Underwood.
PB Bacon Cakes at The Blue Barn ($12.75): The more I considered these, the more I appreciated them. You get six shareable bites with a satisfying bacon crunch and a light, homemade peanut butter whip. The textures are great, and it’s genuinely delicious food. Perfect for breakfast, these aren’t gimmicky at all and I would definitely order them again. Located in the West End Market, south of the History and Heritage Center.
Crab Boil Wings at Soul Bowl ($20): The flavor of these wings is off the charts. It’s like a shrimp or crab boil, but with chicken wings. The chicken apple sausage is exceptional, the wings are perfectly cooked, and the corn and potatoes are all seasoned with Old Bay. Absolutely delicious. The portion is massive – it feels like it weighs 20 pounds, which makes the $20 price tag feel more reasonable. You’ll need a table and friends to share this with. Located in the Food Building.
Sweet Heat Bacon Crunch at RC’s BBQ ($13): This bacon is incredibly tender, cooked to be intentionally not crispy. If you get an order with a generous amount of chili crunch, you’ll really enjoy this! It’s not overly spicy, and the rice is a welcome addition to soak up the sauce and balance the dish. Grab a couple of forks for sharing. Located by the Grandstand / West End Entrance.
RED RIBBON WINNERS: Honorable Mentions – Worth a Try
These dishes earned an Honorable Mention. While not my absolute favorites, they are well-made and worth considering if they appeal to your taste.
Deep-Fried Korean Corndog at Chan’s Eatery ($15): This is pure fun. When else can you get a giant corn dog-style creation filled with hot dog and mozzarella cheese? We loved the panko batter, although there’s a lot of batter compared to the hot dog itself. The crunchy and flavorful hot Cheetos coating is a definite highlight. Located on the east side of Underwood Street between Murphy and Lee avenues.
Dill Pickle Tots at Tot Boss ($8): The dill trend is still going strong, and Tot Boss excels at tater tots. They season them generously with dill seasoning. It’s not a strong pickle flavor, more of a fresh and salty dill taste, reminiscent of dill pickle potato chips. Great for sharing and flavorful. Located near Kidway/Midway Men’s Club.
Chile Mango Whip at Tasti Whip ($12): If you love Dole Whip, you’ll like this. Mango is refreshing, and the salty-sweet combination of Tajin and chamoy flavorings really wakes up your taste buds. The chamoy-rimmed cup was a bit messy, as was the tamarind candy straw, and felt a bit unnecessary. Located by Sky Glider/ Grandstand.
Swedish ‘Sota Sliders at Hamline Church Dining Hall: The flavor of these sliders is truly exceptional. The only reason they didn’t get a Blue Ribbon is because they are a reinterpretation of a previous menu item. The cranberry-wild rice meatball, smashed into a patty, is delicious, and the red relish of beets, red onions, red peppers, lingonberries, and cranberries elevates it to another level. Two sliders make this a great option to share. North side of Dan Patch Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets.
Lobster Eclairs at Scenic 61 ($25 for the lobster + banh mi duo): I enjoyed the lobster roll flavors inside an eclair shell. Why an eclair? It actually works surprisingly well as a vessel, making it easier to eat and enjoy. I preferred this much more than the banh mi, which was too dry. South of Little Farm Hands.
Sweet Corn Cola Float at Blue Moon Dine-In Theater ($11): Don’t expect it to be overly sweet, or for the cola flavor to be strongly corny. That said, I liked the subtle Earl Giles cola flavor, combined with the frozen cola and the sweet corn ice cream. I’m also a sucker for the pop rocks-style candy topping. Northeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Chambers Street.
Buffalo Cheese Curd & Chicken Tacos at Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos ($14): Two fried taco shells stuffed with a decent buffalo sauce, average shredded chicken, and cheese curds. I’m a fan of buffalo flavor, and the combination of crunch and soft curds worked for me. However, all three of us who tried it agreed we’d rather just have cheese curds. It needed more blue cheese slaw. Outside the sheep and poultry barn.
Grilled Purple Sticky Rice at Union Hmong Kitchen ($10): On opening day, with long lines, the team was clearly struggling to keep these sticky rice mounds from falling apart. It was charred so much it was almost burnt. The shredded beef jerky was dry, the rice was dry, although the Krunchy Chili Aioli was great. It’s a clever concept, but initially didn’t seem to work well. UPDATE: They’ve adjusted their cooking method! Instead of an open grill, they are now cooking it in pans, which keeps the inside sticky and the outside crispy – a huge improvement! Definitely try it now! International Bazaar, south wall, west corner.
Deep-Fried Ranch Dressing at LuLu’s Public House ($12): The first time I tried this, it was too ranch-heavy for my taste. But on my second try (Wednesday of the fair), it was more cream cheese-forward, and I really enjoyed it. The cream cheese base with a hint of ranch is much more palatable for me. This is a hit! I highly recommend dipping it in Cry Baby Craig’s hot honey. West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater.
Deep-Fried Halloumi Cheese at Holy Land Deli ($10 for 4): This is a great value, and it’s a solid offering. Halloumi is a firmer cheese, and this version, fried in pastry dough triangles with a side of sweet chili sauce, is quite good. Blue Barn offered something similar last year, but this is a worthy contender. “Stolen valor,” joked one of my friends, referencing the similarity to another vendor’s dish. International Bazaar.
Patata Frita Focacciawich at West End Creamery ($12): I appreciated the combination of olive oil, bread, and ice cream here. Wrecktangle Pizza provided excellent focaccia, and Minnesota Dairy Lab created a unique kettle-chip flavored ice cream. However, a bread ice cream sandwich is inherently messy to eat – it’s quite large and not easy to share. It’s a promising concept that needs some refinement. West End Market.
Blazing Greek Bites at Dino’s ($8): Texture was the issue for me with this dish. The deep-fried chickpea ball led me to expect falafel, but it resembled a tater tot with a baby food-like mush inside. The spiced roasted pepper was divisive among our group – some liked the noticeable, lingering heat. The roasted red pepper hummus on the side was tasty. North side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets.
Walking Shepherd’s Pie at O’Gara’s at the Fair ($10): The pastry was surprisingly good and flaky, as advertised. It is, indeed, Shepherd’s Pie. However, it’s undersalted Shepherd’s Pie. It’s a generous portion, so if you are British and prefer milder flavors, you might enjoy this. Southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street.
PARTICIPATION RIBBONS: Keep Trying – Not Recommended
These items received “Participation Ribbons.” While they might be new or interesting concepts, they didn’t quite deliver on flavor or execution for me. I’d suggest exploring other options for the best food experiences at the fair.
PB&J Biscuit at LuLu’s Public House ($8): Our biscuit was a bit over-browned. While I liked the strawberry jam on top, a PB&J biscuit just doesn’t feel necessary with so many other great options available. Infusing the biscuit with peanut butter and jelly was a clever idea to add moisture to a potentially dry biscuit.
Shroomy “Calamari” at French Meadow Bakery ($14): These mushrooms were undersalted and under-fried. The line was long, our order took 10 minutes, and the mushrooms weren’t really shaved as described. The side of chipotle sauce was the only redeeming feature. Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets.
Afro Poppers at Afro Deli ($6): I couldn’t detect any African herbs in these; they tasted simply like fried mini donuts. Ours also tasted slightly burnt. Overall, underwhelming. Food Building.
3 Piggy Pals On-A-Stick at Sausage Sister & Me ($12): Sausage Sister usually makes great sausage, but three small bites on a stick for $12, topped with a strange cream cheese mix and barbecue sauce drizzle, just didn’t work for me. Food Building.
STILL LEFT TO TRY: What Should I Review Next?
There are still several new foods I haven’t had a chance to try. Let me know which of these you are most curious about, and I’ll make sure to sample them and add my review!
Raging Ball at Herbivorous Butcher: Deep-fried sesame mochi dough ball with vegan burger mix, vegan cheddar cheese, grilled onions, and pickles, topped with bacon-flavored powdered sugar. Food Building
Strawberry Lemonade Donut at Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts: Raised doughnut frosted with lemon buttercream, rolled in strawberry lemonade crunch, and garnished with lemon gummy candy and freeze-dried strawberry slice. Served with a strawberry lemonade-filled pipette. Between West Dan Patch and Carnes avenues and Liggett & Chambers streets, south section
Mocha Madness Shave Ice At Minnesnowii Shave Ice: Caffeine-free coffee flavoring—caramel macchiato cold foam center. Drizzled with chocolate syrup and garnished with dark chocolate espresso beans. West side of Nelson Street between Dan Patch and Carnes avenues
Ham and Pickle Roll Up on a Potato Skin at Route 66 Roadhouse Chicken: Ham/pickle/cream cheese combo. Food Building, northwest corner
Cotton Candy Iced Tea at Loon Lake Iced Tea: Sweetened butterfly pea flower iced tea, garnished with edible glitter and a rock candy swizzle stick for color-changing effect. West side of Underwood Street between Wright and Dan Patch avenues
Cookie Butter Crunch Mini Donuts at Mini Donuts & Cheese Curds: Vanilla mini donuts coated with vanilla sugar, topped with Biscoff® cookie butter drizzle and cookie crumbles. East side of Underwood Street between Murphy and Lee avenues
Marco’s Garden at Jammy Sammies by BRIM: Local rhubarb jam, thyme-marinated tomatoes, farmer cheese, jalapeño, and honey with grilled gluten-free flatbread. North End across from the North End Event Center
Swedish Ice Cream Sundae at Salem Lutheran Church Dining Hall: Vanilla ice cream with lingonberry jam, Swedish ginger cookie crumble, and ginger cookie heart. North side of Randall Avenue, just south of the Progress Center
Lady’s Slipper Marble Sundae at Bridgeman’s Ice Cream: Strawberry ice cream, lemon marshmallow cream, ladyfinger cookies, whipped cream, and a cherry. Northeast corner of Judson Avenue and Liggett Street
Fried Bee-Nana Pie At Sabino’s Pizza Pies: Pie with Minnesota honey, banana, and Biscoff® cookie butter, battered and deep-fried. Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum, north side
Strawberries and Cream Waffle Stick at Waffle Chix: Belgian waffle with strawberry shortcake cookie dough, whipped cream, and strawberry sauce on-a-stick. By the Sheep Barn
