For some, the annual New York State Fair is a once-a-year splurge. But the end-of-summer event doesn’t have to break the bank.
We toured the fairgrounds to find tasty and fun dishes that cost less than $10.
Want to save a little money, even on some of the bigger-ticket food items? Carry cash. You’ll save on credit card surcharges and, at some stands, you may even avoid paying sales tax.
While there are plenty of deals to be found, this list is just a small sample of the cheap eats at the fair.
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Cups of milk from the Rainbow Milk Bar are still 25 cents at the 2026 New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Cups of milk (Dairy Building)
What NYS Fair cheap eats list would this be without the 25-cent cups of cold, refreshing milk? The Rainbow Milk Bar offers plain or chocolate milk, and sometimes, strawberry.
Cost: 25 cents
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Walkable, shareable and less than $10 – chocolate chip cookie cone from Sweet Praxis Bake Lab at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Cone of chocolate chip cookies (Sweet Praxis Bake Lab, Dairy Building)
Easily shareable and pairs perfect with cups of Rainbow Milk bar milk, the chocolate chip cookie cone from Sweet Praxis is a classic.
Cost: $7
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Pick $1 salt potatoes or buttered baked potato or a fully loaded potato for $3.50 at the Tully’s Potato Bar at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Baked or salt potatoes (Horticulture Building)
The $1 baked potato has been an NYS Fair staple for decades. This year, Tully’s Good Times has taken over the booth, breathing new life into the stand, which promotes New York-grown potatoes.
Syracuse’s signature dish — baby potatoes boiled in heavily salted water and served with salted butter — is also making an appearance on the menu this year.
The loaded baked potato comes with all the fixings and is a hefty deal for less than $5. With all the rich fried foods we have sampled so far, this felt almost like health food.
Cost: $1 for buttered baked potato or salt potatoes, $3.50 for the loaded baked potato, $3.75 for the broccoli cheddar potato and $5 for the fair specialty potatoes which include chicken wing dip, chili and the Beak & Skiff caramel apple potato.
PIzze Fritte The Villa Pizze Fritte at the New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller)
Pizze Fritte (Midway)
Another NYS Fair classic and our No. 1 pick for the NYS Fair Food Hall of Fame, this sugary, 2-foot-long piece of fried pizza dough is a must-get for many longtime fair attendees.
Expect to see lines outside the booths after a concert, but workers keep them moving to minimize the wait.
Cost: $5
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Buffalo chicken wings from Twin Trees at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@syracuse.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@syracuse.com)
Buffalo wings (Twin Trees, Restaurant Row)
There are plenty of cost-effective carbs to be found on the fairgrounds, but protein isn’t left off the budget-friendly menu. Twin Trees offers chicken wings in both Buffalo and “Around the World” flavors, a combination of spicy, garlic and BBQ seasonings.
Pair them with a side of blue cheese or ranch.
Cost: $8 for six wings
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Poutine from Horan’s at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Poutine (Horan’s, Restaurant Row)
If you want poutine but don’t have much cheddar to spend, Horan’s offers its take on the dish. These piping-hot fries come covered in shredded cheese and topped with a lake of gravy.
There are plenty of deals on Horan’s menu, making it a prime spot to stretch your dollar.
Cost: $8.50
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Mini soft serve ice cream cone sells for $2 at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Mini soft serve cone (Multiple locations)
If you’re saving room for multiple state fair samples, this mini ice cream cone is just the right size.
Cost: $2
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair A Nutella stuffed brioche croissant from La Bella Dolce at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@syracuse.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@syracuse.com)
Nutella stuffed brioche croissant (Altieri’s La Bella Dolce, Restaurant Row)
There’s not much better than a buttery pastry stuffed with chocolate hazelnut creme, making this a perfect treat-yourself choice for carb-loading at the fair.
Cost: $7
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Dirty sodas from Sip It. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Dirty sodas (Sip It, Restaurant Row)
Cold and refreshing, the dirty soda craze has arrived at the state fair, and Sip It has a long list of concoctions to try.
With fun names like Shark Bait and Flounders Fizz, these drinks feature a soda base mixed with flavored syrups, fruit purees and heavy cream.
Cost: $7
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Two Hofmann hot dogs for $5 from Basilio’s at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Two Hofmann hot dogs (Basilio’s, Restaurant Row)
Whether you’re looking for a double helping or something to share, two Hofmann hot dogs — a Syracuse classic — for $5 is a steal. That’s even cheaper than the price of a single Hofmann at local restaurant Heid’s.
Cost: $5
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Apple pie doughnut from Dudes Donuts at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Apple pie doughnut (Midway)
New to the fairgrounds this year, Dudes Donuts is located near Suburban Park and the Midway, just inside Gate 10.
They offer a variety of doughnuts on the cheap: $3 for one or two for $5. Go over the top with one of their pie doughnuts, available in apple pie, cream pie or strawberry pie flavors.
The doughnut is light and airy, topped with fruit and whipped cream.
Cost: $7
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Hot beef sundae at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Hot beef sundae (Shake It Up, Dairy Building)
The ultimate state fair comfort food, the hot beef sundae is a mound of mashed potatoes topped with slow-cooked, shredded roast beef, rich brown gravy, shredded cheese and a cherry tomato.
The entire menu here is under $10, from entrees to ice cream treats.
Cost: $8
Byrne Dairy ice cream cones New York State Fair Soft serve ice cream cones from Byrne Dairy in the Dairy Products Building at the New York State Fair. Aug. 21, 2024. (Kevin Tampone | ktampone@syracuse.com) (Kevin Tampone/Kevin Tampone | ktampone@syracuse.com)
Soft serve ice cream cones (Byrne Dairy, Dairy Building)
Byrne Dairy is offering two full-sized soft serve ice cream cones for just six dollars. Splurge for sprinkles for an extra 50 cents per cone.
Cost: $6
State Fair 2025 Cream puffs in the Dairy Products Building at the 2025 New York State Fair. (Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com) (Charlie Miller/(Charlie Miller | cmiller@syracuse.com))
Giant cream puffs (Dairy Building)
Freshly made cream puffs the size of your head definitely belong on our state fair bargain menu.
Choose from plain, chocolate-covered, Dubai chocolate or cookies-and-cream styles.
Cost: $6-$7 depending on flavor
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Apple cider float from Apple Dumpling Co. in the Eatery at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Apple cider float (Apple Dumpling Co., The Eatery)
With fall right around the corner, this apple cider float feels like a bridge between summer and the most colorful season in Upstate New York.
Cost: $8
Cheap eats at the NYS Fair Deep fried Reese’s peanut butter cups wrapped in bacon from Fried Specialties at the New York State Fair. Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com (Sunny Hernandez/Sunny Hernandez | ahernandez@nyup.com)
Deep fried Reese’s peanut butter cups wrapped in bacon (Fried Specialties, Restaurant Row or Midway locations)
This booth offers some of the wildest deep-fried fair foods, but in looking out for our budgets — and our waistlines — two deep-fried peanut butter cups fit the bill.
Cost: $7