The State Fair of Texas just wouldn’t be the same without its wild snacks and refreshments like Hot Cheeto pizza and bacon jam hard apple cider.
Since 2004, the State Fair has put on the Big Tex Choice Awards to determine the best of the best food to serve fair-goers. This year, there were a record-breaking 77 entries from 46 concessionaires. Vendors must have at least two years of State Fair experience to be eligible.
There are awards in four categories– best savory taste, best sweet taste, best sipper taste and most creative. Judges evaluate each entry based on uniqueness, creativity, presentation and taste.
Last year, crab and mozzarella arancini took the savory taste win. Then the chill & thrill delight made with fresh tropical fruit and mango sorbet won for sweet. The best sipper was a cookie butter shake with snickerdoodles and Oreos. And finally, the Wagyu-bacon-cheeseburger-deviled-eggs slider took victory for most creative.
The Big Tex Choice Awards has made the State Fair of Texas’ food scene one of the best in the country. Besides the staples like Fletcher’s corny dogs and turkey legs, Big Tex award winners also feature iconic dishes like fried beer and cotton candy tacos.
For a concessionaire, winning a Big Tex award can be life-changing, earning them free publicity and business from thousands of fair-goers. Here are the 15 finalists for this year.
Best Taste – Savory finalists 
One of the finalists for Best Taste savory in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Burger Chop Tater Tacos: Cheddar cheese tater tots are pressed into a taco shell and filled with a chopped burger patty mixed with jalapeños and onions, then layered with buffalo buttermilk ranch slaw, more buffalo sauce and more tots.
One of the finalists for Best Taste savory in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos: The blue corn tortilla taco is a roasted jalapeño stuffed with juicy pineapple pork sausage. The other yellow corn taco has brisket wrapped jalapeño with melted mozzarella, pickled red onions and your choice of barbecue or hot sauce.
One of the finalists for Best Taste savory in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Flamin’ Crunch Pizza: Hand-tossed pizza with jalapeño cheddar queso sauce, mozzarella and cheddar cheese and topped with oodles of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and a drizzle of buffalo ranch dressing and more queso after baking.
One of the finalists for Best Taste savory in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Golden Crunch Melt: Chicken pastor, peppers, onions, potatoes and cheese all hugged by a butter-brushed tortilla, grilled and then topped with a signature smoky chipotle crema.
One of the finalists for Best Taste savory in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Nacho Wings: Taco-seasoned crispy chicken wings layered with nacho cheese, cilantro, onions, cotija cheese, tomatoes, pickled red onions and jalapeños on top of ranch-drizzled fries.
Best Taste – Sweet finalists 
One of the finalists for Best Taste sweet in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Berry Me in Matcha: White chocolate dipped New York style cheesecake rolled in crushed matcha cookies, drizzled with more white chocolate and strawberry jam.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sweet in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar: A cold brew blended with Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream Cocktail and frozen into popsicle form and drizzled with chocolate.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sweet in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog: Milk chocolate fudge hand-dipped in the Fletcher’s famous Original Corny Dog batter and then deep-fried. Topped with yellow icing and served with raspberry dipping sauce.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sweet in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Holy Flan! Buñueloco: Buñuelo (fried dough) filled with homemade arroz con leche and Blue Bell cinnamon ice cream topped with whipped cream and caramel drizzle.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sweet in Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone: A white chocolate-dipped waffle cone rolled in Texas pecan praline, filled with cookie butter cheesecake and topped with whipped cream, Biscoff® cookie drizzle and crumble and white chocolate sauce.
Best Taste – Sipper finalists 
One of the finalists for Best Taste sipper in the Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Corn Flake Shappé: Toasted corn flakes blended with dulce de leche and Texas pecans, topped with whipped cream, more corn flakes, strawberry crumble and powdered sugar.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sipper in the Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float: Peach Bellini soft serve, infused with sparkling wine topped with grated frozen peach and sparkling sugar.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sipper in the Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider: Crafted with hints of apple, caramel, churros, cinnamon sugar and a smoky bacon jam.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sipper in the Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Sunset Soft Serve Rita: This strawberry and mango margarita is combined with a vanilla soft serve with a Tajin rim, chamoy drizzle and crunchy honey-Tajin topping.
One of the finalists for Best Taste sipper in the Big Tex choice awards. Courtesy photo by State Fair of Texas
Tropical Coco Fresca: Layered pineapple and watermelon Aguas fresca with a chamoy-Tajin rim, topped with a coconut icy snow.
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Ella Gonzales is a service journalism reporter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram. She is part of a team of local journalists who answer reader questions and write about life in North Texas. Ella mainly writes about local restaurants and where to find good deals around town.