You might not think of gourmet cuisine when you picture a state fair. Instead, they’re the colorful domain of more casual street food-style favorites, from corn dogs to funnel cakes to neon-colored frozen drinks.
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That being said, some fair dishes head into far more memorable territory. In other words, many fairgrounds aren’t just festive carnivals with amusement park-style rides and livestock shows—they’re also grounds for culinary experimentation.
This year, restaurant review platform Yelp delved deep into state fair reviews to analyze which foods get name-dropped the most. The study took into account over 2,500 reviews from large state fairs around the country. Here’s what we can learn about America’s love of state fairs and their strange eats.
The top 10 state fairs around the country based on food – plus, their weirdest dishes
Here are the top ten state fairs in the country that come with some seriously strange and popular dishes. I’ve listed out the fairs in order of their foodie reputations, along with some of their strangest dishes that helped them make the list.
If you’re looking to gorge yourself while enjoying a state fair, these stops should be your priority:
- Minnesota State Fair in Saint Paul, Minnesota (August 27-September 7) – Don’t miss the fried chicken waffle cones and Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar
- Wisconsin State Fair in West Allis, Wisconsin (August 6-16) – Go for local classics like the original cream puff and those famous cheese curds, along with more adventure fare like root beer milk
- Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa (August 13-23) – Enjoy an imaginative chicken waffle on a stick, pork chop on a stick, or the very filling hot beef sundae, which combines mashed potatoes, roast beef, gravy, and cheese
- New York State Fair in Syracuse, New York (August 26-September 7) – If you miss the hot beef sundae, indulge in NY State’s famed BBQ sundae—and top it off with the much-adored wine slushie from Finger Lakes wines
- Indiana State Fairgrounds & Event Center in Indianapolis, Indiana (August 7-23) – Come hungry to nosh on the famed street corn pizza, then treat your sweet tooth to a cinnamon toast cookie butter pretzel bite
- State Fair of Texas in Dallas, Texas (September 12-October 18) – Fried foods are taken to the next level in Texas, where you can enjoy deep-fried butter… along with deep-fried Coke and fried beer
- The Big E in West Springfield, Massachusetts (September 18-October 4) – This fair combines New England dishes, like Connecticut’s steamed cheeseburger and Vermont’s male creemees
- Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, Florida (Early February) – Take a bit out of classic fair dishes that come with a Florida twist, like key lime funnel pies and spicy jelly tater tots
- Alaska State Fair in Palmer, Alaska (August 21-September 7) – You can sample Alaska standouts like reindeer sausage, Denali cream puffs, and the famed Talkeetna spinach bread
- NC State Fair in Raleigh, North Carolina (October 15-25) – Enjoy a blended mix of food, from imagined Buffalo crab Rangoon to yet another twist on the sundae—a cookie dough eggroll sundae
