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If you can’t make it out or just want the fair experience in a more chill atmosphere? Alternatives around the Metroplex give you a taste of the fair, ranging from high to lowbrow. Try them out because you can do better than a frozen corn dog from the supermarket for your fair-season treat.
Know of or serving a great State Fair special dish this season? Let us know. This post will continue to be updated with delicious bites.
Fletcher’s Corny Dogs
2012 Woodall Rodgers Fwy.
As always, Texans can get their corny dog fix from its food truck in Klyde Warren Park. It carries all the varieties: original, Bird Dog, jalapeño and cheese, veggie dog, Cheezy Pup, and the Make Mine Texan. The lines for Fletcher’s in the fair grounds can get out of hand, so cut through the noise and scratch the corny dog itch here.
Van Leeuwen
2649 Main St.
This ice cream shop opened an outpost in Deep Ellum and to further solidify its Texas connection (Fair Park is just a stone’s throw away, after all), is will offer the Texas sundae until the fair is over with 50 percent of the profits going to the North Texas Food Bank. That’s two scoops of its prailine butter cake ice cream, which is made with Texas candied pecans, topped with salted caramel cause, honey almond slivers, whipped cream, and a Texas flag (don’t eat that last item). It is available at all locations.
Birdie’s Eastside
6221 E. Mockingbird Ln.
Head to Birdie’s for red velvet whoopie pies; loaded fries with bacon, guacamole, and three cheeses — queso, queso fresco, and cheddar cheese; and a brunch of Cap’n Crunch French toast topped with strawberries.
Rodeo Goat
1926 Market Center Blvd.
Swing by any of its locations around DFW and get the Big Tex Burger until October 17. It features a beef patty from 44 Farms, chicken fried mashed potato cake, bacon, a fried onion ring, and chorizo gravy for $13.49.
UnaVida
3699 McKinney Ave., #307
This cute spot offers takes on popular fair foods, including street corn fritters with elote dip and tajin, jalapeño masa cheese grits, and a churro banana split with Mexican vanilla ice cream, espresso chocolate sauce, bruleed bananas, caramel-filled churros, strawberries, and fried candied peanuts.
CBD Provisions
1530 Main St., Ste. 100
Head to this restaurant Downtown in the Joule hotel to enjoy deep fried Oreos and the Big Texan — that is loaded fries with smoked brisket, bacon, shallots, and a herb aioli.
Flying Fish
1838 Irving Blvd.
Drop into any of its locations for an order of Larry’s deep fried banana pudding, a Nashville hot sandwich made with chicken breast or fried catfish filets, or alligator queso — yes, seriously.
Lucky’s Cafe
3531 Oak Lawn Ave.
In Oak Lawn, one can get a pair of corn dogs and fries without going anywhere near the fair grounds. If you’re in the mood, add a cotton candy pilsner from the Texas Ale Project to your order.
Meddlesome Moth
1621 Oak Lawn Ave.
Meddlesome Moth is going all in on the fair with dishes including bacon lollipops are served with maple hollandaise sauce, mini carnival corn dog dippers, a fried Oreo topped with strawberry syrup, and its Texas blue ribbon feast of fried chicken, whipped sweet potatoes with marshmallows, and cheddar mac and cheese. It will also offer fair-themed drinks, such as the Fairground Fiesta (a vodka drink spiced up with jalapeño and cooled down with cucumber and lime), the Ferris Wheel Mocha Martini (a take on an espresso martini with a dash of chocolate), and the Carnival Cabare (gin, creme de violette, and liqueur elderflower).
Maple Leaf Diner
12817 Preston Rd., #129
Pop by for a helping of fried Oreos, fried cheese curds (it is a Canadian diner, after all), a carnival burger, State Fair poutine, or a cotton candy mimosa.
Pete’s Dueling Piano Bar
6765 Winning Dr., #810 in Frisco
Wet your whistle with the Cotton Candy Cosmopolitan, made with lemon-flavored vodka-base, cotton candy-infused simple syrup, lemon juice, and a splash of soda.
