Every year at the State Fair of Texas, food innovators from across the Lone Star State go head–to–head in the legendary Big Tex Choice Awards, vying for the ultimate bragging rights—and the adoration of fair-goers. From inventive savory twists to sugar-high indulgences and thirst-quenching concoctions, here’s everything you need to know about this year’s fiercest finalists.
| Category | Food Item | Vendor(s) |
|---|---|---|
| Savory | Brisket & Brew Stuffed Pretzels | Glen & Sherri Kusak |
| Crab & Mozzarella Arancini | Stefan T. Nedwetzky | |
| Deep Fried Deli Tacos | Brent & Juan Reaves | |
| Vietnamese Crunch Dog | The Le Family | |
| Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders | Kendall Williams | |
| Sweet | Candy Lemon Sour Face | Chef Heather J. Perkins |
| Chill & Thrill Delight | Tony & Terry Bednar | |
| Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake | Stephen El Gidi | |
| Rousso’s Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries | Isaac & Joey Rousso | |
| Tex’s Toast á la Mode | Michelle & Jayse Edwards | |
| Sipper | Coconut Quadruple | Binh Tran & My Vo |
| Cookie Chaos Milkshake | Brad Weiss | |
| Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up | Tom Grace | |
| Nevins Dirty Red Bull® Tex-Arita | Josey Nevins Mayes & Tami Jo Nevins Mayes | |
| Poppin’ Boba Rita | Justin Martinez |
View this post on Instagram
Why the Big Tex Choice Awards Matter
-
Culinary Creativity: These finalists prove that the Fair is as much about innovative gastronomy as it is about rides and livestock.
-
Texas-Sized Flavors: From Gulf seafood to Wagyu beef, each dish screams “Texas,” showing off the state’s diverse culinary heritage.
-
People’s Choice: Unlike other fairs, the Big Tex Choice Awards relies on popular voting—so every plate and slurp counts!
How You Can Get Involved
-
Visit the Fair: Sample each finalist (and snap plenty of foodie pics).
-
Cast Your Vote: Ballots are available at the Fair’s Big Tex Choice Awards booth—help crown your favorites.
-
Share Your Faves: Tag your photos #BigTexChoice so fellow foodies can follow your delicious journey.
A Brief History of the Big Tex Choice Awards
Long before deep-fried Oreos and bacon-wrapped funnel cakes, the State Fair of Texas sought to spotlight the most creative concessionaires on its Midway. In 2005, the Fair launched the Big Tex Choice Awards as a way to celebrate and showcase out-of-the-box culinary inventions. What began as a single savory category quickly grew into a three-pillar competition—Savory, Sweet, and Sipper—inviting chefs to push the boundaries of fair-food flavor and form.
Over the years, the awards have become a must-see attraction for both exhibitors and fairgoers:
-
Community-Driven Judging
Rather than a closed panel, the Choice Awards rely on public voting—every plate served doubles as a ballot. Fans line up not only to taste, but to cast votes for their favorites. -
Categories & Evolution
Early winners included fried classics like Praline Perfection and Fried Peaches & Cream. As tastes diversified, a dedicated “Sipper” category was added in 2012 to honor daring drinks like the Cookie Chaos Milkshake and Poppin’ Boba Rita. -
Launching Culinary Careers
Past champions have gone on to open brick-and-mortar restaurants, book food-truck gigs, and land local media appearances—turning Midway fame into full-time ventures. -
Annual Tradition
Each fall—September through October—chefs from across Texas and beyond gather at the Fairgrounds, hoping to claim the coveted Golden Spatula trophy and the bragging rights that come with it.
Today, more than a decade and hundreds of inventive dishes later, the Big Tex Choice Awards remain the gold standard for State Fair gastronomy—where innovation, crowdsourced excitement, and Texas-sized flavors converge every year.
Whether you’re swooning over sweet funnel-cake fries or toasting with a daring boozy boba-margarita hybrid, the Big Tex Choice Awards are the ultimate showcase of Texas ingenuity—and a guaranteed flavor explosion. See you at the Fair!
Find out more about the 2025 nominated foods here – https://bigtex.com/big-tex-choice-awards/
