State Fair of Texas 2025: Big Tex Choice Awards Winners, Finalists & Our First-Taste Review (New Drink Category!)

We flew Austin → Dallas and back in the same day with one mission: eat our way through the 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards—including the brand-new Sippers (drink) category—and film a full first-look review. Could we cover the finalists and winners in under 4 hours? Yup. Was it delicious chaos? Also yes.

Below you’ll find the official winners we tried, quick reviews of the finalists, where to find each on the fairgrounds, and practical tips so you can plan your own snack-attack like a pro.

First Look at 2025 State Fair of Texas New Food Finalist and Winners

Finalists We Tried (Rapid Reviews + Locations)

• Deep-Fried Deli Tacos – Smokey John’s (Cotton Bowl Entrance)
  Smoked pastrami + mashed potatoes in a fried corn shell with a spicy mustard dip. Oily but addictive; the sauce has kick.

• Coconut Quadruple – Pineapple Man (Cotton Bowl Plaza on First Ave)
  Served in a real coconut with soft-serve/slushie layers—fresh coconut flavor, not sunscreen-fake. Heat killer.

• Vietnamese Crunch Dog – Eat Crispies (Midway)
  Panko-crunch batter, Vietnamese-style filling. Egg-roll energy in corn-dog form; we think it was finalist-level elite.

• Brisket & Brew Stuffed Pretzel – Hans Mueller Beer Garden (Chevy MainStage)
  Buttery, A+ pretzel; subtle beer cheese. Wanted more brisket; still a solid shareable carb bomb.

• Poppin’ Boba-Rita – Granny’s Funnel Cakes (Neon Tex)
  Frozen marg + mango popping boba + Tajín rim. Simple, cold, perfect for walking in 90°.

• Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake – Drizzle Cheesecake (Chevy MainStage)
  Cheesecake “trifle” cup with Belgian chocolate, pistachio, shredded phyllo, and a hint of tahini. Textures = chef’s kiss.

• Rousso’s Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries – Magnolia Beer Garden (by Big Tex)
  Funnel-cake “fries” with pistachio cream + chocolate + phyllo crunch. Delicious, a touch basic compared to winners, still a don’t-miss if you’re team sweet.

Can You Do the Big Tex Finalists in One Day?

We had about 4 hours of runway between flights and covered a ton, but we did miss three of the Big Tex finalists. While most people won’t have to do the State Fair of Texas in just 4 hours, it is all we have. Here are some of our key moves:

• Start near the Chevy MainStage/Big Tex cluster to quickly hit multiple items.

• Tower Building Food Court houses two winners—Most Creative and Sweet—but expect lines.

• Share everything. Portions and prices (coupons are approximately $1 each) add up; splitting lets you try more.

Pro Tips Before You Go

• New Sippers category = plan a drink stop every 60–90 minutes. You’ll thank us.

• Shade + seating felt better this year—use the umbrella/table zones near live music to cool down between bites.

• Heat strategy: alternate savory → cold drink → sweet to keep your palate (and core temp) happy.

• Lines & timing: earlier in the day = faster. Opening weekend and evenings bring peak waits.

Our “Top 5 Bites” Power Ranking

1. Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders (Most Creative Winner)

2. Chill & Thrill Delight (Sweet Winner)

3. Crab & Mozzarella Arancini (Savory Winner)

4. Cookie Chaos Milkshake (Sippers Winner)

5. Vietnamese Crunch Dog (Finalist, but robbed? We think so.)

Frequently Searched Questions (Quick Answers)

When is the State Fair of Texas & where is it?
Each fall at Fair Park, Dallas. Check the official calendar for exact 2025 dates and daily hours.

How do coupons work?
Most food/drinks/games use fair coupons (~$1 per coupon). Buy at kiosks; many signature items run 16–20+ coupons—share to sample more.

Can I find the Big Tex finalists/winners all year?
Not guaranteed. Winners often return next year, but availability is a fair-season thing.

Best place to start for food?
Cluster around the Chevy MainStage / Big Tex, and Tower Building Food Court to quickly knock out multiple award items.

Parking or transit?
Parking fills up quickly on weekends; consider rideshare or DART to avoid the mid-day crush.