State Fair of Texas representatives hope Dallasites are thirsty for a change in 2025 at the Big Tex Choice Awards, the festival’s yearly food-and-drink competition.
During an announcement at Dallas’ Fair Park on Aug, 6, 2025, organizers named 15 finalists, which is five more than the expected 10. All are a surprising rollercoaster ride of fried and not-fried delights, and they’re likely to become the most anticipated concessions at the State Fair in 2025.
The five drinks will be eligible to win in a new category of the Big Tex Choice Awards called “best taste – sipper.”
The remaining 10 finalists, made up of five savory items and five desserts, are up for “best taste – sweet” or “best taste – savory.”
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All 15 finalists are eligible for “most creative,” the fourth and final category for the 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards. The winners will be announced after a live tasting on Aug. 21, 2025.
The 15 finalists were culled from a larger list of 30 semifinalists.
Why drinks were added to State Fair contest in 2025
Adding drinks could seem like a surprising change for the 20-year-old culinary contest that has made belt-busting foods like Fried Thanksgiving, Fried Butter, Fried Bubblegum and Fried Beer famous. But Karissa Condoianis, senior vice president of public relations and spokesperson for the State Fair, said adding a designation for drinks made sense.
Justin Martinez’s Fried Thanksgiving Dinner was the “most creative” winner in 2013 at the State Fair of Texas’ Big Tex Choice Awards. What’s in it? Stuffing, turkey, creamed corn, cranberry sauce, gravy and more.
Michael Ainsworth / Staff Photographer
These items “represent the wildest, most delicious drinks at the State Fair,” she said.
“Drinks can be just as creative as food.”
Even before a drinks category was added, State Fair concessionaires entered beverages — both alcoholic and not — into the Big Tex Choice Awards for nearly all of its 20-year lifespan. Puzzling science projects like Fried Coke and Deep Fried Latte, winners in 2006 and 2007 respectively, added liquid courage early on in the competition that started in 2005.
When Funnel Cake Ale won “most creative” in 2014, followed by a Smoky Bacon Margarita for the same award in 2015, it was clear drinks should get their due.
The finishing touch to Nevins Dirty Red Bull Tex-arita, a 2025 finalist? Pop Rocks.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
How does the contest work?
The 15 finalists are likely to attract thousands of consumers willing to pay big bucks to try the 2025 fair favorites.
State Fair of Texas concessionaire Abel Gonzales drizzles honey over Fried Butter, the ‘most creative’ winner at the Big Tex Choice Awards in 2009. It remains one of his bestsellers today.
Elías Valverde II / Staff Photographer
“It changed my life, completely,” said concessionaire Abel Gonzales, whose Fried Peanut Butter, Jelly and Banana Sandwich won “best taste” in 2005, the Big Tex Choice Awards’ inaugural year.
Gonzales was a winner or finalist for nine consecutive years and has earned the nickname Fried Jesus. His food has been spoofed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Ellen. He’s been on The View, The Today Show, Good Morning America and others.
His story is but one of many, of how deep fried food, deep in the heart of Texas, has become an identity.
Some of the winningest concessionaires returned as finalists in 2025: Isaac Rousso, of 2024’s Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick and Justin Martinez, of 2024’s Dominican Fritura Dog among them.
Other recent winners also made the list, like Michelle Le, who made 2023’s Deep Fried Pho, and Stephen El Gidi, the Olympian who created 2023’s Biscoff Cheesecake.
The Big Tex Choice Awards is, in a word, big, for the concessionaires who enter every year.
“There’s the fair before the contest,” Gonzales said, “and then there’s the fair after.”
“The contest changed everything.”
Let’s meet the 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards finalists.
5 State Fair finalists — drinks
Coconut Quadruple: State Fair veteran Binh Tran, known for his cored-out pineapple drinks since 2001, is adding a coconut sweet treat to the menu. Coconut Quadruple offers the beach fruit four ways: It’s a hollowed-out young coconut filled with piña colada slushie, topped with coconut ice cream and dusted with coconut flakes. The cocktail umbrella on the side is a fitting finish, and customers can choose to add alcohol, or not.
Binh Tran and My Vo are finalists in a new State Fair category, “best taste – sipper” in the 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Brad Weiss’ Cookie Chaos Milkshake may look tame, but there’s a lot in that cup.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Cookie Chaos Milkshake: What a name! Concessionaire Brad Weiss, whose dad Allan Weiss sold food at the fair since 1971 and ran the Old Mill Inn, created a drink in the new State Fair category. His cookie butter milkshake takes inspiration from a drink he enjoyed on a trip to Nashville a decade ago. “It changed my life,” he said. (Being a 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards finalist might, too.)
Beyond cookie butter, the drink is mixed with crumbs from snickerdoodles, Golden Oreos and classic Oreos, then topped with whipped cream and more cookie butter.
Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up is one of five drinks in the 2025 Big Choice Awards finalists.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake Up: Concessionaire Tom Grace’s spicy, sweet drink is made from the fresh-squeezed lemonade his family has sold at the fair for 35 years. It comes with watermelon chamoy and Tajin on the rim, sliced jalapeños swimming throughout, and jalapeño juice and honey mixed into the lemonade. An option of wine-based vodka can make this citrus sipper 21-and-up.
Nevins Dirty Red Bull Tex-arita: “Pop Rocks remind me of fireworks,” said Josey Nevins Mayes, the youngest winning concessionaire at the State Fair in 2022, with her Fried Charcuterie Board. Pop Rocks inspired Mayes’ red, white and blue cocktail in 2025. It’s made with Red Bull watermelon slushie, Red Bull blueberry slushie and Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream, the wine-based spirit created by a longtime State Fair family. Pop Rocks come on top and on the bottom — and they slurp right up the straw for a cold, surprising sip.
Related:Funnel cake booze: How State Fair family concocted Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream
Concessionaire Justin Martinez’s family started selling at the fair in the 1970s, before he was born.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Poppin’ Boba Rita: The creator of Fried Thanksgiving Dinner, Justin Martinez, knows the formula for a State Fair finalist: “It looks great, it tastes great and it has a great name.” He thinks he’s got the trifecta with Poppin’ Boba Rita, a margarita available with the choice of strawberry or mango flavors. The drink is made with real lime juice and topped with boba pearls. Customers can get their alcoholic bev “dirty” if they choose, adding coconut syrup and cold foam.
5 State Fair finalists — savory food
Brisket & Brew Stuffed Pretzels by Glen and Sherri Kusak are big enough to eat as a meal.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Brisket and Brew Stuffed Pretzels: The State Fair family behind the iconic Hans Mueller tent is back in 2025, with barbecue.
This year, their finalist entry is a pretzel slider injected with beer cheese and topped with brisket. Glen and Sherri Kusak are known for Chicken Fried Bacon, a 2008 Big Tex Choice Awards winner still on the menu today.
Crab & Mozzarella Arancini: “In Sicily, or even growing up in New York, you find arancini everywhere,” said concessionaire Stefan Nedwetzky. But at the State Fair of Texas? That’s tougher. His blue crab and mozzarella rice balls, coated in breadcrumbs and fried, come with a side of housemade marinara. Fun fact: The bread crumbs are made from bread baked at Netswetzky’s Plano restaurant, Texapolitan Pizza.
Crab & Mozzarella Arancini, a savory finalist in the State Fair of Texas’ Big Tex Choice Awards, are light and shareable.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
The Deep Fried Deli Tacos by Brent and Juan Reaves use the smoked pastrami that wowed us in the 2024 State Fair of Texas.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Deep Fried Deli Tacos: Smokey John’s BBQ owners, brothers Brent and Juan Reaves, are serving up a “Jewish-Mexican fusion” dish in 2025. Each fried taco is filled with the restaurant’s signature smoked pastrami, mashed potatoes, chives and “a lotta cheese,” they say. Jalapeño salsa on the side plays well with the smoky flavor, for those who dare to dip.
Related:This excellent barbecue sandwich will be available temporarily at Dallas restaurant
The Vietnamese Crunch Dog was inspired by bún thịt nướn, a marinated pork dish.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Vietnamese Crunch Dog: Deep Fried Pho winner Michelle Le is bringing her Vietnamese flavors back to the State Fair with a marinated pork skewer, dipped in panko and bánh mì crumbs and fried.
“We cook this pork all the time,” she said, “so we decided to fry it for the fair.”
She laughs: “We think about frying year round.”
This Vietnamese play on a corny dog is simple in construction but complex in flavor. And, it has that State Fair finish: It’s on a stick.
We’re keeping an eye on Kendall Williams’ Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders. They’re good.
Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders: Kendall Williams is a first-time finalist, second-year concessionaire. A year-round caterer and restaurateur, Williams’ State Fair stand sells a variety of deviled eggs. She took inspiration from that dish and made a bacon cheeseburger with fried deviled eggs as buns for her Big Tex Choice Awards entry. The mustardy deviled egg filling and secret-recipe burger sauce give this fried dish a balanced bite.
5 State Fair finalists — desserts
Candy Lemon Sour Face:
Take a bite out of a candy-dipped lemon! With a little bit of sweet and a little bit of sour, let your taste buds explore the explosion of a sour, sweet tart-taste of a delicious candy-coated lemon. Indulge in Candy Lemon Burst and let us take you on a rollercoaster of sweet and sour flavors!
Chill & Thrill Delight:
Chill & Thrill Delight is a vibrant, refreshing twist on Colombia’s famous Salpicon de Frutas that is perfect for a warm day at the State Fair. A Texas-sized cup is packed with juicy, diced mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, and strawberries, all soaked in fresh watermelon juice with a splash of lime. It’s topped with a handcrafted shaved mango sorbet that slowly melts into the mix for a sweet, tangy fusion. Whether you’re cooling off or chasing bold flavors, this fruity treat is sure to thrill!
Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake:
Dive into a decadent cup layered with pure indulgence. At the base, rich Belgian chocolate melts into a luscious pistachio spread, perfectly blended with the delicate crunch of sweet, golden kataifi and a hint of creamy tahini. Nestled above are chunks of velvety New York-style cheesecake, adding a smooth and tangy contrast. To finish, each cup is crowned with a generous drizzle of silky chocolate, a swirl of pistachio cream, and a final sprinkle of crushed pistachios for an irresistible crunch. Every spoonful of Dubai Chocolate Cheesecake is a masterpiece of texture and flavor—nutty, creamy, and decadently chocolatey.
Rousso’s Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries:
Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries bring bold, indulgent flavor to every bite! Crispy, golden funnel cake strips are drizzled with warm Belgian chocolate, then topped with pistachio cream and delicate pieces of knafeh pastry. This rich, nutty, and crispy treat takes funnel cake to a whole new level of indulgence—sweet, airy, and wildly satisfying.
Tex’s Toast á la Mode:
Tex’s Toast á la Mode is comfort food at its finest! A warm, golden-baked French toast bake topped with a generous scoop of Blue Bell® Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream slowly melting into every cozy bite. Drizzled with rich caramel and real maple syrup, then sprinkled with a fun cinnamon cereal crunch for that extra pop. It’s like a sweet, Southern hug on a plate that’ll have you coming back for more.
What’s next
Visit dallasnews.com/statefair on Aug. 21, 2025 for news on which of the 15 finalists become winners of the 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards. The Dallas Morning News will rank them on opening day, Sept. 26, 2025.
Pricing for each dish was not yet available. Fairgoers will be required to pay with coupons, which don’t expire from year to year.
The State Fair of Texas runs Sept. 26 to Oct. 19, 2025, at Fair Park in Dallas.