It was a beautiful first day at the Minnesota State Fair, and as usual, the Pioneer Press crew and friends started bright and early to taste through all 33 official new foods and dishes from most of the new vendors.
We’ve ranked the best, the worst and everything in between. Some foods didn’t make the top 15 or the bottom 10, so those are your call and listed alphabetically.
Family, friends and fairgoers offered their tastebuds and opinions for our rankings, too.
Here’s what we tried and what we think. What was your favorite new food? Think we screwed up? Let us know at eat@pioneerpress.com.
THE BEST
Counting down to our No. 1 favorite 2024 Minnesota State Fair new food.
15. Beignets, Beans & Beignets, $6 for 2
The beignets at Beans and Beignets, a new Minnesota State Fair vendor. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Deep-fried pastry dough topped with powdered sugar.
Our verdict: Nothing flashy, but solid quality makes these worthwhile.
Jess Fleming, food editor: That’s nice and fluffy. I’ve had worse beignets at fancy restaurants! It’s hard to find a good beignet around here.
Jared Kaufman, food and features reporter: A delightful coffee snack! What a good way to start the day.
Clare Fleming, Jess’ daughter: I’ve never had a beignet before and I’m pleasantly surprised.
Stacie Kammerling, Jared’s girlfriend: A filling might’ve been fun.
Find it: On the northwest corner of Judson Avenue and Clough Street
14. Grandma Doreen’s Dessert Dog, West End Creamery, $14.75
Grandma Doreen’s Dessert Dog at West End Creamery, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Vanilla ice cream sandwiched between two pieces of Grandma Doreen’s coffee cake. Skewered on-a-stick and drizzled with strawberry rhubarb jam.
Our verdict: Hey, this is pretty good!
Jared: This tastes like redemption. Last year’s focaccia/ice cream sandwich was terrible. This is what it should have been.
Jess: I didn’t want it, but it’s really good. Bonus points for on-a-stick.
Clare: This is really a pleasant surprise
Joey Peterson, Clare’s boyfriend: The jam adds a nice natural sweetness.
Find it: at West End Market, northwest section
13. Afro Bean Pops, Afro Deli, $8
Afro Bean Pops from Afro Deli is a new Minnesota State Fair food served on Aug. 21, 2025, the Fair’s opening day. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Savory deep-fried bites of ground black-eyed peas, onions, jalapenos, cilantro and seasonings. Served with a spicy red chili sauce.
Our verdict: Spicy food at the Fair? Say it isn’t so! More good food for vegans, too.
Jared: I like these! The flavor is great. They feel better for you than mini-donuts but have that comforting, warming-spice, deep fried goodness.
Jess: Pretty good. I can’t quite place all the flavors, but I like the flavors.
Stacie: I like the sauce drizzled on top and I really wish there were more of it.
Find it: in the Food Building, east wall
12. Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha, Holy Land, $15
Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha at Holy Land, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Spiced tandoori chicken layered with a blend of Monterrey Jack and mozzarella cheeses and a mixture of sauteed onions, bell peppers, jalapeños, corn, cilantro and green chilis, all folded inside paratha bread and griddled. Served with avocado cilantro lime sauce.
Our verdict: A departure from Holy Land’s typical flavor profile that we’re all on board with.
Jess: We love shareable food!
Jared: That flavor is amazing, and I like the stretchiness of the paratha bread.
Joey: It’s got a nice kick and tastes fresh. And I’d put that green sauce on everything.
Clare: I was not expecting that kind of curry-ish flavor!
Stacie: This is a favorite for me. The ratio of filling is great.
Find it: in the International Bazaar, southeast corner
11. Hot Honey Pizza Ballzz, Green Mill, $10
Hot Honey Pizza Ballzz at Green Mill, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Three pizza dough balls stuffed with cheese curds, pepperoni, herbs and parmesan cheese, brushed with garlic butter and topped with more pepperoni, herbs and parmesan. Finished with a drizzle of hot honey.
Our verdict: Despite plenty of pre-Fair mockery, a surprisingly delicious value.
Jess: Hey, that’s a lot of food for ten bucks! The dough is really good.
Clare: The hot honey is nice. I like it.
Jared: This is the kind of thing that’s so, so easy to get so, so wrong, and they actually do a pretty good job. I wish they were cheesier.
Anna Fox, fairgoer from Brooklyn Park: It’s… interesting. I think I’d rather just have a piece of pizza. The cheese-to-bread ratio is off.
Find it: on the east side of Cooper Street between Randall and Wright avenues, at Family Fair at Baldwin Park.
10. Pizza Cheese Curd Tacos, Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos, $14 for 2
Stacie Kammerling eats a Pizza Cheese Curd Taco from Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Pepperoni, sausage and pizza-flavored fried cheese curds in a crispy flour shell, topped with marinara sauce.
Our verdict: We love pizza. We love cheese curds. We love tacos. There ya go.
Jared: Yeah, that’s super solid. Marinara and cheese curds are already a great match, so I’m super on board with this.
Jess: I kind of expected not to like it, but god help me, I do.
Stacie: I don’t get much from the sausage, though.
Joey: Oh, I like the sausage. I wasn’t expecting it. This is like a crispy version of a good slice of pizza.
Find it: on the west side of Chambers Street between West Dan Patch and Carnes avenues
9. Hula Kalua Pork, RC’s BBQ, $14
Hula Kalua Pork at RC’s BBQ, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Slow-smoked pork collar caramelized with Hawaiian barbecue sauce, inspired by the flavors of traditional Hawaiian Kalua pork. Served with banana chips and Japanese quick-pickled cucumbers on the side.
Our verdict: Tender and delicious, but tone down the salt big-time.
Jess: That’s pretty tasty. Too salty, but really flavorful. Why is there extra salt on top? The banana chips don’t make sense; I could do without those.
Stacie: Mmmmm. That’s good.
Joey: I just bit into a huge salt flake.
John Autey, Pioneer Press photojournalist: They probably over-salt it so they can sell more beer!
Find it: located on the north side of West Dan Patch Avenue between Liggett and Chambers streets
8. Deep-Fried Tofuego Bites, Rooted & Wild, $8
Deep-Fried Tofuego Bites from Rooted & Wild, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Bites of breaded tofu, deep-fried and tossed in a tangy, spicy sauce. Served on bed of pineapple and napa cabbage slaw.
Our verdict: If you’re a vegan/vegetarian at the Fair, run, don’t walk.
Jess: That’s really nice. Kind of a standard sweet-sour sauce, but if you’re a vegan at the Fair, it’s worth seeking out.
Joey: This would make being vegan a lot more pleasant.
Jared: I like how crispy they are. They’ve got a good kick, too. I’ll stand up and say they’re good even for the non-vegans among us, too.
Stacie: And the pineapple in the slaw is a nice touch.
Find it: in the Lee & Rose Warner Coliseum, south side
7. Sweet Squeakers, Blue Barn, $14.75
Sweet Squeakers at the Blue Barn, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: White cheddar cheese curds coated in a funnel cake batter, deep-fried and topped with a scoop fresh lemon whipped cream. Finished with a berry sauce.
Our verdict: This was shockingly good and made a great breakfast.
Clare: This is so good. The whipped cream is so light and lemony. I could eat this whole thing.
Jess: The sweet/salty combo is nice.
Stacie: That’s kinda good but not worth $15
Jared: That’s very good, and a solid Fair breakfast. I was expecting it to be too sweet, but it’s good.
Find it: at West End Market, south of the History & Heritage Center
6. Athena’s Whipped Feta, Dino’s Gyros, $10
Athena’s Whipped Feta from Dino’s Gyros is a new Minnesota State Fair food served on Aug. 21, 2025, the Fair’s opening day. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Whipped feta topped with schug — a Middle Eastern green sauce made with jalapenos, garlic, cilantro and parsley — drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with crunchy toasted wild rice. Served with deep-fried pita bread.
Our verdict: This is a great snack for drinking. Good thing Dino’s has a lot to choose from.
Jared: I love whipped feta! This rocks, and the cheese and schug balance each other out perfectly. The wild rice on top is clearly meant to give some crunch but honestly makes the dish worse. It’s unpleasant.
Cathy Kaufman, Jared’s mom: Ooh, that’s nicely spicy!
Jess: Salty, but good salty. If you get a bite with the green business, it’s really nice.
Joey: I like that the fried pita is crispy but isn’t hard.
Find it: on the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
5. Somali Street Fries, Oasis Grill and Hoyo Sambusa, $15
Somali Street Fries at Midtown Global Market’s Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: A blend of Somali beef suqaar (spiced beef, vegetables, cheese and herbs) piled on French fries, topped with white garlic sauce and green jalapeño hot sauce. (Only Aug. 21–26)
Our verdict: Watch out, Ball Park Cafe garlic fries — a new bombshell has entered the villa.
Jess: I love the spices here. Yes, it’s $15, but it could feed a family, so I’d call it a good value.
Jared: Yeah, I’d crush this. Savory and spicy and beefy.
Clare: The fries aren’t soggy, which loaded fries usually are.
Joey: And the toppings are spread out well, so you get good bites.
Stacie: Those sauces are really good, too.
Find it: at Midtown Global Market, International Bazaar, east wall
4. Green Apple Sucker Ice Cream, Granny’s Apples + Lemonade, $8
What is it: Tart green apple ice cream with swirls of sweet caramel — flavored like a caramel apple lollipop.
Our verdict: A sleeper hit! Nostalgic and delicious.
Jared: Whoa! That’s unbelievable. Pitch-perfect tanginess.
Stacie: I like that it’s dense, like gelato.
Clare: Very green-apple. Impressive!
Jess: Yeah, that totally tastes like a green apple sucker.
Find it: in the Food Building, west wall
3. Shrimp and Pork Toast-On-A-Stick, Union Hmong Kitchen, $15
Shrimp & Pork Toast on a Stick at Union Hmong Kitchen, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: A mixture of ground pork and shrimp combined with Hmong aromatics like lemongrass, ginger, garlic, shallots and Thai chilis, seasoned with fish sauce and spread on Texas toast and deep-fried. Served with apricot hot sauce.
Our verdict: Perfect. Chef Yia Vang knows how to do Hmong Fair food right.
Jess: An umami bomb in the best way. It’s delicious. The toast is so buttery-crisp, and the shrimp and pork — chef’s kiss. This is just perfect.
Joey: Yeah, the pork is so good. I don’t taste the shrimp as shrimp, but it definitely adds a good flavor.
Andrew Sims, friend of Jared and Stacie: It’s light and crispy. The sauce adds a nice tangy touch, and it’s cooked to perfection.
Stacie: There’s a slight sweetness that I like, too.
Find it: in the International Bazaar, south wall, west corner
2. Cherry Bigfoot Limeade Float, Tasti Whip, $12
Cherry Bigfoot Limeade Float at Tasti Whip, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Limeade juice topped with cherry Dole Soft Serve, garnished with a lime slice and a cherry.
Our verdict: Tart and fruity and refreshing, perfect for a hot Fair day.
Clare: Ooh, refreshing! The cherry and lime complement each other really well.
Kathy Berdan, retired Pioneer Press arts editor: That’s yummy.
Jess: I don’t think there’ll be any left of this. And that’s real cherry flavor, which is good.
Jared: Perfect texture. The limeade softens the frozen whip stuff, so it cools you down really well.
Find it: on the northwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street
1. Fawaffle, BABA’S, $11
The Fawaffle at Baba’s, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Falafel, a traditional Middle Eastern fritter of chickpeas and herbs, pressed in a waffle iron and topped with tahini butter, cherry tomatoes, hummus, green shatta, mint and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds.
Our verdict: 10/10, no notes.
Jess: Oh dang! Two thumbs all the way up. That’s genius. It’s whimsical, has freshness but still feels decadent and it’s shareable.
Jared: BABA’S SUPREMACY! They can do no wrong. It definitely leans sweet (waffle) over savory (falafel) — as in, it’s not just falafel batter put into a waffle iron — but oh man, this is amazing.
Clare: I want to eat this whole thing.
Joey: Once people find out how good this is, that line is going to be crazy-long for the rest of the Fair.
Sara K., fairgoer from Maple Grove: I love the tahini butter. I was worried it would be too much falafel, but it’s a good ratio.
Find it: on the west side of Underwood Street between Lee and Randall avenues
WORST
10. Caprese Curds, Lulu’s Public House, $12
The Caprese Curds at Lulu’s, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Mozzarella cheese curds breaded with Italian seasoning and deep fried. Served over a bruschetta-flavored blend of tomatoes and basil and drizzled with balsamic glaze. Served with a side of crostini for scooping.
Our verdict: On the road to something good. Not there yet.
Jess: The curds themselves are crispy, but the toast is stupid.
Jared: Ugh, this is so wet. The curds are just not cheesy enough, also.
Stacie: I love the balsamic drizzle on there.
Find it: at West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater
9. Cinna-sugar Crust Tidbits, Sara’s Tipsy Pies, $10
Cinna-sugar Crust Tidbits from Sara’s Tipsy Pies are a new Minnesota State Fair food served on Aug. 21, 2025, the Fair’s opening day. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Freshly baked pie crust strips covered in cinnamon and sugar. Served with a side of whiskey-flavored caramel dipping sauce.
Our verdict: This feels like — at best — repurposing leftovers.
Clare: With the caramel, it kind of tastes like an apple pie. Smart way to reduce food waste.
Jared: Yeah, I’m all for that, but “reducing food waste” doesn’t need to mean serving scraps for $10. This makes me really upset, actually, because there was clearly just no creativity put in here.
Stacie: I’d prefer a more fun sauce if this is what we get for dippers. It’s supposed to be whiskey-flavored? Not in the world I’m living in.
Jess: That’s sugar on sugar on sugar.
Find it: in the Food Building, northwest wall
8. Cannoli Gelato Nachos, Mancini’s al Fresco, $11
Cannoli Gelato Nachos from Mancini’s al Fresco, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Cannoli chips topped with a scoop of cannoli-flavored gelato. Finished with chocolate sauce, rainbow sprinkles and a cherry.
Our verdict: Turning cannolis into ice cream is a fun idea, but the bad cannoli chips sink the ship.
Jared: This doesn’t really work as a deconstructed thing. It’s kind of worse than just a regular cannoli would’ve been.
Clare: I guess it tastes sort of cannoli-ish.
Alyssa: I wish the crust pieces were flakier or crispier or something, and I wish it had something that had the texture of cannoli filling, not just the taste.
Jess: I don’t think this is bad. The cannoli chips are pretty flavorless, but the ice cream itself is fine.
Find it: on the north side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets
7. Land of 10,000 Cakes, $10.50
The Land of 10,000 Cakes sundae at Bridgeman’s Ice Cream, a new food for the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Marble sundae of butter brickle ice cream layered in a cup with a trio of mini Nadia Cupcakes — creme brulee, loaded pistachio and chocolate bliss.
Our verdict: Bridgeman’s has lost the plot, big-time.
Jess: That’s a wild mishmash of layers.
Jared: Keep it simple, stupid! Bridgeman’s is so good at making ice cream, so this is just mind-boggling.
Clare: This looks like they just put a bakery’s leftovers in a cup.
Stacie: I like Bridgeman’s ice cream, so I’ll only eat the ice cream. The rest of it is not good.
Find it: on the northeast corner of Judson Avenue and Liggett Street
6. Dill Pickle Iced Tea, Loon Lake Iced Tea, $7
Dill Pickle Iced Tea from Loon Lake Iced Tea, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Brewed black tea infused with dill pickle flavor and served with a dill pickle spear. Garnished with a rim of chamoy, Tajin, salt and dill.
Our verdict: Bad news. The flavors don’t make sense together and it’s too watered-down.
Jess: Well, it doesn’t taste like bile, which is what I expected. I still don’t like it, though.
Jared: No, no, no. I don’t like it, but I can’t figure out why. It just kind of gives nothing.
Clare: The tajin rim is good.
Jess: Yeah, because it covers up the iced tea flavor!
Joey: The pickle flavor isn’t overpowering, but it’s pretty watery. None of these flavors are really strong.
Find it: on the west side of Underwood Street between Lee and Randall avenues.
5. Chicken-Fried Bacon Fries, Soul Bowl, $12
Chicken-Fried Bacon Fries from Soul Bowl are a new Minnesota State Fair food served on Aug. 21, 2025, the Fair’s opening day. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Beef bacon strips double breaded in tempura flour and fried. Served with a choice of two dipping sauces:Cashville hot, a brown sugar Nashville-style hot sauce and 24k Gold BBQ, a passion fruit gold barbecue sauce.
Our verdict: Sloppy execution makes this not worth it.
Jared: Nope. I was excited by beef bacon, but it’s way too much breading for dinky little meat scraps. Plus that Nashville Hot sauce is just spicy with no other flavor.
Jess: I wish the bacon pieces were bigger. It’s too hard to eat. Why could they not have just sliced the bacon in actual fry-shaped strips?
Andrew: It’s deep-fried bacon. What’s not to love?
Find it: in the Food Building, east wall
4. Birthday Cake Cookie Dough On-A-Stick, Kora & Mila’s Cookie Dough, $10
Birthday Cake Cookie Dough On-A-Stick at Kora and Mila’s Cookie Dough, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Cake batter cookie dough made from scratch and covered in a crunchy cake confetti shell. Topped with rainbow sprinkles and served on a stick.
Our verdict: What is happening here, and can it not happen?
Clare: Whoa. Sugar bomb.
Jess: That’s weirdly waxy? Definitely overly sweet. I took the tiniest bite and I can’t get the taste out of my mouth.
Jared: OK, I don’t hate it when I take one small bite, but I cannot do more than that.
Joey: That’s gross. It tastes like Play-Doh. Fun to play with, not to eat.
Alyssa: The frosting has an artificial-sweetener flavor that overpowers everything. And the cookie dough just tastes like any other cookie dough, so it’s not that special.
Find it: on the south side of Dan Patch Avenue between Cooper and Cosgrove streets
3. Bison Meatball Sub, Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop, $17
The Bison Meatball Sub at Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Bison and bacon meatballs topped with bison gravy, quick-pickled cucumbers, crispy fried onions and sour cream.
Our verdict: Every aspect is so disappointing, especially for the mega-price. Unexpectedly to us, fairgoers seemed to like it, but our team universally hated it.
Jess: Those meatballs are so tough and not delicious. And this is not shareable at all.
Joey: The gravy is kind of just fine.
Jared: Yeah, the gravy is super overreduced and very salty. Those meatballs are actively quite bad. What happened, farmers?! This is the second year in a row that they’ve given us a big clunker.
Jenna Opp, fairgoer from St. Paul: It’s pretty good! Reminds me of a leaner Swedish meatball sub.
Michael Johnson, fairgoer from St. Paul: I think it’s outstanding. The sauce is like a gravy with a little more pizzazz, and the cucumber goes really well.
Find it: on the north side of Dan Patch Avenue between Cooper and Cosgrove streets
2. Smashadilla, Gass Station Grill, $12
The Smashadilla at Gass Station Grill, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Smashed seasoned ground beef and gouda cheese grilled on a flour tortilla, served folded and dressed with caramelized onions, lettuce, pickles and homemade burger sauce
Our verdict: This is one of the worst hamburgers we’ve ever tasted.
Stacie: It’s not a quesadilla at all, first off.
Andrew: Yeah, it’s just a burger patty that’s straight-up flavorless.
Jess: So bland! Outrageous cost for what this is.
Jared: This makes me mad. It’s impossible to eat and tastes terrible. This is a disservice to both burgers and quesadillas.
Find it: on the west side of Cooper Street between Dan Patch and Judson avenues, outside the southeast corner of the Food Building
1. Hot Honey Jalapeño Donut, Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts, $10
The Hot Honey Jalapeno Popper Donut at Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
Our verdict: Nothing about this dense, flavorless donut works. This is the second time in as many years that Fluffy’s has delivered our most-hated new food.
Jess: The only good thing I can say is that at least it’s not too sweet. I’m not getting much from the hot honey, and the donut is way too dense. I want it fluffy! The place is called Fluffy’s! Come on!
Jared: For $10? I’m out. Frankly, I wouldn’t want to eat this for free.
Stacie: The cream cheese is kind of good, though.
Find it: on the northwest corner of Carnes Avenue and Chambers Street
THE MIDDLING MIDDLE
Cheweenies, Urban Glow Mocktails, $8
The Bonspiel Blue and a Dirty NoTini and an order of Cheweenies at Urban Glow Mocktails, a new vendor at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Mini hot dogs nestled in sweet Hawaiian rolls paired with mocktail-inspired mustards
Our verdict: Kramarczuk’s knows what they’re doing, but Urban Growler’s mustards don’t make sense.
Jess: Yeah, that’s a good hot dog. The cranberry-apple I don’t love, it’s weirdly sweet and I want it to be more mustard-y. The dill is good.
Jared: I like how snappy the dog is. I don’t get in any way how these mustards are “cocktail-inspired,” though.
Find it: at the North End, northwest section, across from the North End Event Center
Croffle Cloud, Spinning Wylde, $12
Croffle Cloud from Spinning Wylde is an official new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Courtesy of Minnesota State Fair)
What is it: Croissant pressed in a waffle iron and topped with fresh whipped sweet cream, a drizzle of fruit puree and a cloud of cotton candy. We ordered the yuzu meringue flavor.
Our verdict: Oh, that poor croissant. Not everything needs to be a waffle!
Jess: Don’t squish a croissant. I don’t need to eat much more of this. Cotton candy is pretty good though.
Joey: The croissant should be fluffier.
Jared: OK, I will say that the yuzu cotton candy might be the best cotton candy I’ve ever had. Such a good flavor.
Find it: north of Wright Avenue between Cooper and Cosgrove streets, at Family Fair at Baldwin Park.
Deep-Fried S’mores, Lulu’s Public House, $12
The Deep-Fried S’mores at Lulu’s, an unofficial new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: What it sounds like.
Our verdict: We wish it were what it sounded like. Maybe it would be good then.
Joey: The filling is like chocolate baby food.
Jared: Yeah. Bad chocolate pudding in there. This is nothing.
Find it: at West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater
Dude, Where’s My Strips, Herbivorous Butcher, $10
Dude, Where’s My Strips from Herbivorous Butcher is a new Minnesota State Fair food served on Aug. 21, 2025, the Fair’s opening day. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Vegan fried chicken strips infused with bacon flavors.
Our verdict: Good by Herbivorous Butcher-at-the-Fair standards. Bad by normal standards.
Jess: This might be the best thing I’ve had from Herbivorous Butcher. That doesn’t mean I like it, but it is a true statement.
Clare: Is it supposed to be that color inside?
Jared: That pickle seasoning on there is really good. This isn’t bad.
Andrew Sims, friend of Jared and Stacie: It really does need that sauce, though. It can’t stand alone.
Find it: in the Food Building, west section, south all
Flauta dippers, El Burrito Mercado, $15 for 3
Flauta Dippers at El Burrito Mercado, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Seasoned shredded chicken rolled in corn tortillas and fried, served in a cup with milk tomatillo salsa, sour cream and crumbled cotija cheese.
Our verdict: A solid snack that’s clearly well-made, if not as inventive as other new foods.
Clare: These are really good. I like that you can taste how good the tortillas are.
Jared: Heck yeah, that rocks. Perfect flavor, and the salsa verde is great.
Stacie: I thought this might be difficult to eat in this cup format, but it’s not.
Jess: Isn’t this basically their exact same dish from last year but in a cup?
Find it: in the International Bazaar, south wall
Gorilla Bread, Lulu’s Public House, $9
Gorilla Bread at Lulus, an unofficial new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: A version of Monkey Bread.
Our verdict: This doesn’t need to exist.
Jess: Nice crunchy outside but super mushy inside. The frosting is just OK.
Jared: Oh, that just tastes like a spoonful of brown sugar. Gross.
Joey: Like a ball of pie crust.
Find it: at West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater
Magdalena’s Chimney Cake, $15
Magdalena’s Chimney Cakes is a new vendor at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair
What is it: A rotisserie-baked Hungarian pastry shaped like a cone, filled with vanilla ice cream and choice Nutella or caramel spread and toppings.
Our verdict: We wanted to like this, but it was so deeply flawed top-to-bottom.
Jess: Poor construction. It should’ve been soft-serve, so it would actually fill the pastry.
Clare: Either less ice cream or a bigger cone. This does not make sense.
Jared: This stand does not appear to offer spoons, which is unbelievable. I also don’t think the pastry is that good, so for $15, skip.
Stacie: Yeah, the sprinkles are the best part, which is saying something.
Alyssa: This is disappointing. A just-for-looks type of item. The dough was hard and not flavorful, and the cinnamon sugar on it didn’t add enough.
Find it: on the north side of Judson Avenue between Clough and Nelson streets
Pimento Cheese Puffs, Shanghai Henri’s, $12 for 4
Pimento Cheese Puffs from Shanghai Henri’s are a new Minnesota State Fair food served on Aug. 21, 2025, the Fair’s opening day. (Jared Kaufman / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Pimento cheese — a blend of cheddar cheese, mayo and pimento peppers — wrapped in puff pastry and deep-fried, served with a side of pepper jelly
Our verdict: Good fried cheese, but it’s not satisfyingly pimento cheese as advertised.
Jared: I love the gooey, oozy texture. It’s not savory like actual pimento cheese is, though, which is disappointing.
Jess: Are there even pimentos in here?
Andrew: It’s fried cheese, classic Fair food. It’s better without the sauce, though.
Joey: I disagree, I don’t think the sauce is overpowering.
Stacie: This feels solid, like it has good structural integrity.
Find it: in the International Bazaar, north wall
Pot of Gold Potato Dumplings, O’Gara’s at the Fair, $13
Pot of Gold Dumplings at O’Gara’s at the Fair, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Cheesy garlic mashed potatoes folded into dumplings and deep-fried. Served with a side of Top the Tater.
Our verdict: The potato filling definitely has a strong garlic flavor that some of us loved, but the textures are a bit off.
Jared: Really good flavor, but the thicker wrapper is a little weird when it’s deep-fried. From the promotional picture, I thought they’d be steamed dumplings, and I really wish that’s actually what they were.
Jess: I’ve had better dumplings, which is sad since these are Saturday Dumpling Club, but I like the filling. I think it’s tasty.
Clare: Too garlicky for me.
Alyssa: Wait, this one is empty inside!
Find it: on the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street
Reuben Potato Kegs, Greater Tater, $10 for 4
What is it: Jumbo deep-fried tots stuffed with savory fillings.
Our verdict: A fun twist on a classic, but we’d prefer they be a little more well-done.
Jared: Definitely a bit softer on the inside than I thought it would be, but it’s really tasty and a good snack to walk around with.
Cathy: I really appreciate the amount of sauerkraut that’s in the Reuben ones.
Alyssa: With a regular-sized tater tot, the crispy outside is the best part, so there’s just too much “inside” with these.
Jess: A little salty.
Find it: on the west side of Liggett Street between Carnes and Judson avenues, outside the Horse Barn
Timber Twists, Giggles’ Campfire Grill, $13
Timber Twists at Giggles’ Campfire Grill, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Italian sausage, mozzarella, cream cheese and barbecue rub piped into three large manicotti shells, then wrapped in bacon. Cooked in a wood-fired smoker and served with a side of barbecue sauce.
Our verdict: Clever idea, imperfect execution — and soggy bacon is inexcusable.
Jared: Those look… huh. I shouldn’t say it in the paper.
Jess: I want the bacon to be crispy! And they shouldn’t have coated them in barbecue sauce, too messy. Just let us dip.
Joey: It’s tender, though.
Jess: I’m so mad about the bacon.
Dave Du, fairgoer from La Crescent: This is excellent. The combination of bacon and pork and manicotti — it’s very rich but a good fusion.
Find it: on the southeast corner of Lee Avenue and Cooper Street at the North Woods
Triple Chocolate Mini Donuts, Solem’s Cheese Curds & Mini Donuts, $12
Triple Chocolate Mini Donuts at Solem’s Cheese Curds & Mini Donuts, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (Jess Fleming / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Chocolate mini donuts dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with chocolate icing and topped with chocolate sprinkles and mini milk chocolate chips.
Our verdict: Ya can’t put lipstick (loads of chocolate) on a pig (average-to-bad donuts)
Jess: It’s moments when I have to eat this that I don’t love this job. It’s very sweet but not too dense, so it could be a lot worse, but it’s just a chocolate donut. Why is this on the new foods list?
Jared: Are you getting a bit of a fryer-oil taste? That’s not right.
Joey: If you love chocolate, this is for you. The chocolate rim gives it a nice look — 10 out of 10 presentation, but not for eating.
Find it: on the east side of Underwood Street between Murphy and Lee avenues
Ube Lumpia, Lumpia City, $12
Ube Butter Banana French Toast Lumpia at Lumpia City, a new vendor at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
What is it: Traditional Filipino fried spring rolls in fusion flavors.
Our verdict: A fun cultural bridge to classic Fair food with lots of potential.
Jess: Not overly sweet! Ube doesn’t taste like much in general, but that’s fine here. And it’s pretty.
Jared: Yeah, that’s nice. Solid fried Fair dessert. I disagree, though — I think it’s a bit sweeter than I’d personally prefer.
Joey: That shell is flaky, crunchy goodness.
Stacie: I like the ube part more than the banana part. It’s kind of just a fried banana.
Find it: on the north side of Judson Avenue between Liggett and Clough streets
Uncrustaburger, Coasters, $14
The Uncrustaburger at Coasters, a new food at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair.
What is it: A 4-ounce hamburger patty with cheese, pickles and special sauce, sandwiched between two deep-fried peanut butter and grape jelly Uncrustables.
Our verdict: The most divisive dish of the day.
Jess: It’s really greasy, but miles better than I thought it was going to be. Miles! The pickle helps cut the sweetness.
Clare: It’s just too sweet and sticky. This is not what you want from a burger.
Joey: I think it’s good! The peanut butter is nice and melty so it doesn’t stick in your mouth.
Alyssa: There’s a LOT going on, and I can’t decide if I mean that in a good way or a bad way.
Stacie: I like it. I like everything. I’m easily entertained.
Jess: I did just take a second bite…
Find it: on the southeast corner of Carnes Avenue and Liggett Street
Urban Glow mocktails, $8 each
What is it: Craft mocktails
Our verdict: We love Urban Growler, which makes this all the more disappointing.
Joey: The Notini has a good zing to it.
Jess: Whoa, the Notini is salty. If you need your electrolytes, I guess.
Jared: It tastes like straight olive brine — not necessarily a bad thing, but this doesn’t quite feel right. And the Bonspiel Blue is astringent, like when you leave a cucumber on the vine too long and it gets weird and bitter. There’s something
Jess: Oh, I like the cucumber. I think it’s refreshing.
Clare: There is a strong floral flavor that people might not like, though.
Find it: at the North End, northwest section, across from the North End Event Center
Related Articles
Concert review: Old Dominion fills Minnesota State Fair Grandstand on opening night
Minnesota State Fair: What do rock stars eat? These chefs feed big-name Grandstand musicians
72nd Princess Kay of the Milky Way crowned as MN State Fair begins
The Fair is on: How to get there, what to know about Falcon Heights parking
Photos: Minnesota State Fair opens for 2025
Leave a Reply