Prepare your taste buds for the 2026 State Fair of Texas Big Tex Choice Award winners
Can you wait a month to try tater tot tacos, matcha-dipped cheesecake and bacon jam cider at the State Fair of Texas?
A true Texan knows how important the State Fair food is. The annual event brings an estimated $600 million to the North Texas economy every fall. Some patrons visit the most Texan place ever just so they can grace their taste buds with legendary fried food. This year, the State Fair of Texas will be from Sept. 25-Oct. 8.
Each year, the State Fair puts on the annual Big Tex Choice Awards where they give out four awards – the “Best Taste” award for savory dishes, sweet treats and drinks, as well as an award for the “Most Creative” food. Out of 90 total concessionaires, 46 participated this year, with a record-breaking number of 77 different entries.
Judges (including the Star-Telegram’s Ella Gonzales) tasted the 15 finalists Tuesday, Aug. 18, based on taste, presentation, fairgoer appeal and — a new category this year — price.
Though there are only four awards given, just being a finalist is a triumphant feat. Many concessionaires are family-owned, multi-generational Texans, and a title like this can make a six-figure impact on their business.
“These are all small business owners who spend months developing these items, testing recipes, and figuring out how to serve something creative and delicious to millions of people,” said State Fair of Texas Public Relations Vice President Karissa Condoianis at the Big Tex Choice Awards event Tuesday morning. “All 15 of these finalists have already earned some serious bragging rights by making it here, but four of them are about to earn even more.”
So let’s dig in. Here are the winners of the 21st Big Tex Choice Awards.
Best Taste: Savory
Tommy G’s Burger Chop Tater Tacos were the winner for best taste in the savory category. These tacos are made of a taco shell full of pressed cheddar cheese-tater tots. The taco filling is made up of chopped-up burger meat, jalapeños, onions and buffalo ranch slaw, with even more buffalo sauce to drizzle.
Chef Tom Grace of Tommy G’s has been a part of the Big Tex Awards for 10 years now, and has won twice already. He said what makes this year different is that Tommy G’s has two finalist entries — the wining Burger Chop Tater Tacos and the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto crunch pizza.
Last year’s winner was the Crab and Mozzarella Arancini, which included Maryland blue crab meat, white rice with herbs and mozzarella coated in Italian breadcrumbs, served with marinara sauce.
Best Taste: Sweet
Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog won sweet victory. For this take on a corn dog, milk chocolate fudge is formed onto a corn dog stick, dipped in Fletcher’s signature corn dog batter and topped with vanilla custard “mustard.”
While Fletcher’s is a name that has been a part of the State Fair of Texas since 1942, this is the first time the beloved business is featured in the Big Tex Choice Award finals.
“It was so surreal, I didn’t think it was really happening,” said Amber Fletcher, third-generation co-owner of Fletcher’s Original Corny Dogs. “We’ve been at the State Fair for 84 years and have only done one thing so it was really new for us to step out and do something sweet.”
Last year’s winner was the Chill and Thrill Delight which has diced mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe and strawberries soaked in watermelon juice and lime, then topped with shaved mango sorbet. This dessert is a twist on Columbia’s Salpicón de Frutas (Colombian Fruit Cocktail).
Best Taste: Sipper
The Tropical Coco Fiesta was the winning sipper. This refreshing drink has pineapple and watermelon Aguas fresca topped with a coconut snow ice, tajin and fresh fruit.
Fruteria Cano has been at the fair for 13 years, but this is the first year they were in the Big Tex Choice Awards finals.
“It’s really been a journey of hard work,” said Anna Cano, the third-generation owner of Fruteria Cano, alongside her brother, Luis. “Our parents started coming here, and so they brought us here. We had fun here, and so when we started our own business, it’s been a road to get here. And hard work does pay off.”
Last year’s winner was the Cookie Chaos Milkshake, a milkshake with snicker doodle chunks, classic Oreos and golden Oreos, topped with whipped cream, cookie butter cookie dough and cookie butter drizzle.
Most Creative
The Berry Me in Matcha dessert on a stick won for most creative. This cheesecake is dipped in white chocolate, rolled in matcha cookies, then drizzled with more chocolate and strawberry sauce.
Stephen El Gidi of Drizzle Cheesecakes has participated in the Big Tex competition for three years now. He was a finalist last year for a Dubai chocolate cheesecake, but this year is the first he’s brining home a trophy. El Gidi was surprised with the win and happy to be recognized for his creativity.
“We try to be as innovative and current as right now, and understand that the matcha is the new hot thing. Last year was Dubai chocolate, now it’s the matcha,” he said. “So we wanted to incorporate something really cool without jeopardizing our product and our quality.”
Last year’s winner was the Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Eggs Slider, with Cajun-seasoned Wagyu patty, melted aged cheddar and applewood bacon. The twist is instead of a bun, it’s sandwiched between deep-fried deviled eggs.
This story was originally published August 18, 2026 at 5:54 PM with the headline "Prepare your taste buds for the 2026 State Fair of Texas Big Tex Choice Award winners."