Annual Big Tex Choice Awards celebrate ambitious, months-long development of unique fair food offerings.
Dishes balance tradition and innovation, from Flamin' Hot Cheeto pizza to elevated, boozy desserts.
Fair food culture reflects Texas's diverse flavors and community spirit, drawing crowds with irresistible tastes.
Source: Photo Courtesy of Indiana State Fair / Indiana State Fair
The State Fair of Texas doesn’t just serve food. It stages a full-on culinary spectacle, and nowhere is that more apparent than at the Big Tex Choice Awards—the annual competition where vendors go all out to earn the title of Best Taste or Most Creative. This year’s tasting experience was nothing short of extraordinary. From a viral pizza that took 30+ attempts to perfect, to boozy soft serve floats that had people reaching for seconds, the creativity on display was next level.
We filmed the entire experience during this year’s judging and tasting event, and what follows is the full breakdown—every dish, every sip, and every “how did they even think of this?” moment. If you’re planning a trip to the fair when it opens on September 25 and runs through October 18, consider this your essential guide to eating well in Dallas.
The Big Tex Choice Awards represent the beating heart of Texas fair food culture. These aren’t carnival nachos thrown together in five minutes. These are dishes that vendors have spent months developing, testing, and refining—dishes built to surprise, delight, and occasionally blow your mind. This year’s lineup delivered on all three counts.
Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Pizza (Tommy G’s) — The One That Took 30+ Tries
If there’s one dish that captures everything the Big Tex Choice Awards stand for, it might be Tommy G’s Flamin’ Hot Cheeto Pizza. The story alone is worth the price of admission: 30-plus recipe attempts before landing on the version being served this year. That kind of dedication shows.
The pizza arrives with that unmistakable Flamin’ Hot orange dusting, and the flavor hits in waves—first the familiar cheesy, doughy comfort of pizza, then the slow, building heat from the Cheeto seasoning. It’s playful without being gimmicky, and the execution is tight. The crust holds up, the toppings are balanced, and the whole thing tastes like something you’d actually crave again.
Tommy G’s is a known name at the fair, and this entry cements their reputation as one of the more ambitious vendors in the competition. Keep an eye on this one when voting opens.
Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos — Where Tradition Meets Creativity
There’s a lot of love packed into Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos. The concept? Blue and yellow corn tortillas—each carrying a different set of toppings that celebrate both the diversity of Texas flavors and the artistry of thoughtful combination.
The use of blue corn tortillas immediately signals that this isn’t a standard taco entry. The color contrast alone draws you in, and then the fillings deliver. Each taco tells its own story, with toppings chosen to complement the distinct earthiness of each tortilla variety. It’s the kind of dish that rewards slowing down and actually paying attention to what you’re tasting.
In a competition full of deep-fried showstoppers, the Texas Two Step Tacos stand out by leaning into authenticity and thoughtful construction. Texas food culture runs deep, and this entry honors that tradition while still feeling fresh.
Sunset Soft Serverita — When Dessert Meets Happy Hour
Leave it to the State Fair to turn a margarita into a handheld dessert. The Sunset Soft Serverita is exactly what it sounds like: soft serve ice cream infused with the spirit of a classic margarita. It’s tart, creamy, and just boozy enough to remind you this is very much an adult treat.
The color gradient—warm sunset tones in the swirl—makes this one of the more visually striking entries in the lineup, which matters at a fair where Instagram-worthy presentation is half the battle. But the Sunset Soft Serverita earns its keep on flavor alone. The citrus notes cut through the richness of the soft serve in a way that keeps every bite from feeling too heavy.
For anyone who has ever wished their dessert had a little more kick, this one is a must.
Nevin’s Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float — Southern Elegance in a Cup
Peach and sparkling wine is a pairing that’s earned its classics status, and Nevin’s Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float brings that combination straight to the fairgrounds. Creamy peach soft serve, floated with bubbly sparkling wine, creates a dessert that somehow manages to feel both indulgent and refreshing at the same time.
The soft serve is rich without being overwhelming, and the addition of sparkling wine adds an effervescence that cuts through beautifully. It’s elegant in a way you don’t often associate with fair food—and that contrast is precisely what makes it so memorable.
This one pairs particularly well with a warm Texas afternoon. If you’re looking for something to sip and savor slowly rather than devour in two bites, the Peach Bellini Float is your answer
Golden Crunch Melt — The Crowd-Pleaser That Actually Earns It
Some dishes play to the crowd, and some dishes play to the crowd and deliver. The Golden Crunch Melt does both. A crispy flour tortilla stuffed with chipotle chicken, bell peppers, melted mozzarella, and crispy potato strips—this is hearty, satisfying fair food done right.
The chipotle chicken brings the heat and depth, the mozzarella ties everything together with that satisfying pull, and the potato strips add a textural crunch that elevates the whole package. The tortilla itself is crisped to a golden finish that gives every bite a satisfying snap.
This is the kind of entry that wins over people who came in skeptical. It doesn’t try to be weird or avant-garde. It just commits fully to being delicious—and succeeds.
Berry Me Matcha — A Dessert That Defies Easy Description
Where do you even begin with Berry Me Matcha? New York-style cheesecake, dipped in matcha chocolate, finished with fresh strawberries. On paper, it sounds like three separate dessert ideas that someone decided to combine on a dare. In practice, it works brilliantly.
The cheesecake base is dense and tangy in the classic NY tradition. The matcha chocolate coating adds an earthy bitterness that offsets the sweetness perfectly. And the strawberries bring freshness and acidity that rounds out every bite. It’s a dessert that respects each of its components while making sure they all play nicely together.
The matcha trend has been running through food culture for years now, but Berry Me Matcha finds a genuinely creative application that feels specific and intentional rather than trend-chasing.
Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone — A Love Letter to Texas Flavor
Few things are more Texas than pecans and pralines, and the Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone leans fully into that heritage. Cookie butter cheesecake, served in a fresh-baked waffle cone, crowned with the kind of pecan praline topping that makes you close your eyes for a second.
The waffle cone is baked fresh, and that detail matters more than it might seem. A warm, fragrant cone against the cool creaminess of cookie butter cheesecake creates a contrast that’s hard to top. The praline topping adds sweetness, crunch, and that unmistakable Southern warmth that makes this feel like a true Texas celebration on a stick.
This entry understands its identity completely, and that confidence comes through in every bite.
Tropical Coco Fresca — The Refresher the Fair Needed
Not everything at the Big Tex Choice Awards has to be rich, heavy, or indulgent. The Tropical Coco Fresca makes a strong case for the power of refreshment. Watermelon and pineapple agua fresca, layered with coconut slushy, finished with tajin and chamoy—this is a drink that brings the bright, tropical flavors of Mexican beverage culture straight to the fairgrounds.
The tajin and chamoy combination walks the line between sweet, sour, salty, and spicy in a way that keeps your palate completely engaged. The coconut slushy adds a creamy base that balances the bright fruit flavors above it. It’s hydrating without being boring, and it’s the kind of thing you’ll want in your hand as you walk the grounds on a warm September afternoon.
For fairgoers who want something that refreshes as much as it excites, the Tropical Coco Fresca stands alone in this year’s lineup.
The State Fair of Texas Is a Cultural Institution—and the Food Proves It
Every dish in this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards lineup tells a story about the creativity, cultural pride, and flat-out passion that Texas vendors bring to the fair year after year. From Tommy G’s Flamin’ Hot pizza that took more than 30 attempts to perfect, to the community-rooted flavors of the Tropical Coco Fresca, the range and ambition on display is genuinely impressive.
The State Fair of Texas is more than a seasonal event—it’s a gathering place where culture, creativity, and community come together in the most delicious way possible. If you haven’t made plans yet, now is the time.
The State Fair of Texas runs September 25 through October 18 at Fair Park in Dallas. Head out early, come hungry, and make sure you try as many of this year’s Big Tex Choice Awards entries as you can. Voting for the winners is part of the experience—and after tasting what’s on offer this year, it’s going to be a tough call.
