5 Tasty New Reasons to Go to the MN State Fair This Year
It’s that overwhelming deep fried, sweetly delicious, intoxicating aroma that draws me in. Then you start to see people walk by with a bucket of cookies, or a pork chop on a stick. Once inside, I find myself traveling from food booth to food booth. I set aside all dietary restrictions on this one day.
During the rest of the year, I dream about this day. I’ve even gone so far as to stop at a local festival to get a corn dog, but it’s just not the same. You’ve been there. It’s my love affair with the MN State Fair.
In 2025, I had the opportunity to sample a few of the great foods featured at the fair. Here is a list of my favorites.
Tot Boss’s Tater Tots
The name explains it all. They are the boss of the Tater Tot World. Their tots go way beyond the basic. They start with a basic tater tot and cover it in all kinds of different flavor combinations, including bacon-wrapped, loaded, chili, tots ’n’ tenders, tots ’n’ dogs, and tater tot nachos.
My favorite was the Tot Nachos, but the loaded tots came in a close second. They are also gluten free. After the owner, Dan Docken’s niece was diagnosed with Celiac disease, he amped up his game and now has dedicated fryers just for the gluten-free tots. He also creates cheese sauces that are gluten free too.
You can find his booth over on Underwood, between Underwood and Dan Patch.
Minnesota Corn Dog
As of 2025, the Minnesota State Fair continues to innovate with exciting new food offerings. One standout is the Big Fat Bacon Burger from Midway Burger. This indulgent creation features a juicy beef patty loaded with layers of crispy bacon, bacon jam, and melted cheese, all nestled in a toasted bun. It’s a bacon lover’s dream, perfect for satisfying fairground cravings.
You can find it at the Midway Burger stand on the Grandstand Midway.
Pickle Pizza
Taking a unique twist on classic pizza, the Pickle Pizza from Carvery combines tangy dill pickles with mozzarella cheese, sausage, and a creamy ranch drizzle on a crispy crust. It’s an unexpected but delicious savory treat that has fairgoers raving.
Located at the Carvery booth near the Food Building on the southeast side.
Elote en Vaso
For a refreshing Mexican-inspired snack, try the Elote en Vaso, corn kernels mixed with mayo, cotija cheese, chili powder, and lime, served in a cup. It’s creamy, spicy, and the ideal handheld treat to enjoy while strolling the fairgrounds.
Available at the Elote stand in the International Bazaar area.
Deep Fried Soft Shell Crab Po’Boy
Seafood fans will love this elevated fair food: a soft shell crab deep-fried to perfection, placed in a French roll with lettuce, tomato, remoulade sauce, and pickles. It’s crispy, flavorful, and a fresh addition to the menu.
Find it at the Midtown Global Market booth on Chambers Street.
Swedish Almond Cake Cone
End your food adventure on a sweet note with the Swedish Almond Cake Cone, a waffle cone filled with almond cake, topped with whipped cream, berries, and almond slices. It’s a delightful, portable dessert that captures Scandinavian flavors.
You can grab one at the Nordic Waffles stand in the West End.
As a recovering vegetarian, I have a passion for grilled cheese. So when I saw these, I had to try them. What makes these a “Grilled Cheese” is that they have blended beer batter in with their white cheddar cheese. They cube up their cheese bites and freeze them and then throw them straight into the fryer. And of course, you need a proper dipping sauce, so the people at O’Gara’s at the Fair created their own Bloody Mary Mix Marinara. Don’t worry, kid friendly.
You can find them at O’Gara’s at the Fair on the southwest corner of Dan Patch Avenue and Cosgrove Street.
All I can say is I’m glad this Fair is only 12 days long. Otherwise, we would be in trouble. This is just a small sampling of the new foods at the fair. For a full list check out the State Fair’s Website.
