Every summer, almost two million people attend the Minnesota State Fair. While there is a lot to enjoy at the fair, such as rides, animals, and exhibits, many people go every year just for the food. This summer, I went to the fair prepared to eat as much as I possibly could so that I could decide which State Fair foods are worth the hype and which ones aren’t.
Whether you go for a State Fair classic, like Sweet Martha’s Cookies or Pronto Pups, or to try something new, there’s something for you at the Minnesota State Fair. This year, there were over 1,600 food items to try, including thirty-three new items.
The first food item I ate this year was the classic fried pickles at The Perfect Pickle. In my opinion, this is a must-get food at the state fair. I’m not usually a pickle lover, but these almost made me change my mind. When dipped in ranch, these pickles were amazing. I rated it a 9/10.
Next, I tried fried ravioli at JJ Vescio’s. These were delicious, especially with the marinara sauce that comes on the side. I rated it a 9.6.
After eating two fried food items, I was ready for something different. I went to Baba’s and got their Ba’bacon Sour Cream and Onion hummus bowl, which was a new food item this year. With tater tots, bacon, and scallions, I personally thought it had too much going on. However, the pita puffs redeemed the bowl overall, so I gave it a rating of 7.2/10.
The first sweet item I ate at this year’s fair was the apple caramel sundae from Undeniably Dairy in the dairy building. This ice cream was some of the best soft serve I’ve ever had, and the apple caramel topping made it even better. I rated it 9.7/10 (my highest rating of the day).
At this point, I was getting pretty full, but I kept pushing on, and tried the giant egg roll on-a-stick and garlic cream cheese wontons from Que Viet. I didn’t like the egg roll very much, rating it only at 6/10. I enjoyed the wontons, but they weren’t anything special; I rated them 7.5/10.
A few hours later, I tried the strawberry lemonade donut from Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts, another new food item this year. I loved how light and sweet it was, rating it a 9.5/10.
Of course, the state fair isn’t really the state fair without Sweet Martha’s cookies. I got the bucket of cookies, ready to have leftovers for the whole week afterwards. These cookies are always delicious, so I rated them an 8/10.
Finally, I tried the deep fried ranch dressing from Lulu’s Public House. This new food item drew a lot of attention, so I had to wait in a forty minute line just to try it. I think it was worth the wait to try this food that is so unique to the state fair. I rated it 8.7/10.
Overall, the food this year at the Minnesota State Fair was delicious, and there were food options for every taste. Out of all the food I tried, I would say that the ice cream sundaes from the dairy building are a must-get, while the giant egg rolls from Que Viet could be a skip. Whether you go for the food, the rides, or just to have fun, the Minnesota State Fair is an essential part of any Minnesotan summer.
