Ah yes, the Arkansas State Fair, the culmination of fair season in The Natural State. With good weather forecast and a tried and true promotion that allows folks to come out and lunch at the fair without having to pay admission, our fair is ten days of culinary delights anyone can try.
There are new foods, new vendors, new concepts and new items to delve into from previous years, with more local operations joining the Food Court and the Midway to share great Arkansas eats. Here's a rundown of what's new, followed by the annual A to Z of eating your way through the Fair, complete with locations (and, when they're available, prices). Welcome to the Year of the Waffle!
As always, if you're with a website, newspaper, magazine, television station, radio station, or just need some information to use for your website, please cite my efforts. If you need full resolution images, or you'd like to have me come talk about the fair on your show, email me at kat@tiedyetravels.com.
WHAT'S NEW
New! Barbie Corn! L and M Concessions is offering a new variety of roasted corn from its iconic truck-based grill - this cob of roasted corn, dipped in mayo and grated cheese with bright pink sprinkle dust. You'll be hard pressed to find anything stranger!
New! Caramel Drizzled Chicken. Ceci's Chicken and Waffles knows you like your sweet and savory together. That's why, in addition to the incredible and famous waffles, you can also get a tub of chicken pieces drizzled in caramel sauce, pecans, or any of Ceci's other fabulous flavors. A sure bet.
New! Chicken and Waffles on a Stick. More than just pancake dipped chicken pieces, this is chicken dipped in waffle batter and pressed in a waffle iron for a portable version of the classic.
New! Cool Mint Crunch Dippin' Dots. The ice cream of the future has an innovative new flavor - it's a refreshing mint ice cream pebble with a crunch to it!
New! Crab and shrimp egg rolls. Egg Roll Love's Cleveland-style filled egg rolls include this seafood version. Find it atop Hiland Hill near the Food Court. They're $7 each or five for $20.
New! Deep fried German chocolate brownies. Delectable brownie bites filled with caramel coconut and chocolate frosting, battered and deep fried and glazed with caramely syrup and coconut - these may be the sweetest bite you can find at the fair. It's at the L and M Concession trailer on the south end of the Food Court for $11.
New! Mid-Fair Addition! Flaming Hot Cheetoes bacon wrapped chicken on a stick. Adding to the fun and flavor, the folks at Sue Sue's Concession near Gate 5 are now rolling their already fantastic bacon wrapped chicken on a stick in Flaming Hot Cheetoes for a spicy treat! It's $15 for an ample portion. Drizzle some ranch dressing for an additional and cooling burst of flavor.
New! Flavored Waffles. Ceci's Chicken and Waffles is coming to the Arkansas State Fair, and we're so ready for this! The popular eatery's food truck offers a splendid array of flavors, from red velvet to golden Oreo, blueberry and spicy Sriracha, Cinnabon and even Baconator, divided into squares and served in an easy-to-carry tub. This local favorite aims to deliver!
New! Fried smoked BBQ ribs. H2Que BBQ is offering bones of fried ribs that are first hickory smoked, then fried, then dunked in a housemade sweet teriyaki sauce for an experience you won't soon forget for $13.
New! Getcha Gold. This is a lemon flavored funnel cake topped with lemon glaze and gold sprinkles - a divine treat for us lemon lovers at the fair. Find it for $15 at the Roger Westmoreland concession trailers.
New! Hawaiian BBQ Bacon Pineapple Cheeseburgers. Fresh hand-patted beef, grilled pineapple, crispy bacon and barbecue sauce all on a Hawaiian sweet bun, from L and M Concessions $16.
New! Krazy bacon cheese fries. An entire plate of fresh-sliced paper-thin skin-on potato slices, covered with bacon and cheese for $15 at the All-American Cafe in the Food Court.
New! Lobster bacon burger. Yes, you read that right - a traditional burger, but with chunks of lobster and strips of bacon. Nothing quite like it on the fairgrounds this year. It's $18 at L and M Concessions.
New! Lobster pizza. Don't let the $30 price tag put you off. This crazy concoction is a 12" pizza on a white cream base with lobster meat on top. Decadent. You may not want to share. Find it at Swain's Pizza on a Stick on the east side of the Food Court, or at their locations across from the Bud Light Pavilion and the bottom of Hiland Hill on the Midway.
New! Meat the Mac. H2Que's epic meal-in-a-cup layers pulled pork barbecue, baked beans and barbecue sauce along with its creamy macaroni and cheese to give you a complete and portable barbecue feast for $10.
New! Philly cheesesteak fries. Pat's Kitchen combines two favorites to create a new take on the beefy classic, offering hot Philly beef, peppers and onions with cheese sauce over fresh fried fries for $15.
New! Pink candy apples. New on the Midway, these adorable Frozen-themed pink candy apples. Look for the cotton candy booth near Gate 1 in the Kid Zone - it's close to the pony rides. They're $6 plain or $9 with lollipops.
New! Pizza Puff. What do you get when you cross a calzone with a fried pie? You get a Pizza Puff, a Chicago-born dish that's essentially pizza toppings inside a fried pie crust. Get yours for $6 at Bud and Brews near the FFA Ag in Action Barn.
New! Polish Boy eggrolls. Egg Roll Love on Hiland Hill has these polish sausage and mozarella filled eggrolls for $7, or five for $20.
New! Pork Waffle. You've heard about chicken and waffles, for sure. How about pork waffles? The great folks from Jonesboro's popular H2Que BBQ are serving up a Belgian waffle with pulled pork in the batter, topped with pulled pork and a bourbon-infused syrup on top for an easy to share, slightly messy turn on the classic that's sure to cause lots of commotion on the Midway. It's $10.
New! Quesabirria Tacos. Spicy, shredded beef melted together with cheese in fresh, puffy tacos. A new classic for the Midway. You'll find them at Don Elote's yellow Mexican Food stand near the entrance to Barton Colliseum, right off the Midway.
New! Raja con Queso Tamales! Something hearty for the fair, but without meat? Go with Don Elote's handmade tamales packed with poblano peppers and cheese for a satisfying packet of love.
New! Shaved Ice in Three Seasonal Flavors. Kona Ice at the west end of the Food Court is offering Cranky Candy Corn, Kooky Candy Apple, and Sweet Caramel Apple flavored shaved ice alongside its traditional flavors - for some exceptionally unusual cool treats. The prices are $4 Kiddie, $5 Klassic, $6 King, and $8 for a large collectible cup that's refillable.
New! Southern Fried Catfish and Fixings. Riverside Grocery out of Benton is bringing its homegrown menu to the Food Court, with catfish on the table plus hush puppies and fries for $15.
New! Strawberries and Cream! Don Elote's little taco stand near the Midway and the entrance to Barton Colliseum offers up all sorts of Mexican delights, including this fresh and wonderful dessert featuring fresh strawberries and real whipped cream.
New! Taco Cheese Nachos. Not just your ordinary nachos, but nachos that are everythng a taco wants to be, but on tortilla chips, Find it at Bud and Brews by the FFA Ag in Action Barn for $8.
New! Watermelon lemonade. A true taste of summer! Roger Westmoreland concession trailers carry this variation on the traditional fair drink for $10.
What to expect at this year's Arkansas State Fair - and where to find everything you want to eat!
This section is arranged alphabetically by item.
All-Beef Corndogs. Stephanie's Concessions in front of the Ring of Fire has them for $8, with footlong versions for $10.
Alligator and Bait. Gator and shrimp in a basket for $16 at Larry's Cajun Shack at the south end of the Food Court for $17.
Alligator on a Stick. Larry's Gator-on-a-Stick is succulent pieces of gator battered and fried and served hot in a paper basket for $17. Find it at Larry's Gator Shack at the south end of the Food Court.
Angus beef in pita. Paizi's Gyros offers prime Angus beef seasoned, roasted and served wtih fresh vegetables in a pliant pita for $15.
Baby back ribs. Find them at Boss Hog's. A full rack is $35. a half rack is $20. Smoked or fried, four bones in a dinner with two sides and hot water cornbread is $30.
Bacon biscuit. Get one at the Arkansas Cattlemens' Association cafe at the south end of the Midway for $5. Add egg or cheese for $1 each.
Bacon nachos. How do you improve on ball-park style nachos - cheese sauce covered tortilla chips? You add bacon, of course! Get yours at Sue Sue Concession's Makin Bacon wagon for $15.
Bacon on a stick. You knew it'd have to happen. Get yours at the Makin' Bacon wagon for $10.
Bacon wrapped chicken on a stick. Look for the Makin' Bacon wagon from Sue Sue's Concession across from Gate 5. That's where you'll find these chicken morsels wrapped in bacon in seasoned battered, deep fried and served hot and ready for $15.
Bacon wrapped hot dog. An extra-porky morsel, this prime hot dog wrapped in bacon is deep fried and served up on a fresh bun with your choice of condiments. Find it at the Makin' Bacon wagon by Sue Sue's Concession for $10.
Bacon wrapped jalapenos. Filled with cream cheese and wrapped in bacon, these flavor bombs are tasty and hot! You'll find them at the Makin' Bacon wagon, four for $12.
Barbecue pork dinners. Served with a couple of sides at Boss Hog's near Gate 5.
Barbecue pork nachos. Pulled pork barbecue on chips with nacho cheese can be found at H2Que BBQ for $10.
Barbecue pork sandwiches. Pulled pork served on a bun at H2Que BBQ for $10, and at Boss Hog's near Gate 5 for $12.
New! Barbie Corn! L and M Concessions is offering a new variety of roasted corn from its iconic truck-based grill - this cob of roasted corn, dipped in mayo and grated cheese with bright pink sprinkle dust. You'll be hard pressed to find anything stranger!
Bavarian cream funnel cake. A traditional funnel cake topped with Bavarian cream and chocolate sauce for $15 at Roger Westmoreland Concession in the middle of the Food Court.
BBQ Fries. H2Que BBQ offers a plate of fries all but obliterated by a pile of pork barbecue, sauce, and cheese sauce for this messy magnificence.
BBQ Krazy Fries. Paper-thin potatoes - a whole plateful! topped with pulled pork and barbecue sauce for $15 at the All-American Cafe.
Beef barbecue sandwiches. $13 at Mickey's Grill in the Food Court.
Beef kebabs. Get them at Mickey's Grill in the Food Court, one for $13 or two for $24.
Beef tacos. Authentic beef tacos with onion and cilantro on corn tortillas at Ormic's Taco King.
Beignets. Fried fresh at Larry's Cajun Shack for $10.
Biscuits and gravy. Every morning, you can get yours at the Arkansas Cattlemen's Association cafe at the end of the Midway for $5.
Black Angus Pita. This is a gyro made instead with black angus beef with those vegetables and taziki sauce on pita. They're $15 each at Paizi's.
Blue Plate Specials. Each day, you can get a special lunch entree and two sides for $13 at the Big Show Diner. The line-up:
Friday, October 13th: Barbecue chicken, potato salad, baked beans, coleslaw, roll. Additional side offerings are corn on the cob, fried okra, hush puppies, rolls, fries, fried wings, green salad, and slaw.
Boudin balls. These marvelous sausage creations can be found at Larry's Cajun Shack on the south end of the Food Court for $10.
Boudin eggrolls. Larry's Cajun Shack has these for $10 at the south end of the Food Court.
Boudin links. For traditional boudin links, you can get two for $12 at Larry's Cajun Shack.
Burgers. Boss Hog's offers half pound burgers. And you'll find regular sized burgers at the Big Show Diner for $8.
Burritos. Ormic's Taco King offers a thick cylinder of fresh hand-folled tortilla filled with your choice of rice, beans, cheese, lettuce and your choice of chicken, beef or pork for $15. The Big Show Diner has a significantly smaller version for $8.
Cake. Get a slice of cake at the Big Show Diner for $8.
Cajun catfish. Hand seasoned and cooked up from American catfish at Gold's Concession at the south end of the Midway.
Cajun fried ribs. Cajun-spiced deep fried ribs have become a favorite at Boss Hog's near Gate 5. They're served with cajun fries.
Cajun shrimp on a stick. Several Cajun spiced shrimp grilled over open flames and served on a stick at Boss Hog's near Gate 5 for $12.
Candy apples. The decades-old classic, it's an apple coated with cinnamon candy and it's available at Ozark Candy and Nuts in the Hall of Industry; just outside the doors at the Candy Apple Shack, and on the Midway they're $6, or $7 with additional topping. Fancy candy apples can be found in the Kid Zone with lollipops on the end and Frozen figurines for $9.
Caramel corn crunch waffle cones. A gluten-free waffle cone full of ice cream topped with caramel popcorn makes for one heck of a dessert. Try it from Wonderstick, two locations in the Food Court, $8.
Caramel covered apples. At Ozark Candy and Nuts in the Hall of Industry, you can get an apple on a stick or sliced in a bowl, covered with caramel, for $7. Add peanuts or M&Ms for $1 more. On the midway, they're $7, or $8 if you have any additional toppings added.
New! Caramel Drizzled Chicken. Ceci's Chicken and Waffles knows you like your sweet and savory together. That's why, in addition to the incredible and famous waffles, you can also get a tub of chicken pieces drizzled in caramel sauce, pecans, or any of Ceci's other fabulous flavors. A sure bet.
Catfish baskets. Two filets, hush puppies and fries can be found at Riverside Grocery's orange trailer at the south end of the Food Court for $15.
Catfish Special on Fridays. Both Fridays at the Arkansas State Fair, you can enjoy a fine catfish feast for $15, with catfish, hush puppies, fries, baked beans and coleslaw.
Cheese dip and chips. $7 at the Big Show Diner.
Cheese fries. $7 at the Big Show Diner.
Cheeseburgers. Get one at the Big Show Diner for $9 or the Burgers and Poutine stand near the Ring of Fire for $12.
Cheeseburger poutine. Add some burger to your gravy and cheese curds over fries for $16 at the Burgers and Poutine stand near the Ring of Fire off the Midway.
Cheesecake. Granny's Cheesecake and More under the Ferris Wheel offers cheesecake with toppings for $8.
Cheese on a stick. Think corn dog, but a chunk of cheese instead of a hot dog. That's what you'll get when you order this specialty at Westmoreland Concessions, like the one in front of the Bud Light Pavilion, for $7.
Cheese pizza. Swain's Pizza on a Stick sells it for $7 a huge slice, or as a 10" mini pizza for $15.
New! Cheesesteak Egg Rolls. Egg Roll Love atop Hiland Hill has them for $7 each, or $20 for five (mix and match) so grab one or more of these hearty, beefy filled wontons.
Cheese sticks. Fried cheese sticks are $7 a tray at Pat's Kitchen in the Food Court.
Cherry limeade. The popular drink is available at the McKinney Concession at the northeast corner of the center of the Food Court for $8. A 64 ounce drink bucket is $18.
Cherry streudel. The funnel cake stand at the south end of the Midway has them for $3.
Chicken and cheese crispito. The perfect hearty snack, chicken and cheese wrapped in a tortilla and deep fried. They're $5 at Pat's Kitchen.
New! Chicken and Waffles Half-and-Half. Can't make up your mind? Choose two of the different flavors at Ceci's Chicken and Waffles on Wheels and you can try more than one of those delicious tastes at once, like this combination of Cinnabon and Red Velvet waffles. It's $25 for a full tray, or $18 for a half.
New! Chicken and Waffles on a Stick. More than just pancake dipped chicken pieces, this is chicken dipped in waffle batter and pressed in a waffle iron for a portable version of the classic. H2Que BBW has it for $10.
Chicken barbecue sandwiches. $13 at Mickey's Grill in the Food Court.
Chicken egg roll. Filled with chicken and vegetables and served up by the Cleveland-influenced Egg Roll Love concession atop Hiland Hill.
Chicken gyros. Paizi's offers succulent roasted chicken in a pita with taziki sauce, tomatoes, onions and greens for a healthy bite for $15.
Chicken kebabs. Get them at Mickey's Grill in the Food Court, one for $13 or two for $24.
Chicken pitas. Paizi's offers three different flavors of chicken - rosemary, garlic, and cajun - served up with vegetables and sauce in a fresh fluffy pita for $14.
Chicken strips. Three chicken strips will run you $8 at the Big Show Diner. Or get two chicken strips, fries and hush puppies at Riverside Grocery's orange stand for $5.
Chicken tenders. Get a basket of them at the Big Show Diner for $9. Or you can find them at the Wings and Fries trailer near the ring toss and other games on the midway, where they're $16 small or $21 large, served with fries. Flavors include hot, Buffalo, honey garlic, barbecue, lemon pepper, seasoning salt, salt and pepper or honey mustard. A basket with tenders, wings and fries is $26.
Chicken teriyaki noodle bowl. Island Noodles offers a generous portion of soba noodles with teriyaki chicken and vegetables for $14.
Chili cheese dogs. For $8 you can get an all-beef hot dog with chili and cheese for $8.
Chili cheese fries. $7.50 for chili and cheese over fresh hot fries at the Big Show Diner. $10 over a tray of crinkle cut fries at Pat's Kitchen in the Food Court. They're $10 for a small and $14 for a large on the Midway at the Wings and Fries trailer.
Chipotle roasted cashews. Spicy, meaty cashews served by the coneful at Ozark Candy and Nuts in the Hall of Industry.
Chocolate covered bananas. Get one at Wonderstick or Granny's Cheesecake and More for $5.
Chocolate covered cheesecake. Wonderstick can set you up for $8. Or get one at Granny's Cheesecake and More for $9.
Chocolate covered strawberries on a stick. A popular treat you'll find off the Midway at Granny's Cheesecake and More under the Ferris wheel for $8.
Cinnamon pecans. Pecan halves roasted with cinnamon and sugar, served in a cone at Ozark Candy and Nuts inside the Hall of Industry.
Cinnamon sugar fry bread. A whole Indian fry bread, fresh fried and dusted with plenty of cinnamon sugar mix - another level above the traditional funnel cake. Pat's Kitchen has them for $10.
Cinnamon and Sugar Indian Fry Bread. Softer than an elephant ear and easier to eat than a funnel cake, this pliant round is a buttery delight. Find it at Pat's Kitchen for $10.
Coca-Cola cake. The delightful mid-century version of chocolate cake made with Coca-Cola and cocoa is available at the Big Show Diner for $7 a chunk.
Coffee. Get a cuppa at the Big Show Diner, the Lipton Iced Tea Boxes or at the McKinney Corn Dog truck down by the Swine Barn for $3. Or find a hot cup at the Arkansas Cattlemens' Association cafe at the end of the Midway for $2.
Coleslaw. The Arkansas Cattlemens' Association has it for $1.
Cookies. Get a big cookie at the Big Show Diner for $3.
New! Cool Mint Crunch Dippin' Dots. The ice cream of the future has an innovative new flavor - it's a refreshing mint ice cream pebble with a crunch to it!
Corndogs. McKinney Concessions has several locations around the fairgrounds offering fresh batter dipped corndogs on a stick for $9. On the Midway, concession stands are selling them for $10, or a small version for $7.
New! Corned beef egg rolls. Egg Roll Love, a Cleveland-style food truck serving all sorts of filled egg rolls from its Vicksburg, Mississippi-based stand, will have several of the egg rolls it's become known for, including these corned beef filled morsels. Find it on Hiland Hill between the shows and the south end of the Food Court.
Cotton candy. On the Midway, it's $7 for a regular and $15 for a large bag of cotton candy. The stand near the pony rides in the Kid Zone has them $6 and $9, respectively.
Cowboy burger. A half pound Black Angus beef burger with swiss cheese, bacon, onion ring and barbecuse sauce, sold for $13 at the All-American Cafe in the Food Court.
New! Crab and shrimp egg rolls. Egg Roll Love's Cleveland-style filled egg rolls include this seafood version. Find it atop Hiland Hill near the Food Court for $7, or five (mix and match) for $20.
Deep fried cheesecake. A wonton wrapper makes this delectable dessert possible. Find it on the Midway near the bumper cars, or get yours from a local operation by going to Fried What? near Gate Five and picking one up for $9, or heading to the funnel cake stand at the end of the Midway and getting one for $10. They're also $9 at Granny's Cheesecake and More off the Midway.
New! Deep fried German chocolate brownies. Delectable brownie bites filled with caramel coconut and chocolate frosting, battered and deep fried and glazed with caramely syrup and coconut - these may be the sweetest bite you can find at the fair. It's at the L and M Concession trailer on the south end of the Food Court.
Deep fried lasagna. The 2019 Tasty Tom winner for best new fair food is back. Pat's Kitchen fries up this favorite and dusts it with parmesan cheese for a hot, crispy-edged, satisfying bite for $12.
Deep fried mac and cheese. Do you remember when the very idea of deep frying macaroni and cheese was just nuts? Though you can now get them at lots of brick-and-mortar shops, you can find them on the fairgrounds at Fried What? for $8.
Deep fried mini tacos. Fried What? will set you up for $8.
Deep fried Nutella on a stick. Granny's Cheesecake and More under the Ferris Wheel offers it for $9.
Deep fried Snickers. Yes, they still exist, they're still good, and they're $6 at the funnel cake stand at the end of the Midway.
Deep fried spaghetti and meatballs on a stick. First introduced in 2014, this perinneal favorite is unique to the Arkansas State Fair, and is still served up by Pat's Kitchen for $12.
Deep fried strawberry shortcake on a stick. Granny's Cheesecake and More under the Ferris Wheel has a version of the classic strawberry shortcake, slid onto a stick, battered, deep fried and drizzled with strawberry sauce and powdered sugar for $9.
Dipped ice cream cone. The ice cream stand in front of the roller coaster on the Midway has them for $6.
Dipping Dots. The ice cream of the future is $7. $9, and $10 and comes in 10 different flavors - vanilla, chocolate, strawberry, cool mint, banana split, cookies and cream, strawberry cheesecake yogurt, rainbow ice, cookie dough and cotton candy.
Dough-E-Oreos. Take the idea of a fried Oreo cookie, and add it to fried cookie dough. Wrap the Oreo in that cookie dough, and you get the Dough-E-Oreo, an award-winning specialty of Fried What? three for $9.
Elephant ears. They're big, flat, crispy and an alternative to the traditional funnel cake, and they can come topped with cinnamon and sugar, cherry filling, apple filling and more. Find them at the elephant ear trailer on the Midway for $10.
Flaming Hot Cheetoes all-beef corn dog. Beef weiners encased in a Flaming Hot Cheetoes batter for a spicy version of the traditional corndog. Regular size $10, footlong $12. Find them at Stephanie's Concession by the roller coaster on the Midway.
New! Flauta Cups! Ormic Taco King is offering three beef flautas in a cup with lettuce, sour cream and sauce, for an easy-to-carry snack for $10.
New! Flavored Waffles! Ceci's Chicken and Waffles is coming to the Arkansas State Fair, and we're so ready for this! The popular eatery's food truck offers a splendid array of flavors, from red velvet to golden Oreo, blueberry and spicy Sriracha, Cinnabon and even Baconator, divided into squares and served in an easy-to-carry tub. This local favorite aims to deliver!
Floats. Get a root beer float at the ice cream stand on the Midway for $6.
French fries. $6 a basket at the Big Show Diner. $7 a tray for crinkle-cut at Pat's Kitchen in the Food Court.
Fried brownies. Two dipped and fried brownies with ice cream. Find them at Fried What? near Gate 5 for $9.
Fried Food Sampler. The funnel cake stand up the hill from the south end of the Midway is offering a sampler of two fried Oreos, two fried cookie dough balls, and two fried mini Snicker Bars for $10. Perfect if you want to sample a little bit of everything.
Fried green tomatoes. Get a tray of them served with ranch dressing for $9.
Fried ice cream. Fried What? offers scoops of batter fried ice cream for $9.
Fried Key lime pie. Frozen wedges of Key lime pie on a stick, dipped in batter and deep fried for a tangy treat. Get yours at Fried What? near Gate 5 for $9.
Fried Oreos. Though these battered and deep fried filled cookies have become so ubiquitous you can find them at brick and mortar restaurants here and there, you can still get them at Fried What? across from Gate 5, six for $9. Or get a whole bucket full of fried Oreos - that's 10! - for $16, with a refill for $14. They're also available four for $5 or six for $8 at the funnel cake stand at the end of the Midway. On the Midway itself, it's $10 a tray, except at Granny's Cheesecake and More, where that tray is $9.
Fried pecan pie. Wedges of pecan pie on a stick, battered and deep fried, come out gooey and hot. You'll find them at Fried What? near Gate 5 for $9.
Fried pickles. Bernell Austin's creation from the Duchess Drive-In of Atkins, Arkansas has spread from coast to coast, and at our state's largest event, you can find them at Pat's Kitchen in the Food Court for $7, and at Fried What? near Gate 5 served with ranch dressing for $9.
Fried pies. Like Yo Mama's sells all sorts of flavors of fried pies inside the Arts and Crafts Building. They're packed and ready to go, the perfect last minute grab and go thing to take with you when you're heading out.
New! Fried smoked BBQ ribs. H2Que BBQ is offering bones of fried ribs that are first hickory smoked, then fried, then dunked in a housemade sweet teriyaki sauce for an experience you won't soon forget for $13.
Fried S'mores. A marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between two graham crackers, battered and deep fried, sold at Fried What? across from Gate 5 for $9.
Fried Snickers bar. Battered, deep fried candy bar is molten when bitten into. The chocolate, caramel and pecan delight can be found at Fried What? near Gate 5 for $8, or at the funnel cake stand at the south end of the Midway for $6.
Fried Strawberry Shortcake. Vanilla sponge and strawberries in their own juice, dipped in batter, fried, and topped with whipped cream. Find it at Fried What? near Gate 5 for $9.
Fried Twinkies. It's been more than a decade since this sweet confection in this configuration first hit the scene. Fried What? offers the Hostess product battered and deep fried across from Gate 5. You can also get them at the funnel cake stand at the end of the Midway for $5, or at Fried What? by Gate 5 for $7. They're $8 at the Midway concession stand near the Big Show Diner, and $9 at Granny's Cheesecake on a Stick under the Ferris Wheel.
Frito chili pie. Stephanie's Concessions by the Ring of Fire off the Midway has them for $8.
Frozen Lemonade. The crushed iced version of the classics is available on the Midway.
Fudge. Served in a small rectangular tub with a small spoon in several flavors - chocolate, Snickers, chocolate salted caramel, peanut butter, turtle, and chocolate walnut - for $5 each.
Funnel cakes. The traditional funnel cakes we all known and love are $10 at Roger Westmoreland Concessions.
New! Funnel Cake Push Pops. Different flavors of funnel cake and graham cracker crumbs come packed in clear tubes with a push-up stick - just like those sherbet treats you loved back in the 1980s - except this is all about the funnel cake. You'll find these easy to eat, less mess treats at the Roger Westmoreland concession trailers.
Garlic fries. H2Que BBQ has these excellent seasoned fries at its location near the entrance to Barton Colliseum off the Midway.
New! Getcha Gold. This is a lemon flavored funnel cake topped with lemon glaze and gold sprinkles - a divine treat for us lemon lovers at the fair. Find it for $15 at the Roger Westmoreland concession trailers.
Giant pecan rolls on a stick. A more than double sized portion of the traveler's classic, it's $9 at Ozark Candy and Nuts in the Hall of Industry.
Hot Cheetoes with cheese. Stephanie's Concessions in front of the Ring of Fire off the Midway has them by the trayful for $7.
Indian fry bread taco. Fresh, fluffy Indian fry bread topped with seasoned ground beef, beans, tomatoes, lettuce, salsa, cheese and sour cream for a satisfying, delicious meal - or tear and share it with your friends. You'll find it at Pat's Kitchen for $15.
New! Island Noodles. Wok fried soba noodles from Hawaii will definitely bring new flavors to our Arkansas State Fair this year. These thick buckwheat and wheat flour noodles are tossed with vegetables in garlic ginger soy sauce and served with or without chicken in a bright yellow cup. Look for this as one of the healthiest options at this year's fair.
Italian Sausage. Long rolled sausages can be found here and there on the fairgrounds, usually cooked in a big skillet or on a hot griddle with onions. Get them on a stick or in a bun, depending on where you go. Big sections are available at Gold's Skillet across from Boss Hog's for $14.
Jalapeno poppers. Filled with cream cheese, they're six for $8 at Fried What?
Jumbo pickles. You can find a big pickle at the Lipton Iced Tea Boxes for $4.
Jumbo pretzels. Swain's Pizza on a Stick offers huge pretzels studded with large grain salt. You can even get them covered in cheese and even pepperonis.
New! Ken Corn. Like Barbie Corn, but blue!
Kettle corn. Big bags of sweetened just-popped popcorn from the Michener concession by the Hall of Industry (look for the red and blue trailer). Small bags are ample and are $6. Take home a huge bag for $10.
Kool-Aid. H2Que BBQ has red and grape Kool-Aid for $5 a 20 ounce cup.
Krazy Fries. An entire plate of fresh-sliced paper-thin skin-on potato slices, covered with bacon and cheese for $15 at the All-American Cafe in the Food Court.
New! Lobster Bacon Burgers. Yes, you read that right - a traditional burger, but with chunks of lobster and strips of bacon. Nothing quite like it on the fairgrounds this year. You'll find it at L and M Concessions for $18.
New! Lobster pizza. Seriously, this is a thing! A 12" white sauced lobster pizza can be obtained at Swain's Pizza on a Stick for $30.
New! Meat the Mac. H2Que's epic meal-in-a-cup layers pulled pork barbecue, baked beans and barbecue sauce along with its creamy macaroni and cheese to give you a complete and portable barbecue feast.
New! Mexican Street Corn Pizza. Swaim's Pizza on a Stick always aims to outdo itself, and this year is no exception. Check out this creation, which is kernels of corn, cilantro leaves, and cheese on a homemade white sauce base for $10.
Mustard greens. Served by themselves or as a side at Cheryl's Famous, part of Boss Hog's at Gate 5.
My Big Fat Greek Gyro. Paizi's oversizes everything about its traditional gyro and offers it for $17.
Nacho cheese fries. Get a large tray at the Spuds and More on the Midway for $10.
Nachos. You can find all sorts of varieties of nachos across site. The Arkansas Cattlemens' Association offers them for $5. The Ormic's Taco King trailer offers plain nachos with just cheddar cheese sauce for $8, with meat added for $10 and supreme with beans, lettuce, tomato, sour cream and cheese for $15. Ballpark style nachos in a bucket are available at the Westmoreland Concession trailers for $10. You can also get a bucket of nachos from McKinney Concessions all over the fairgrounds for $10, or a tray of them for $8. Simple cheese nachos can be found for $7 at the Big Show Diner. Pat's Kitchen has them for $8, $10 if chili is added.
Onion rings. Riverside Grocery has them for $5.
Orange juice. Get a bottle for $4 at the Arkansas Cattlemens' Association cafe at the south end of the Midway.
Oreo funnel cake. Get a big funnel cake topped with Oreo cookie topping and frosting for $15 at the Roger Westmoreland concession in the center of the Food Court.
Parfait. Get an ice cream parfait with Oreo or banana for $7 at the candy apple stand in the Kids Zone near the pony rides.
Pecan patties. Juanita's lovely praline-like pecan patties are available at Ozark Candy and Nuts in the Hall of Industry for $5.
Pecan rolls. The classic automobile travel snack once popularized by Stuckey's and other gas station chains have been refined and are created with fresh pecans by Ozark Candy and Nuts, which sells them for $4 each in the Hall of Industry.
Pepperoni pretzel. Big, fat, doughy, crisp, and topped with mozzarella and pepperoni, these oversized pretzels are sure to delight. Find them at Swain's Pizza on a Stick for $10.
Pepsi products. The Arkansas State Fair has a contract for Pepsi products, so Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, Mountain Dew and Starry are available site-wide. Paizi's has a regular cup for $3 and a souvenir cup for $7 with a $3 refill.
Philly bowls. Boss Hog offers one with shaved ribeye, fries, monterrey jack cheese, peppers and onions for $17.
Philly steak nachos. Pat's Kitchen offers hot, steamy beef cooked with peppers and onions with cheese sauce over tortilla chips for this shareable entree for $15.
New! Philly steak fries. Pat's Kitchen combines two favorites to create a new take on the beefy classic, offering hot Philly beef, peppers and onions with cheese sauce over fresh fried fries for $15.
Philly steak sandwich. You'll get a bun full of hot beef, sauteed peppers and onions, and Swiss cheese for $15 when you ask for this specialty at Pat's Kitchen on the west end of the Food Court. Or pick one up at Gold's Skillet at the corner of the Food Court for $16.
Pineapple whip. The delectable pineapple dessert is available as just the pineapple sorbet soft serve or twisted with cream at the stand on the south end of the Midway, next to Bud and Brews.
Pink candy apples. You'll find them at the cotton candy stand near Gate 1 in the Kids Zone.
Pickle pizza. It's been around a while, but last year it really made a splash as Swaim's pickle pizza went viral. Served on a white sauce based pie with mozzarella, this puckering combination is available by the slice.
Pie. The Big Show Diner's excellent homestyle cooks come up with several pies every day, including chocolate cream, coconut cream, and possum pies for $7 a slice.
Pineapple whip. They're back, and they can be found at the ice cream stand at the south end of the Midway.
Pizza. You can get it by the slice at Swain's Pizza on a Stick for $7 for cheese and $8 for topped pizzas, including pickle pizza. Or get a 10" whole pizza for $15. On the Midway at the pizza truck located across from the bottom of Hiland Hill, they're selling pizza by the slice for $6 for cheese and $7 for three meat, or $40 a whole pie for cheese and $45 for three meat, with the only choice of toppings being pepperoni, ham, sausage, and pineapple.
Pizza on a stick. It's what Swaim's has become known for - big paddles of pizza dough with sauce, cheese and your choice of toppings for $15. Pepperoni sticks are always ready to go, but you can choose your own toppings for an additional wait time.
New! Pizza Puff. What do you get when you cross a calzone with a fried pie? You get a Pizza Puff, a Chicago-born dish that's essentially pizza toppings inside a fried pie crust. Get yours for $6 at Bud and Brews near the FFA Ag in Action Barn.
New! Polish Boy eggrolls. Egg Roll Love on Hiland Hill has these polish sausage and mozarella filled eggrolls for $7, or five for $20.
Popcorn. Plain popcorn goes for $4 at the candy apple stand in the Kids Zone near the pony rides, and for $6 and $8 at the candy apple trailer near Gate 1 on the Midway. Or go big and go for flavor with Mr. Keith's Gourmet Kettle Corn. In addition to traditional sweetened kettle corn, he has caramel popcorn, cheddar popcorn, and what's called Little Rock Mix, which is all three flavors together. Prices are $6 small, $8 medium, and $10 for a massive bag - and when you buy Mr. Keith's, you're buying local!
Pork chops. Boss Hog's near Gate 5 and Gold's Concession at the end of the Midway both offer whole pork chops grilled over flames. They come in different sizes and run $14, $16, and $18. For $26, you can get the whole pork chop dinner with two sides and hot water cornbread.
Pork tenderloin. The All-American Cafe operated by Bennett Concessions in the Food Court offers a massively huge pork tenderloin on a rather normal sized bun for $15.
New! Pork Waffle. You've heard about chicken and waffles, for sure. How about pork waffles? The great folks from Jonesboro's popular H2Que BBQ are serving up a Belgian waffle with pulled pork in the batter, topped with pulled pork and a bourbon-infused syrup on top for an easy to share, slightly messy turn on the classic that's sure to cause lots of commotion on the Midway.
New! Quesabirria Tacos. Spicy, shredded beef melted together with cheese in fresh, puffy tacos. A new classic for the Midway. You'll find them at Don Elote's yellow Mexican Food stand near the entrance to Barton Colliseum, right off the Midway.
Quesadillas. At Ormic's Taco King, you can get an oversized tortilla filled with cheese for $10, or with chicken, beef or pork for $12. Don Elote's also offers quesadilla in a variety of flavors.
New! Raja con Queso Tamales! Something hearty for the fair, but without meat? Go with Don Elote's handmade tamales packed with poblano peppers and cheese for a satisfying packet of love.
Red beans and rice. The traditional Monday dish of all Louisianans, you can get your share at Larry's Cajun Shack at the south end of the Food Court for $9.
Red velvet funnel cake. Roger Westmoreland Concession in the Food Court has this delectable variety of the traditional treat for $12.
Reuben sandwiches. Massively large Reubens served on rye bread can be found at the concession with the Gold's gigantic skillets behind the All-American Cafe for $18.
Ribeye steaks. Get a fresh, hot, flame-grilled ribeye at Boss Hog's near Gate 5.
Ribeye steak sandwich. A hot ribeye steak served on a bun, at Boss Hob's near Gate 5 for $18, or save a bit and get yours at the Arkansas Cattlemen's Cafe at the end of the Midway for $14. A meal with the sandwich is a dollar more.
Ribs. Smoked or fried, you can find them at Boss Hog's near Gate 5.
Rice bowls. Looking for a complete meal that's not bacon-wrapped or deep fried? Paizi's offers golden rice topped with both sauteed and fresh vegetables, your choice of protein and a slather of taziki sauce, for $13 each.
Salted caramel cashews. Fresh cashews with a lovely sweet and salty coating, served up in a cone at Ozark Candy and Nuts in the Hall of Industry.
Salted caramel pecans. Same as above, but with pecans.
Sausage biscuit. The Arkansas Cattlemens' Association has breakfast biscuits, including these steak biscuits, for $5. Add cheese or egg for $1 more each.
Sausage with onions and peppers. Get it in a bun or in a tray, hot and ready for $15, at Pat's Kitchen in the Food Court.
Scorpion pizza. Yes, it's still available. A slice at Swain's Pizza on a Stick will run you $15.
New! Shaved Ice in Three Seasonal Flavors. Kona Ice at the west end of the Food Court is offering Cranky Candy Corn, Kooky Candy Apple, and Sweet Caramel Apple flavored shaved ice alongside its traditional flavors - for some exceptionally unusual cool treats. Best of all, with the combination of cane sugar and stevia, these shaved ice creations average less than 50 calories each.
Shrimp on a Stick. Boss Hog's has the Cajun seasoned and battered deep fried shirmp on a stick for $12.
Shrimp pitas. Love gyros but want something lighter? Paizi's has seasoned and seared shrimp served with vegetables in a pita waiting for you. They're $15.
Slushes. You can mix and match your own flavors over soft ice at the Super Slush Lab on the Midway. They're $6 for a regular and $10 for a large, and are $5 each refill. You get to mix your own flavors.
Smoked sausage on a stick. You can find a lot of vendors around the fair with smoked sausage, but H2Que's version takes prime sausage and smokes it over hickory for extraordinary flavor for $10.
Snickers ice cream bars. Hiland Dairy has them at their stand next to the high dive tank for $2.
Snocones. On the Midway near Gate 1, there's a candy apple stand selling snocones in lime, blue raspberry, and cherry for $6. You can get all three in a rainbow for $7. Or go the cheaper route, go to the candy apple stand in the Kid Zone near the pony rides, and get one for $4.
New! Soba noodles. Island Noodles brings these buckwheat and whole wheat noodles to the Arkansas State Fair for the first time this year. A vegan bowl of noodles and vegetables in sauce is $14, as is a chicken teriyaki version of the same. You'll find the stands adjacent to the Blue Ribbon Lounge.
New! Soul Food Roll. This egg roll from the Egg Roll Love concession atop Hiland Hill is filled with collard greens, mac and cheese and barbecue chicken. Truly an unusual way to experience these three flavors.
Soup. Get a cup of the soup of the day and crackers to boot at the Big Show Diner for $7.
New! Southern Fried Catfish and Fixings. Riverside Grocery out of Benton is bringing its homegrown menu to the Food Court, with catfish on the table. Go for all the fixings - beans, skillet potatoes, coleslaw, and hush puppies for that downhome flavor.
New! Strawberries and Cream! Don Elote's little taco stand near the Midway and the entrance to Barton Colliseum offers up all sorts of Mexican delights, including this fresh and wonderful dessert featuring fresh strawberries and real whipped cream.
Steak biscuit. A great breakfast choice - the Arkansas Cattlemens' Association has Arkansas-raised beef on a biscuit for $6, and you can add egg or cheese for $1 more.
New! Stuffed mac and cheeseburgers. Technically, now they're made with two separate 1/4 pound patties, it's not quite so stuffed - but since they're filled with macaroni and cheese, they're even crazier than before. Get your stuffed burger at the Burgers and Poutine stand near the Ring of Fire.
Stuffed pizza. Get a hearty slice of three meat stuffed pizza at Swain's Pizza on a Stick for $13.
Sucker. Suckers are $2 each at the candy apple stand near the pony rides.
Sundaes. They're $8 for hot fudge or caramel sundaes at the ice cream stand in front of the roller coaster on the Midway.
Sweet tea. Available at the Makin' Bacon wagon for $8.
New! Taco Cheese Nachos. Not just your ordinary nachos, but nachos that are everythng a taco wants to be, but on tortilla chips, Find it at Bud and Brews by the FFA Ag in Action Barn for $8.
Tacos. Authentic Mexican street tacos can be found at Ormic's Taco King at the heart of the Food Court. They're offered in chicken, beef and pork and are $12 for three tacos plus cilantro, lime and onions. The Big Show Diner offers a Tex-Mex version three for $10 in hard shells or soft tortillas. Tacos are also available in chicken, beef or pork at the gyro fry stand near the south end of the Midway for $12.
Taffy. The old fashioned confection comes in more than a dozen flavors. You can take home a big bag from Ozark Candy and Nuts inside the Hall of Industry for $13.
Tamales. Don Elote's carries excellent hand-rolled tamales in several different varieties at its little yellow food cart just off the Midway near the entrance to Barton Colliseum. You can also get tamales two for $8 at the Big Show Diner.
Thanksgiving taco. The 2017 Tasty Tom winner for both best tasting and most unusial item is once again back - a tortilla filled with smoked turkey, cranberry sauce and homemade dressing from Pat's Kitchen for $12.
Turkey legs. They're available everywhere. Boss Hog's at the north end of the Food Court. H2Que in the Food Court, the sausage and pepper stand at the base of Hiland Hill, and Gold's Concession at the south end of the Midway all have them. Mickey's Grill in the Food Court and H2Que BBQ charge $18 each. Every other place I have been to on the fairgrounds. Is charging $20 for a turkey leg.
Veggie pita. Looking for meat-free eats? Paizi's offers its vegetable pita with or without taziki sauce in fresh, pliant pita bread for $13.
Walking taco. A large snack bag of Dorito's nacho cheese chips with all the fillings you'd expect in a taco -lettuce, sour cream, tomato, sauce and your choice of protein for $8 at Ormic's Taco King. Or get a bigger bag with tortilla chips topped with ground beef, beans, salsa, tomatoes, lettuce, and jalapenos at Pat's Kitchen for $12.
Water. Bottles of water can be picked up at Ormic's Taco King for $3. A cup of water at the Makin' Bacon trailer is $4, as are bottles of water at most locations around the fairgrounds.
New! Watermelon lemonade. A true taste of summer! Roger Westmoreland concession trailers carry this variation on the traditional fair drink for $10.
Wow. A to Z (or at least Y)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for all the info. I look forward to this every year.
ReplyDeleteI run to your blog every year so I can plan my annual Foodie Trip to the Ark State Fair. Thank you so much for this list
ReplyDeleteOnce again, thank you so much for this list! It’s such a wonderful guide for Fair food! I went to high school with Ceci McDowell, and I love patronizing her truck. Glad she’s at the Fair, so everyone will enjoy her offerings!
ReplyDeleteMy dear cat Robinson, I should never forget and always thank you for the beautiful photographs and article on our Calico Rock Ghost Town! That was back in 2008 and unfortunately a lot of those buildings have succumbed to age and weather. The town just did not feel the need for protecting it! You have saved something for posterity! I would love it if you would look me up on Facebook. I think we might've met one time at some function. I want to thank you because you have certainly done a great service to Arkansas! Fredericka Silvey Johns
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for your time , and this list 🥰
ReplyDeleteI look to you for guidance each year! Thank you for the time and effort you put into doing this.
ReplyDeleteThank you for doing this! It’s my fair bible every year
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for make my decisions worth wild! Two thumbs up.
ReplyDelete