The 2023 Arkansas State Fair Food Guide.

The ultimate guide to everything there is to eat at the Arkansas State Fair by the expert on the subject . Kat Robinson lays out what's new and what's good all over the fairgrounds. Check back throughout the fair for more entries added daily.

The 2022 Arkansas State Fair Food Guide.

Everything you need to know about dining at the Arkansas State Fair, but were hesitant to ask, can be found in my annual guide to all the fair fare - fantastic, favorites and the just plain freaky. Bookmark this page to find the best midway meals and extraordinary eats during the ten days of Arkansas's largest food event.

More items have been added since the last time you visited!

The 2021 Arkansas State Fair Food Guide.

After the 2020 hiatus, the Arkansas State Fair is back with panache in 2021, with so much amazing and delightful fair eats to enjoy. Here's the definitive list of what's back, what's new and what's awesome - from the singular expert on our state fair food bounty.

The 2019 Arkansas State Fair Food Guide.

All the eats, from the staples of cotton candy, funnel cakes and corn dogs to the extravagant, weird and just plain unusual - right here in your handy internet guide. Bookmark this page to use the entirety of the Arkansas State Fair.

What'll Be New at the 2019 Arkansas State Fair? Some Speculation.

Each year vendors vy to see who can come up with the strangest, tastiest and most popular new food at the Arkansas State Fair. For over a decade I've shared those treats with you, and given you insight on where to find your best value in funnell cakes, corn dogs and cotton candy. Here's what I believe is coming to this year's fair.

The Arkansas State Fair's Strangest Fair Fare.

While this year's Arkansas State Fair has some unusual and outright freakish items on its menu (scorpion pizza, anyone?), the annual October event has been the place to find even odder selections in its past.

The 2017 Arkansas State Fair Food Guide.

As you've come to expect from Tie Dye Travels, here's a comprehensive alphabetic list of all the really cool food available at the Arkansas State Fair this year. Do note that prices and items will be updated as they're located on the fairgrounds. Check back when you're ready to go, and be sure to bookmark this site on your phone.

The 2017 Arkansas State Fair Food Preview.

As always, here's a preview of the crazy new items popping up at this year's Arkansas State Fair. While some items are genuinely welcomed, others are rather frightening.

Stories of State Fairs Past in Arkansas.

Want to see how food offerings have evolved over the years at the Arkansas State Fair? Let's look back at fair food coverage, one corndog at a time.

The 2016 Arkansas State Fair Food Guide.

Looking for those crazy eats and favorite treats on the fairgrounds? Here it is - your encyclopedic, alphabetically arranged listing of all the food you can find at the Arkansas State Fair, updated throughout the event. Here you'll find the foods, where they're located on the fairgrounds, how much they cost and more.

The 2016 Arkansas State Fair Food Preview.

Each and every year, Grav and I make the ultimate sacrifice and try all the new fair foods for you. This year is no different. Check out all the foods we tried at the Arkansas State Fair Media Preview.

2016 Arkansas State Fair - What To Expect.

Each year, thousands browse this very website to see what's new at the Arkansas State Fair when it comes to food. Let's see what's listed on the new menu items according to the press releases, things you may expect to find when the fair opens this Friday.

The 2015 Arkansas State Fair Food Guide.

The Arkansas State Fair continues through October 18th in Little Rock. Here's your guide to all the food at the Arkansas State Fair - what's new, what's back and what's available all over the fairgrounds. Everything's in alphabetical order, so you can figure out if your choice is out there this year.

The 2015 Arkansas State Fair Food Preview.

Here it is, better than your Moment of Zen: it's your Afternoon of Wow in the form of this year's new foods at the Arkansas State Fair.  The 10 day event starts Friday off Roosevelt Road at the Arkansas State Fairgrounds in Little Rock.

Arkansas State Fair Pre-Preview: This Year's Expected New Fair Foods.

See the newly presented Arkansas State Fair foods here.

Today, a cadre of new fair foods will be showcased and shared, and members of the media will vote to see who wins this year's Tasty Tom awards.  But here's what we're expecting.

Petit Jean Meats Brings a Big Dog to the Midway.

Here's a sneak peak at a new item that's locally made and available at the end of the midway.

This is the Big Dog.  It's a two foot long hot dog.  It's made by Petit Jean Meats, which means it's quality.

A Mom's Guide To An Easier Time at the Arkansas State Fair.

Ready for the fair, but worried you won’t have everything covered?  Here’s a quick tip survival guide for things you will want to make sure come with you when you’re bringing kids to enjoy the midway.

2014 Arkansas State Fair Food Preview.

Want to see even more food offerings at this year's Arkansas State Fair?  Click here.

Every year, I take time to share the really cool things coming at the Arkansas State Fair, and follow those really cool things up with a report from the fair itself.  I've seen the trends (including the year of BACON LEMONADE) and I've sampled the crazy (fried watermelon, anyone?).

This year is no exception.  Here's a sneak peek at the best, the rest, and the things you'll be daring your friends to try at the 2014 Arkansas State Fair's 75th Anniversary Celebration.

First:  This year's Tasty Tom winner
Fried Peaches and Cream
from the folks at Fried What?
Unusual, but true -- members of the Arkansas media voting in this year's competition to determine both the best tasting and most creative new state fair food went firmly with this one -- a half a peach on a stick, battered and deep fried, dusted with cinnamon and sugar and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.  As far as deep fried things go, here's something that makes sense.


Strangest:  The Elvis Dog
from the Center Stage concession stand
Come Friday, I'll have a photo of the entire thing.  This is the sampling size for the contest.  The Elvis Dog is a peanut butter and banana topped hot dog.  Now, I can understand how some folks might find that incredible... and yes, it is incredible.  But because the dog is beef and pork and there's banana, allergies kept Grav and I both from trying it.



The new meat of the fair:  Quail
Lollipop Battered Fried Quail on a Stick
L & M Concessions
Well, why not?  Previous Arkansas State Fairs have happily introduced goat and rabbit meat.  This time around, two versions of quail are offered at L & M Concessions -- the lightly cornmeal-battered and fried quail on a stick with cherry tomatoes, and

Lollipop Grilled Quail on a Stick
-- this version, which we preferred, marvelously grilled quail bites with bell peppers.  Congratulations on a particularly wonderful way to serve Arkansas poultry.

The underdog:  The Bird Dog
Now, this one here has potential.  It's a boneless chicken breast piece topped with bacon bits, nacho cheese and jalapenos, served up in a hot dog bun.  Different, but easy to understand.

The truly hot dog:  The Bacon Wrapped Fried Chili Dog
from Pat's Kitchen
A weiner, wrapped in bacon, deep fried, topped with chili and cheese and deep fried slices of jalapenos and onions.  Not oversized but big on flavor, I'm expecting this one to hit all the right notes.

Grav's favorite:  Pork Roast
from the Center State concession
I kid you not -- succulent chunks of slowly roasted pork, mildly spiced.  No bells, no whistles, all right.


Best beverage pairing at the fair:  Stone's Throw Brewery's Barton Bitter
Full bodied, full flavored, perfectly balanced to match a beer butt chicken or Pig Licker, this is the brew to do on the Midway this year.  21 and older only, please.

Best non-fried delightful dessert:  Chocolate covered strawberry shortcake on a stick.
From Ozark Candies and Nuts
Hey, it's on a stick, it's covered in chocolate, but it's fresh strawberries and light shortcake.  Where could you go wrong?  You'll find this one at the Ozark Candies and Nuts stand inside the Hall of Industry.

Have it your way:  Chicken wings in all sorts of ways
from Chicken Shack Express
Barbecue, honey mustard, searing hot, Buffalo or Cajun spiced, these are substantial wings to gnaw on.  The sauces get laid on thick!  Don't like the bones?  They have chicken tenders, too.

Hard to believe:  Fried Spaghetti and Meatballs on a Stick
from Pat's Kitchen
Just for those who think you can't batter and deep fry everything...
well, guess what... yes, indeed, this is a meatball and pasta battered, deep fried

and served with marinara and parmesan cheese. There you go.

From the "Why Hasn't Someone Put These Two Things Together Yet?" department:  Cheesecake Funnel Cake
from State Fair Funnel Cakes
Yes, it's a cheesecake-battered funnel cake with

powdered sugar and cream cheese frosting.  I'd say more, but I really don't have to say more, do I?

Headscratcher:  Deep fried meatball-stuffed avocado
from L & M Concessions
Two things I never thought I'd see together.  But avocado's hot right now -- and this avocado is ESPECIALLY hot when you get it.  Eat it before it cools.

Overly decadent:  Deep Fried S'mores and More
from Fried What?
Get this -- this is a S'more, which is basically a graham cracker, marshmallow and chocolate, stuffed with a Reeces Peanut Butter Cup, battered and deep fried.  Impossibly sweet.

Consume in small amounts only.  Share with your friends.


Hot stuff:  Cajun ribs
from Boss Hogg
What can make pork ribs better?  Barbecue sauce.  And that's even better when packed with cayenne pepper and other

great Cajun flavors.  Don't forget your Wet Naps for this delight.  Boss Hogg also does hand-cut Cajun fries.


We're happiest to see:  Chicken and fruit kebabs
from Nana Delicacies
There are lots of folks out there who think fair food is all battered and deep fried.  Au contraire. This dinner-on-a-stick features roasted chunks of chicken along with fresh pineapple chunks and strawberry halves.  Bonus -- kids will LOVE this.

More great items this year:

Fried Pickles from Connie's
Concessions

Fried Gator on a Stick from L&M Concessions

Deep Fried Apple Rings A La Mode from Fried What?

Deep Fried Breakfast Dog (pancake
battered sausage link with syrup)

Arkansas State Fair
Tropical Punch (get yours
at the Big Show Diner)

Steak Kebabs from Ormic Concessions

Chicken Kebabs from Ormic Concessions

Paizi's Gyros

Grater Taters from Connie's Concessions

Deep Fried Cheeseburger on a Stick from L&M Concessions

Pineapple Deluxe Pie from Chetos.

Barbecue Stuffed Baked Potatoes from Harold Jones
Concessions.

Authentic tacos in corn tortillas from Chetos

Gratzi Dog (special Italian sausage with marinara and
mozarella cheese) from Margia Mia.

Chicken Parm from Margia Mia.

Randy's Superdogs.

Fried chicken wings from Chicken Shack Express.

Barbecue chicken wings from Chicken Shack Express.

Cajun Spiced Chicken Wings from Chicken Shack Express.

Want to see some of the craziest foods ever served at the Arkansas State Fair?  Check out this month's Arkansas Living Magazine.

Follow @GravWeldon on Twitter or the Gravagram for more Arkansas State Fair food photos!