More State Fair Food

State Fair of Texas adds 37 buzzy food concessions to 2024 lineup

Milton's Amish doughnuts are one of the buzzy newcomers to the 2024 State Fair of Texas.

SFOT

The State Fair of Texas will introduce a lucky 13 new food concessions for the 2024 event: According to a release, the 13 will include six new food vendors and seven new food stands.

Some of these newcomers are familar brand names like Rita's Italian Ice. Others are concepts from State Fair veterans like Nevins Concessions. Some are just plain newbies.

These new food options are in addition to the finalists and winners from the recent Big Tex Awards, the annual concession competition wherein a strip of bacon wrapped in cotton candy won first prize.

There's also a new seating area for 2024: Called the Cavalcade, it's located on Gateway, with a live DJ, a wall showcasing vintage movies, and a neon Big Tex selfie stand. Dishes include candied pork belly bacon bites, funnel cake with brisket or spicy chicken, bacon-wrapped turkey legs, and a cool down sundae. Also: drones and a biergarten.

The 2024 State Fair of Texas begins on Friday, September 27, and runs through Sunday, October 20.

New concessions

Rita's Italian Ice. The chain will debut a new signature menu item: the Cool Combo, layering Italian ice with vanilla frozen custard, available in five flavors: blue raspberry, cotton candy, mango, mango-strawberry, and sugar-free dragon fruit. Located on Grand Avenue.

Korean Corn Dogs. Korean twist on the state fair staple will include the Hot Cheetos Korean Corn Dog, with half hot dog and half mozzarella cheese, battered with wheat and rice flour, coated with panko breadcrumbs, and fried, then coated with spicy mayo and Hot Cheetos crumbs. Located on Coliseum Drive.

Crepes and Co. Crepe stand will serve a new Fried Apple Cinnamon Crepe, filled with Biscoff cookie butter spread and caramelized apple cinnamon, topped with caramelized apples, and served with Biscoff mousse, whipped cream, and a Biscoff cookie. Located in the Tower Building.

So Eggciting Deviled Eggs. Their signature creation is Texas BBQ Rib Deviled Eggs, in which deviled eggs are topped with coleslaw and barbecue rib meat tossed in a beer barbecue sauce. Located in the Tower Building.

Smith Spot BBQ. Signature dish, "The Nephew," is inspired by owner Terrance Smith’s nephew and combines a glazed doughnut topped with brisket, mozzarella cheese, honey, and powdered sugar. Located in the Tower Building.

The Dumpling Experience. Dumplings in three varieties: pork & vegetable, chicken & vegetable, and edamame, grilled and topped with green onion and cilantro, and choice of sauce from ponzu lime, Thai chili, sriracha, barbecue, and reaper barbecue. Located in the Funway.

State Fair of Texas new vendors for 2024 handy map and list.SFOT

Beso De Angel. Fritter taco base with sweet crema, strawberry preserves, whipped cream, cajeta caramel, condensed milk, and sliced strawberry. Located at Tony’s Taco Shop in the Tower Building and on Lonestar Boulevard.

Bluebonnet Bliss by Dippin’ Dots. Vanilla Ice Cream Dippin’ Dots mixed with fan-favorite Cherry ‘n Blue Razz Icee flavor. This flavorful duo was created just for the Fair. Located at Dippin’ Dots Ice Cream throughout the fairgrounds.

Caramel Macchiato Fritters. Creamy coffee cake balls dipped in beignet batter and fried, with whipped cream, caramel, white chocolate drizzle, served with a shot of espresso. Located at both Crazy Ottos and Gulf Coast Grill Locations on First Ave. and Big Tex Circle.

Cookie Butter Nachos. Fried flour tortilla chips dusted with cinnamon sugar, with cookie butter cheesecake filling, cream cheese icing, caramel sauce, and crushed Biscoff cookies. Located at both Crazy Ottos and Gulf Coast Grill Locations on First Ave. and Big Tex Circle.

Cheeseception. This is a sandwich inside of a sandwich with mushrooms, arugula, and prosciutto in between classic grilled cheese. Located at Stay Cheesy in the Tower Building.

Cheesy Berry. Strawberries in pink cream layered with cheesecake pieces and a milky cookie. Located at Fruteria Cano throughout the fairgrounds.

Churro Crumble Cheesecake. New York-style cheesecake coated in Belgian milk chocolate, rolled in crushed churro crumbles, topped with dulce de leche sauce. Located at Drizzle Cheesecakes in the Tower Building.

Crookies. Croissant is filled — and topped — with cookie dough, baked, and drizzled with syrup. Located at Stiffler’s Moms Cookie Factory on Funway.

Deep Fried Tablitas. Fried battered short ribs with dipping sauces and a fried jalapeño. Located at Texas Holy Fried Ribs and Fusion BBQ in the Tower Building.

Dickle’s Triple Meat Big Back Snack. Five layer dish with elote street corn, brisket mac & cheese, biscuit, pork belly burnt ends, loaded nacho beef brisket sausage, with deep-fried crinkle-cut maple waffle-flavored potato slices. Located at Dickel’s Smokehouse at Big Tex Circle and First Avenue.

Fernie’s Fruit Quenchers. Jarritos Mexican soda and club soda, in choice of pineapple jalapeño, rosemary mandarin, or grapefruit basil. Available spiked with Champagne, prosecco, or wine-based vodka. Located at The Dock on Nimitz Drive.

Fernie’s GOAT Funnel Cake. A Fernie’s funnel cake with Blue Bell vanilla ice cream, Cherry Dr Pepper syrup, and an El Fenix praline. Located at The Dock and Fernie’s Funnel Cake Factory at Grand Area.

Sandoitchi Fried Matcha. Matcha in two ways. Fried Mochi Matcha Ice Cream, and Fried Matcha Sando, featuring deep-fried Japanese milk bread filled with matcha Chantilly cream, strawberries and matcha biscuit sticks. Located at Sandoitchi in the Tower Building.

Hammy Pimento Meltdown. Grilled pimento cheese sandwich with black forest ham. Located at Highland Park Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain in the Tower Building.

Holy Cheeseus. White pie with a seven-cheese blend, garlic-infused extra virgin olive oil, whipped ricotta and mascarpone blend, black pepper, and Stefan’s hot honey. Located at Texapolitan Pizza on Lonestar Boulevard.

Island Rumble. Mac & cheese topped with jerk chicken in a pineapple rum jerk marinade, garnished with pineapple pico salsa and jerk crema. Located at Mac Loaded on Nimitz Drive.

It's Bananas…B-A-N-A-N-A-S. Banana shake with banana pudding on top, plus whipped cream, Nilla wafers, chocolate-covered bananas, and caramel drizzle. Located at Highland Park Old-Fashioned Soda Fountain in the Tower Building.

Lay's Potato Chip Drink. Potato chips blended with mango and citrus juices, hot honey, jalapeño infused syrup, strawberry drizzle, foam, and Spicy Honey Potato Chips. Located at Milton’s at Front Gate, Tower Building, and Lonestar Boulevard.

Macaron Ice Cream Tower. Macaron tower features six flavors – lemon joy, red raspberry, triple chocolate, vanilla bean, creamy caramel, and pistachio, on top of soft-serve vanilla ice cream. Located at Pound Cake Experts in the Tower Building.

Oktoberfest Pizza. Pizza with mustard-infused white cream sauce, mozzarella & cheddar cheese, sliced German sausage, fried German potatoes, sautéed onion, green pepper, and sauerkraut. Located at Pizza by the GIANT Slice in the Tower Building, MLK Blvd., and First Avenue.

Pork Belly Ceviche Tamales. Corn tamal topped with fried pork belly, fried yuca, plantains, pico de gallo, jalapeño glaze, and micro greens. Located at Milagro Taco Cantina on Lonestar Boulevard.

Pulled Pork Arancini. Crispy rice balls with risotto, scamorza cheese, and pulled pork. Located at EATALY in Cotton Bowl Plaza.

Standing on Business. Salted caramel ice cream in a waffle cone bowl topped with a spicy dark chocolate cookie, fried sweet potato pie, chocolate and caramel sauce, whipped cream, French fries, and a chicken wing. Located at Smokey John’s Bar-B-Que on Funway, Nimitz Drive, and Cotton Bowl Plaza.

Very Berry Coconut Parfairy. Lemon pound cake with blueberry compote, coconut cream custard, vanilla yogurt, whipped cream, blueberry, pineapple, and shaved coconut. Located at Doc’s Street Grill on MLK Boulevard.

Whole Bundt of Kisses. Deep fried 7UP Bundt cake filled with Belgian chocolate, with crumbled chocolate chip cookies and miniature kisses, a regular Hershey's, whipped cream, and edible silver glitter. Located at Southside Steaks and Cakes in Cotton Bowl Plaza .

New 2024 State Fair of Texas Food Stands

Smashed by Nevins Concessions. Five smashburgers including their signature, The Joe, a two-patty smash burger with American cheese, bacon, fried jalapeño caps, and a fried egg. Located on Gateway.

Waffle Works. Serving Waffle Stix, a waffle on-a-stick dipped in Belgian milk, white, or dark chocolate, then rolled in choice of candy toppings like salted caramel pearls, chocolate chips, M&M's Minis, marshmallows, and candy sprinkles. They also serve chicken & waffles, strawberries with Belgian chocolate, and bacon mac & cheese egg rolls. Located in the Tower Building.

Milton’s Amish Doughnuts. Texas-sized sourdough doughnuts dipped in vanilla glaze. A viewing window shows the doughnut-making process. Located on Grand Avenue.

Dole Soft Serve. Cool and spicy Tajin Twist Sundae comes with choice of pineapple, strawberry, or swirl, topped with chili lime Tajin seasoning and Chamoy Mega sauce. Located on Coliseum Drive.

Kona Ice. Gourmet shaved ice in 10 most popular flavors, from Tiger’s Blood to Monster Mango, solo or in combinations. Located on First Avenue.

Johnz Deli. Signature pastrami sandwich prepared in the traditional New York Deli method with the flair of a Texas smokehouse, served on seedless rye bread with mustard, kosher pickle spear, and side of steak fries. Located in Cotton Bowl Plaza.

Pat’s Pizza & Subs. Featuring Mexican Street Corn Pizza: a charred crust topped with chipotle mayo, corn, chili powder, cilantro, and cotija cheese. Located on Coliseum Drive.

state-fair openings

Steakhouse News

Palladino's Steak & Seafood opening in Dallas earns raves in New York

Palladino's

Joseph Palladino at Palladino's Steaks and Seafood in NY.

High-profile new steakhouse Palladino’s Steak & Seafood, the eponymous concept from restaurateur Joseph Palladino slated to open in North Dallas in spring 2026, is currently the toast of New York.

Palladino is the ex-NYPD police officer-turned-restaurateur known for concepts such as Nick & Sam's Steakhouse and the Coal Vines pizza chain. Palladino's Steak & Seafood is his newest creation, combining steakhouse, Italian, and seafood, particularly sushi.

The Dallas location will be opening at the intersection of Preston and Royal in the former Spec's space at 5959 Royal Ln. — but the concept has already made its debut in New York at the Grand Central Terminal, where it opened in September, emerging as one of the city's hottest openings, drawing celebrity visits and raves.

Here's some of the buzz it has already generated in New York:

Actor Armand Assante (Gotti, American Gangster) visited the restaurant in late September. Posing for a photo with Palladino and Las Vegas restaurateur Nick Bimonte, Assante proclaimed it to be "without rival."

Eater New York added Palladino's to its list of Best Steakhouses in NYC.

Actor William DeMeo (Gotti, The Sopranos), who has become a Palladino's semi-regular, dined there in mid-December with Italian restaurateur Steve Martorano (Cafe Martorano, Martorano's Prime). Martorano called it "one of the best meals I ever experienced in my life."

The cast and crew of Gravesend, the Mafia-themed Amazon series DeMeo created, filmed an episode at Palladino's with Sopranos cast members Vince Curatola and Chuck Zito.

The NY Post called Palladino's "NYC’s hottest new restaurant," noting that it's been "packed day and night." They gushed over the atmosphere and compared the steaks to chef Daniel Boulud’s great La Tete D’Or. "Grand Central Terminal, America’s greatest railroad nexus, deserved a great American restaurant. Brand-new Palladino’s Steak & Seafood is it."

Forbes did a feature spotlighting "Two Recently Opened New York City Steakhouses Offering A Unique Take," which included Palladino's and Cuerno — A Mexican steakhouse in the Time Life building at Rockefeller Center. "Grand Central Station may not be the first place you think of when you are trying to find an elevated dining experience. But newly opened Palladino’s provides several reasons to visit besides the need to catch a train," they said, before going on to praise the "exceptional" service and steaks.

A story by Resident magazine called Palladino's "a new era of fine dining at Grand Central Terminal" with a particular focus on the design by acclaimed Rockwell Group, which they said "channels the glamour of rail travel in the 1920s and 30s with Art Deco details, vintage-inspired finishes, and a sweeping sense of forward motion," before marveling at the "striking 2,000-square-foot all-season outdoor patio — the first of its kind at Grand Central."

The Today Show aired a segment on December 28 starring Palladino's executive chef Sam Hazen demo-ing their lunch sliders, featuring three mini burgers with American cheese, pickles & caramelized onions, stacked on a vertical spike and doused with a cheesy fondue sauce. (Palladino's also does a slider at dinner with filet mignon and truffle aioli.)

Humans of New York, the famous photography storytelling project, did a profile on Joseph Palladino and his mother, Catherine, after he hosted their exhibit, called "Dear New York," at Palladino's, giving them a prominent, highly visible platform on the restaurant's balcony.

celebrities openings