State Fair News

State Fair of Texas adds Dallas restaurants to 2023 lineup of concessions

Pineapple Dole Whip, so refreshing.

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As opening day draws, the State Fair of Texas has added 14 new snacks to the 2023 lineup of food concessionaires. These include four new vendors, seven new food stands, and three "soft spaces" which will be parked at locations around the fair.

These newcomers range from an international food market to a small Dallas pop-up that specializes in sandwiches. These join the 10 finalists for the Big Tex Choice Awards, which include delicacies such as fried pho and loaded fries pizza.

There'll be no shortage of things to eat, and if it manages to shift the fair's focus away from the grubby, outdated, animal-exploiting 4H livestock angle, then everyone's a winner.

Here's the list:

2023 new vendors

Eataly - Cotton Bowl Plaza
Nationwide market chain specailizing in Italian food will serve Fried Cacio e Pepe: Pasta tossed with black pepper and Pecorino Romano cheese which is then deep fried, and served with marinara sauce.

Pound Cake Experts - Tower Building
Founded in 2017, Pound Cake Experts will serve 10 flavor including the Red, White, & Blue Crumble, a medley of red velvet, blue velvet, and butter pound cake crumbled into bite-sized bits over a bed of soft serve.

Sandoitchi - Tower Building
Dallas pop-up known for its "sandos" made with soft Japanese milk bread and delicate fillings, including their Strawberry Cream Sando, layered with strawberries and Chantilly cream.

Stay Cheesy - Tower Building
Founder Cheyne Hickey is a fair veteran, having worked at her family's concession stand Nevins. In 2020 she opened her own food truck named Lil Red’s, serving gourmet sliders and French fries. Her concession stand will focus on grilled cheese including her upscale Boujee Grilled Cheese, layered with a creamy brie spread, turkey, arugula, green apple slices, Havarti cheese, and cranberry mayo.

2023 new soft spaces

Canosaur’s Cantina - at Leonhardt Lagoon
Nestled within the Dinosaurs at the Lagoon exhibit, Canosaur’s Cantina is a prehistoric paradise where ancient creatures and delectable delights merge, with tacos, quesadillas, and drinks like La Pitfina, a blue wine-based drink, and La Barbie, a 24-ounce iced drink rimmed with cotton candy and cotton candy powder, Red Bull, watermelon lime soda, and vodka wine gummies.

Juicy’s Texas Tailgate - near the Texas Star Ferris Wheel
This new area was created as the ultimate sports fan destination with multiple big TVs, seating, and a variety of foods including a half-pound corndog, BBQ ribs, Fried Snickers, Fried Twinkies, and Fried S’mores.

Dickel’s Smokehouse - Cotton Bowl Plaza near the Children’s Aquarium
A Fair staple for many years, Dickel's returns as a newly redesigned soft space with increased lighting, circular bar seating options around trees, and picnic tables, serving traditional and modern BBQ.

2023 new food stands

Borracho Nacho Bar - Cotton Bowl Plaza
Borracho Nacho Bar, an outdoor stand, will make their State Fair debut with their signature Build your Own Chicharron Nachos: fried pork rinds with Cajun seasonings, topped with smoked beef fajita meat, queso, and chopped beef barbecue.

The Cajun Cowboy - First Ave.
This new stand's first-ever featured menu item will be a Blooming Onion, a colossal onion battered in Cajun seasonings, deep-fried, and served with dipping sauce. Other menu items will include 2023 Big Tex Choice Awards Finalist Deep Fried Cheesy Crab Tater Bites, Deep Fried Boudin Balls, Deep Fried Bread Pudding, Pie Tin Shrimp, Authentic Muffaletta, and more.

East Meets West BBQ by Ferris Wheelers - on the Funway
New food stand brings a twist on southern BBQ with BBQ Egg Rolls, TX Chili Potstickers, Banana Pudding Mochi, and Bao Bun Taco Trio, featuring three bao buns with fried chicken, pork belly burnt ends, and chopped brisket.

Fryed - the Funway
Five styles of loaded potatoes include the Big Texan, with choice of fries or tater tots topped with Hatch chili queso, shredded brisket, bacon pieces, and BBQ sauce. Other flavors include buffalo chicken, Mexicano, and sweet potato s’mores. Fryed will also serve a third-pound cheeseburger, chicken strip baskets, and sweet potato waffle fries. All Fryed's baskets are big enough to share.

Pineapple Dole Soft Serve - at Leonhardt Lagoon
Smooth, tropical pineapple treat is a refreshing, fruit-flavored, creamy dessert.

Stiffler's Steak Stop - the Funway
Stiffler’s will feature the Steak Bowl, with bites of sirloin steak in a bowl with mashed potatoes, mushrooms, sautéed onions, and bell peppers, topped with chimichurri sauce, Cowboy Butter Sauce, or both. Plus Peach Bellinis and Jalapeño Margaritas

Texas Sopapilla Factory - Cotton Bowl Plaza
Sopapilla flavors include Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Lovers, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Bourbon Banana Caramel Sopapillas, which won the Big Tex Choice Awards winner for Most Creative.

The 2023 State Fair of Texas — themed "Explore the Midway" — will open on Friday, September 29, and will run through Sunday, October 22. We have a list of of discount passes and the full lineup of musical acts playing this year.

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Gearing up

Upscale sports bar Moxies will touch down at The Star in Frisco

Moxie's

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Moxies, the upscale-casual concept founded in Canada and co-owned by Dallas Stars proprietor Tom Gaglardi, is joining the restaurant lineup at The Star in Frisco.

According to a release, a new location of Moxies will open in The Star District, at 3680 The Star Blvd. #1300, in an old City Works space, in 2027.

The sporty restaurant at the home of the Cowboys will be designed for everything from lunch and happy hour to dinner and late-night gatherings, offering chef-driven dishes with a lively bar experience in a polished, social setting, the owners say. The new location will include the restaurant's signature statement bar, elevated dining experience and high-energy hospitality.

“Being part of The Star in Frisco is a perfect fit for Moxies,” says Joanne Forrester, president and COO of Moxies, in the release. “The entire district is built around elevated experiences and connection — training, work, entertainment and hospitality all in one place. That’s where we thrive. Our chef-driven dishes, signature cocktails and statement bar are designed for exactly this kind of social, high-energy setting anchored by the Dallas Cowboys.”

Frisco will be the fourth DFW location for Moxies. The first one debuted at The Crescent in Uptown Dallas in 2016, and got a major renovation in 2024. The chain also has locations in Plano and Southlake.

Moxies is owned by Gaglardi, proprietor of the Dallas Stars, and brought to the U.S. by franchise group Eatz Hospitality.

While few details of the Frisco location have been revealed, the other locations serve lunch, brunch, dinner, and happy hour specials, with a menu of elevated American classics overseen by executive chef Brandon Thordarson. A typical Moxies menu includes:

Sushi Cones, made of tempura shrimp with avocado, pea shoots, nori crisps and drizzled with sesame chili ponzu
Poutine, the Canadian staple with French fries, hot beef gravy, and cheese curds
Kale and Quinoa Salad
Vegetarian Power Bowl with marinated tofu, shiitake mushrooms, soft boiled egg, vegetables, and greens

Brunch options include:

Vegetarian Huevos Rancheros
Smoke Salmon Goat Cheese & Egg White Omelet
Sicilian Sausage Hash

The traditional Moxies bar features craft cocktails such as Strawberry Ghost Pepper Margarita and a Hard Lemonade made with Tito’s Vodka.

The spaces typically feature an extended bar, a large covered patio, TVs inside and outside, and flex walls that can be converted for private dining experience and party spaces.

Other openings at The Star in Frisco

Moxies will join previously announced bar The Imperial Room, which will open at at 3685 The Star Blvd. in early September (aka "next week," a spokesperson clarifies).

The new bar will open next door to the Frisco location of Cane Rosso, and is from PILF Restaurant Group (Cane Rosso, Zoli's Pizza, and Thunderbird Pies), which also owned Cow Tipping Creamery, which closed in July.

With seating for 25 to 30 guests, The Imperial Room will offer an intimate setting for pre-event cocktails, date nights, celebrations and late-night gatherings, the release says. Guests can expect a sophisticated cocktail program featuring expertly executed classics and original creations, complemented by elevated shareable plates and select entrées.

PILF Restaurant Group has drafted acclaimed Dallas bartender Gabe Sanchez, whose work has helped shape cocktail programs at some of the city's most respected bars.

Longtime Star Tex-Mex restaurant Mi Cocina has expanded its outdoor dining experience with a renovation of its main patio, at 6740 Winning Dr. Ste. 1010. The enhanced space features additional seating, permanent heaters, larger fans, and drop-down shades, creating a more comfortable three-season patio for guests to enjoy throughout the year, the release says.

On the non-restaurant front, Élan Sculpt Club, a new luxury boutique fitness concept combining infrared-heated sculpt classes with Pilates reformer training, is opening its flagship location at The Star District, at 3620 The Star Boulevard, #1215.

Moxie’s is also known for their light sign décor, centered on the main dining wall, that spells out "I will if you will."

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