The 2025 Minnesota State Fair unveiled thirty-three new food items and eight new vendors across diverse culinary traditions and flavors
Deep-fried dishes dominate this year’s lineup, highlighting a continued emphasis on indulgent, crispy textures and classic fair food appeal.
One standout: Sweet Squeakers, funnel cake batter around cheese curds, topped with lemon whipped cream and berry drizzle.
Caprese Cheese Curds combine fried mozzarella curds, tomato bruschetta, and balsamic glaze—fresh idea, but soggy curds challenge enjoyment.
Cannoli Gelato Nachos at Mancini’s offer sweet, creamy gelato with dipping chips—but chips lacked crispness in tests
Mini Sambusas from Hoyo bring lentil and beef variants in cone form—flavors solid but portions small for price.
Pizza Cheese Curd Tacos fuse fried curds inside taco shells; loved by some, too much fried-on-fried for others.
Bacon Cheese Curd Taters feature large tots and multiple sauces. Texture sometimes leaned mashed instead of crispy shredded
Grandma Doreen’s Dessert Dog sandwiches ice cream between coffee cake slices, drizzled with jam and topped with sweet crumbles
Afro Bean Pops, a savory new option, deliver black-eyed pea fritters with spicy dipping sauces and crispy exterior
Deep-Fried Tofuego Bites present tofu in slaw bed; solid value, though prep time delayed service in busy crowds.
Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha mixes tandoori flavors inside paratha-style quesadilla. Dense, flavorful, though somewhat heavy on bread.
Some entries earned “Skip It” labels: Deep-Fried S’mores had thick shell and underwhelming chocolate cream center
Land of 10,000 Cakes Marble Sundae disappointed reviewers, served in tall glass with stiff serving utensil challenges.
Uncrustaburger uses deep-fried PB&J Uncrustables as bun. A bold mashup that’s part nostalgia, part novelty, polarizing in taste.
Vendors like Lumpia City offer sweet and savory lumpia: Ube Butter Banana French Toast emerged as fan favorite.