Here’s a fresh take on the new foods at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair, designed to be engaging and easy to read.
New Foods at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair: Our Favorites and Fails
The Minnesota State Fair is a food lover’s paradise, offering unique and exciting dishes every year. Let’s dive into the highlights and lowlights of this year’s offerings.
Birthday Cake Cookie Dough On-A-Stick ($10)
At Kora & Mila’s, this dish features cake batter cookie dough covered in a crunchy shell. The texture is surprisingly firm, almost like Play-Doh. However, the combination doesn’t quite work, leaving us wanting more flavor.
Verdict: Skip.
Flauta Dippers ($14)
From El Burrito Mercado, these flautas are packed with seasoned shredded chicken and served with mild salsa. While convenient to eat, they lacked seasoning and moisture, disappointing our taste buds.
Verdict: Shrug.
Green Apple Sucker Ice Cream ($8)
Granny’s Apples + Lemonade surprised us with a tart and sweet blend of green apple ice cream and caramel swirls. This dessert felt like a nostalgic treat you didn’t know you wanted.
Verdict: Scarf!
Bison Meatball Sub ($17)
A highlight at the Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop, this sub features bison meatballs served on a wild rice hoagie bun with pickles and gravy. It’s a hearty option that packs flavor and protein.
Verdict: Scarf!
Chimney Cakes ($15)
At Magdalena’s, these Hungarian pastries filled with ice cream left us with mixed feelings. The cake itself was sweet, but the filling felt overwhelming and could use a better balance.
Verdict: Shrug.
Caprese Curds ($12)
LuLu’s Public House offers these Italian-seasoned, deep-fried mozzarella curds but don’t meet expectations. They could potentially be improved by simpler seasoning strategies.
Verdict: Skip.
Tandoori Chicken Quesaratha ($15)
This Middle Eastern twist on a quesadilla from Holy Land impressed with a flavorful mix of spices and fresh ingredients. The paratha bread was a highlight, making it easy to hold and eat.
Verdict: Scarf!
Cinna-sugar Crust Tidbits ($10)
Sara’s Tipsy Pies offers pie crust strips with a whiskey-flavored dip. While it sounds promising, it ultimately felt like just scraps lacking substance.
Verdict: Skip.
Deep-Fried Tofuego Bites ($8)
Rooted and Wild Snack House presents these vegan bites, which are light and crispy but fall short in flavor, tasting like a familiar store-bought sauce.
Verdict: Shrug.
Dill Pickle Iced Tea ($7)
This unique drink combines dill pickle flavor in iced tea but didn’t quite deliver on the promise. The flavors felt off, and the initial excitement faded quickly.
Verdict: Shrug.
Freaky Fryday ($19)
A vegan selection that includes chicken-fried bacon with various toppings. While priced high, its rich flavors and generous portions make it a solid choice for meat-free eaters.
Verdict: Shrug, but an encouraging shrug!
Pizza Lumpia ($12)
Lumpia City’s entry won the spot at the fair after victory at the Wisconsin State Fair. These crispy spring rolls filled with pizza flavors hit home for many.
Verdict: Scarf!
Land of 10,000 Cakes ($14)
Bridgeman’s sundae, while visually appealing, struggled with structural integrity, making it more challenging to enjoy than necessary.
Verdict: Skip.
Pineapple Upside Down Cake Mocktail ($6)
Urban Glow Mocktails offers a refreshing, non-alcoholic choice, perfect for hot days at the fair, but the flavor didn’t completely meet our expectations.
Verdict: Shrug.
Sweet Squeakers ($14)
Cheese curds coated in funnel cake batter, served with whipped cream, bring a delightful surprise. The balance of sweet and savory makes this an excellent dessert.
Verdict: Scarf!
Somali Street Fries ($15)
A standout dish featuring spiced beef on crispy fries. This combination provides great flavor and texture, making it hard to share.
Verdict: Scarf!
Every year brings a new mix of flavors and creations at the fair, showcasing innovation and tradition. While some dishes impress, others leave room for improvement. Happy eating at the fair!
