The State Fair of Texas 2026 season is in full swing, and like recent years, there’s a lot of talk surrounding affordability.
After a backlash over high prices last year, there’s been a push at the fair to lower costs for attendees. Not only is the cost to enter down, but food vendors have created new value menus with over 270 items priced at $10 or less.
Related: Last year’s State Fair was marred by high prices. This year organizers are all-in on affordability
For the October segment of our Deal-icious series, we’re focusing on budget-friendly meal combinations at the State Fair for those who want to attend and eat well without breaking the bank.
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The basis of the Deal-icious requirements are the same: We’re looking for a full meal — an entrée, a side and a drink — that doesn’t go over a set price. Our cap is usually $20, but we’ve upped it to $25 for this State Fair of Texas edition.
Read on for meal combinations for those looking for regular food, fair-ified food and vegetarian options. Plus, each one includes dessert.
Keep in mind: These selections are found at food booths located across fair grounds. Be sure to print out a map and plan your trip before you go. If you’re with a group, you could split up and hit all of the stands at once and then sit down for a full meal. Or you can go to the stands one by one while eating in between. How you do it is up to you.
Regular food at the State Fair
There are people who come to the State Fair of Texas but are not looking for the over-the-top, extremely “fair-ified” foods. (I know, it was a surprise to me, too.) But that’s fine, because there are plenty of booths selling regular food, such as pizza, tacos, hot dogs and more.
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If this sounds like your jam, here’s a meal combination that will cost less than 25 coupons. (Each coupon is valued at $1.)
Recommendation: For an entrée, go with Cactus Cantina’s street tacos for 6 coupons. Get Catfish Floyds’ french fries as a side for 5 coupons. For dessert, head to Once Upon a Cone to get an ice cream cup for 6 coupons. Grab a watermelon lemonade to drink for 6 coupons at Mac Loaded. You can also get a regular lemonade from the same stand for the same price.
Watermelon lemonade from the Mac Loaded booth on Nimitz Circle at Fair Park. It costs 6 coupons.
Zacharia Washington / Food Digital Producer
(Note: Cactus Cantina is located in the Embarcadero on Nimitz Circle, Mac Loaded is on Nimitz Circle, opposite Pan Am Arena, Catfish Floyds is in Cotton Bowl Plaza and Once Upon a Cone is near the Funway.)
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Related: Deal-icious: 5 restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth with a full meal for under $20
For the State Fair food lovers
This meal combination is for those who are the opposite of the first group. This group thinks: “What’s the most insane food item at the State Fair? I’ll take two!” I’m in this group, and if you’re with me on this, the following combination is perfect for you.
This was the hardest to put together, especially being capped at 25 coupons. So there will be some give and take. You’ll get the crazy fair food, but some of it is basic fair food, and I think for the price that’s OK.
A basket of fried pickles from Ranchero Deep Fried Love, which is located in the Tower Building Food Court at Fair Park. The fried pickles cost 5 coupons.
Zacharia Washington / Food Digital Producer
Recommendation: Get Tommy G’s Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Pizza (value size) for 8 coupons from the Howdy’s stand as an entrée (a personal favorite). For the side, go with the classic fried pickles basket from Ranchero Deep Fried Love for 5 coupons. You can get a fried apple pie for 5 coupons from Tornado Taters as a dessert. For the drink, go with a frozen Dr Pepper from The Dock for 7 coupons.
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(Note: Howdy’s is on First Avenue near the Children’s Aquarium, Ranchero Deep Fried Love is in the Tower Building Food Court, Tornado Taters is on MLK Jr. Boulevard near Nimitz Circle, and The Dock is in the Embarcadero on Nimitz Circle.)
Vegetarian food at the State Fair
We couldn’t forget about the vegetarians who’ll be attending the fair. There are lots of food options for you all to choose from, too. This combination also works for those who want to keep it light during their visit.
A Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog. This corny dog and the Veggie Corny Dog can be found at the Fletcher’s stand in Big Tex Circle at Fair Park. The Veggie Corny Dog costs 9 coupons.
Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer
Recommendation: Grab a Veggie Corny Dog from Fletcher’s for 9 coupons for the entrée. Get a fruit cup from Doc’s Street Grill as a side for 5 coupons. For dessert, get a jumbo cookie from Highland Park Soda Fountain for 4 coupons. Grab a Cucumber Mint Lemonade for the drink for 6 coupons at Mac Loaded.
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(Note: Fletcher’s is in Big Tex Circle, Doc’s Street Grill is on MLK Jr. Boulevard near the Midway, Mac Loaded is on Nimitz Circle, opposite Pan Am Arena and Highland Park Soda Fountain is in the Tower Building Food Court.)
We want to talk to you
We’d love to hear from you. Next month, the focus of Deal-icious will return to restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth. Email me at zacharia.washington@dallasnews.com with questions or information about restaurants you’d like to see in our affordable dining series.
Dining and Cooking