The\u00a0State Fair of Texas 2026 season is in full swing, and like recent years, there\u2019s a lot of talk surrounding affordability.<\/p>\n
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After a backlash over high prices last year, there\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Related: Last year\u2019s State Fair was marred by high prices. This year organizers are all-in on affordability<\/p>\n
For the October segment of our\u00a0Deal-icious series, we\u2019re focusing on budget-friendly meal combinations at the State Fair for those who want to attend and eat well without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n
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The basis of the Deal-icious requirements are the same: We\u2019re looking for a full meal \u2014 an entr\u00e9e, a side and a drink \u2014 that doesn\u2019t go over a set price. Our cap is usually $20, but we\u2019ve upped it to $25 for this State Fair of Texas edition.<\/p>\n
Read on for meal combinations for those looking for regular food, fair-ified food and vegetarian options. Plus, each one includes dessert.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0go to the stands one by one while eating in between. How you do it is up to you.<\/p>\n
Regular food at the State Fair<\/p>\n
There are people who come to the State Fair of Texas but are not looking for the over-the-top, extremely \u201cfair-ified\u201d foods. (I know, it was a surprise to me, too.) But that\u2019s fine, because there are plenty of booths selling regular food, such as pizza, tacos, hot dogs and more.<\/p>\n
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If this sounds like your jam, here\u2019s a meal combination that will cost less than 25 coupons. (Each coupon is valued at $1.)<\/p>\n
Recommendation: For an entr\u00e9e, go with Cactus Cantina\u2019s street tacos for 6 coupons. Get Catfish Floyds\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
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Watermelon lemonade from the Mac Loaded booth on Nimitz Circle at Fair Park. It costs 6 coupons.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zacharia Washington \/ Food Digital Producer<\/p>\n
(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.)<\/p>\n
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Related: Deal-icious: 5 restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth with a full meal for under $20<\/p>\n
\nFor the State Fair food lovers\u00a0\n<\/p>\n
This meal combination is for those who are the opposite of the first group. This group thinks: \u201cWhat\u2019s the most insane food item at the State Fair? I\u2019ll take two!\u201d I\u2019m in this group, and if you\u2019re with me on this, the following combination is perfect for you.<\/p>\n
This was the hardest to put together, especially being capped at 25 coupons. So there will be some give and take. You\u2019ll get the crazy fair food, but some of it is basic fair food, and I think for the price that\u2019s OK.<\/p>\n
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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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Zacharia Washington \/ Food Digital Producer<\/p>\n
Recommendation: Get Tommy G\u2019s Flamin\u2019 Hot Cheetos Pizza (value size) for 8 coupons from the Howdy’s stand as an entr\u00e9e (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.<\/p>\n
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(Note: Howdy’s is on First Avenue near the Children\u2019s 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.)<\/p>\n
Vegetarian food at the State Fair<\/p>\n
We couldn\u2019t forget about the vegetarians who\u2019ll 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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
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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.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Smiley N. Pool \/ Staff Photographer<\/p>\n
Recommendation: Grab a Veggie Corny Dog from Fletcher’s for 9 coupons for the entr\u00e9e. 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.<\/p>\n
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(Note: Fletcher\u2019s is in Big Tex Circle, Doc\u2019s 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.)<\/p>\n
We want to talk to you<\/p>\n
We\u2019d love to hear from you. Next month, the focus of\u00a0Deal-icious will return to restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth. Email me at zacharia.washington@dallasnews.com with questions or information about restaurants you\u2019d like to see in our affordable dining series.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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