With almost three dozen new foods to try at the 2025 Minnesota State Fair — not to mention the classics and personal favorites — it can be difficult to plan the menu for your visit.
WCCO is here to help. Our digital team members are sampling the new offerings throughout the fair, offering ratings and reviews so you know what's a must-try and what's skippable. Each item will get a rating from 4 (worth the wait in line) to 1 (stick with a Pronto Pup).
If you need to catch up on the last couple of years, check out our 2023 and 2024 ratings, too.
4: Best of the best, and would be worth coming back to the fair to get in the years to come. Elbow your way to the front of the line!
3: Solid and/or intriguing work, and well worth giving a shot. You might find your personal new favorites among these.
- Somali Street Fries
- Fawaffle
- Triple Chocolate Mini Donuts
- Hula Kalua Pork
- Timber Twists
- Grandma Doreen's Dessert Dog
- Pomegranate Slushy
- Athena's Whipped Feta
2: Recommended, but with reservations. Take the plunge if it's really high on your list, otherwise maybe look elsewhere.
1: Maybe just stick to the standard cheese curds and mini donuts instead, this is a misuse of your caloric intake at the fair.
Bon appétit!
Athena's Whipped Feta
Where to get: North side of Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets.
What they promised: "Whipped feta topped with schug – a Middle Eastern green sauce made with jalapeños, garlic, cilantro, parsley and fresh herbs – drizzled with extra virgin olive oil and sprinkled with crunchy toasted wild rice. Served with deep-fried pita bread tossed in Dino's signature seasoning."
What we got: Solid yumminess. I would put this on a bagel daily. The schug and crispy wild rice are the main flavor elevators here. And while the chips were crispy and firm enough to make excellent cheese delivery systems, I was left with a lotta feta. Perhaps charm your server by saying "me needa more pita!" Or don't.
Rating: 3
Afro Bean Pops
Where to get: Afro Deli (on the east wall of the Food Building).
What they promised: "Savory deep-fried bites of ground black-eyed peas, onions, jalapeños, cilantro and seasonings. Served with spicy red chili sauce."
What we got: No fretting on these fritters — you get four falafels packed with black-eyed peas instead of the typical chickpeas and/or favas. Perfect seasoning mix and lovely crunch. Get a shot of all three sauces on the side to find your soul mate. This is the third-straight year Afro Deli has introduced undisputed champs right out the gate, following last year's Afro Poppers and 2023's sambusas.
Rating: 4
Caprese Curds
Where to get: LuLu's Public House (At West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater, west section)
What they promised: "Mozzarella cheese curds breaded with Italian seasoning and deep fried. Served over a bruschetta-flavored blend of tomatoes and basil, and drizzled with balsamic glaze. Served with a side of crostini for scooping. (Vegetarian)"
What we got: Never before did i think i would describe cheese curds as refreshing but the Caprese Curds are. The combination is heavenly, simply put. The tomatoes are so fresh and full of flavor and the balsamic adds a nice, sweet kick. The crostini adds a good crunch but, honestly, I could do without. These are the perfect snack.
Rating: 4.
Somali Street Fries
Where to get: Midtown Global Market's Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa (in the Taste of the Midtown Global Market booth at the International Bazaar, east wall)
What they promised: "A blend of Somali Beef Suqaar – spiced beef, vegetables, cheese and herbs – piled atop a bed of french fries. Topped with white garlic sauce and green jalapeño hot sauce. (Aug. 21-26 only)"
What we got: Probably the most generous helping you'll find at the fair for $15. The meat is perfectly spiced and the sauces meld well. The fries are fat and crisp, but the dish honestly might be better served with a more modest accoutrement. It's a lot of food and it's good, so there's not much to complain about here.
Rating: 3.
Fawaffle
Where to get: Baba's (the northwest corner of Randall Avenue and Underwood Street).
What they promised: Falafel – a traditional Middle Eastern fritter of chickpeas and herbs – pressed in a waffle iron, topped with tahini butter, and served with cherry tomatoes, traditional hummus, green shatta, mint and a sprinkle of toasted sesame seeds. (Vegetarian)
What we got: This is a great option if you're looking for food at the fair that is both filling yet won't weigh you down. The chickpea waffle is light and crispy, and the tomatoes offer a brightness to counteract the slight kick of the green shatta. The flavors in this dish all blend together well, and you come away feeling refreshed.
Rating: 3.
Triple Chocolate Mini Donuts
Where to get: Solem's Cheese Curds and Mini Donuts (the east side of Underwood Street between Murphy and Lee avenues).
What they promised: "Chocolate mini donuts dusted with powdered sugar, drizzled with chocolate icing, and topped with chocolate sprinkles and mini milk chocolate chips. Served in a bucket rimmed with more chocolate icing and sprinkles. (Vegetarian)"
What we got: This is a shareable item that will need at least three people to finish. The dough is rich with chocolate flavor and freshly fried in front of fairgoers. The additions of chocolate chips and chocolate sauce provide an extra kick of sweetness without being too overbearing. Make sure to grab a few forks if you don't want to get powdered sugar on your fingers.
Rating: 3.
Hula Kalua Pork
Where to get: RC's BBQ (North side of West Dan Patch Ave. between Liggett & Chambers streets).
What they promised: "Slow-smoked pork collar caramelized with Hawaiian barbecue sauce, inspired by the flavors of traditional Hawaiian Kalua pork. Served atop a charred banana leaf with banana chips and Japanese quick-pickled cucumbers on the side. Finished with a sprinkle of coarse red sea salt."
What we got: Sweet and savory would be an understatement when taking each bite of meat. What the dish lacks in appearance makes up for with a powerhouse of flavor. The side garnishes don't add much other than provide a quick break from chewing.
Rating: 3.
Timber Twists
Where to get: Giggles' Campfire Grill (Southeast corner of Lee Ave. & Cooper St. at The North Woods)
What they promised: "A savory mixture of Italian sausage, mozzarella, cream cheese and barbecue rub piped into three large manicotti shells, then wrapped in bacon. Cooked in a wood-fired smoker for an infusion of smokey flavor. Served with a side of Giggles' signature barbecue sauce."
What we got: The flavors fit fine, but the real highlight here is the textures. The crispy bacon nicely contrasts with the softer sausage and manicotti shell. The mozzarella and cream cheese get lost in the mix, but the barbecue sauce provides the perfect level of kick. A sizable portion, so plan to share.
Rating: 3.
Grandma Doreen's Dessert Dog
Where to get: West End Creamery (At West End Market, northwest section)
What they promised: "Vanilla ice cream, created by Minnesota Dairy Lab, sandwiched between two pieces of Grandma Doreen's Coffee Cake – a family recipe from Elgin, Minn. – made by Wrecktangle Pizza. Skewered on-a-stick and drizzled with house-made strawberry rhubarb jam. Garnished with cinnamon toast-flavored crispy treats, whipped cream and sprinkles. (Vegetarian)"
What we got: Grandma Doreen's Dessert Dog may look ridiculous but you also feel ridiculous eating it. I struggled to eat it with a spoon. I made a mess when I just picked it up using the stick. This may be a me problem, though. That being said, the combination of foods was quite enjoyable. The house-made rhubarb jam really ties it all together for me. The cinnamon toast flavored rice crispy treats on the outside added a nice texture and the coffee cake was top tier. However, the small dollop of whipped cream got lost in all the flavors. This is one of those weird things you'll only find at the fair that's worth it, even if you make a mess like me.
Rating: 3.
Pomegranate Slushy
Where to get: Midtown Global Market's Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa (in the Taste of the Midtown Global Market booth at the International Bazaar, east wall)
What they promised: "Midtown Global Market's Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa serves slushies in two flavors (Vimto and watermelon). (Aug. 21-26 only)"
What we got: Excellently drinkable in both flavor and consistency. It's not too sweet, and it's cold enough to quell your sweat on a warm fair day.
Rating: 3.
Beef Mini Sambusas
Where to get: Midtown Global Market's Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa (in the Taste of the Midtown Global Market booth at the International Bazaar, east wall)
What they promised: "Midtown Global Market's Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa serves cones of mini sambusas & full-size sambusas (beef or lentil) with choice of sauce. (Aug. 21-26 only)"
What we got: Much blander than the Somali Street Fries, though the dipping sauce ups the flavor and heat level. Another impressively sized offering.
Rating: 2.
Uncrustaburger
Where to get: Coasters (Southeast corner of Carnes Ave. & Liggett St.)
What they promised: "A 4 oz. hamburger patty with cheese, pickles and special sauce, sandwiched between two deep-fried peanut butter & grape jelly Uncrustables."
What we got: One of the buzzier items pre-fair (at least among WCCO's digital team), so it's relatively disappointing that it's just… fine? Not garishly bad nor surprisingly pleasing. The deep-fried Uncrustables that serve as buns would be a delicious standalone item — they're expertly crisped and explosively flavorful. But the burger and toppings are an unremarkable addition. The "special sauce" doesn't even register underneath everything else.
Rating: 2.
Sweet Squeakers
Where to get: The Blue Barn (At West End Market, south of the History & Heritage Center)
What they promised: "White cheddar cheese curds coated in a funnel cake batter, deep fried, and topped with a scoop of fresh lemon whipped cream. Finished with a drizzle of berry sauce. (Vegetarian)"
What we got: I am very conflicted about the Sweet Squeakers. The lemon whipped cream is what makes it. The bites without it aren't anything spectacular. The cinnamon coating and funnel cake batter aren't super noticeable, more of a subtle flavor if anything. The cheese inside the curds is quite gooey, which is a bit different from a normal cheese curd. I hoped the cheese's savoriness would level things out, but it was still very sweet. I would only recommend getting this if you're super passionate about it. If you're just a little curious, I'd say the line isn't worth it and to just find something else.
Rating: 2.
Pizza Cheese Curd Tacos
Where to get: Richie's Cheese Curd Tacos (West side of Chambers St. between West Dan Patch & Carnes avenues).
What they promised: "Pepperoni, sausage and pizza-flavored fried cheese curds in a crispy flour shell, topped with marinara sauce and sprinkled with Parmesan cheese."
What we got: The combination of pizza toppings and cheese curds in taco form isn't a gamechanger. It's average. The crunchiness and taste of the fried shell mixed in with the pepperoni and cheese curds makes for a good taste. The tacos are a great handheld snack to have while walking along the fairgrounds.
Rating: 2.
Croffle Cloud
Where to get: Spinning Wylde (north of Wright Ave. between Cooper and Cosgrove streets)
What they promised: "Croissant pressed in a waffle iron and topped with fresh whipped sweet cream, a drizzle of fruit puree and a cloud of cotton candy. Choice of three flavors: Banana Caramel – caramel drizzle with banana taffy cotton candy; Yuzu Meringue – yuzu puree with lemon meringue cotton candy; or Coconut Cream – coconut drizzle with coconut cotton candy." (Vegetarian)
What we got: There's a crisp lemon flavor that blends well in the cotton candy. It's not too sweet, and the sprinkles add a nice crunchy texture. The croissant that the cotton candy sits on, however, is nothing special. On a practicality level the construction of the croffle cloud makes it difficult to eat, and you come away sticky. The yuzu puree has potential but it gets lost because it's smushed between the croissant and cotton candy.
Rating: 2.
Hot Honey Jalapeño Popper Donut
Where to get: The northwest corner of Carnes Avenue and Chambers Street
What they promised: "Hand-cut yeast-raised donut frosted with homemade jalapeño cream cheese. Topped with crumbled bacon, pickled jalapeños and drizzled with hot honey."
What we got: The texture of the donut is very thick, which doesn't allow the other flavors of the jalapeño or the hot honey to really come through. The cream cheese is flat and doesn't have kick, and it seems to clash with the pickled jalapeños. This dish had potential but unfortunately is weighed down by the yeast-raised donut.
Rating: 1.
Dill Pickle Iced Tea
Where to get: Loon Lake Iced Tea (west side of Underwood St. between Wright and Dan Patch avenues)
What they promised: "Brewed black tea infused with dill pickle flavor and served with a dill pickle spear. Garnished with a rim of chamoy, Tajín, salt and dill." (Vegan, Gluten Free)
What we got: The tea itself is a little weak and watery, and the dill pickle doesn't add enough flavor to the beverage. If you want any tang, you'll have to rely on the Tajín on the rim. It's a strange combination of strong Tajín and flavorless tea that is disappointing, especially if you're a pickle-lover.
Rating: 1.