Though the end of summer is bittersweet, many people eagerly await the opening of the Minnesota State Fair. With rides and games, prize-winning livestock and produce, parades and shows and fireworks, there’s something for everyone. But no visit is complete without sampling some State Fair food — food on a stick, food that’s deep-fried, food that melts and drips and sizzles.
Everyone has favorites, and the sheer variety makes it an exciting culinary destination. Some classic standbys such as French fries and cheese curds are comforting to find every year.
If there’s a theme to this list, it’s deep-frying. But we all know you don’t go to the State Fair for healthy food, so forget your diet as you sample these delightful indulgences. Why wait for the Great Minnesota Get-Together when you can treat yourself to fair foods in Plymouth?
MINI DONUTS
Cowboy Jack’s
At the Fair, you smell the mini donuts before you see them. The sweet scent wafts for blocks and reminds you that it’s always a good time for donuts. If you need a fix before the Fair, follow your nose to Cowboy Jack’s. Their mini donuts, served hot with cinnamon and sugar, will tide you over until you can make your way to the fairgrounds. $6.
FRICKLES
Lucky’s 13 Pub
Frickles are deep-fried pickle chips made with a panko coating, usually used for onion rings, which gives them an extra-crisp texture. “And we serve them with ranch because, why not? It’s Minnesota!” says server Jo Cotton. This is one of the pub’s most-ordered appetizers, so it must be a good way to start your deep-fried odyssey. $8.99.
VEGETABLE AND MEAT SAMOSAS
India Palace
India Palace’s samosas are delightful pouches of flavorful ingredients. The cool, refreshing mint and cilantro dipping sauce complements the samosas’ little kick of ginger, garlic and chili paste. The veggie samosas are filled with a soft potato and pea mixture, contrasting with the crispy outer shell, while meat samosas have the addition of lamb inside. Both types of samosas have a great balance of seasonings and will add a spark to your meal. $3.95 for two samosas.
WISCONSIN CHEESE CURDS
Grizzly’s Wood-Fired Grill
Cheese curds are almost certainly one of the most recognized State Fair foods. At the Fair, you can even walk from booth to booth and compare a variety of oozy, salty, fried flavors. Grizzly’s giant cheese curds are fresh and house-made. Each generous curd is the size of a golf ball. They start with a large cube of cheddar cheese, which is dipped in beer batter, fried to perfection, and served with ranch dressing. $9.
DEEP-FRIED MUSHROOMS
Sunshine Factory Bar and Grill
Did you know mushrooms can be a good source of antioxidants? So in spite of the fried breading, this savory treat might have some healthful properties! The Sunshine Factory uses fresh, whole mushrooms, coats them in house-made batter and deep-fries them until they’re crispy golden brown. They are finished with a sprinkling of Parmesan cheese and parsley, and served with horseradish mayo sauce, which is also prepared on site. As a bonus, the menu also offers cheese curds, so you can get two fair foods in one stop. $9.50, $4.95 during happy hour.
HAND-CUT FRESH FRIES
Honey & Mackie’s
So many restaurants serve French fries, but technique sets these apart. They’re fresh-cut and then double-fried, a method that makes them crispy outside and soft inside. Another welcome feature is that they’re fried in canola oil, and are peanut- and allergen-free. No gluten in these fries! Dip your fries in homemade sauces: seasoned sour cream, sriracha or ranch. And if you want to get fancy, they even have specialty fries — chewy cheese fries, loaded baked potato fries and pizza fries. But the most popular option is the plain, fresh-cut fries. “They’re just so good by themselves,” says owner Amy Albert. $3 regular, $4 large; specialty fries are $5.50 (one size only).
STATE FAIR CHEESECAKE
Rock Elm Tavern
Rock Elm’s cheesecake isn’t your average cheesecake. Their version is definitely more on the fair food end of the spectrum than most, mainly because—you guessed it—it’s deep-fried. First it’s rolled in a flour tortilla and dusted with a cinnamon-sugar blend, then fried to a golden brown. Finally, this sharable dessert is cut in two and drizzled with their house-made, warm bourbon caramel sauce. Fresh strawberries, served on the side, add the finishing touch. $7.
