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Top 10 State Fair Foods Ranked by Real Minnesotans
Few things stir up stronger opinions in Minnesota than State Fair food. Whether you’re loyal to the Pronto Pup or on a mission to try every new creation, the Great Minnesota Get-Together is a feast for all senses.
This year, we asked dozens of real Minnesotans — from St. Paul to Shakopee, from Duluth to Dakota County — to rank their favorite State Fair foods of all time. The results combine tradition, taste, and plenty of deep-fried love.
If you're headed to the Minnesota State Fair in 2025, consider this your official food field guide.
🥇 1. Fresh Cheese Curds
It’s no surprise this classic tops the list. Crispy on the outside, squeaky on the inside, and deeply satisfying from the first bite.
🧀 Minnesotans say: “It’s the one thing I eat every single year, no matter what.”
📍 Best vendor: Mouth Trap Cheese Curds (Food Building)
🥈 2. Pronto Pup
The original on-a-stick meal, the Pronto Pup is golden brown, dipped in pancake batter, and strictly for mustard-only purists.
🌭 Still confused by the Corn Dog vs. Pronto Pup debate? Just pick your side and stand by it.
🥉 3. Sweet Martha’s Cookie Jar
Overflowing buckets of warm chocolate chip cookies are perfect for sharing (or not). Wash them down with cold milk from the All-You-Can-Drink Milk Booth nearby.
🍪 Pro tip: Bring a resealable container or be prepared to eat fast.
🐖 4. Pork Chop on a Stick
It’s tender. It’s juicy. It’s grilled to perfection and conveniently portable. This is Midwestern meat at its finest.
🥩 Loved especially by folks in rural counties like Le Sueur and Sherburne.
🥤 5. Fresh Squeezed Lemonade
Sometimes, the best fair treat is simple. Tart, cold lemonade is a savior on hot August days, especially when topped with strawberry or watermelon flavors.
🍋 Pairs well with just about anything salty or deep-fried.
🍯 6. Honey Ice Cream
This low-key favorite from the MN Honey Producers booth is naturally sweet, smooth, and often overlooked. But those who know, know.
🐝 Honorable mention: honey sticks and beeswax lip balm samples
🍫 7. Deep-Fried Candy Bars
A guilty pleasure? Absolutely. But Minnesotans have spoken — Snickers, Milky Way, or Twix wrapped in dough and fried is irresistible once a year.
🍫 Don’t forget the powdered sugar.
🌮 8. Newcomer Favorite: Walking Tacos
This upgrade to fairground tacos includes seasoned meat, lettuce, salsa, and cheese packed right into a bag of chips. Fritos or Doritos? You decide.
🔥 This year’s buzzed-about version: Korean BBQ Walking Taco with gochujang drizzle
🥬 9. Veggie Fries
Even healthy eaters get a win at the fair. Zucchini sticks, carrot fries, and green bean tempura offer a break from heavy fried foods without sacrificing flavor.
🥕 Favorite of fairgoers in Ramsey and Washington counties
🍓 10. Minnesota Grown Fruit Sundae
From the Agriculture Horticulture Building comes this cold and colorful dessert made with real local berries and soft serve.
🍓 Great for families and one of the few sweet options that doesn’t leave you feeling overstuffed.
🎟️ What Didn’t Make the Cut?
Some polarizing foods didn’t make the top 10 but still earned strong followings:
•Dill pickle beer
•Alligator on a stick
•Deep-fried olives
•Cookie dough burritos
•Spaghetti ice cream
Love them or hate them, these wildcard foods show off the creativity that makes the fair famous.
🧠 What Minnesotans Said
We asked dozens of voters to explain why they chose their favorites. Here are a few highlights:
🗣 “The fair isn’t the same without Sweet Martha’s. We get a bucket for the car ride home.”
🗣 “I bring a list every year but always end up at the pork chop stand first.”
🗣 “If I don’t get a lemonade and a bucket of cookies, I didn’t do the fair right.”
📍 Fair Details
📅 Dates: August 21 to September 1, 2025
📍 Location: Minnesota State Fairgrounds, Falcon Heights
Arrive early for shorter lines and bring cash, card, or mobile pay. Download the State Fair app to find each food stall and explore new vendor maps.
🏁 Final Takeaway
The Minnesota State Fair is about tradition, taste, and trying something new every year. Whether you’re there for the nostalgia or the novelty, there’s something on this list for everyone.
Just don’t forget napkins and stretchy pants. 🍴🎡
🔗 Related Reads:
Affordable Housing & Homeownership in Minnesota
Things to Do in Minnesota
👤 About the Author
Marisa Simonetti is a Minnesota-based housing advocate, real estate investor, and 2026 candidate for U.S. Senate in Minnesota. She writes about affordable housing, home repairs, and sustainable homeownership in counties like Dakota, Scott, Ramsey, and beyond.