ST. PAUL, Minn. — The Minnesota State Fair 2024 is here, and with it all the fried foods, sweet treats and delicious drinks your heart and taste buds crave.
Of nearly three dozen new offers and six new vendors, there will be plenty for showgoers to sample. And the WCCO team is here to help you whittle down your must-try list to a manageable load.
Our digital team members are on hand to sample some of the exciting new offerings, which we rate on a scale of 4 (a must-try) to 1 (very disappointing).
4: The best of the best, and it would be worth coming back to the fair in the years to come. Elbow your way to the front of the line!
3: Solid and/or intriguing work, and definitely worth checking out. Maybe you’ll find your own new favorites here.
2: Recommended, but with reservations. Take the plunge if it’s really high on your list, otherwise you might want to look elsewhere.
1: Maybe you should just eat the standard cheese curds and mini donuts. That way you won’t waste your calorie intake at the fair.
Click here to view last year’s rankings.
Fried Ranch Dressing
Where to get: LuLu’s Public House (near West End Market, south of Schilling Amphitheater)
What they promised: “Ranch dressing filling made with ranch seasoning, buttermilk and cream cheese in a panko shell, deep fried and dusted with ranch powder. Served with a side of hot honey sauce made with Cry Baby Craig’s Hot Sauce. (Vegetarian).”
What We Got: The overwhelmingly spicy ranch explodes out of the disappointing breading on the first bite. The hot honey sauce is excellent, but the food itself fails to impress. — Anthony Bettin
Judgement: 2
Grilled purple sticky rice
Where to get: Union Hmong Kitchen (at the International Bazaar, south wall, west corner)
What they promised: “Purple sticky rice, grilled over an open flame until crispy, then topped with choice of shredded Hmong beef jerky or pickled mushrooms. Garnished with fresh herbs and finished with Union Hmong Kitchen’s Krunchy Chili Aioli. (Gluten free, vegetarian option).”
What We Got: This generously portioned offering-on-a-stick is one of the spiciest items you’ll find at the fairgrounds, thanks to the chili aioli it’s topped with. The rice is slightly dry and far too crumbly to actually eat off the stick, but the savory flavor is spot on. We tried the Hmong beef jerky version, and it’s a perfect complement. — Anthony Bettin
Judgement: 3
French Fries Focacciawich
Where to get: West End Creamery (near West End Market, northwest section)
What they promised: “‘Patata Frita’ kettle chip ice cream made by Minnesota Dairy Lab, between focaccia bread from Wrecktangle Pizza. Topped with a blend of honey butter, kettle chips, and herbs.”
What we got: Chip ice cream with chips on top is…a lot of chips. You almost wish the ice cream was just vanilla, to add some sweetness to the mix. The focaccia is fantastic and spongy, though. — Anthony Bettin
Judgement: 2
Check back regularly during the show for more reviews.
