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Tacos Al Pastor
Tacos Al Pastor
Manny’s Tortas
Food BuildingNow this is a taco: a porky, color-packed exercise in contrasts: spicy-cool and tender-chewy, all wrapped in a soft blue corn tortilla. Love the price, too. $5 Map it
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Lemonade Apple
Lemonade Apple
The Produce Exchange
Carnes Av. and Underwood St.Because that darling of the Minnesota apple world, the First Kiss, is still awaiting harvest, owners Sharon and Kevin Hannigan turned to New Zealand to introduce this newbie to lucky fairgoers. With its firm, juicy flesh and golden skin, this not-too-sugary, not-too-tart beauty makes for an ideal fairgrounds palate cleanser. $3 Map it
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Kentikka Fried Chicken Sliders
Kentikka Fried Chicken Sliders
Hot Indian Foods
International BazaarTender chicken thighs, sporting a crisp breaded coating, are dressed in a dreamy tomato-cream sauce (perfumed by smoked sweet paprika), topped with a cabbage-cucumber-cumin slaw and stuffed into first-rate slider buns. What’s not to love? Available through Aug. 27. $12 Map it
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Hickory Grilled Texas Red Hot Sausage
Hickory Grilled Texas Red Hot Sausage
Tejas Express
The GardenSuperb. RJ’s Meats in Hudson, Wis. crafted a smoked mix of pork, beef and chiles that’s finished on the stand’s wood-burning grill. It’s sliced, ring-bologna-style, and served with sweet-corn/black bean succotash, pickled red onion relish and pops of whole-grain mustard. $10 Map it
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Heirloom Tomato and Sweet Corn BLT with an Egg
Heirloom Tomato and Sweet Corn BLT with an Egg
Farmers Union Coffee Shop
Dan Patch Av. and Cosgrove St.The only three words more powerful than “I love you” are “Add an egg,” right? How do you improve this seemingly unimproveable BLT? By inserting a fried egg into the proceedings, and letting its runny yolk spread across that bacon, tomato and sweet corn goodness. $13 Map it
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Duck Drummies
Duck Drummies
Giggles’ Campfire Grill
Lee Av. and Cooper St.Love these. Who needs chicken wings when there are duck drummies to relish? The dark meat, succulent and abundant, is enrobed in a crispy coating that’s appealingly fragile and well seasoned. Glorious with beer, and well worth the price. $8.75 Map it
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Brisket Tacos
Brisket Tacos
Tejas Express
The GardenAnother hit from chef Mark Haugen. Brisket is slow-braised in ancho, guajillo and chipotle chiles until it achieves fall-apart (and wickedly slow-burn) status. Then out comes salty blue cheese, peppery arugula and tender (and gluten-free) corn tortillas from the talented La Perla folks in south Minneapolis. $10 Map it
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Blueberry Key Lime Pie
Blueberry Key Lime Pie
Farmers Union Coffee Shop
Dan Patch Av. and Cosgrove St.A fruitful partnership with the Birchwood Cafe yields the fair’s best new dessert. The restaurant infuses its sumptuous custard in its famous Key lime pie with tangy blueberries from Blue Fruit Farm in Winona, Minn. Honest-to-goodness whipped cream, too, from Stony Creek Dairy in Melrose, Minn. Don’t miss it. $8 Map it
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Behl Puri
Behl Puri
Hot Indian Foods
International BazaarChef Janene Holig relives her foray into Mumbai street foods with a gotta-have vegan snack. “It’s all the mouthfeels,” she said with a laugh, rattling off a Chex Mix-like toss of puffed rice, potatoes, roasted peanuts, flavorful tamarind chutney and an aromatic dried mango powder. Available through Aug. 27. $10 Map it
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Tipsy Pecan Tart
Tipsy Pecan Tart
Sara’s Tipsy Pie
Food BuildingThanksgiving in August. Owner Sara Hayden uses a butter-laden shortbread shell (from gluten-free Valley’s Own Bakehouse in Burnsville), doesn’t skimp on the all-important pecans, and refrains from making the filling toothache-sweet, a common pecan pie pitfall. $7 Map it
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Snow Cap Mini Waffle Sundae
Snow Cap Mini Waffle Sundae
Hamline Church Dining Hall
Dan Patch Av. and Underwood St.Simple pleasures, indeed. A small-scale waffle — tender, golden, malty, utterly delightful — gets a crown of ridiculously sumptuous cream cheese ice cream (from Izzy’s Ice Cream) and a drizzle of maple syrup. $6 Map it
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Shrimp & Grits Fritters
Shrimp & Grits Fritters
Funky Grits
Food BuildingAnother innovative newcomer. Owner Jared Brewington is focusing on a single, gotta-have item: a trio of piping hot fritters redolent of a rich aged Cheddar. Shrimp? Not so much. Not that it matters, because the results are terrific; ditto the creamy aioli dipping sauce. Great price, and gluten-free. $5 Map it
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Nashville Hot Chicken On-a-Stick
Nashville Hot Chicken On-a-Stick
The Blue Barn
West End MarketThe Blue Barn continues its hot streak with this on-trend item. The chicken thighs are juicy, and a cornflake coating adds a pronounced crispiness. The heat — feisty for the fair, tame-ish for Tennessee — comes from chile-infused butter sauce, offset with brown sugar. $9.95 Map it
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Lavender Lemonade
Lavender Lemonade
Farmers Union Coffee Shop
Dan Patch Av. and Cosgrove St.Of all the new alcohol-free beverages on the fairgrounds, this one is the most vividly refreshing. The lavender — it’s more about a delicate color than an overpowering floral flavor — is cultivated in Vermillion by the Hmong American Farmers Association. The cocktail-like rosemary sprig is a smart, summery touch. $6 and $7.50 Map it
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Jamm’in Brisket Grilled Cheese
Jamm’in Brisket Grilled Cheese
RC’s BBQ
Dan Patch Av. and Liggett St.Grilled cheese and barbecue, a happy marriage. Thick-cut, butter-drenched bread is piled high with tender smoked brisket and Cheddar and pepper Jack cheeses. Spiced-up barbecue sauce and quietly sweet onion jam duke it out for flavor supremacy. Easily shareable. $10 Map it
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Grilled Sota Sandwich
Grilled Sota Sandwich
Brim
North EndA clever retooling of the classic PB&J sandwich turns to a spread of peanuts and almonds, ground on the premises, along with a pert blueberry marmalade and sturdy gluten-free bread. To stay dairy-free, the sandwiches are toasted, in panini presses, using cinnamon-scented coconut oil. Inventive and delicious. $9 Map it
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Dessa’s Night Drive Ice Cream
Dessa’s Night Drive Ice Cream
Hamline Church Dining Hall
Dan Patch Av. and Underwood St.On paper, the particulars appear to be very kitchen-sink: cold brew coffee, cardamom, chocolate-covered espresso flakes and pops of toffee crunch. But in reality, they all come together in a beaut of an Izzy’s Ice Cream concoction that’s worthy of the Dessa moniker. $5.50 and $8 Map it
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Breakfast Potato Skin
Breakfast Potato Skin
The Blue Barn
West End MarketHalf of a hollowed-out, deep-fried potato is a vehicle for scrambled eggs, peppers, béarnaise and grilled beef cubes, a South Dakota tradition that has the temerity to step out at the Great Minnesota Get-Together (kidding, it’s great). Potato skins seem very TGI Fridays circa 1988, but they work here, too. $8.95 Map it
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Vanilla Mint Chocolate & Cream pop
Vanilla Mint Chocolate & Cream pop
Jonny Pops
West End MarketA refreshing repast for a hot summer’s day, popping with cool mint and dipped in dark chocolate. Kind of perfect, right? $5 Map it
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Turkish Pizza
Turkish Pizza
Blue Moon Dine-in Theater
Carnes Av. and Chambers St.Soft, puffy naan, its edges blackened in a wood-burning oven, gets liberally topped with minced beef in a cumin-forward tomato sauce. A pile-on of fresh finishes follows, including a cucumber salad and a sweet splash of pomegranate molasses. Would it be easier to eat if it were rolled, burrito-style? Probably. $9 Map it
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The Hot Hen
The Hot Hen
RC’s BBQ
Dan Patch Av. and Liggett St.It’s a pile of barbecue-seasoned potato chips garnished with a first-rate version of pulled Buffalo chicken, pickled jalapeños and a few punchy variations on blue cheese, and it deserves to be a staple at Super Bowl parties from coast to coast. $8 Map it
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Polish sausage
Polish sausage
iPierogi
Food BuildingA textbook version of the genre, expertly grilled and smothered in a not-too-pungent sauerkraut. The wisely chosen ciabatta-style roll stands up to the demands placed upon it. $8 Map it
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Pebbles & Bam Bam Waffles
Pebbles & Bam Bam Waffles
Nordic Waffles
West End MarketTender waffles are transformed into sandwiches filled with all kinds of harmonious ingredients. Instead of Nutella, owner Stine Aasland reaches for Reese’s Pieces (chocolate and peanut butter, that eternally appealing pairing) and crisp Fruity Pebbles cereal, a combination that will delight kids of all ages. $8 Map it
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Handmade Ice Cream Sandwiches
Handmade Ice Cream Sandwiches
Thelma’s Handmade Ice Cream Sandwiches
Judson Ave. and Underwood St.This Iowa import is a welcome State Fair addition, hawking a variety of soft, buttery cookies (including a gluten-free Snickerdoodle) that are paired with a long list of flavorful ice creams. $5 Map it
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Gram’s Sin-A-Buns
Gram’s Sin-A-Buns
iCandy Sugar Shoppe
Cooper St. and Dan Patch Av.Yes, an on-a-stick version of gooey, warm-from-the-oven sticky buns. This iteration, an homage to the baking skills of Marilyn Hultgren of Willmar, Minn., is imbued with a robust cinnamon wallop. They’re sweet enough without the addition of frosting or maple syrup, but go ahead, you’re at the fair. $7 Map it
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Feta Bites
Feta Bites
Dino’s Gyros
Carnes Av. and Nelson St.An improved-upon version of the cream cheese wonton, and semi-irresistible. Delicate and crisp on the outside, with a creamy feta interior. It’s a stretch to label the olive-flecked dipping sauce a “tapenade,” but the results still work. Great price, too. $5.50 Map it
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Carnitas Taco Cone
Carnitas Taco Cone
San Felipe Tacos
Food BuildingPork butt, redolent of ginger and sesame, gets a final sear on the grill, crisping and caramelizing its edges. It’s layered with queso fresco, cabbage and sour cream in a cone-shaped deep-fried tortilla. A novelty, certainly (it resembles a big — albeit porky — ice cream cone) and a tasty one. $10 Map it
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Bada Bing Sandwich
Bada Bing Sandwich
The Sandwich Shop
Clough St. and Carnes Av.Forget wacky, deep-fried or on-a-stick. Instead, focus on portable comfort food and the winning nature of familiar Italian ingredients: cold-cut-style ham and salami, mozzarella, fresh basil and a lively balsamic vinaigrette (if only the tomatoes weren’t so cottony), folded into a flatbread and toasted golden brown. $9 Map it
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Stuffed Cabbage Roll
Stuffed Cabbage Roll
iPierogi
Food BuildingA just-like-Mom’s classic, with cabbage leaves tightly wrapped around a mellow ground pork-rice mix and served in an uncomplicated tomato sauce. $8 Map it
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Pierogies
Pierogies
iPierogi
Food BuildingThese homey rib-stickers are sold in two varieties: a potato-cheese combo garnished with smoky bacon and sweet caramelized onions (best), or ground pork with those same onions; there’s a mix-and-match version, too. $9 Map it
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Non-dairy shakes
Non-dairy shakes
West End Creamery
West End MarketSoy-based ice cream — and soy milk — manage to re-create much of the creaminess of their dairy counterparts, hurrah. Try the new pumpkin spice-like flavor, “Golden Goddess.” Yikes, that price. $13 Map it
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No Bologna Coney
No Bologna Coney
Mancini’s al Fresco
Carnes Av. and Nelson St.In acreage riddled with hot dogs and brats, this mortadella-inspired pork sausage stands out, not only for its fatty, pistachio-peppered bite but also for its abundant olive salad topping. The one complaint is that the buttered and toasted bun doesn’t hold up to sausage’s heft. $6.75 Map it
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Fresh strawberries with non-dairy whipped topping
Fresh strawberries with non-dairy whipped topping
Strawberries ‘n Crème
Randall Ave. and Underwood St.Ripe, fragrant berries, stemmed, hulled and piled, parfait-style, into a cup, a little slice of late-summer heaven. Apologies to vegans everywhere, but this would be a stellar treat if the counterfeit whipped cream (not bad, it must be said) was the real thing. $7 and $9 Map it
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Breakfast Sandwiches
Breakfast Sandwiches
Blue Ox Burger Bar
Judson Ave. and Clough St.A riff on the Egg McMuffin (nothing wrong with mimicking the master, right?), these toasted English muffin sandwiches arrive hot off the grill and are filled with a fried egg, gooey American cheese and an impressive pile of nicely crispy bacon. The price is a smidgen on the high side. $6 Map it
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Boozy Berries & ’Barb Trifle
Boozy Berries & ’Barb Trifle
The Hideaway Speakeasy
Grandstand, upper levelPaging the Ladies Who Lunch. It’s an elaborately layered confection of delicate vanilla-scented pound cake, tart lemon curd, a similarly tart rhubarb compote and a colorful splash of blueberry coulis, all enhanced by hints of a peach-scented, Minnesota-made white wine. Creative and elegant (with a price to match). $9 Map it
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Al Pastor Waffles
Al Pastor Waffles
Nordic Waffles
West End MarketImagine a taco masquerading as a folded-over waffle. Not bad, right? This version combines tender marinated pork with brightly acidic pineapple, sharp onion and cilantro. It might not be the fairgrounds’ most memorable al pastor, but it’s perfectly acceptable. $8 Map it
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Warm Cheesecake Tart
Warm Cheesecake Tart
LuLu’s Public House
West End MarketThe palm-size dessert hits all the right cheesecake marks, right down to the chocolate, strawberry and salted caramel toppings. But are overheated fairgoers clamoring for warm cheesecake? $6 Map it
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Peppadew olives
Peppadew olives
Fried Fruit & Fried Olives
South of the GrandstandSalty green olives, robed in crunchy, slightly sweet-hot Peppadew peppers and speared on-a-stick. This being the fair, there’s a battered and deep-fried version, but the unadulterated variation is better. $8 and $8.50 Map it
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Peaches n’ Cream Nachos
Peaches n’ Cream Nachos
Bridgeman’s Ice Cream
Judson Av. and Liggett St.Celebrate peach season with a few scoops of Peaches n’ Cream ice cream, a golden peach compote, a drizzle of honey and crushed pecans. The bed of cinnamon-dusted pita chips radiates afterthought vibes, and a nondairy (read: fake) whipped cream besmirches the proud Bridgeman’s legacy. $8 Map it
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Mini Donut Latte
Mini Donut Latte
Anchor Coffee House
Underwood St. and Carnes Av.The promised “mini-donut flavoring” in this traditional and not inexpensive latté (served hot or blissfully cold) wasn’t readily apparent, but the Tom Thumb mini-donut garnish was a sweet touch. $7 Map it
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Lamb T-Bone Chops
Lamb T-Bone Chops
Holy Land
International BazaarThis is the place to dig into a pair of grass-fed grilled lamb loins, nicely charred but somewhat bland. $6 Map it
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Cookie Dough On-a-Stick
Cookie Dough On-a-Stick
Kora’s Cookie Dough
Dan Patch Ave. between Cooper and CosgroveThe trend finally reaches the fair, in five flavors — chocolate chip, Monster, Reese’s peanut butter, Oreo fudge and vegan sugar cookie — served straight-up or embellished with chocolate, peanuts and other dodads. Grainy dough screams “sugar,” meaning it fits right into the fair. $5 Map it
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Build-your-own hamburgers
Build-your-own hamburgers
Blue Ox Burger Bar
Judson Ave. and Clough St.The patties — unadorned, or with American cheese and/or bacon — are fairly run-of-the-mill, the drab buns even more so. A selection of ordinary add-ons — shredded lettuce, tomato, onion — don’t do all that much to amp up the proceedings. Go the basket route with Tater Tots or (terrific) crinkle fries. $6 to $13 Map it
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Deep-Fried Dilly Dog
Deep-Fried Dilly Dog
Swine & Spuds
Warner ColiseumThis State Fair version of Turducken amusingly stuffs a bratwurst into a giant hollowed-out dill pickle, dips it in batter and dunks the whole shebang, corn dog-style, into the deep fryer. An acquired taste. $8 Map it
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Irish Whiskey Boneless Wings
Irish Whiskey Boneless Wings
O’Gara’s at the Fair
Dan Patch Av. and Cosgrove St.These nugget-size snacks bear an uncanny resemblance to the sweet-and-sour chicken found at any strip mall Chinese restaurant. Gluten-free. $8 Map it
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Halo Cone
Halo Cone
Rainbow Ice Cream
Grandstand, upper levelThe Hello Kitty of preposterous State Fair foods — comics-colored soft-serve ice cream, garnished with sprinkles and Gummi bears and served on a bed of cotton candy — will probably cause Instagram to crash while simultaneously providing lifetime employment for Minnesota’s dentists. $9 Map it
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Deep-fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Deep-fried Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough
Kora’s Cookie Dough
Dan Patch Ave. between Cooper and CosgroveA novelty act, with semi-molten dough inside wonton wrappers and fried like egg rolls. Better to stumble onto an underbaked Sweet Martha’s cookie. $7 and $10 Map it
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Cuban Fusion Fajita
Cuban Fusion Fajita
Juanita’s Fajitas
Nelson St. south of the GrandstandLift the basic elements of a Cubano, roll them into a flour tortilla, and yawn. $7 Map it
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Cheesy Sriracha Funnel Cake Bites
Cheesy Sriracha Funnel Cake Bites
Funnel Cakes
Dan Patch Av. and Nelson St.An overpriced, shimmering-with-grease gutbomb, with cheese. $8 Map it
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Carolina Pit-Smoked Brisket Taco
Carolina Pit-Smoked Brisket Taco
Shanghaied Henri’s
International BazaarAt a time when the fairgrounds are peppered with some seriously impressive tacos, along comes this limpid, ill-conceived embarrassment. In its defense, the price includes two tacos. $9 Map it
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Birthday Batter Blast malt or sundae
Birthday Batter Blast malt or sundae
Dairy Goodness Bar
Dairy BuildingVanilla-centric soft-serve ice cream topped with rainbow sprinkles and Type 2 diabetes-inducing “cupcake bites,” whatever that is. $6 Map it