Depending on whom you ask, the Indiana State Fair is first and foremost a celebration of absurd culinary creations. Unfortunately, you’d need about a dozen stomachs and a small fortune to enjoy all of them.
That’s where we come in. An intrepid troop of hungry IndyStar reporters and interns set out to sample the Fair’s myriad flavors so you know where to spend your precious money and stomach space. From all things deep-fried to a staggering diversity of pickle preparations, here are our opinions on 12 dishes, ranked from worst (one star) to best (five stars).
Bison Smashburger Taco
Red Frazier Bison Food Truck near Pioneer Village. $18. 1 star.
My disappointment in this item is immeasurable. $18 for one taco is a disgrace to Midwestern values, regardless of the meat inside. Speaking of the meat, the bison — it was fine. There’s really nothing exciting about this taco. There’s more seasoning and flavor in a taco from Taco Bell for much less money. Spend your $18 on something more valuable, like lottery tickets or simply set it on fire.
— Tyler Spence
Peanut butter and jelly chicken wings
Urick Concessions tent just east of the Harvest Pavilion. $10. 2 stars.
When I asked for the PB&J; wings, the cashier gave me the sort of look one gives their friend upon learning they’re getting back together with a particularly toxic ex as if to say, “Well, it is your choice, after all.”
The meat is respectably crispy and juicy, and the jelly adds a fruity sweetness not unlike a mall food court’s neon-orange chicken. But the sticky carnage could be off-putting to most eaters — even I had to steel myself between some bites — so consider getting your fried fix elsewhere.
— Bradley Hohulin
Sun King’s State Fair pickle beer
Sun King Brewing in the Taproom across from the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. $12 for 16 ounces. 2.5 stars.
Those of us sophisticated enough to enjoy a salty, lime-kissed tomato beer — michelada, as it’s known in Mexico — will feel right at home with Sun King’s take on the fermented cucumber. My small sample was crisp and foamy with a little pucker and plenty of sodium. Still, casual beer drinkers may find that their last few gulps go down about as smoothly as dry-pour concrete.
— Bradley Hohulin
Chocolate Caramel Coffee Float: ‘The Triple C Float’
Hook’s Drugstore Museum by the Indiana Arts Building. $9. 3 stars.
This float wins points for its location inside the charming drugstore, taking you back to the late 19th century. The drink tastes exactly like it sounds: chocolate syrup at the bottom, caramel lining the side of the cup, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream atop some cold coffee. Nothing too special about the flavors but it does its job for anyone with a sweet tooth craving a cold drink.
— Yasmeen Saadi
Blue Ribbon Blueberry Shake
Dairy Bar near the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. $5. 3 stars.
The Dairy Bar’s usual high-quality ice cream proves to be the right vehicle for a punch of blueberry on the front end of each bite. But it faded a little quickly; I would have loved more berry aftertaste.
— Domenica Bongiovanni
Sweet chili ‘Suga Daddy’ sub
Gobble Gobble Food truck, in front of the DNR Complex on the northwest side of the track. $9. 3.5 stars.
A row of sweet chili sauce-coated turkey meatballs evokes the flavors you’d find cradled in a Thai-American lettuce wrap. The comparison ends with the sub’s “bread,” a long glazed donut with little resemblance to lettuce. The spongey, lightly fried donut is a startlingly tasteful counter to the meatballs. Provided you can get over asking for a “Suga Daddy,” this one is worth trying.
— Bradley Hohulin
Cookie butter elephant ear
Urick Concessions by Pioneer Village. $11. 3.5 stars.
What’s better than a dessert on top of another dessert? This elephant ear is like a lovely flakey churro with Biscoff cookies crumbled on a large elephant ear big enough to feed a family. The effect is not overly sweet but still sweet enough to warrant the title of treat, which will leave you satisfied. This item will be a sure win for any aviation buffs, as the signature airline snack, the Biscoff cookie, helps this elephant ear take flight with something unique.
— Tyler Spence
Cup of Cheese Curds
Wisconsin Cheese Curds next to the Harvest Pavilion. $15. 3.5 stars.
As a Kansas City native, I figured it was time to get into the Hoosier spirit and try cheese curds for the first time. I can absolutely understand why they’d be a staple comfort food – fried food and cheese never misses. While this made for a satisfying snack, the relatively small cup for $15 felt a bit too steep. — Yasmeen Saadi
Godfather egg roll
J&J; Taste of Home along the northwest side of the West Pavilion. $12. 4.5 stars.
An honest fair food takes something familiar and asks, “What if it were fried?” The result typically falls somewhere between wantonly garish and frighteningly delicious, and the Godfather egg roll is absolutely the latter. Spaghetti with meat sauce, parmesan dust and garlic butter are snugly corralled in a crispy 6-inch dough wrapper. It’s the flagrantly Americanized Italian comfort classic I loved as a kid, now somehow even more likely to end up on my shirt.
— Bradley Hohulin
Happy Jack Sandwich
Black Leaf Vegan by Pioneer Village. $15. 4.5 stars.
This sandwich was one of my favorites from our tasting tour. The jackfruit was seasoned nicely with a tangy, BBQ-like sauce. The coleslaw also added some nice crunch. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the sandwich exceeded my expectations, and I was left without any lingering cravings for meat.
— Yasmeen Saadi
Hot honey pepperoni pull grilled cheese
Dairy Bar near the Indiana Farmers Coliseum. $5. 5 stars.
The combination of price and creativity easily give this sandwich top marks. The honey’s sweetness coats a few big, thin classic slices of pepperoni cushioned between melty cheese and perfectly grilled toast.
— Domenica Bongiovanni
Chocolate fries
North American Midway Entertainment near the Midway rides. $12. 5 stars.
First think of chocolate-covered potato chips. Got that taste in mind? Good. This is the fresh and hot version of it. The fries were just salty enough to complement the gentle chocolate drizzle in a dish where every flavor lent itself to the whole. You’ll fight with family and friends for the last fry.
— Domenica Bongiovanni
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Contact dining reporter Bradley Hohulin at bhohulin@indystar.com. You can follow him on Twitter/X @BradleyHohulin.
original article can be founrd: https://www.indystar.com/story/entertainment/dining/2024/08/03/indiana-state-fair-foods-2023-we-rank-12-dishes-from-worst-to-best/74634689007/