The State Fair of Texas kicks off its 138th year in Dallas on September 27, 2024. It has been going on for 24 days, making it one of the longest-running fairs in the US. In 2021 alone, 2. 2 million visitors entered the gates of the historic Fair Park, a National Historic Landmark in South Dallas. Thats an average of about 91,000 people per day.
As you can imagine, it takes an army of food vendors to feed that many people. While the Texas State Fair operates as a nonprofit, vendors selling deep-fried foods can make plenty of money. Theres a reason the Fair is known as the “Fried Food Capital of Texas. “.
Tickets for one day at the fair cost between $15 and $25 for adults. You’ll also need to buy State Fair Food For the price of admission, you can enjoy free concerts, livestock shows, the Texas Auto Show, and other types of entertainment.
Food and drinks can only be bought with coupons, which can be bought at ticket booths for one dollar each. According to my girlfriend Kel, who calls herself a “Texas chica,” this is twice as much as the 50 cents per coupon rate before the pandemic. We mainly have inflation to blame.
Coupons are sold in increments of ten, and theres no discount for buying 50 or 100 at once. You can pay with cash, a credit card, or a mix of the two. I learned this when I paid for one with $8 in coins (what I got as change for a green DART rail ride) and $2 on a credit card.
In addition, Kel had more than $100 worth of coupons left over from the 2017 and 2018 Fairs. Unused tickets from prior years are valid. In 2022, I went to the State Fair of Texas and wrote this story about my first experience there. It includes all the fried foods we could eat.
The State Fair of Texas is home to all things over-the-top. From the towering 55-foot talking Big Tex statue to the creative fried foods, everything is bigger and better at this iconic event. One of the fair’s most popular snacks is no exception – the giant, deliciously seasoned turkey leg. But just how much does one of these meaty legs cost at the fair? Let’s break it down!
A Classic Fair Food Favorite
Turkey legs are a staple fair food across the country, but they hold a special place at the State Fair of Texas. These large, smoked drumsticks have been a crowd-pleasing snack at the fair for over 30 years. Slow-cooked over a pit to crispy, smoky perfection and coated in a blend of savory spices, they have become a must-try treat for fairgoers.
The turkey legs sold at the fair average around 1.5 pounds each – over 3 times the size of a normal turkey drumstick! Their gargantuan size makes them perfect for sharing, though some fair visitors accept the challenge to eat a whole leg on their own. Either way, biting into the tender, juicy meat is an experience not to be missed.
Pricing Through the Years
Over the past few decades, the price of turkey legs at the State Fair has steadily increased:
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1980s: $2-3 per leg
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1990s: $4-5 per leg
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Early 2000s: $6-8 per leg
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2010s: $10-12 per leg
As you can see, the cost has gone up significantly, which is understandable given inflation over 30+ years. But what about today?
2022 Turkey Leg Prices
In 2022, fairgoers can expect to pay $14-16 per turkey leg at the State Fair of Texas Here are some of the specific prices
- Tom’s Turkey Legs: $14
- Jake’s Turkey Leg Paradise: $15
- Texas Star Turkey Leg Hut: $15
- Gobbler’s: $16
- Ben’s Giant Turkey Legs: $16
So if you want to chomp down on a smoked turkey leg this year, be prepared to shell out around $15 Of course, prices may vary slightly by vendor
Worth the Price?
That may seem like a hefty price tag for a drumstick. But keep in mind these turkey legs are no ordinary poultry part. Their XL size and scrumptious flavor make them a fulfilling snack that can take the place of a meal.
When you break down the estimated $15 price of a State Fair turkey leg, here’s what you get:
- 1.5 pounds of meat
- Smoked for hours over a wood-burning pit
- Coated in a signature blend of savory seasonings
- An iconic fair food experience
For comparison, 1.5 pounds of raw turkey drumsticks bought from a grocery store would cost approximately $5-7. And they wouldn’t have that delicious smoky barbecue flavor!
So while $15 for a turkey leg may initially sound outrageous, it’s pretty on par with fair market prices when you consider the preparation and serving experience.
Tips for Saving Money
If your budget is tight but you still want to nosh on a turkey leg, here are some tips to save a few bucks:
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Go on $2 Tuesdays (Thrifty Thursdays) when select food vendors offer special discounts
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Split a turkey leg with a friend – some stands will even cut it in half for sharing
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Take advantage of any turkey leg coupons or special deals you can find
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Fill up on cheaper fair foods first before springing for a turkey leg
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Buy a smaller turkey drumstick for around $10 if you don’t have a massive appetite
Worth the Splurge
Sure, a $15 snack may be outside many fairgoers’ usual spending. But the State Fair of Texas is all about going big. Indulging in a giant turkey leg has become a tradition for many.
As far as fair foods go, turkey legs are one of the more filling and shareable options. Plus they make for a fun photo op!
If you plan to only treat yourself to a turkey leg and minimal other foods, the price becomes more reasonable. Look at it as a cooked meat meal rather than just a snack.
All in all, the hefty $15 price tag is understandable considering the size, preparation and downright deliciousness of these smoked drumsticks. For many fair fans, it’s worth the splurge!
So if you’ve been craving one of these meaty bird legs, stop by Tom’s, Jake’s, Texas Star or the other popular turkey leg stands at the fair this year. Bring your appetite, your camera, and around $15. Happy nibbling!
Deep-Fried Chocolate Tres Leches Cake
While we were at Deep Fried Love getting the Cha-Cha Chata, we saw that they also had a deep-fried chocolate Tres Leches cake. We got a serving for $14 with 14 coupons because it was a finalist for the Big Tex Choice Award at the 2012 State Fair of Texas. Kel loves Tres Leches cake, and she enjoyed this version.
State Fair of Texas Food
First, a warning: Theres more fried food at the Fair than any human can handle in a day. Kel and I had a two-fold strategy. First, we prioritized the finalists and winners of the Big Tex Choice Awards, a competition held every summer before the Fair begins.
The 2024 winners are:
- Best Taste — Savory: Dominican Fritura Dog
- Roussos Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick has the best taste when it comes to sweets.
- Most Creative: Texas Sugar Rush Pickles
This episode of the Eat Drink D-FW podcast by The Dallas Morning News is a fun look back at all the 2024 winners and finalists.
Second, we agreed to take only a few bites of whatever we bought. This would allow us to try more foods and, I hoped, prevent us from overeating.
Meeting Big Tex
A 55-foot-tall animatronic cowboy named Big Tex wore Dickies clothes and a Shiner belt buckle. He was the first thing we saw when we got to Fair Park. Big Tex is the worlds tallest cowboy and an icon of the State Fair of Texas. Hes welcomed visitors with a friendly “Howdy, folks” since 1952.
Another Texas State Fair favorite is Fletchers corny dogs, which are sold in the plaza with Big Tex. For my first food order at the Fair, I got an Original corn dog for seven tickets ($7). After topping it with yellow mustard, I took my first bite of this delicious deep-fried dog. The slightly crisped exterior gave way to a doughy interior and hot dog. I couldve eaten a few of these as the day had only just begun (it was 10:45 a. m. ).
We walked past a lake with swan rides on pedal boats and then came to Cotton Bowl Stadium, which is where college football games are played every Saturday during the Fair:
- State Fair Classic: This game has been going on since 1925, and this year it’s between Grambling State University and Prairie View A&M University.
- Red River Showdown: The University of Texas (Longhorns) plays the University of Oklahoma (Sooners) in a famous game from 1929.
We found Peanut Butter Paradise by Southside Steaks in Cotton Bowl Plaza. ” This bad boy was a whopping 20 coupons, which, at the time, still wasnt registering as $20.
A deep-fried honey bun filled with caramel is covered in creamy peanut butter and topped with regular and mini Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Reeses Pieces, and crushed Butterfingers.
As the 80-degree sun warmed the chocolate, making it an even tastier treat to eat with a plastic spork. I love Reeses, peanut butter, and chocolate, but this dessert felt like a hot mess, literally and figuratively. If I were a teacher, Id give it a “B. ” Once the $20 cost sunk in, I thought it was overpriced.
Note: While a metal fork would make life easier, theyre unfortunately prohibited, along with metal knives. Perhaps a metal spork would be allowed? See the FAQ for what you can and cannot bring.
I was interested in trying deep-fried Oreos because Kel told me she always gets them at the State Fair of Texas. We didnt have to look far. We got deep-fried Oreos from Ruths Tamale House in the same plaza as Peanut Butter Paradise.
This order had eight coupons for $8 worth of cookies. Three of them were dipped in chocolate sauce and sprinkled with powdered sugar. It only took one bite to realize why deep-fried Oreos are a State Fair of Texas staple. The proportion of fried dough to cookie felt just right. I liked the chocolate flavor of the cookies, and the price was reasonable.
Pro Tip: Later, I saw at least one stand selling deep-fried Double Stuf Oreos. Keep an eye out if you want to double your pleasure.
There were a lot of people walking around the State Fair of Texas with big turkey legs before noon. A big hunk of grilled turkey will set you back 22 coupons ($22). We were more focused on the sweets, so we skipped the turkey.
The 2022 Big Tex Choice Winner for “Best Taste—Savory” was at Nevins Hamburger / Nevins Corndog. We got there by going around the Birthing Barn and the Swine Barn, which were both full of small and large (and pregnant) pigs.
At age 22, Josey Nevins Mayes became the youngest concessionaire to win a Big Tex Choice Award. And she did it with her Fried Charcuterie Board. According to a story in The Dallas Morning News, the inspiration came from the charcuterie boards she made for friends.
There’s more than you might think inside these little triangles. Chopped mozzarella, salami, prosciutto, and green apples are mixed with balsamic vinegar and olive oil, then wrapped in wonton wrapper and deep-fried. Mike’s Hot Honey and cold goat cheese are then added on top.
You get three pieces for 16 coupons ($16). Would it be better than the winner of the sweet category? A resounding “yes” would be our answer. Kel and I both agreed that it was our favorite sweet at the Fair because it had the best flavors and ingredients.
Between food vendors, there was a lot to see. We walked through a petting zoo full of cute goats, llamas, alpacas, and one giant Texas longhorn. We saw a cake competition going on while on our way to see a life-sized butter sculpture of Big Tex. There were cakes upon cakes, organized by category; judges were hard at work taste-testing and rating them all.
We also passed through the Texas Wine Garden, where Kel ordered a cider. I exchanged five coupons ($5) for a St. Arnold Old Fashion Keg Root Beer, which tasted mighty fine on a warm fall day in Dallas. I chose not to drink alcohol at the Fair so that I could save coupons for food. I also knew that one or two drinks would make me tired faster than water and soda.
After catching the 1 p. m. pig races (a real squeal), it was time to resume our taste adventure. La Bluebonnet was a finalist in the “Best Taste—Sweet” category of the Big Tex Choice Awards. You can get ten coupons for it at Miltons Turkey Legs for $10.
Its a lemonade-like drink made from fresh-squeezed citrus juices and blueberries. Its served over ice and garnished with a lemon slice, mint leaf, and more blueberries. The Bluebonnet is served in a plastic Mason jar with a paper straw, which is a nice touch for how it looks. The blueberries were the healthiest food I ate all day.
After taking photos at Big Tex, we went to the Tower Building Food Court. It was 1:30 p. m. , and wed been at the State Fair of Texas for about three hours. I was starting to feel tired as we entered the bustling food hall. Inside, there were people everywhere. It was lunchtime, and people were excited to try everything offered.
Banners highlighting past food competition winners hung from the ceiling, an impressive display of overindulgence. The 2017 winner for “Best Taste—Savory” and “Most Creative” was the Funnel Cake Bacon Queso Burger. It sounds like a heart attack on a plate. That year, Deep Fried Chicken Noodle on a Stick was also a finalist in the savory category. It was a better choice.
At Ranchero Deep Fried Love, we found the Cha-Cha Chata, the 2022 Big Tex Choice Award winner in the “Most Creative” category. For 16 coupons ($16), you get two types of milk and vanilla ice cream blended into a horchata and poured into a cup with caramel and cinnamon. The creamy shake is topped with whipped cream, mini cinnamon cookies, a deep-fried arroz con leche (rice with milk) bite, and a churro over a plastic straw.
On presentation alone, I thought the Cha-Cha Chata was a winner. The dish looked tasty, and I liked digging into the cold vanilla ice cream after the whipped cream. The cookies and deep-fried ball of arroz con leche didn’t taste very good to me, and I didn’t even bother to try the churro. I enjoyed the cold milkshake most.
MASSIVE Turkey Leg Review at State Fair! #review #foodie #statefair
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