The State Fair of Texas announced its winners for the Big Tex Choice Awards on Tuesday. Four winners took home bragging rights in the following categories: Winner: Best Taste – Savory Burger Chop Tater Tacos Burger Chop Tater Tacos by Tom Grace A fresh burger patty is seared to per fection, chopped, and combined with sautéed onions and jalapeños. Topped with mozzarella and American cheese, the mixture is placed atop a bed of cheddar cheese tater tots formed into a taco shell and finished with buffalo buttermilk ranch coleslaw, garlic parmesan buffalo sauce, and more tots, making for the ultimate Burger Chop Tater Tacos! Pairs well with Karbach’s Hopadillo! Winner: Best Taste – Sweet Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog by Beck Fletcher The Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog consists of smooth milk chocolate fudge hand-dipped in Fletcher’s famous Original Corny Dog batter and is deep-fried until golden perfection. Topped with a drizzle of yellow vanilla icing and served with raspberry compote for a sweet twist on the iconic Corny Dog. One bite and you’ll taste why this sweet treat is top dog! Pairs well with Karbach’s Lager! Winner: Best Taste – Sipper Tropical Coco Fresca by Justin Martinez The Tropical Coco Fresca is a layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with chamoy lava Tajin® rim, paired with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts into a creamy tropical explosion of flavors, sure to keep you cool in the Texas heat State Fair of Texas 2 hours ago Big Tex Choice Awards Best Taste – Sipper Winner Winner – Most Creative Berry Me in Matcha by Stephen El Gidi Introducing Berry Me in Matcha — a luxurious flavor experience that fuses creamy cheesecake indulgence with bold Japanese-inspired flair. This rich New York-style cheesecake is hand-dipped in silky Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies for a delicate earthy crunch, then drizzled with luscious white chocolate and sweet strawberry jam. Finished with a fresh strawberry slice on top, every bite delivers the perfect balance of creamy, crunchy, fruity, and sweet matcha bliss. Pairs well with Karbach’s Love Street! A group of around 30 judges, including NBC 5’s Bianca Castro and Telemundo 39’s Martha Minjarez, sampled the concessionaire’s concoctions on Tuesday to help decide the winners. They’re asked to score each dish based on taste, value, creativity, and how it would appeal to fairgoers. Fair officials said a record-breaking 77 entries were submitted this year, which were whittled down to 15 finalists. 2026 Savory Finalists Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos by Dickel’s Smokehouse The Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos are a bold, delicious taco duo that brings pure backyard flavor to every bite. The first taco features a fire-roasted jalapeño stuffed with juicy pineapple pork sausage and melted mozzarella, tucked into a warm blue corn tortilla with rich, charred flavor. The second taco brings the smoke, with tender-sliced brisket wrapped around a roasted jalapeño, layered with melted mozzarella, and served on a heat-kissed yellow corn tortilla, finished with crisp purple pickled onion and a drizzle of sweet, smoky barbecue sauce or house-made Lone Star Habanero Fuego. Pairs well with Karbach’s Ziegenbock! Flamin’ Crunch Pizza Flamin’ Crunch Pizza by Tom Grace The Flamin’ Crunch Pizza consists of hand-tossed, fresh-made pizza dough topped with a jalapeño cheddar queso base and covered with a freshly grated blend of mozzarella and cheddar cheese. After baking to perfection, the pizza is topped with handfuls of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos®, a drizzle of jalapeño queso blanco and house-made buffalo buttermilk ranch dressing, and a hefty sprinkle of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos® dust over the entire pizza! Can you handle the heat? Pairs well with a Karbach’s Ziegenbock! Golden Crunch Melt Golden Crunch Melt by The Le Family Get ready for the ultimate Texas fair-food crunch! A tortilla brushed in a signature seasoned butter oil and grilled to a crispy golden finish is packed with juicy marinated chicken pastor, fire-roasted peppers, caramelized onions, smoky chipotle mayonnaise, melted three-blend cheese, and crispy potato strings in every bite and finished with a signature smoky chipotle crema. The result is the perfect combination of crunch, creamy heat, and cheesy goodness – the Golden Crunch Melt! Pairs well with Karbach’s Hopadillo IPA! Nacho Wings Nacho Wings by Cody Lauren Hays Get ready for the ultimate flavor explosion! Nacho Wings are crispy chicken wings tossed in zesty taco seasoning, smothered in creamy nacho cheese, and piled high with cilantro, green onions, cotija cheese, tomatoes, pickled red onions, and jalapeños. Served on a bed of hot, golden fries and drizzled with ranch, this larger-than-life creation brings together Fair-food classics: nachos, wings, and loaded fries in one wildly delicious bite! Pairs well with Karbach’s Hopadillo IPA! 2026 Sweet Finalists Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar by Christi Erpillo Johnna McKee This espresso martini popsicle delivers rich, divine indulgence in a perfectly frozen form. Robust cold-brew espresso is blended with a spirited kick of Fernie’s Funnel Cake Cream Cocktail™, creating layers of deep coffee flavors and hints of vanilla. Each Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar is artfully drizzled with ribbons of chocolate shell coating, hardening into a delicate, crackable bite, making for the ultimate pick-me-up on a stick! Pairs well with Karbach’s Ranch Water Hard Seltzer! Holy Flan! Buñueloco by The Garza Family Indulge in a sweet celebration of tradition and creativity with Holy Flan! Buñueloco. This sweet treat starts with a warm, crispy buñuelo bowl filled with creamy, homemade arroz con leche and a scoop of premium cinnamon Blue Bell® Ice Cream. The highlight is a decadent, deep-fried flan encased in a delicate puff pastry shell, topped with fluffy whipped cream topping and a rich caramel sauce drizzle for a perfect harmony of textures. Pairs well with Karbach’s Ranch Water Hard Seltzer! Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone by Brad Weiss A warm waffle cone fresh off the iron is dipped in white chocolate, rolled in buttery Texas pecan praline, crushed Biscoff® cookies, and freeze-dried strawberries, and filled with homemade, creamy scoopable cookie butter cheesecake. The Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone is topped with a pinch of sea salt, whipped cream, Biscoff® crumble, warm cookie butter drizzle, white chocolate sauce, and finished with a signature Biscoff® cookie, making for one unforgettable State Fair bite. Pairs well with a Karbach’s Lager! 2026 Sipper Finalists Corn Flake Shappé by Milton Gracie Whitley Forget the bowl and grab a straw — the creamy Corn Flake Shappé blends toasted corn flakes into a rich creation with silky dulce de leche, buttery Texas pecan notes, and a signature blend of warm spices. Finished with whipped cream, golden corn flake crunch, sweet strawberry crumble, and a dusting of powdered sugar, this creamy-and-crunchy sip is ready to cereal-ously two-step its way into your favorites. Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float by Josey and Tami Nevins Mayes Feeling nostalgic? Revisit this childhood classic—now with a boozy twist! The Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float featuring rich, creamy peach bellini soft serve infused with sparkling wine, topped with sparkling sugar and grated frozen peach for the perfect balance of sweet, creamy, and bubbly flavors. Finished with a sugary-sweet golden topping, this boozy float is a sophisticated spin on a childhood favorite that’s sure to raise a glass to Fair fun. Hot Honeycomb Lemonade Shake-Up by Rousso’s Concessions Straight from Deep Ellum, the Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider is crafted with hints of apples, caramel, churros, cinnamon sugar, and a smoky bacon jam twist for bold Texas flavors that hit your sweet, salty, and smooth cravings all at once. Sunset Soft Serve Rita by Dwania Morris The Sunset Soft Serve Rita combines a strawberry and mango margarita with vanilla soft-serve ice cream, a bold Tajín® rim, rich chamoy drizzle, and a crunchy hot honey Tajín® topping for the perfect balance of sweet-heat indulgence. This over-the-top frozen creation blends creamy tropical flavors with spice and irresistible texture in every bite. This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser. ...read more read less