Looking for more bang for your buck – or, rather, your coupons? You’ve come to the right place! The once-a-week deals on Thrifty Thursday are great, but you can save every day with these delicious foods available for 10 COUPONS OR LESS!
#1 Pupusas
7 coupons
This Salvadorian comfort food comes in both pork and spinach versions, topped with cheese, pickled cabbage, and red salsa inside of a tortilla. Grab one at Tony’s Taco Shop inside the Centennial or Tower Buildings.
#2 Deep Fried Texas Oatmeal Pie
6 coupons
That’s right; your favorite childhood treat just got even better! An oatmeal cream pie is dipped into sweet and fluffy Dr. Pepper® flavored pancake batter and fried until golden brown. That’s not all; it is then drizzled with Big Red® Soda reduction, covered with marshmallow sauce over top, and dusted with powdered sugar. Find it at Big Al’s Grill in Big Tex Circle.
#3 Hot Cheetos® Cheese Fries
9 coupons
Believe it or not, cheese fries just got even better. Hot Cheetos® cheese fries are a classic dish with a fiery kick. Find this savory and spicy concoction at Crazy Otto’s at Big Tex Circle.
#4 Funnel Cake
9 coupons
A classic Fair food, the funnel cake has been at the State Fair of Texas since 1969 – and remains just as delicious now as it was then! Pick one up at either Fernie’s Funnel Cakes locations, in the Embarcadero Building, or on the cross-section of First and Grand Avenue.
#5 BBQ Shotgun Shells
8 coupons
This cheesy, savory roll-on-a-stick is the perfect State Fair treat! Made with slow-smoked, shredded, Texas BBQ beef brisket, melted, gooey Velveeta®, and cream cheese, seasoned with Meat Church Texas Sugar Rub®, then rolled in a pasta sheet, wrapped up in hickory smoked bacon, and rolled in jalapeño breadcrumbs. Grab one at The Bluebonnet Roadhouse on Nimitz Drive.
#6 Grilled Cheese
10 coupons
Who doesn’t love a grilled cheese sandwich? This iconic treat is full of melty and gooey layers of gouda, Havarti, and cheddar cheeses on sourdough or gluten-free bread. Find one at Stay Cheesy in the Tower Building.
#7 Cheeseburger or Hamburger
10 coupons each
Reliable, delicious, and portable: hamburgers and cheeseburgers have it all! And when you grab a burger from one of Nevin’s booths on Nimitz, Grand Place, and Grand Avenue, you’ll taste why they have been one of the best vendors at the Fair since 1949.
#8 Fried Double Stuffed Oreos®
10 coupons
This is an all-time favorite! The famous cookie is dunked in batter and deep-fried to golden perfection for the perfect, chocolatey bite. Find it at Stiffler’s Sweets Spot on Nimitz.
#9 Candy or Caramel Apple
8 coupons each
Since 1936, Sweet Connie’s has hand-dipped these iconic and delicious apples for millions of fairgoers. Whether you take a bite of a bright red candy-coated apple or a caramel-y sweet one, you can’t go wrong! Find both apples at one of Sweet Connie’s booths on the Funway, MLK, Grand place and across the grounds!
#10 Deep Fried Reese’s® and Cream
9 coupons
The only way a creamy, chocolatey Reese’s® can get better is if you make it deep fried – and that’s exactly what Smokey John’s has done! Paired with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, this is the perfect dish to satisfy your sweet tooth. Get yours at one of Smokey John’s locations on Cotton Bowl Plaza, Nimitz, the Funway and across the grounds.
#11 Pizza by the Giant Slice
10 coupons
What it says on the tin: giant hand-tossed pizza slices made fresh at Pizza by the Giant Slice in the Tower Building and near the Texas Star Ferris Wheel!
#12 Deep Fried Praline Cheesecake Eggroll
6 coupons
It’s cheesecake on the go! This treat consists of cheesecake filling inside of an egg roll wrapper topped with praline sauce and candied pecans. Find it at Mac Loaded on Nimitz.
#13 Barbacoa Tamales
10 coupons
Barbacoa cooked to tender perfection wrapped in a perfect tamale is a delicious dish you can’t miss! Grab one at Ms. Ruth’s in Cotton Bowl Plaza or on Nimitz.
#14 Pancakes (and more!)
8 coupons
Whether you’re at the Fair as soon as it opens or staying late into the night, pancakes are a perfect dish any time of day! Find pancakes and more at All Day Breakfast by the Coliseum.
#15 Fried Mac n Cheese
8 coupons
You can’t go wrong with mac and cheese, and deep fried mac and cheese just feels so right! This cheesy favorite takes a dunk in the deep fryer at Velazquez Concessions on the Funway.
#16 Banana Pudding
8 coupons
A delectable Southern classic packed with creamy goodness loaded with bananas and vanilla wafers, you can get yours at Palmer’s Hot Chicken on the Midway.
#17 Brisket Bao Buns
7 coupons
A staple of Chinese cuisine meets a staple of Texas cuisine and creates a savory match made in heaven. Pick up this delicious bite at East Meets West BBQ on the Funway.
#18 Gorditas and Quesadillas
10 coupons each
Whichever tasty Mexican food classic is more your style, you can find both at Lupita’s Gorditas on the Kidway!
#19 Buffalo Chicken in a Flapjack
8 coupons
A buffalo-seasoned chicken on a stick, battered in pancake batter and deep fried is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. Grab one at Texas Burgers, Dogs, & More in Cotton Bowl Plaza.
#20 Fried Stuffed Wing
10 coupons
What’s better than chicken wings? Chicken wings stuffed with chicken, rice, and spices, of course! Try this deep fried delight at Stuffed Wings in the Tower Building.
#21 Pound Cake Slice
10 coupons
With ten different flavors to try, including Butter Butter, Sexy Strawberry, Blue Velvet, and more, you’ll definitely be coming back to Pound Cake Experts in the Tower Building for another slice!
#22 Rise & Shine Breakfast Sandwich
10 coupons
This classic breakfast sandwich comes with all the good stuff: sausage, egg, and cheese between a delicious southern biscuit. Grab one for yourself at Holy Biscuit in the Tower Building.
#23 Corny Dog
7 coupons
This list wouldn’t be complete without Fletcher’s Original Corny Dog, topped with your choice of ketchup or mustard—or both! The Veggie Corny Dog (a vegetarian iteration of the classic dog) is also available for 8 coupons. You can find them at their seven stands throughout the fairgrounds, but you might want to visit the location next to Big Tex to grab a picture and a bite!