The Minnesota State Fair is known for deep-fried food, including cheese curds, Pronto Pups, pickles, cookie dough (one of my faves!), and candy bars. But what if deep-fried food isn't your thing? No problem! With nearly 300 food vendors to choose from, there are dozens of savory and sweet options that have never hit the deep-fryer—here are my favorites.
This isn't an exhaustive list (check out the Minnesota State Fair Food Finder for that). Instead, this is a round up of both iconic non-fried Minnesota State foods and vendors that offer a variety of creative, tasty items.
Vendors are listed in alphabetical order.
1. Baba's
Baba's specializes in hummus bowls, with options ranging from traditional hummus with lamb shawarma to truffle hummus topped with roasted wild mushrooms. I know dessert hummus is controversial, but I like their Coco-Nuts bowl, which is made with hazelnut chocolate hummus and garnished with chocolate chips, hazelnuts, shredded coconut, and bananas. Several vegetarian options are available.
East side of Underwood Street between Lee & Randall Avenues, just south of Little Farm Hands
2. Blue Moon Dine-In Theater
The Blue Moon Dine-In Theater has such a fun, quirky vibe—there's an indoor dining room where you can sit on car seats and watch old movies, plus a patio with a view of the wood-fired pizza oven. The menu is long, esoteric, and ever-changing, but the wood-fired pizzas and ice cream treats, like the Irish Butter Ice Cream Over Brown Sugar Cinnamon Toast, are always a good bet. They also have a full breakfast menu, with items including waffles and breakfast sandwiches. There are several vegetarian options.
Northeast corner of Carnes Avenue & Chambers Street
3. Corn Roast
The Corn Roast is one of the top-grossing food vendors at the fair and it's exactly what it sounds like: roasted corn-on-the-cob. The corn is a special super-sweet variety sourced from a local grower, with fresh corn delivered from the farm daily. Pro tip: bring floss and a toothbrush because nothing is more annoying than spending the rest of your day at the fair with corn stuck between your teeth.
Southeast corner of Dan Patch Avenue & Nelson Street
4. Dairy Goodness
The chocolate malts at Dairy Goodness are in my pantheon of all-time favorite state fair foods, but it's also a great spot for non-fried cheese and yogurt, plus a several flavors of soft serve malts, sundaes, and cones. Ogle the butter head sculptures while you wait in line.
Inside the Dairy Building, south wall
5. Hamline Church Dining Hall
Hamline Church Dining Hall is the state fair's oldest vendor—they've been serving home-style meals since 1897. The sit-down dining room has a welcoming, church basement feel and the menu includes muffins, cereal, sandwiches, burgers, and salads. I recommend Al's Breakfast Blueberry Pancakes—the recipe is from the iconic Minneapolis diner. The Hamline Church Dining Hall also partners with a local Mexican ice parlor to offer a selection of paletas. Most of the breakfast items are vegetarian.
North side of Dan Patch Avenue between Underwood & Cooper Streets
6. Holy Land Deli
The Holy Land Deli serves a menu of Middle Eastern specialties with many non-fried items, including gyros, stuffed grape leaves on-a-stick, hummus, kabobs, tabouli salad, and shawarma wraps. There are several vegetarian options, and the Mediterranean lemonade smoothies really hit the spot on a hot day.
International Bazaar, southeast corner
7. Minnesota Apples
If admiring all of the award-winning produce has you craving some fruit, swing by Minnesota Apples. They sell a few varieties of Minnesota-grown apples, as well as non-alcoholic cider and frozen cider pops, which are are one the cheapest and most refreshing treats you'll find a the fair.
Inside the Agriculture Horticulture Building, south side
8. The Produce Exchange
The Produce Exchange is another fruit-focused vendor, with a variety of fresh-squeezed juices, kombucha on tap, and fresh plums, apples, pears, watermelon, nectarines, pluots, and more. They're famous for their giant, extra-juicy peaches, which you can order fresh or grilled. They also offer bowls that pair grilled peaches with toppings like goat cheese or cobbler.
Northwest corner of Carnes Avenue & Underwood Street
9. Turkey to Go
Turkey to Go does one thing, and they do it well. They sell turkey legs and pulled turkey sandwiches with your choice of toppings including buffalo sauce, cranberry sauce, or blue cheese. The turkey is roasted to perfection—you'll never write off turkey as bland again.
East side of Clough Street between Carnes & Judson Avenues
10. Union Hmong Kitchen
Operated by James Beard semifinalist Chef Yia Vang, Union Hmong Kitchen has a short but uniquely delicious menu. The galabao with kua txob is a steamed pork bun with a flavorful chili sauce, and the coconut lychee colada is a nuanced non-alcoholic drink. I'm looking forward to trying their official new 2024 food, the grilled purple sticky rice with a choice of Hmong beef jerky or pickled mushrooms.
International Bazaar, south wall, west corner
Further reading:
- How to enjoy at 14 hour (or longer!) day at the Minnesota State Fair
- My 5 favorite foods at the Minnesota State Fair
- Minnesota State Fair for History Buffs
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