You ever had a Cookie Chaos Milkshake? Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders? Welcome to the State Fair of Texas, where zany food and drink are the norm.
By Sarah Blaskovich
Senior Food Reporter
Nathan Hunsinger / Special Contributor
Oohs and ahhs erupted from a crowd in Dallas’ Fair Park when a State Fair of Texas spokesperson announced the belt-busting, headline-making dishes at the Big Tex Choice Awards, the fair’s annual food and drink contest.
The loudest cries came for one of the strangest: Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders. It won “most creative.”
“To use egg as the vehicle for a bun, who’d ever thought that would work?” asked Jeff Allen, a Super Bowl winning NFL player for the Kansas City Chiefs and a judge for the annual State Fair event.
He loved it.
The entire panel of five judges did. And just like that, concessionaire Kendall Williams’ Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders was lauded for its zany name and great taste.
“Listen,” said Keandre “Dre” Hopkins, another Big Tex Choice Awards judge and an influencer who runs @dreindallas.
The Big Tex Choice Awards made history in 2025. Judges crowned four winners, one more than the usual three. A category called “best taste – sipper” was added in 2025 after an influx of “fairified drinks” were entered into the contest, said Karissa Condoianis, senior vice president of public relations and spokesperson for the State Fair, during the Big Tex Choice Awards announcement on Aug. 21, 2025.
And although food and drink have been highlights at the State Fair of Texas for most of its nearly 140-year history, the menu was supersized 20 years ago, when the Big Tex Choice Awards was founded.
Here’s a breakdown of the four winners of the 2025 Big Tex Choice Awards. Think of these as the queens of the State Fair of Texas. They’re bound to be the belles of this fried-food ball.
Best Taste – Sweet
Chill & Thrill Delight
From State Fair of Texas press materials: Chill & Thrill Delight is a vibrant, refreshing twist on Colombia’s famous Salpicon de Frutas that is perfect for a warm day at the State Fair. A Texas-sized cup is packed with juicy, diced mango, pineapple, watermelon, grapes, cantaloupe, and strawberries, all soaked in fresh watermelon juice with a splash of lime. It’s topped with a handcrafted shaved mango sorbet that slowly melts into the mix for a sweet, tangy fusion. Whether you’re cooling off or chasing bold flavors, this fruity treat is sure to thrill!
Best Taste – Sipper
Cookie Chaos Milkshake
This shake is what cookie dreams are made of! A rich, creamy, cookie butter milkshake loaded with snickerdoodle chunks, Golden Oreo® Cookies, and classic Oreo® Cookies for the ultimate cookie explosion. We top it with a fluffy swirl of whipped cream, a scoop of edible cookie butter cookie dough, a perfectly perched Biscoff® cookie, and a cookie butter drizzle that ties it all together. Finished with a rim coated in crushed Biscoff ® cookie pieces for that extra crunch in every sip, the Cookie Chaos Milkshake is sweet, spiced, and unapologetically over the top.
Best Taste – Savory
Crab and mozzarella arancini
Our Crab & Mozzarella Arancini are handcrafted with an irresistible blend of premium Maryland Blue Crab meat, white rice, mozzarella cheese, spring onion, red bell pepper, lemon, and black pepper. Each rice ball is delicately seasoned with aromatic herbs including garlic, coriander, and basil. They are dipped in a crunchy breadcrumb coating, then deep fried to a golden, crispy finish. Handmade in small batches to ensure the highest quality! Served with a side of our homemade marinara sauce.
Most Creative
Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders
“Most creative” 2025 winner Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders were created by Kendall Williams, a chef and caterer when not working at the State Fair of Texas.Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer
“I don’t know how you think of something like this,” said Marissa Allen, a Big Tex Choice Awards judge and the co-founder of Cookie Society with her husband Jeff Allen.
Her praise was well received by the woman who dreamt up the Wagyu Bacon Cheeseburger Deviled Egg Sliders, Williams. She is a second-year concessionaire at the State Fair and a first-time Big Tex Choice Awards entrant.
Each slider is a bacon cheeseburger with fried deviled eggs as buns.
“This dish is the king of texture: crunchy, soft, crunchy, soft,” said judge Chris Meyer, general manager of Karbach Brewing.
The State Fair of Texas runs Sept. 26 to Oct. 19, 2025, at Fair Park in Dallas.
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