We tried and ranked more than 80 new foods at the fair

4 star review

Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa • International Bazaar • $15

The indisputable hit of the 2025 State Fair, at least by our standards, these loaded, ultra-crisp battered fries exemplify the best of what the International Bazaar — and the Midtown Global Market — bring together. It seamlessly blends cultures with Somali-spiced beef, American cheese sauce and punchy basbaas for a late-night munchies triumph. We want to eat this in a comfy booth with our besties while dishing about the latest life updates. But we’re perfectly happy eating this hefty and head-turning paper boat of happiness right here. Note: Only available through Aug. 26.

4 star review

Afro Deli • Food Building • $8

A crispy little master class in building great flavor and texture with a vegan dish. Deftly seasoned with a mix of creamy and chunky beans, the filling and crust are only enhanced by the cilantro and jalapeño basbaas sauce or the red chili-spiked mayo (that was a little less spicy). We loved every bit about these gluten-free bites, including the adorable packaging in which they’re served.

4 star review

“This is just good food,” one of our tasters proclaimed. Hearty enough to sustain someone who has to be out working all day, these meatballs are tender and saucy, contained inside fresh bread that imparts even more flavor thanks to nutty wild rice. Even the thin slices of homemade pickles tucked into the sandwich were made with crunchy-crisp care.

4 star review

Baba’s • Randall Avenue and Underwood Street • $11

There were hopes, dreams, sighs and exhalations: somehow this hybrid falafel waffle was a resounding crowd pleaser that we’re already making plans to order again. How can one fair dish be everything to all people? A fluffy interior is full of flavor, and the crunchy exterior has pockets that serve as canyons for the mix of tahini, green sauce and fresh tomatoes, creating deep pools of varied flavors, each as good as the last.

4 star review

You can’t help but giggle while eating these deep-fried upon deep-fried pizza pockets, clearly inspired by the savory novelty section of the grocery store freezer aisle. A crispy fried flour tortilla cradles hot cheese curds and those little sausage nubs familiar to frozen pizza fans. Dressed with a tangy tomato sauce, it’s silly good.

4 star review

Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop • Dan Patch Avenue between Cooper and Cosgrove streets • $7 (12 oz.), $8.50 (20 oz.)

Lemonade took a meander through the garden and arrived in our hands flush with strawberry pluckiness and an aromatic heft of fresh basil. Bordering on vegetal, the greenery enhanced a familiar, favorite beverage.

4 star review

The Blue Barn exercises just the right amount of restraint balancing this sweet and salty decadence. Funnel cake batter coats extra-large cheese curds (that give a great cheese pull when they’re hot). A big scoop of whipped cream with bright bits of lemon zest and a little pool of berry sauce bring the whole bite into harmonious balance.

4 star review

West End Brews • West End Market • $11

It’s rare to find something truly novel at the fair, but we found it at West End Brews thanks to the folks at LuLu’s Public House. A Pryes Brewing raspberry sour beer gets the soft serve treatment — and it works, becoming a rosy twist that’s sweet and tart with a subtle malty finish. While nearly everyone in our group simply loved it, it wasn’t unanimous. But, as one taster put it, “it might be because it’s 9:09 a.m.”

4 star review

They were out of the breakfast skillet flavor when we got there (we’d love to go back for that another day). But the available flavors of these massive tots, which come four to a serving and with a wide array of dipping sauces, were all simply yummy. The Reuben tater kegs were especially moist with a little tang thanks to the sauerkraut. Bacon and cheddar with Top the Tater, available by the scoop, ate like a crusty loaded potato. This fair debut might be the next classic.

4 star review

Urban Glow Mocktails • North End • $8

Each of these seven refreshers from Urban Growler Brewing spoke to a different taster’s soul in equal measure. Mimicking a dirty martini’s brininess, a cosmopolitan’s tart zest, the bold mint bliss of a great mojito — all of those flavors were front, center and beautifully garnished. We wish these were more readily available across the fairgrounds and welcome the complexity and care given to these beverages.

4 star review

Even with a broken fryer requiring a longer-than-expected wait, and a poor worker having to run back and forth to another stand with a bowl of rice flour-battered tofu cubes (it’s gluten-free, too!) to get their dunks in hot oil, this was a winner. The sweet-glazed tofu comes out like crunchy croutons with a creamy center, and they’re set atop a thrillingly well-dressed cold and crunchy slaw-like salad we’d be happy to eat any day, fair or not. And at that price? Exceptional.

4 star review

Goertzes’ Dairy Kone • Cooper Street outside the Merch Market • $14

It’s a dairy-delicious walking cone! What other vessels have we been overlooking that could deliver that luscious Goertzes’ soft serve from stand to mouth? The crushed-up pretzels bring texture and salt to the party along with buttery, sweet caramel. Really, it’s a dairy party in a bag, and you’ll have to catch us speed-walking away if you want to share.

3.5 star review

This vaguely breakfast-y fried chicken sandwich has a lot going on at the fair’s full-service diner — and it all comes together beautifully. Dill pickle flavor from the brine on the chicken delivers a tart kick paired with a good crunchy coating, beneath a creamy slaw. There’s also a hard-cooked egg that didn’t add much, but up top, the English muffin sports a hot honey drizzle for sweet-savory-spicy symmetry.

3.5 star review

Magdalena’s Chimney Cakes • Judson Avenue between Clough and Nelson streets • $15

These fried-dough cones are billed as what happens “if a donut and a churro had a baby.” Rolled in crunchy sugar, the chimney cakes are a delightful vessel for a swipe of Nutella or caramel and a huge scoop of vanilla ice cream that gets topped with either Oreo crumbles or rainbow sprinkles. They’re an adventure to eat — and hard to share, which, at that price, docks it a half point. But we recognize that they are labor intensive, and oh so good. Great debut, Magdalena. Welcome to the fair.

3.5 star review

Just try and nibble one of these crispy, fudgy little doughnuts without breaking into a big grin. This is a DeLorean ride back to childhood right out of the fryer. Plus, the stand’s shaded back area stocked with paper towels makes for a blissful break. With everyone smiling and the ample portions, it’s hard not to share a bucket with strangers and make new friends.

3.5 star review

Hamline Church Dining Hall • Dan Patch Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets • $6.50

Ideal eating on a hot and humid day at the fair. Tajin revs up the taste buds with a sour, salty, spiced kickstart, then it’s all cooled down with juicy chunks of mango, all in one ice pop.

3.5 star review

Paul Bunyan would be proud of these husky bites of comfort fare. Manicotti shells stuffed with cheese and sausage, wrapped in bacon and served with barbecue sauce are somehow more like smoked ribs than pasta. We know all of these ingredients on their own, but together, the dish tastes brand new. Best not to overthink it, just place an order, and plan to share.

3 star review

LuLu’s Public House • West End Market • $12

The throwback caprese salad gets a State Fair twist, and the presentation is far more dignified than what we’d expect. Here, a bowl is filled with a juicy tomato and basil salad commingling with crispy hot cheese curds. It’s surrounded by dried toast slices for scooping, but the pro move is to let those curds soak up the juices.

3 star review

We loved the fresh summer pop of corn kernels mixed into the cream cheese dip. Served alongside a crunchy slaw, it’s picnic-style eats inside the state fair legend, Hamline Dining Hall.

3 star review

Tejas Express • The Garden • $12

A dandy of a little chicken sandwich, these sliders have a Minnesota Nice level of spice. Topped with a jicama coleslaw on a plush bun and garnished with an adorable skewer of cold tomatoes and pickle chips, it balances textures of cold, crunchy and creamy with hot and juicy.

3 star review

When sweet and salty hit in equal measure, good things follow. The addition of other types of nuts beyond the classic peanut aren’t that much of a change from the familiar treat. But what a nice distinctly Minnesotan bite.

3 star review

Beans & Beignets • Judson Avenue and Clough Street • Beignets 2 for $6, 6 for $16, dozen for $25

Officially the longest lines we stood in on opening day (and even longer than the perennial line for Peachey’s doughnuts!). The beignets were pillowy and closer to the New Orleans classic than most we’ve had here in the North, with a balance of airy and chewy fried dough. The iced coffee drinks were the pick-me-ups we needed, especially the cayenne-spiced Stinger. Or, add that honey-forward whipped topping ($3) on any latte. Hot tip: Dunk that beignet into the honey whip and thank us later.

3 star review

Who doesn’t love a big ol’ chocolate-covered strawberry? Cold, tart, sweet and served with a little strawberry-adorned skewer, these were a fresh dessert we kept going back to for more. The Dubai chocolate with sweet pistachio paste and crunchy little threads of pastry added an extra layer of texture.

3 star review

Produce Exchange • Carnes Avenue and Underwood Street • Prices vary

The day before the fair opened, we saw a post on Instagram touting a “secret menu” at our favorite Twin Cities peach purveyor. Yes, please. The menu is actually so secret that some new Day 1 staffers didn’t know what we were talking about. But if you find the right worker, you’ll get the hottest (and we mean it in terms of spice) food on the fairgrounds. The Habanero Peach ($15) comes fresh or grilled (get it grilled with a scoop of vanilla ice cream), and showered with shreds of raw habaneros. Want more? Get a few shakes of Frank’s Red Hot. The heat is intense, though the peach cools it just enough to keep you interested in another bite. The other secret food is called The Mancini Special, and it’s just a cup of raspberries: sweet, bright and pure joy, the palate cleanser you need to get back to a non-spicy baseline. Lastly, the jalapeno peach lemonade ($12) is all about the jalapeno flavor without any of the heat (though, they’ll drizzle the Frank’s in there too, if you want it). All in all, it’s a flavor blast of a showcase for the magic of fresh produce, reminding you the fair is an agricultural event after all.

3 star review

We almost missed the cheesecake bites camouflage in one corner of the ice cream. No matter; Biscoff is the star of the show in these dairy treats. You’ll find the spiced cookies in a cookie butter drizzle on top and layered beneath the smooth soft serve, and in a cookie crumble garnish that adds crunch. We couldn’t really tell the difference between the malt and the sundae, other than the level of meltiness and dollop of whipped cream.

3 star review

Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa • International Bazaar • Cone of mini sambusa $14, full size $12 for 2

Hoyo, the Midtown Global Market residents and makers of frozen sambusas, bring two flavors and sizes of their signature product to the fair. Choose from beef or a nicely spiced lentil and then pick your size. May we steer you toward the minis? We couldn’t get over the delightful packaging: a paper cone with a tiny top shelf for two dipping sauces. (Note: Oasis Grill & Hoyo Sambusa are here till Tuesday, Aug. 26. Beginning Aug. 27, you’ll find Irie Jamaican in the Midtown Global Market stand. Check back the second week of the fair for our reviews.)

3 star review

Yeah, it’s tart. This superior A to Z Creamery scoop nails the lollipop’s signature pucker and we approve. If only it was frozen a little harder to not melt into an instant puddle. But the taste is all there, and works especially well as a mid-eating-spree palate cleanser.

3 star review

El Burrito Mercado • International Bazaar • $15

Whether you already know and love El Burrito Mercado’s flautas, or are discovering them here for the first time, these hot-out-of-the-fryer corn tortilla rollups are an eminently shareable way to get some of their nicely seasoned shredded chicken into your day. We only wish for a better serving container than a plastic cup that starts to melt from the heat of the flautas.

3 star review

Fans of Walleye on a Stick’s fish that tastes just like it was caught in the lake will appreciate finding those fillets in a new format. Walleye or catfish is topped with fresh pico, slaw and served on a flour tortilla.

2.5 star review

Sara’s Tipsy Pies • Food Building • $10

Familiar to any home baker, these pie crust trimmings are lovely, nostalgic little snackers. As far as fair food goes, these skew toward the simple – some would say pure. We did discover an optional upgrade when pairing them with ice cream from other vendors in and near the Food Building.

2.5 star review

Crunchy, seasoned batter coats tendrils of smoky bacon with optional Carolina Gold or Cashville Hot seasonings are fun eating that disappear quickly – maybe a little too quickly. Some tasters questioned whether the long line was worth a bite that came and went so speedily.

2.5 star review

Hamline Church Dining Hall • Dan Patch Avenue between Underwood and Cooper streets • $18

Chicken dinner is a staple of the dining hall, but this year it got a little upgrade with rosemary- and lemon-marinated thigh and leg portions alongside corn, potatoes and gravy, and a cornbread muffin. We all agreed that it does its chicken-dinner job solidly, with the caveat that it would be nice if the skin was crispier.

2.5 star review

It’s a scoop of Minnesota Dairy Lab fudge ice cream topped with espresso “crema” and canned whipped cream, with an unfortunately hard biscotti. Once you get past the fact that this is a sundae and not affogato, because there’s no hot coffee involved, you can embrace it for what it is. Which is basically a singularly smooth scoop of the richest chocolate ice cream on the fairgrounds. Pour some real espresso over that and we’d be in heaven.

2.5 star review

West End Creamery • West End Market • $14.75

We love the presentation of this ice cream sandwich on a stick. We missed the cakey texture of coffee cake, with these thin layers bookended around Minnesota Dairy Lab vanilla ice cream. But the backstory is a doll: The Wrecktangle-made coffee cake comes from a Grandma Doreen’s recipe. And it’s topped with seriously fruity strawberry rhubarb sauce (some say too much of it) and cute cinnamon toast Rice Krispies crumbles. We can just imagine Doreen watching us enjoy her cake in this newfangled, portable way and saying, “Oh, you kids.”

2.5 star review

It’s so fun to have Herbie’s huge fried faux chicken fingers at the fair and served alongside thinner strips of battered and fried plant-based bacon. These are crusty and hearty finger foods that are good for dunking in sauces, whether or not you’re vegan.

2.5 star review

Lumpia City • Judson Avenue between Liggett and Clough streets • $12 for 2 rolls

We have to give props to the super thin and shatteringly crisp exterior of these Filipino fried spring rolls. The fillings, however, split us down the middle. The Pizza Lumpia gave us yet another kind of pizza popper on our endless fairgrounds tour of toddler-friendly food, with a too-sweet, too-mushy, too-one-note filling. But the ingredients in the French Toast Lumpia shone, with toasty ube and real banana that ooze together under the crunchy shell. It’s a fun new addition, and we can’t wait to see what other fillings they’ll come up with next.

2.5 star review

With two fried Uncrustable peanut butter and grape jelly sandwiches as buns, this concept is just shy of greatness. Yes, we love those gooey lunchbox treats with their crispy fried shells, and they’re an innovative sweet counterpart to something salty. But why did they have to surround the grayest, most flavorless hamburger patties we’ve yet to encounter? Still, if you don’t care what’s on the inside of this cheeseburger, then just enjoy the PB&J-bun ride at Coasters; it’s a good one.

2.5 star review

RC’s BBQ • Dan Patch Avenue between Liggett and Chambers streets • $14

On a paleo diet? Here’s a big plate of protein for you. Some slices of pork collar were more tender than others, but all were tasty with a lightly sweet glaze. And the banana chips and housemade pickles were nice but sparse. We wish there was something more besides mainly meat to balance it out. It was filling; almost too filling, if you want to eat anything else at the fair.

2.5 star review

If you have a hankering for a big mozzarella stick, this will hit the spot. As far as the olives go, they’re the canned variety, which leaves a little flavor to be desired. But the olives are stuffed with cheese that gets hot and gooey in the fryer, the coating is nice and crunchy, and the skewer comes with a side of marinara for dipping. It’s good beer food.

2.5 star review

French Crêperie • Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets • $13

Sweet or savory? Take your pick of these two new crepe offerings. One finds a way to turn Minnesota sushi into Frenchy fare and nails the potluck classic. The other is for cookies and cream lovers, so, like, everyone.

2 star review

Local hot dog fans hold Kramarczuk’s in high esteem for that substantial, meaty grind. Served here in diminutive proportions, stuffed inside a Hawaiian roll and served with a generous amount of fruity mustards of your choice, these are basically pigs in a blanket. And that’s just fine.

2 star review

Tasti Whip • Dan Patch Avenue and Underwood Street • $12

Our crew was split down the middle between two camps: “So refreshing!” And those who compared the artificial cherry flavor to cough syrup. Those in the first camp appreciated the tart, cool limeade mixed with the icy cherry Tasti Whip.

2 star review

They don’t lie; it’s crispy, chicken and a sandwich. If you’re in the mood for a basic yet solid piece of chicken on a squishy bun, head here. Sure, there are condiments, like some kind of mustardy tartar sauce that we slathered all over it. It definitely hits a salty spot, but it won’t change the world.

2 star review

Fluffy’s Hand-Cut Donuts • Carnes Avenue and Chambers Street • $10

One of oh-so-many things we ate that made us sticky with hot honey, this has all the elements: cream cheese, bacon, pickled jalapeños and yes, that sweet-spicy drizzle. The doughnut itself acts as a bready, doughy delivery system for popper toppings. One of our tasters compared it to what a crostini does for bruschetta, just squishier. No one was mad at it, but we wouldn’t go out of our way for it, either.

2 star review

People who love chocolate-coated fruit snacks will seek this out (and there was at least one of those people in our group). Others will think of this as a dental nightmare. Either way, you get a little package of four thick fruit ropes, in your choice of sweet or sour, dipped in milk chocolate.

2 star review

Pretzel Factory • Nelson Street between Carnes and Judson avenues • $8

Vinegar powder and dried dill coat an adequate pretzel. If it was smaller, it’d make a nice Bloody Mary garnish. But at full size, it just requires too much stomach space for what it is.

2 star review

Fried chunks of croissant were a bit too greasy to fully enjoy, but the sauce situation was intriguing. One made sense; it was berry-based. The other was a salty Hollandaise-like dipper that weirdly worked and we have no idea why.

2 star review

Holy Land • International Bazaar • $15

If you’re looking for a one-and-done fair food option, this will fill you up for a while – even if you share. A majorly heavy paper boat comes with four huge quarters of a quesadilla brimming with Tandoori-spiced chicken. The avocado cilantro lime sauce on the side wakes up a one-note preparation that some in our group found tastier than others.

1.5 star review

A basket of crispy dough triangles topped with cannoli-flavored ice cream has decent-enough elements, but didn’t come together for us. Some liked the hint-of-almond flavor in the scoop of ice cream, but the cannoli shells, which started to wilt in the humidity, didn’t impress.

1.5 star review

Loon Lake Iced Tea • Underwood Street between Wright and Dan Patch avenues • $7

We were wanting robust: tea, pickle brine, Tajin, and a crunchy pickle up top. What was in the cup was spineless tea with a dill back note. It wasn’t offensive, but it wasn’t worth the line. If braving that wait, make sure to bring cash.

1.5 star review

You’ve gotta be committed. You’ve gotta want to get to the bottom of this very deep cup of ice cream that’s supposedly layered with cupcakes, but we wouldn’t know. Not even Bridgeman’s very long spoons could reach the promise of Nadia Cakes crumbled beneath the cold, hard scoops of butter brittle ice cream. What we did get was more than a few mouthfuls of pure icing for sweet-on-sweet disappointment. Maybe assembled with more intention on another day, we’d have told a different story.

1.5 star review

Dino’s Gyros • Carnes Avenue between Nelson and Underwood streets • $10

The first bite of this creamy cheese dip was good enough, but then the salt hit us like a sledgehammer. Still, this being from Dino’s, which has a vast beer selection, we could see it going just fine with a sudsy session on their patio. Just, please, leave off the teeth-cracking-hard wild rice garnish.

1.5 star review

We blame the garlic powder. It takes a million things going just right to land a great bite and despite a lot of positive elements, the overwhelming tinny flavor and persistent aftertaste from inside that soft potato filling was a mouth hangover that took a while to shake.

1.5 star review

Spinning Wylde • Family Fair at Baldwin Park • $12

Swirly twirls of creatively flavored cotton candy are served with a swipe of flavored cream atop flattened, warmed croissants. While we’re longtime fans of the cotton candy, the result was a lackluster showing where the ingredients didn’t combine to become more than their parts. Plus, the confusing ordering system and delivery didn’t do the food any favors.

1.5 star review

There’s nothing wrong with this photogenic little skewer, which would be right at home on a book club buffet. At the fair, it feels wrong to eat foods mostly out of a grocery cart. The creamy Italian dressing on the side was a tasty dunker for the single slice of crostini.

1.5 star review

Union Hmong Kitchen • International Bazaar • $15

We love this dish at chef Yia Vang’s restaurant, Vinai, and we’ll continue to eat it there. At the fair, on a stick, it should have been an instant hit. Instead, this grease-bomb was too salty and too oil-soaked to go back for a second bite. We’ll chalk it up to first-day execution problems and hope it improves to match the quality at the restaurant.

1.5 star review

If we could scoop the yummy molten cheese filling out of these too-thick breaded wonton wrappers, and put it on a saltine cracker, we’d be pleased. Unfortunately, this effort at chasing the deep-fried ranch phenomenon wasn’t up to the task. We were confused by what seemed to be seedy raspberry jam on the side; we were expecting pepper jelly.

1.5 star review

Spaghetti Eddie’s • Cooper Street outside the Merch Market • $9

Reuben Pizza is an undersung champion of the St. Paul pizza world, which made that first bite of this sweet, smeared-with-mustard pizza all the more painful. The sauerkraut, Thousand Island dressing and meat were too sweet. Where is the tang? The funk? Or even some of the saltiness? West 7th wouldn’t let this slice slide.

1 star review

We giggled at the name, but the laughs evaporated after biting into these puffs of bread topped with bitter, burned garlic. Deep inside, we could see the pizza fillings, but it took some work to get a bite of the goods and then there was that layer of hot honey that did not need to be invited to this party.

1 star review

Waffle Chix • Judson Avenue between Liggett and Clough streets • $8

Think McGriddles, but not as good. It’s sausage on a stick, wrapped in one of the most underwhelming waffles you can imagine. The dryness could have been salvaged if you had a well of maple syrup to dunk into, but all we got was artificial pancake syrup we had to squeeze out of a single shared bottle at the stand. It needed more; so much more.

1 star review

It’s so darn cute until that first bite hits and the assault of sugar feels like a personal attack. Even in our earliest years on this planet, we would not have asked for sweets quite this sweet.

1 star review

Deep Fried Batter Dipped Twinkies and Buckeyes • Cooper Street outside the Merch Market • $8

Diabolical in conception: The idea of deep-frying this beloved breakfast pastry had to be an exciting idea. Sugar-stuffed, coated, tossed, layered and smushed together in every other way sweet things can be smushed together doesn’t make any of the components better than they would have been on their own.

1 star review

We had high hopes for these TikTok viral burgers that get smashed into a tortilla on the grill. But these were missing that crispy char that makes the social media stars so appealing. In the end, it was just an underseasoned cheeseburger in a flour tortilla.

1 star review

LuLu’s Public House • West End Market • $12

Each order of marshmallow-coated fried wontons is hand-torched, which is risky when you serve them in paper boats. Singeing aside, we didn’t love the chocolate cream cheese filling that’s so sweet it makes your teeth hurt, or the extra-thick graham cracker-dusted dumpling shells. It was all just too much. But if you’re looking for a sweet treat, here’s one to order instead: After a year’s hiatus, LuLu’s has brought back its Gorilla Bread ($9), fabulous little bites of cinnamon-sugar-coated biscuit dough, crispy on one side and soft on the other side from soaking up a melty cream cheese icing. This fair classic in-the-making is sort-of new, sort-of not, but definitely worth your attention.

1 star review

Great tacos need a good tortilla base and sadly ours gave up the goods at first bite, disintegrating into the paperboat, leaving the pork belly to fend for itself. The sweetness of the mole needed a tart, juicy foil, but the blackberries were bitter. We could see the greatness in the original plan for the dish, but like that tortilla, it just didn’t quite get to the finish line.

2.5 star review

Highland Popcorn • Merch Market • $11

Fun to grab a bag and bring it home, this popcorn stand from St. Paul’s Highland Park makes its debut inside the Merch Market with a variety of flavors. We liked the dill pickle for another twist on the popular fair flavor, but it’s also a steep price tag for popcorn.

2.5 star review

Organic mini pops come in two flavors, Sour Blue Raspberry Splash and Sour Green Apple Punch. Both have visible layers of frozen-fruit flavors that, combined, almost evoke a fruity cocktail you’d sip at a beach resort – yet, they’re totally little-kid-friendly, thanks to the smaller size. The full-size lemonade pop is equally lively and thirst-quenching. They may come in a wrapper, but you could do worse at the fair when it comes to frozen treats.

Some new items were sold out when stopped the first day, so we’re adding them as we’re able to find them.

3 star review

Thelma’s • Judson Av. and Underwood St. • $5

Chewy cookies the color of a crayon-drawn sun house a purple wedge of blueberry flavored ice cream. We enjoyed the nostalgia of artificial blueberries, but were left hunting for just a bit more citrus brightness of lemon. It was still a yummy little ice cream sandwich that eats like an aimless afternoon after Saturday morning cartoons. Fair warning: They’ve been selling out nearly every day.

Minnesota Farmers Union Coffee Shop • Dan Patch Av. between Cooper and Cosgrove Sts. • $9

The Apple Glaze was sold out two days in a row for us (we won’t give up!), but we did snag the Banana S’more on the second day of the fair. While our tasters found it overly cake-y, and wishing for even more of the delicious banana and dark chocolate chunk topping to be interspersed through the rest of this banana bread-like pastry, we’re really not complaining; it is still Patisserie 46 cake, after all.

3 star review

Irie Jamaican Express • International Bazaar • $15

This stand is Midtown Global Market’s offering for the second half of the fair. Coconut shrimp lovers should be delighted that there’s a place at the fair that’s serving this tropical, fried snack — it’s on a stick and everything! Drizzled with a sweet-spicy sauce with a Frank’s Red Hot-type zing, the only downside is that it eats exactly like our favorite freezer aisle coconut shrimp. But no one’s mad about that.

Irie Jamaican Express • International Bazaar • $15

Unctuous little nibbles of braised meat on bone-in oxtail are offered with two saucy options and served alongside Festival, a fried Jamaican bread. The barbecue sauce was molasses-sweet with a little tang. The Jerk, on the other hand, brought that Island allspice perfume and a wicked spice kick. The meat was a little chewier, and we wished that seasoning sunk deeper into each bite. The Festival was a delight: Crunchy on the outside and fluffy tender and a little sweet inside.