Food (2024)

Food is one of the main attractions at the Iowa State Fair!The Fair boasts nearly 200 food stands and over 60 delectable items available on a stick.

Sit-Down Food Vendors

Find a map of the sit-down food vendors at the Iowa State Fair. Find your favorite foods to eat, sit down and relax!

Food Vendors with Seating

Souvenir Cup Refills

Find a listing of the vendors with refillable cups at the Iowa State Fair.

Refillable Cups

What's New

The Iowa State Fair is known for fun, interesting and delicious food. Find out what new and exciting foods will be found at this year's Iowa State Fair

See What's New

Vendors

Learn which food stands have your favorite foods and where they are located on the Iowa State Fairgrounds.

• Beer and Food Vendors
• Food Vendors Only

Barksdale's State Fair Cookies

Cups and buckets of chocolate chips are a must-have at the Iowa State Fair Learn about Barksdale's State Fair Cookies.

Barksdale's State Fair Cookies

Healthy Choices

The Iowa State Fair does have a healthy dose of good for you foods. Find a list of healthy Fair food options, based on the USDA guidelines for healthy meals with school lunches. From salad-on-a-stick to melon to grilled turkey sandwiches, you can find healthy options at the Fair!

View Healthy Choices

Food on a Stick

The saying "If you can find it at the Fair, you can find it on a stick" is true. With over 60 mobile foods on a stick, which one(s) will you try?

Food on a Stick

Value Priced Food Items

Check out the best deals at the Iowa State Fair. There are hundreds of foods all over the Fairgrounds, and you can find foods that the whole family will enjoy for an affordable cost!

See the Value

People's Choice Best New Food

Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese – What’s Your Cheez

The Rib Shack’s signature Bacon Brisket Mac and Cheese is slathered between layers of American cheese and two slices of What’s Your Cheez Bacon Cheddar Bread. It is then deep-fried until golden brown and served with a signature raspberry chipotle BBQ sauce.

BEST NEW FOOD FINALIST

Grinder Ball – The Bacon Box

The Grinder Ball is a blend of bacon balls stuffed with mozzarella cheese, wrapped in bacon, rotisserie smoked and dipped in warm marinara sauce. The Grinder Ball is The Bacon Box’s new signature gluten-free take on the traditional State Fair Grinder.

BEST NEW FOOD FINALIST

Iowa Twinkie – Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ & Brew

“A Texas staple with an Iowa twist.” A smoked bacon-wrapped jalapeno stuffed with pulled pork, sweet corn, cream cheese and ranch seasoning. It is then glazed with Whatcha Smokin’ BBQ & Brew house-made Sweet + Sticky BBQ sauce and drizzled with house-made ranch dressing.

Best New Food Contest Winners

Past People’s Choice Award winners include:

• 2013: Shrimp Corn Dog - Zag's Po Boys
• 2014: Funnel Cake on a Stick - multiple vendors
• 2015: The Rib Shack - Ultimate Bacon Brisket Bomb
• 2016: Iowa Turkey Federation – Not Your Mamma’s Taco
• 2017: Steer ‘N’ Stein – Pork Almighty
• 2018: Applishus – Apple Eggroll
• 2019: G Mig’s Wrap Stand – Georgie’s Roast with the Most Wrap
• 2021: Cluckin’ Coop by the Iowa Egg Council/Iowa Poultry Association – Chicken Egg Salad with Fry Bread
• 2022: The Rib Shack – The Finisher
• 2023: What's Your Cheez -Deep-Fried Bacon Brisket Mac-n-Cheese Grilled Cheese

Gluten Friendly Options

With the help of the Central Iowa Celiac Connection, see a list of specific vendors that offer gluten friendly options at the Iowa State Fair:

• Big Acai Bowl
• Campbell's Corn Dogs (E. of Triangle, S. of Service Center)
• Completely Nuts
• Iowa Pork Producers
• Iowa Fruit/Vegetable Growers
• Ford’s Concessions
• Midwest Dairy Association
• Hill Concessions
• Hockridges
• Mexican Corn Stand
• Nitro Ice Cream
• Iowa Turkey Federation
• The Salad Bowl/Applishus
• Chicken City
• Beattie’s Melon Patch
• The Rib Shack
• Dawghouse Concessions
• Zag’s Popcorn
• Zag's Po-Boy
• Steer 'N Stein

*Gluten friendly information for the 2023Iowa State Fair.