So there are hundreds of foods to taste at the Minnesota State Fair. And if you’re only heading out to the Great Minnesota Get Together one day, your stomach — and your wallet — can only handle so much.
The official new Fair foods get a lot of buzz (get my reviews of 2019 new foods here), and there are the State Fair staples like Sweet Martha’s Cookies, Pronto Pups and cheese curds.
I wanted to know what the Media Relations team at the Minnesota State Fair eat. They know the State Fair more than anyone else I know. So I asked. And this list has some true hidden gems.
I presented some of these foods on KSTP-TV’s Twin Cities Live.
The hidden gem foods Minnesota State Fair staff eat
Puff Daddy On-a-Stick
- Thai sausage wrapped in puff pastry
- From Sausage Sister & Me
- In the Food Building, east side
Chicken & Rice Bowl
- Grilled chopped chicken breast, yellow rice
- From Patinella’s Chicken Grill
- Chambers Street, just south of the Grandstand

Porketta Pig Wings
- Roasted spilt pork shanks
- From Mancini’s al Fresco
- Carnes Avenue between Nelson & Underwood
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Pickle Dog
- Quarter dill pickle coated with cream cheese and wrapped in pastrami
- From Pickle Dog
- Carnes Avenue between Liggett & Chambers
Also on Give Me The Mike…
The 17 restaurants for the best breakfast in Minnesota

Pretzel
- Fresh hand-twisted pretzel baked on-site with toppings or sides (butter, honey mustard, cheddar cheese sauce, garlic & butter, cinnamon sugar, mustard)
- From Pretzel Haus
- Liggett Street between Carnes & Judson

Baked Potato with Pulled Pork
- Baked potato with barbecue-smoked Carolina pork, sour cream, cheddar cheese, chives, chili, bacon)
- From BBQ Baked Potato
- Cooper Street between Dan Patch & Judson, outside the Food Building
-

Giant Egg Roll On-a-Stick
- From Que Viet
- Cooper Street, outside the Merchandise Mart

Wild Rice Cheeseburger
- Hamburger made with wild rice
- From Wild Rice Specialties
- In the Food Building, northeast side
Also on Give Me The Mike…
The cheapest, beer, pop and water on the Fairgrounds

Frozen Cider Pop
- Popsicles made with cider from Minnesota grown apples
- From Minnesota Apples
- In the Agriculture Horticulture Building, west side
Gluten-Free Muffins
- From Hamline Church Dining Hall
- Dan Patch Avenue between Underwood & Cooper
Peg Muffin
- Sandwich with fried egg, sausage, cheese, tomato
- From The Peg
- Outside of the Agriculture Horticulture Building, southeast side

Lemonade
- From Netterfield’s Food Court
- Cooper Street between Wright & Dan Patch
Wood Fire Pizzas
- Cheese, margarita, sausage, pepperoni, sweet corn and bacon
- From Blue Moon Dine-In Theater
- Corner of Carnes Avenue & Chambers Street

Fish Taco
- Deep-fried tilapia, cabbage, mango salsa, red onion and sauces in a flour tortilla
- From San Felipe Tacos
- Food Building, east wall
Also on Give Me The Mike…
Top 10 foods to start the 2021 Minnesota State Fair
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