Ohio State Fair 2023: 9 new foods to try, from Cheeto burgers to gelato tacos

Grace Tucker, Columbus Dispatch
·3 min read
Everything Bagel Deviled Eggs are available to order at Ohio Poultry Association's new food stand, Devilishly Good, in the Taste of Ohio Café at the Ohio State Fair.
Everything Bagel Deviled Eggs are available to order at Ohio Poultry Association's new food stand, Devilishly Good, in the Taste of Ohio Café at the Ohio State Fair.

Whether you like your food fried, roasted, on-a-stick or freshly toasted, the Ohio State Fair is the place to be for mouth-watering eats.

The fair, running from July 26 through Aug. 6, has been bringing the greasiest of greasy foods and the sweetest of treats to Ohioans since its founding in 1850.

And with plenty of options to accommodate dairy-free, tree nut-free and other dietary needs, everyone is sure to find something they enjoy at one of the 146 vendors featured at this year’s event.

The fair is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on the weekends. Gates will close at 6 p.m. on Aug. 6 — the last day of the fair.

And foodies, don’t miss out on special deals during $3 Thursday on July 27 and Aug. 3, when all vendors will be offering mini-sized menu items for just $3.

Over a dozen new food options will be joining Ohioans’ treasure trove of fair eats. Here are nine must-try items new this year:

1. Cookie Dough Explosion

The Cookie Dough Explosion features a chocolate chip cookie topped with a salted caramel gelato, with scoops of cookie dough covered in hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream and Oreos.
The Cookie Dough Explosion features a chocolate chip cookie topped with a salted caramel gelato, with scoops of cookie dough covered in hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream and Oreos.

Dessert vendor Funky Flamingo, located between the Taste of Ohio Café and the Mountain Dew Midway, will be offering several new items this year, including this special twist on the classic chocolate chip cookie.

The Cookie Dough Explosion features a chocolate chip cookie topped with a salted caramel gelato, with scoops of cookie dough covered in hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream and Oreos.

More: 8 new attractions and activities to experience at the Ohio State Fair

2. Crawfish Bowls

Big G’s Food Service, located on the east side of Kiddieland, is making seafood bigger and better with this new boiled crawfish dish, mixed with corn and vegetables.
Big G’s Food Service, located on the east side of Kiddieland, is making seafood bigger and better with this new boiled crawfish dish, mixed with corn and vegetables.

Big G’s Food Service, located on the east side of Kiddieland, is making seafood bigger and better with this new boiled crawfish dish, mixed with corn and vegetables.

3. Cotton Candy Deviled Eggs

The Ohio Poultry Association (OPA) has unveiled this year’s flavor of the year: the Cotton Candy Deviled Egg.
The Ohio Poultry Association (OPA) has unveiled this year’s flavor of the year: the Cotton Candy Deviled Egg.

Following 2019’s Chocolate Deviled Egg and 2022’s Lemon Meringue Deviled Egg, The Ohio Poultry Association (OPA) has unveiled this year’s flavor of the year: the Cotton Candy Deviled Egg!

Those egg-static about this deviled delight can find this year’s cotton candy flavor and lots of other flavors like s’mores, Mexican street corn and honey fig blackberry at the OPA’s new food stand, Devilishly Good, in the Taste of Ohio Café.

4. Dipped Fruit

Those craving something healthy and sweet can look no further than Funky Flamingo’s Dipped Fruit, located between the Taste of Ohio Café and the Mountain Dew Midway.
Those craving something healthy and sweet can look no further than Funky Flamingo’s Dipped Fruit, located between the Taste of Ohio Café and the Mountain Dew Midway.

Those craving something healthy and sweet can look no further than Funky Flamingo’s Dipped Fruit, located between the Taste of Ohio Café and the Mountain Dew Midway. Three words: banana, chocolate, on-a-stick.

5. Flaming Hot Cheeto Burger

Known for amping up American classics with items like their Donut Hamburger, Dickerson & Kenna is introducing this spicy star: the Flaming Hot Cheeto Burger.
Known for amping up American classics with items like their Donut Hamburger, Dickerson & Kenna is introducing this spicy star: the Flaming Hot Cheeto Burger.

Known for amping up American classics with items like their Donut Hamburger, Dickerson & Kenna is introducing this spicy star: the Flaming Hot Cheeto Burger.

Those interested can snag the flaming-red bite at Dickerson & Kenna’s concession, at the center of WNCI Food Highway, just south of East 17th Avenue.

More: Ohio State Fair unveils butter cow display. Here's the theme

6. Gelato Tacos

Experience an Italian and Mexican culinary fusion like never before with Funky Flamingo’s Gelato Tacos, located between the Taste of Ohio Café and the Mountain Dew Midway.
Experience an Italian and Mexican culinary fusion like never before with Funky Flamingo’s Gelato Tacos, located between the Taste of Ohio Café and the Mountain Dew Midway.

Experience an Italian and Mexican culinary fusion like never before with Funky Flamingo’s Gelato Tacos, located between the Taste of Ohio Café and the Mountain Dew Midway.

7. Mac and Cheese Bowl

Concessions by Cox is taking a classic late-night-bite to another level with toppings like roast beef and buffalo chicken.
Concessions by Cox is taking a classic late-night-bite to another level with toppings like roast beef and buffalo chicken.

Concessions by Cox, located on WNCI Food Highway, just south of East 17th Avenue, is taking a classic late-night-bite to another level with toppings like roast beef, buffalo chicken, bacon, chili, green onions, crushed tortilla chips and jalapeños.

8. Nacho Sundae

Complete with waffle-cone chips and hot fudge sauce, the North American Food Service Inc. has made a “nacho” sundae dish to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.
Complete with waffle-cone chips and hot fudge sauce, the North American Food Service Inc. has made a “nacho” sundae dish to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.

Complete with waffle-cone chips and hot fudge sauce, the North American Food Service Inc. has made a “nacho” sundae dish to satisfy even the biggest sweet tooth.

Enjoy this chocolate-y treat on WNCI Food Highway, just south of East 17th Avenue.

9. Lemon Shake Up Cream Puff

Schmidt’s Sausage Haus — a staple since 1914, making it the oldest food vendor at the fair — introduces an upscale twist on a classic fair beverage with their Lemon Shake Up Cream Puff.
Schmidt’s Sausage Haus — a staple since 1914, making it the oldest food vendor at the fair — introduces an upscale twist on a classic fair beverage with their Lemon Shake Up Cream Puff.

Last but not least, Schmidt’s Sausage Haus — a staple since 1914, making it the oldest food vendor at the fair — introduces an upscale twist on a classic fair beverage with its Lemon Shake Up Cream Puff.

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: New food items at the 2023 Ohio State Fair. Here are 9 to try