Chocolate Corny Dogs and Burger Tater Tacos: The 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards Winners

Four winners out of fifteen finalists — and yes, someone deep-fried a chocolate corny dog.

The judges tasted all fifteen finalists. Four walked away with a title, and one of them is a corny dog with fudge inside.

The 22nd Annual Big Tex Choice Awards were announced Tuesday in Dallas. The field has moved well past fried butter — this year’s winners include a taco built on tater tots and a cheesecake rolled in matcha cookies. Here’s what took home a title, and when you can get your hands on it.

Best Taste, Savory — Burger Chop Tater Tacos by Tom Grace

A burger patty seared, chopped, and folded together with sautéed onions and jalapeños, then draped in mozzarella and American cheese. The whole thing sits in a taco shell made of cheddar tater tots, finished with buffalo buttermilk ranch slaw, garlic parmesan buffalo sauce, and more tots on top.

Tom Grace also had a second finalist this year, the Flamin’ Crunch Pizza.

Best Taste, Sweet — Fletcher’s Chocolate Corny Dog by Beck Fletcher

Milk chocolate fudge, hand-dipped in the original Fletcher’s corny dog batter and fried until golden. It arrives with a drizzle of vanilla icing and raspberry compote on the side.

The Fletcher family has been selling corny dogs at this fair for generations. This year, Beck Fletcher put chocolate in one.

Best Taste, Sipper — Tropical Coco Fresca by Fruteria Cano

A layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca with a chamoy and Tajín rim, topped with a scoop of icy coconut snow that melts down into the drink as you go.

If you’re at the fair on a warm afternoon in late September, this is the one to find first.

Most Creative — Berry Me in Matcha by Stephen El Gidi

New York-style cheesecake dipped in Belgian white chocolate, rolled in crushed matcha cookies, then drizzled with more white chocolate and strawberry jam, with a fresh strawberry on top.

Creamy, crunchy, fruity, earthy. On a stick, because of course.

The eleven that didn’t win but are worth whetting your taste buds

The field was unusually strong this year, and plenty of the finalists are worth hunting down on the grounds. Also in the running: Dickel’s Texas Two Step Tacos by Dickel’s Smokehouse, Flamin’ Crunch Pizza by Tom Grace, the Golden Crunch Melt by Tony and Terry Bednar, Nacho Wings by Cody and Lauren Hays, Fernie’s Frozen Espresso-tini Bar by Christi Erpillo and Johnna McKee, Holy Flan! Buñueloco by the Garza Family, the Texas Pecan Praline Cheesecake Cone by Brad Weiss, Corn Flake Shappé by Milton and Gracie Whitley, the Nevins Soft Serve Peach Bellini Float by Tami and Josey Nevins Mayes, Rousso’s Bacon Jam Caramel Apple Hard Cider by Rousso’s Concessions, and the Sunset Soft Serve Rita by Dwania Morris.

Losing a title has never kept a fair food off the midway. Most of these will be out there, so leave room.

When you can taste them

The State Fair of Texas runs September 25 through October 18 at Fair Park. All four winners will be on the grounds for the full run — and so will hundreds of other vendors, from the corny dog stands that have been there for decades to whatever gets deep-fried next. Come hungry and plan on more than one trip.

If you’d rather not pay to park, and the lots run up to $30 a day, the Green Line drops you at Fair Park Station, a short walk from the gates. Senior days are Thursdays.

One thing worth knowing: the Fair is a nonprofit, and proceeds go back into Fair Park, community programs, and scholarships for Texas students. The corny dog is doing more than you think.

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