Eating cheap at the New York State Fair isn’t always easy, but you can find plenty of delicious deals if you know where to look.
That’s where this guide comes in. Our only criteria? Nothing over $5. Dive in here and you’ll never succumb to a $15 plate of french fries again.
Churro
Who: Fresh Mex Mexican Grill
Where: The Eatery
How much: $5
What’s it like: If you’re looking to scratch your fried dough and/or funnel cake itch for $5 or less, this churro is a good bet. It’s highly portable. It’s crispy on the outside and pillowy soft within, but let’s be honest, you’re not here for texture. This thing is doused in enough cinnamon sugar to coat a lighthouse. That seems like just the right amount.
Maple doughnut
Who: New York State Maple Producers
Where: Horticulture Building
How much: $3
What’s it like: Are doughnuts a breakfast food or dessert? Does it matter? It certainly doesn’t when one this delicious comes in at $3. The dough itself was sweet and soft.
This was a doughnut of the fried variety. Not at all cakey. Maple frosting was plastered generously atop for a perfect, maple-y start (or end) to a day at the fair.
Byrne Dairy soft serve ice cream cones
Who: Byrne Dairy
Where: Dairy Products Building
How much: Two for $4 (one for $3)
What’s it like: This soft serve ice cream was tasty. Smooth, creamy and cold. And in addition to the standard chocolate and vanilla options, Byrne Dairy had black raspberry available. That’s always welcome. But the real reason we’re including this one is value. If you have a crowd of kids with you and they’re all clamoring for ice cream, this is a solid option to feed them on the cheap.
Cream puff
Who: Maurice’s Belgian Waffles
Where: Dairy Products Building
How much: $3.50
What’s it like: The absolute queen of the sweets we tried on both the taste and value front. This puff was roughly fist-sized and topped with a swirl of chocolate ganache.
Inside was an absolute treasure trove of cream, subtly flavored with vanilla, that spilled out up, down and sideways at first bite. The dough itself was also delightful. Light, flaky and airy. For $3.50. A winner for sure.
Cheesesteak eggroll
Who: Dang’s Café
Where: The Eatery building, kitty corner from Chevy Court
How much: $5
What’s it like: Yummy sliced beef and soft sauteed onions rolled up in an eggroll wrapper and then deep-fried golden brown. It’s more “steak” than cheese. The portion is fairly generous for an eggroll – four or five meaty, juicy bites. It comes with your choice of dipping sauces. We tried Dang’s house sauce, a mildly spicy mayo, and the red chili sauce, which had more zip. For $3, Dang’s offers a snack-sized bite – a mozzarella string cheese eggroll or a half-hot dog/half string cheese eggroll.
Tomato pie
Who: It’s a Utica Thing
Where: On Restaurant Row, across from the Poultry Barn
How much: $4
What’s it like: You can get a serviceable slice pizza just about anywhere, so why not try this Utica specialty?
For $4, we got a 5-inch-by-5-inch square of thin but moist yeast dough slathered with a thick layer of sweet tomato sauce and sprinkled with cheese. Was it Parmesan? Was it Romano? Who cares? It was delicious.
Beef and cheese empanada
Who: Las Delicias
Where: The Eatery building, kitty corner from Chevy Court
How much: $4 each or 2 for $7
What’s it like: Delicious, as advertised. A warm, perfectly fried half-moon of empanada dough holds a generous portion of savory ground beef and cheese filling. One will make a decent snack; two could be a light lunch (if anything fried can be considered light).
The opening day menu offered beef and cheese and chicken and cheese, but we were told other varieties were on the way. If you have a bigger appetite and budget, the roasted chicken, braised meat stew and yellow rice looked amazing.
Jamaican beef patty
Who: Henry’s Hen House
Where: Pan African Village, next to the Center of Progress building
How much: $5 (cash only)
What’s it like: This hand pie is practically the size of your hand. It’s thickly stuffed with spiced beef, served hot in a foil wrapper. If you’re not that hungry, it’s the perfect size for sharing.
A few other cheap fair favorites:
- You can find hot dogs for $5 or less at stands across the grounds, including for just $1 at the West End bar and restaurant near the back of the Exposition Center.
- French fries are also available at numerous locations for around $5. If you want toppings like cheese or bacon bits, you’ll likely have to pay a bit more.
- The $1 baked potato is a longtime fair staple. You can find it in the Horticulture Building.
- No trip to the fair would be complete with a visit to the milk bar in the Dairy Products Building. A cup of white or chocolate will still set you back just 25 cents.
More NYS Fair 2024 food reviews
• Breakfast at NYS Fair 2024: Here are 8 hearty ways to start your day right
• Yes, Chef! Toss & Fire designed a pizza after ‘The Bear’ iconic sandwich for the NYS Fair
• Fun, sticky foods at NYS Fair: Bring wet wipes for these 6 sweet treats
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