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I haven’t been to the State Fair of Texas in well over 12 years, and have never gone as a gluten-free girlie... but after a few nudges (and one very drool-worthy grilled cheese stand that kept showing up on my feed), I finally caved and went.
The first thing that surprised me was how genuinely kind and patient every single staff member was. Being gluten-free means asking a lot of questions, and even on one of the busiest days of the year, they answered every one, tracked down managers when they needed to, and handed me packaging so I could read the ingredient lists myself. That alone put me completely at ease and made it so much easier to feel confident about what I was ordering.
Now let's talk about that grilled cheese. Stay Cheesy, over in the Tower Building, was the whole reason I finally decided to go and it exceeded even my wildest dreams. The owner, Cheyne, is not gluten-free herself, but goes above and beyond to research what's safe for us gf girlies. The entire staff are trained to prepare our gluten-free grilled cheeses on dedicated pans, with separate cutting boards, knives, and spatulas. Even the fries are made in a dedicated fries-only fryer and dusted with a secret blend of (yes, gluten-free) spices, so they are completely safe! Buttery and crunchy on the outside, ooey gooey and melty in the middle, and worth every bit of the cost of admission. My only regret was not getting more… but now I know for next time.
We also tried the Steak Dinner on a Stick from Backyard Steak Out, basically tender steak and peppers grilled up on a skewer. It was a solid, safe protein packed bite if you need something more than sweets to balance out all the fair treats, though I'll be honest, it was a little overpriced in my opinion.
There's also tons of naturally gluten-free options scattered all over the fair, like cotton candy, lemonade, ice cream bars, chocolate dipped bananas, popsicles, and mango on a stick. Most of them are perfect if you are dairy-free or vegan too, which is a great added bonus. And don’t skip the exhibits! We wandered into one and found Cookie Crave, where I snagged a gluten-free snickerdoodle, and there are a handful of other fun brands with gluten-free options being showcased this year that are worth hunting down!
A few tips before you go: Skip the gluten-free list at the information desk, I found it quite inaccurate, listing things like beer, whiskey, pizza, mac and cheese, and even items with malt as gluten-free. Instead, ask pointed questions at booths rather than a simple “is this gluten-free?” Try things like “what else is fried in the fryer you use for the fries?” or “does the marinade have soy sauce or worcestershire in it?” or “is the meat breaded?” Those get you the real answers you need to make a confident choice. And always be kind and patient with the people you are asking, because they genuinely want to help!
You can absolutely enjoy the State Fair of Texas gluten-free, and I hope this makes your visit a little bit easier! A big thank you to the State Fair of Texas for providing our tickets for opening day!
