Above photo features La Farm’s Fried Hazelnut Croissant available at the 2024 NC State Fair. All photos courtesy of Kyle Marie McMahon.
Stop by local favorites and sample fair-exclusive offerings
By Kyle Marie McMahon
The North Carolina State Fair is in full swing through October 27 and with it comes a smorgasbord of delicious food and treats. Along with fair favorites like turkey legs, fried Oreos and funnel cakes, you can find new and creative foods created just for the event. Sixteen local establishments appear at the fair this year, including local staple Howling Cow. It’s not only a great way to support local businesses, but it’s a unique opportunity to try them all in one location. Each feature some of their typical menu along with an exclusive item (or two) available for this limited time, such as Durham-based Lawrence & Perry BBQ’s Deep Fried Ribs, which one attendee told me was worth the long line, and BBQ Bacon Queso Sandwich.
Here are the other 14 local food options you should stop by during your trip to the fair this year.
Boozie Bakes
Previously based in Raleigh, and now in Durham, Boozie Bakes features delicious cupcakes with an option to give it an adult twist. If you “Make it Boozie,” the cupcake comes with a small pipette of alcohol to give it a flavor boost—and a kick. I tried the Everything’s Better with Margarita cupcake, Boozie style. The cupcake was deliciously moist and had a creamy frosting, all with the memorable taste of a margarita.
Bulkogi Korean BBQ
Durham-based Bulkogi started as a food truck and now also has a location at Boxyard RTP. Their menu features Korean fusion, such as Korean BBQ Kimchi Nachos (new to the fair), along with more traditional fare like a BBQ Rice Plate.
Chick-N-Que
The Chick-N-Que food truck is best known for its NC Eastern-style chopped chicken BBQ. This year at the fair, they are featuring a Tur-duck-en Burger.
Cool Runnings
The food truck Cool Runnings features authentic Jamaican cuisine. Their normal schedule seems slim, so don’t miss trying the new Jerk Pork Belly Bao.
goldenKdog
Be prepared for a wait if you visit the popular Korean corn dog food truck goldenKdog at the fair. But the wait is worth it! Attendees highly recommend the new items this year: the Honey Butter Mozza Dog and Crack Fries.
Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken
Often found at local events and festivals, the Hot Chix Hotcakes and Chicken food truck offers just what their name implies: fried chicken tenderloin wrapped in a fluffy pancake. But this year’s new offerings include something for the sweet lovers as well, Cotton Candy or Caramel Apple Mini Cakes, plus Monster Tots—stuffed jumbo tater tots.
Kono Pizza
Kono Pizza says they are “pizza reinvented.” Their food truck features all the typical pizza toppings served in a cone-shaped crust—perfect fair food. They also offer sweet dessert cones. This year, the new options include two savory and two sweet cones: Swedish Meat Pizza Cone, Buffalo Chicken Pizza Cone, S’more Pizza Cone and Peach Cobbler Pizza Cone.
La Farm
Local favorite La Farm Bakery has a café-style setup near the Skygazer Ferris wheel, offering some of their usual baked goods along with fair-exclusive items. Don’t miss out on these exclusive foods: Pulled Pork Danish, Fried Cheesy Croissant, S’Mores, Piedmont BLT and Monte Cristo. I tried the new Fried Hazelnut Croissant, which came with a generous helping of three gooey croissants oozing with warm hazelnut.
Las Gringas
Food truck Las Gringas features authentic Mexican cuisine along with some unique items, such as the Mexi-Eggrolls. This year’s new item is Pastor on a Stick.
Magdalena’s Chimney Cakes
Magdalena’s food truck offers handcrafted Hungarian pastries. Their chimney cakes are sweet dough spiraled around a roll and baked over an open flame. They are served with ice cream. A long night at the fair may have you wanting to try their new Affogato, ice cream topped with a shot of espresso.
Neomonde
With locations in Raleigh and Morrisville, Neomonde is well known for its traditional and contemporary Mediterranean menu. This year’s new offering, Kale Me Shawarma, is served with delicious toppings and a beet barbeque sauce.
Oak City Fish and Chips
Found at the Morgan Street Food Hall in Raleigh, Oak City Fish and Chips serves up crispy fish and seafood with seasoned fries. You can find these same offerings at the fair, just fair style—on a stick! Their restaurant offers a Lobster Pop, which is available, but this year’s fair sees a luxury Alaskan King Crab Pop. I tried the Salmon Pop, which had a thin, crunchy coating and a delicious spicy sauce.
Safari Eatz
The Safari Eatz food truck was created by Mombasa native Chef Andrew Mlamba. His menu features Afro-infusion items along with more traditional Kenyan dishes, which are influenced by Indian and Arabic cultures, such as samosas. I tried the Mac & Cheese Samosa, which had a crunchy phyllo shell and creamy cheesy filling. The items offered for the fair are the Buffalo Mac Bowl and the Simba Dessert, a apple pie filling and ice cream served in a fried chapati.
