New Vegan Options at the Minnesota State Fair!
This year is looking to be the biggest vegan-friendly Minnesota State Fair to date! Since I started posting my Minnesota State Fair Vegan Food Guide, it’s been the top-viewed post every year, and I love knowing that more and more people are looking for plant-based options at the fair. Of course, many vegans I know (understandably) have no interest in supporting an event that seems to have some form of animal exploitation or another around every corner. I continue to attend so I can ensure the guide is up-to-date, but also because it’s an annual tradition with my sister.
And with that, let’s get on with the fun stuff!
The Herbivorous Butcher’s Steak-xorcist
The Herbivorous Butcher
It’s happening, friends! It’s really happening! We (I work at The Herbivorous Butcher) got the call from the fair the first week of July that there was a last-minute opening in the Food Building, and of course we jumped at the opportunity. Due to the size of the space (it’s teeny tiny!) and other circumstances beyond our control, the menu is limited this year but we will expand our options in the future. I think fair-goers will really enjoy what we’ve created though!
Poultrygeist, Steak-xorcist, and Monster Mash
Starting with a piece of buttery Texas toast, you can choose to top it with either fried chicken tenders or chicken-fried steak tenders. Both will be finished off with sausage gravy, fried onions, and parsley. The Monster Mash is a mash-up of the two for maximum enjoyment. I hope you love The Herbivorous Butcher’s options as much as we do!
Daryl’s Dog House
What’s a fair without corn dogs? Now, vegans can finally get in on the action thanks to Daryl’s Dog House. It’s their only deep-fried option, so there isn’t anything non-vegan sharing fryer space. They’re using Morningstar veggie dogs hand-dipped in a house-made batter.
2021 Choripops by Andy’s Garage
Midtown Global Market
Andy’s Garage wowed everyone last year with their Choripops featuring The Herbivorous Butcher’s chorizo, and this year they’re offering Molotes from August 25-30. Their deep-fried vegan masa empanada option will be Elote Style: filled with roasted corn and topped with Tajin seasoning and vegan mayo. Make sure to ask for it vegan so they leave off the cotija.
Arepa Bar will take over the stall in the International Bazaar for the second half of the fair, August 31-September 5. Their vegan arepa is gluten-free and includes black beans, fried sweet plantains, cabbage, carrots, green onions and parsley.
Minneapple Pie
Their apple pie has been vegan without the ice cream for as long as I can remember, and this year they’re adding a blueberry pie! Maybe someday they’ll have vegan ice cream.
Union Hmong Kitchen
This one is near the top of my list! They’re offering Mov + Nqaij which is rice + meat, and the listing says there’s a gluten-free vegan option made with lemongrass turmeric tofu. Their Dej Qab Zib drink special is a coconut lychee colada made with coconut milk, lychee syrup, lime, and mint.
The new food list also says Brim will have gluten-free and vegan options, but in the past, the sandwich they’ve marketed as vegan had honey in the bread. I’ll be sure to check in with them again this year. Nautical Bowls is a new vendor offering superfood bowls - heads up that their granola is made with honey. French Meadow has added fried chicken sliders and a meatball marinara dish to their lineup.
The 2022 Minnesota State Fair runs August 25 - September 5. It’s going to be a delicious year, and don’t forget to bookmark my full guide for reference. Happy eating!
