All the best food to eat at the 2025 Iowa State Fair

Curious what food will be at the 2025 Iowa State Fair? We dug into its itinerary to give you the ultimate taste of what’s to come from Aug. 7 to Aug. 17.

If you don’t yet know what to expect at the 2025 Iowa State Fair, look no further than our tasteful guide to all of the delicious bites and sips you can savor at this year’s event. Held in Des Moines from Aug. 7 to Aug. 17, the Iowa State Fair will see massive artists like Pitbull and Rascal Flatts descend onto the fairgrounds for showstopping performances. (But if you’re like us, you’re more interested in seeing the butter cow we all know and love.)

On a hot summer day full of walking around the fairgrounds, laughing with loved ones, trying your hand at games, and dancing to top musicians, you need to refuel a couple of times. Foodies like us even create a food itinerary before scheduling any other activities. This year, we’re seeing premier breweries, ice cream shops, fried chicken joints, sandwich venues, and more setting up shop and feeding the masses.

And if we’re being honest? Our mouths are already watering. We dug our heels into the sand to decipher the best restaurants and more that you should try at the 2025 Iowa State Fair, from unique bites to classic fare simply done right.

(For the full 2025 Food and Beer list, read here. For the full 2025 Food list, read here.)

Refreshing drinks to keep you energized and cool at the 2025 Iowa State Fair

Pick-me-up options

Coffee is a must for any long day, and thankfully, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck will be gracing the fairgrounds. This mobile coffee shop slings sumptuous coffee and lattes, available iced or hot, as well as cold brew. Not a coffee person? No problem. Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck also sells a line of freshly made energy drinks called TILT Nitro Energy. They come in fruity flavors and are packed with ice for the perfect summer sip.

If you prefer tea, there’s something at the fair for you, too. One of the most attention-grabbing options comes from Applishus: an iced tea shaken with apple juice, which creates a slightly sweet beverage that’s equally fruity and energizing.

Other refreshing drinks

Vendors all around the 2025 Iowa State Fair will be selling bottled water, but you’re not limited to it (though you should absolutely remain hydrated). Companies like It’s Dough Time and Brafford’s Lemonade will be serving ice-cold lemonade, with the latter also selling a strawberry version. Destination Grille’s Buckin’ Berry Lemonade will be available as well if you want a more complex drink option.

Alcohol options around the fairgrounds

Alcohol options ranging from wine to beer and spiked drinks will be available throughout the duration of the 2025 Iowa State Fair. Located at the Midamerican Stage, Fair Fare will have everything you need, including specialty cocktails and mixed drinks like mimosas and screwdrivers. Meanwhile, for all things beer, head to Blue Ribbon Bar & Eatery, which is slated to serve all the beer your heart could desire. You can even purchase some seriously fine grub from the restaurant, including everything from perfectly refreshing bruschetta to brûléed French toast.

Still in your “Cowboy Carter” era? Us too. That’s why we’ll be heading to the Bud Tent on Grand Ave. for the Cowgirl Punch. (Craft beers are also abundant for those who want something more straightforward.)

Savory bites to bridge the gap between refreshments and dessert

Sandwiches reign supreme at the 2025 Iowa State Fair

Iowa’s known for our pork tenderloin sandwiches, and you’ll find plenty of hog-wild options at this year’s fair. The Iowa Pork Producers Association is slated to have a variety of menu items, including pork burgers, pork loin sandwiches, pork belly on a stick, and more. For something even more unique, check out the pulled pork quesadillas and pulled pork nachos offered by Regals Concessions.

Other tasty sammies include the ham and roast beef sandwiches from Beattie’s, rib-eye steak sandwiches from Beef Promotions of Iowa, and breakfast sandwiches from Box Concessions, which come with either ham or bacon.

For a healthier option, Fair Food Fridays is selling a grilled chicken breast sandwich on the west side of the Riley stage, and HoQ Restaurant is debuting its lamb wrap that promises bold, fresh flavor at the fairgrounds. (Yes, we’d argue that a wrap is also a sandwich!) HoQ has a menu that constantly rotates, with new dishes featuring seasonal ingredients consistently adorning its tables, so this should be one for the books.

These pizzas will put a smile on your face

Pies from WiseGuys Wood Fired Pizza will spin your head right ‘round at this year’s event. The establishment has promised its Facebook followers breakfast pizzas and Nashville hot mac ‘n’ cheese pizza, which are sure to bring out anyone’s inner child. Wood-fired pizza is beloved for its crisp texture and delightful crust balance to toppings, and based on WiseGuys’ photos, these seem to be perfect pizzas.

Other snacks and meals to try

Pizza and sandwiches are great, but fair food is so much more than that (and the fried Oreos that we know and love). For a fried bite that will truly delight, mosey on over to Winn and Sara’s Kitchen for smashing burger rolls (like crunchy egg rolls but with a hamburger-inspired filling). Another of the duo’s rolls, the Bacon Chicken Ranch Eggroll, is even one of the fair’s top-three new-food finalists this year, according to the fair’s website, so you know it must be good. (The other finalists are a ham-ball flight from Whatcha Smokin? BBQ + Brew and The Scotcheroo Shake from Over the Top, but more on the latter later.)

Sweet treats abound at the 2025 Iowa State Fair

Ice cream is always within reach on the fairgrounds

If ice cream takes you back to warm childhood days spent under the sun, you’re not alone, and luckily, that nostalgia is easy to replicate at the fair this year. The Des Moines-based ice cream shop Dairy Zone will be in attendance, swirling soft serve for each hungry customer. As of this year, Dairy Zone has been serving its community for 35 years, and one taste of its cones and slushes will show why it has stood the test of time.

The state fair is long, and you may want to try more than one ice cream over its duration. If so, check out Over the Top. This Pleasant Hill-based shop proudly scoops more than 25 flavors, with each better than the last, and many of them are perfect for summer days. Lemon Cheesecake Crumble, Cherry Amaretto, and Coconut Almond Joy are just a few flavors you can enjoy from this shop. That said, the star of the show this year is The Scotcheroo Shake, which is a peanut butter and butterscotch dream. On a warm day, this shake will go down like nothing else.

Pastries have entered the chat, too

Ice cream is all well and good, but some people simply prefer a baked or fried pastry, and there’s nothing wrong with that. In this case, we’d direct them to Beans & Beignets. This café specializes in coffee and pastries, so it’s a perfect fair stop if you need a cup o’ joe with your sweet treat. Its beignets come in a few flavors, but we’d recommend the Lemon Glaze and the Holy Cow Hot (this one’s made with hot honey) for fun takes on a classic dessert.

Curious about other desserts? Fyfe Concessions will be frying cherry pies throughout the event, and Applishus will have many apple-themed sweets, including apple pastries, apple egg rolls, caramel apples, and more.