New to eat at State Fair: Dubai chocolate, Spam fries, California flatbread
From wood-fired flatbreads to tacos from Sacramento favorite Chando’s Tacos, a host of new food and drink options are making their State Fair debut this year beginning Friday. Keep an eye out for these incoming sweet treats, savory feasts and refreshing drinks on Cal Expo grounds.
Save Mart Wine Garden
At the Save Mart Wine Garden, guests can enjoy an updated menu designed to complement a glass of Gold Medal-winning wine or a chilled wine slushie. Executive chef Tim Benham said the shareable dishes focus on showcasing local ingredients.
“This isn’t meant to be a turkey leg that you’re eating in between two Ferris wheels or anything,” Benham said. “Sit down, relax, enjoy and get out of the sun for a few minutes.”
Among the new additions are three wood-fired flatbreads made with California-grown ingredients. The California Dreamin’ is topped with Alta Cucina tomato sauce from Modesto, fresh mozzarella pearls, heirloom cherry tomatoes and a drizzle of pesto. The White Flatbread layers Gruyere, provolone and Gouda with applewood-smoked bacon, local asparagus and roasted garlic cloves. The North Beach offers a meatier option with Italian sausage.
Along with flatbreads, the Wine Garden is also offering a fire-roasted artichoke marinated in garlic dressing and served with Meyer lemon-chive aioli and garlic butter. The Celebration of Sourdough features roasted local sourdough with bruschetta topping, roasted garlic oil, burrata, and pistachio-crusted Brie.
A zero-proof cocktail is also available, made with fresh watermelon, lime juice, mint and agave syrup.
Silva Sausages
Beef up the fair day with a classic hot link sausage at Silva Sausages. These Northern California Bratwurst sausages are filled with savory sweet chili mango, chicken apple and other savory fillings. Be sure to grab homemade German potato salad on the way out.
Golden Fry House
Sauced up golden fries and crispy chicken tenders, fried in beef tallow, are found at Golden Fry House. The fries and tenders are tossed in a variety of buffalo, BBQ, Korean gochujang and garlic Parmesan sauces. Other flavors include honey sriracha barbecue, chili lime and Thai.
Chando’s Tacos
Sacramento’s Chando’s Tacos is making its State Fair debut with tacos, burritos, quesadillas and nachos. Founded in 2010 by Lisandro “Chando” Madrigal, the regional chain serves up meats including birria, adobada, grilled fish and carnitas across six locations in the capital region.
Island Fin Poke
You can also find Island Fin Poke, known for its customizable poke bowls served over white or brown rice with proteins like ahi tuna, salmon, tofu or Korean barbecue chicken. Bowls are topped with crispy garnishes and marinated in sauces like ponzu or shoyu.
Boba King
Thrill-seekers at the fair can pair thinly sliced Spam fries with a boba milk tea, slushy or Red Bull-infused iced drink at Boba King. Other offerings include Spam sandwich sliders and Spam on a stick. Tea flavors range from Thai and taro to mango and strawberry. Energy drinks come blended with sweet flavors like strawberry and blueberry.
Dubai Chocolate Cups
Tap into the viral TikTok trend with a Dubai chocolate strawberry cup. Grab a cup filled with juicy strawberries lathered in rich chocolate, pistachio cream and topped with sweet, thinly shredded knafeh pastry strands.
Rescate Coffee
Coffee lovers can head to Rescate Coffee, Elk Grove’s only local roaster, for specialty drinks like the El Toro, a sweet espresso with breve and cinnamon, and the Xocolatl Cereza, flavored with Mexican chocolate and cherry.
This story was originally published July 11, 2025 at 6:00 AM.