Rodeo Houston 2024: Here Are Your Must-Try Dishes

It’s that time of the year, y’all. The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is back at NRG park to host the most Texan event of the season!

While the Rodeo regularly features a near limitless number of amazing attractions, this article will focus on one of our all-time favorite traditions: eating and where to find the best food at Rodeo Houston.

If you’re like us, and the dizzying array of all the vendors has your head reeling, we recommend trying out these new restaurant additions.

What’s New In Food

Sink your teeth into all the corndogs, funnel cakes, turkey legs and other classic fair food at the carnival.

This year, the Rodeo is debuting a variety of new dishes including a Hot Cheeto Cheese Pickle Pizza, a mozzarella-topped New York-style ‘za with crispy sliced dill pickles, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos and ranch dill sauce.

For another Cheeto-spun option, pick up a Cheeto Cheese Chicken on a Stick, two juicy, crispy fried chicken pieces ladled with melted Cheddar and rolled in hot Cheetos and topped with pickles.

Of course, you’re going to need a side. New to Rodeo Houston is the Nashville Hot Chicken Tots at Biggy’s, crispy tater tots mixed with buttery spicy garlic sauce under two Biggy’s Nashville hot chicken pieces and juicy pickles.

You can wash it all down with a Barbalicious Float, a cotton candy and whipped cream-infused bubblegum soda topped with sprinkles and lollipop.

On the barbecue side of things, the Texas Torpedo is making its debut featuring two spicy, bacon-wrapped jalapeños stuffed with cream cheese and beef brisket.

No carnival food experience is complete without funnelcake. This year, two new funnelcakes will be made available in the form of a Peaches & Cream Funnelcake and a Churro Sundae Funnelcake.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

A post shared by RODEOHOUSTON (@rodeohouston)

Other new dishes this year include:

• Wonton Nachos – Asian Streetness
• Bacon Bourbon Caramel Cheesesteak on a Stick, Chocolate Bacon on a Stick – Big Fact Bacon
• Louisiana Crawfish Cheese Fries, Churro Fries – Cajun Cowboy
• White Queso Nachos, Horchata con Cafe – Casa De Yummy
• Brunch Pops – Corndog With No Name
• Mexican Street Popcorn – Fields of Corn
• Lemon Cake Bar – FRIED WHAT !?
• BBQ Bacon Bourbon Wood-Fired Pizza – MiaBellas Wood Fired Pizza
• Paradise Maple Waffle Burger – Paradise Burgers
• Caramel Apple Cowboy Churro on a Stick – Pioneer Wagon
• Caramel Apple Cinnamon Biscuit – Red Barn Biscuits
• Chili Mac Attack Potato – Saltgrass Steakhouse
• Sinny Centers – Stubby’s Cinnamon Rolls
• Popcorn Chicken, Dragon Fruit Tea – Teahouse Tapioca and Tea
• Corny Cakes, Loaded Fries Pizza – Texas Sized Pizza/Burger & Chili Shack
• MinneCookieDough Pie – The Original Minneapple Pie
• Deep Fried Cowboy Croissant, Bacon on a Stick with Truffle Honey, Chicken Fried Steak on a Stick – The Skillet at The Ranch
• Oreo Brownie Blast, Chicken in a Waffle on a Stick – Waffle Chix
• Fried Brisket Mac & Cheese – Yoakum Packing Co

Returning Favorites

This year, Berg Hospitality Group’s first-served casual dining concept, The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse has returned. The concept comprises of two separate dining areas on the southwest corner of NRG Astrodome with two full bars, live music, as well as a tequila bar on the patio.

Additionally, Trill OG Bun B will reprise his renowned Trill Burgers concept – which was recently named the best burger in North America.

Past favorites include the Fruity Pebbles Shrimp Fried Rice Bowl. Available at Get Fried, the dish consists of fried rice mixed with Fruity Pebbles shrimp, sausage, and pineapple, served in a pineapple.

Elsewhere, Spud Ranch BBQ have the Honolulu Hog Spud is a pulled pork-stuffed baked potato with teriyaki sauce, pineapple, and sesame seeds.

At Swirl Ice Cream, visitors can indulge their sweet tooth with the Rodeo Caramel Crack Sundae, an extravagant sundae fixed with caramel corn, and topped with chocolate dip, caramel, and a chocolate cowboy hat.

Taste The Best Of The Best

This past year, the Rodeo decided on the best of the best eats at the 2023 Gold Buckle Food awards at The Ranch Saloon + Steakhouse:

Best Food-on-a-Stick

1. Pickle Pizza on a Stick from Swain’s Pizza on a Stick
2. Apple Pie Candy Apple from Munch-oes Bakery
3. Big K-Dog from Asian Streetness

Best Fried Food

1. Deep Fried Cookie Dough from The Original Minnieapple Pie
2. Deep Fried Lasagna Roll from Southern Fried Salon
3. The Original Tender Basket from Holmes Smokehouse

Best Classic Fair Food

1. OG Trill Burger from Trill Burgers
2. Southern Fried Chicken Wings from Southern Fried Saloon
3. Ribeye Sandwich from Spring Country Kitchen

Most Creative Food

1. Deep Fried BLT from Texas-Sized Pizza/Burger & Chili Shack
2. and 3. (Tie) Un-PHO-gettable Burger from Asian Streetness and Rattlesnake Corn Dog from Pioneer Wagon

Best New Flavor

1. Brad’s BBQ Sundae from Saltgrass Steak House
2. Viet Taco from Asian Streetness
3. Loaded Pork Belly Fries from Blue Ribbon Grill

Best Dessert

1. Deep Fried Bread Pudding from Cajun Cowboy
2. Smores Pie from Finer Diner
3. The Ultimate Minnieapple Pie from The Original Minnieapple Pie

See also: Beloved ATX-Approved Mexican Cantina Announces New Houston Location