Here's what we ate at the 2025 Delaware State Fair

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

It was a simple task with perhaps dire intestinal consequences: eat your way through the Delaware State Fair.

After a roughly three-hour tour of the state fairgrounds in Harrington on Friday night, I am happy to report I not only made it through more than my fair share of fried entrees and rich desserts, I even found a few items I'd come back for.

The video above chronicles everything I ate and my immediate reactions.

Here's a break down after deeper reflection.

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

The ostrich smashburger from Chick-N-Que at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025. Twin patties served with cheese, onions and a burger sauce.

I couldn't detect much of a difference between the ostrich patty and a typical beef patty, but I did find a tender and juicy burger with almost too much burger sauce and melted cheese. At $20, it's large enough to be a one-and-done stop on the fairgrounds.

Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

The "gators and taters" from Chester's Gators & Taters at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025.

I was underwhelmed by my first dalliance with gator bites. I found them tough and longed for another sprinkle of salt to get through the fried edges. I can't argue with the piping hot fries, and the Ken's "boom boom" sauce was fine. The checkered paper hides the small paper tray these were served in. For $20, I was expecting more.

Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

Spaghetti Eddie's serves a pizza on a stick at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025.

This might be the most state fair food of the state fair foods I tried. The $11 pizza on a stick was coated in garlic butter and Parmesan cheese, the smell of which hit my nostrils as soon as I stepped away from the Spaghetti Eddie's stand. The interior featured oozy cheese and layers of pepperoni. Marinara sauce served on the side was the final component.

Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

A burrito with pulled pork and mac and cheese from Low N Slow Catering at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025.

A new offering for 2025, I was warned at the Low N Slow Catering stand that this patently American burrito would be loaded. While that was certainly true, I longed for another component – maybe a light cole slaw – that gave me something to bite into aside from the more-cheese-than-mac left side and overly-sauced pulled pork right side. I appreciate the value proposition – at $16 this was one of the best deals I spotted – but it wasn't the item for my taste.

Cinnamon roll, Demetri's

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

Extra icing is poured on a cinnamon roll from Demetri's at the Delaware State Fair before it is served. The oversized, $10 roll was one of our reporter's favorites at the 2025 Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025.

I almost kept walking, but then I heard an over-stuffed tray of rolls – maybe bricks is a better description – call my name from the front of Demetri's. The kicker was the extra coating of icing added right before purchase. The $10 roll could serve as dessert for three of four people. It was gooey and buttery, even on the outside, which sometimes only serves as pretext for a cinnamon roll's rich center.

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

Frozen banana, Goertze's

Served with peanuts or sprinkles, the $7 chocolate-coated frozen banana at Goertze's was a perfect snack for a sunny state fair evening.

Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

Tropical Delights' orange and vanilla dole whip in a waffle cone at the Delaware State Fair on July 18, 2025.

I bypassed the traditional pineapple cone for an orange and vanilla "creamsicle" take and was not disappointed. The $10 cone was as sweet as it was creamy. The only challenge was keeping it off my fingers as I walked toward the exit.

Ostrich smashburger, Chick-N-Que, Gators and taters, Chester's Gators & Taters, Pizza on a stick, Spaghetti Eddie's, Pulled pork and mac and cheese burrito, Low N Slow Catering, Cinnamon roll, Demetri's, Frozen banana, Goertze's, Orange and vanilla dole whip, Tropical Delights

When he's not testing the boundaries of human anatomy, Brandon Holveck reports on high school sports for The News Journal. Contact him at [email protected].

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