The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo food vendors presented their most creative and crowd-favorite dishes to a panel of judges for the 2026 Gold Buckle Foodie Awards.
Eighteen finalist entries competed in a diverse showdown highlighting some of the best foods available to Rodeo guests. Finalists were selected through public voting on social media before advancing to the final round of judging. A panel of judges made up of radio personalities, social media influencers, chefs and local media members tasted each dish across six categories.
This year’s competition featured a wide range of inventive fair foods, from chicken fried lobster and bacon jam brisket biscuits to crunchy sushi balls and chocolate funnel cake fries, showcasing the creativity and flavor that have become a Rodeo tradition.
The 2026 winners include:
Best Fried Food
1st Place: Chicken Fried Lobster – Darlin’s Fried Chicken (RP130)
2nd Place: Minneblueberry Pie – The Original Minneapple Pie (CD202)
3rd Place: Deep Fried Edamame with Spicy Garlic Sauce – Asian Streetness (AR603)
Best Food-on-a-Stick
1st Place: K’boom K-Dog – Asian Streetness (AR603)
2nd Place: Bacon Cheeseburger Corn Dog – Pioneer Wagon (CD205)
3rd Place: Chicken Bacon Ranch Waffle Stick – Waffle Chix (CD204)
Classic Fair Food
1st Place: Rousso’s Dubai Chocolate Funnel Cake Fries – Rousso’s Fat Bacon (RP125)
2nd Place: Pork-King Luau Sliders – The Finer Diner (RP47)
3rd Place: Loaded Cowboy Fries – Pioneer Wagon (CD205)
Most Creative Food
1st Place: Brisket Cheese Curd Tacos – Richie’s Cheese Curd Tacos (J403)
2nd Place: Skillet Potato Melt… Plus! – Texas Sized Pizza / Burger and Chili Shack (RP35)
3rd Place: Loaded Cowboy Corn – Fields of Corn (J400 + L0066)
Best New Flavor
1st Place: Bacon Jam Brisket Biscuit – Rousso’s Fat Bacon (RP125)
2nd Place: Crunchy Sushi Balls – Asian Streetness (AR603)
3rd Place: Torta – Go Tejano Diner (RP40)
Best Dessert
1st Place: Bacon Jam Beignets – Cajun Cowboy (RP55)
2nd Place: Chill & Thrill Delight – Mamacita’s (AR602)
3rd Place: Strawberries and Cream Waffle Stick – Waffle Chix (CD204)
Rodeo guests can sample many of the award-winning foods throughout the grounds during the 2026 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo and discover the bold flavors that make Rodeo food a fan favorite each year.