The Drowning Taquitos from Mamacita’s are scrumptious and Instagram-worthy.
As a local Houstonian, I discover nothing extra thrilling than checking my calendar and realizing its rodeo season.
I all the time liked going to the Houston Livestock Present and Rodeo rising up. I bear in mind area journeys with my faculty to see the animals, going with my household, and as I obtained older, seeing my favourite artists—shout out Likelihood the Rapper, Bun B, the Chainsmokers, and Huge Time Rush. However no journey was full with out certainly one of my go-to bites, which was both a turkey leg, some kind of cotton sweet, and a variation of a fried dessert.
Now in my position as Houstonia’s meals and journey editor, I’ve determined it is time to enterprise exterior of these three staples and increase my horizons. So, I went to the NRG grounds this opening week to dive into the quirky and new meals gadgets being supplied this 2025 rodeo season. The Gold Buckle Foodie Awards are a place to begin, however keep in mind that the meals at this competitors are served to judges in a managed surroundings, that means they don’t all stay as much as the hype.
General, I attempted 12 rodeo meals. Some met my expectations, and others…not a lot.
Trill Burger teamed up with Reality BBQ for this yr’s rodeo.
Reality BBQ Brisket Burger
Trill Burgers | Trill City | $32
Bun B’s Trill Burger is again on the rodeo for the fourth yr in a row, however this time, with its personal space—dubbed Trill City—close to the Kirby Street and McNee Drive entrance. The 9,000-square-foot standalone spot boasts a bar, lemonade stand, and naturally, the long-lasting Trill Burgers. For this rodeo season, the model teamed up with Reality BBQ to debut a Reality BBQ Brisket burger, very similar to the Trillen’s Burger that was bought final yr. For $22, you may get the burger with all-beef smashed patties, American cheese, beer-battered onion rings, and barbecue sauce; then for $10 you may add on three ounces of brisket from Reality BBQ—which did not look like a lot of a collaboration to me.
Though I didn’t love the hefty value, I used to be a fan of the meals. The huge burger seemed intimidating at first, but it surely was scrumptious and held up nicely.
Reality BBQ Brisket Fries
Trill Burgers | Trill City | $20
If you wish to expertise the Trill Burger and Reality BBQ collab’ however don’t need to pay the $32 price ticket, then I counsel choosing the brisket fries as a substitute. At $20, the basket comes with three ounces of Reality BBQ brisket (which is shredded, making for a neater time when consuming), barbecue sauce, Trill slaw sauce, white queso, pickled onions, pickles, and escabeche. I ate this one simply with a fork, so no mess, and all of the components made for an pleasant expertise.
The elote munchies nachos have been fairly mediocre, however would do the job if we have been a bottle of wine deep.
Elote Munchies Nachos
Taco Love | Proper exterior the Plaza | $18
Given that is positioned proper exterior the plaza and wine backyard, I really feel like having the phrase “munchies” within the identify is becoming. Together with “elote,” nevertheless, was a bit deceptive. After I consider elote, I consider avenue corn on the cob. As a substitute, the nachos include elote queso blanco, smoked brisket, a housemade chipotle ranch, scorching sauce, cotija cheese, and lime wedges. It was mediocre, and the ratio of chips to brisket was overpowering. If I have been a bottle of wine deep, I assume they’d do the job.
Only a heads-up, the gator basket tastes so much like hen.
Gator Basket
Cajun Cowboy | The Plaza | $16
As somebody who had by no means eaten alligator earlier than, I used to be extraordinarily excited for this…after which rapidly upset after I realized it simply tastes like hen. The fried basket got here with numerous meat, but it surely may’ve been seasoned higher, and the candy sauce didn’t add a lot to the flavour both. Though this didn’t wow me, at the least now I can say I’ve tried gator.
The Cotton Sweet Bacon on a Stick is ideal for candy and savory lovers.
Cotton Sweet Bacon on a Stick
Rousso’s Fats Bacon | The Plaza | $16
This merchandise is a finalist on the 2025 Gold Buckle Foodie Awards for Finest New Chunk, so in fact it piqued my curiosity. I wasn’t fairly positive what to anticipate, however because it seems they actually spin a slice of bacon that’s on a keep on with cotton sweet. And let me simply say—they don’t skimp on the ratio or measurement. The bacon is a thick, full piece that’s evenly coated in cotton sweet for probably the most half. You’ll count on the cotton sweet to dissolve rapidly from the grease, but it surely holds up properly. I didn’t really feel like both taste overpowered the opposite. For me, rodeo season means oddball meals, so I like to recommend including this to your must-try record this yr.
Sadly, the center of the fried apple pie was nonetheless chilly.
Fried Apple Pie
Sills Funnel Desserts and Meals | The Plaza | $11
As a lover of apple pie, I completely had to do that new rodeo meals at Sills Funnel Desserts and Meals. I used to be happy with the dessert at first, however my enjoyment of this fluffy fried meals stopped as soon as I reached the center. The inside portion of the pie was nonetheless chilly and even considerably frozen—I’m fairly positive I ate some ice. What a significant letdown. Right here’s hoping the following particular person will get one which’s cooked all over.
Who would not love a deep-fried purple velvet twinkie?
Fried Pink Velvet Twinkie
Fried What!? | The Junction | $8
A fried purple velvet twinkie with cream cheese? Uh, sure please. This was the factor I used to be most excited to strive—the rodeo means deep-fried all the pieces, and I’m right here for it. The dessert was scrumptious and the fried facet gave it simply the correct amount of crunch. It comes on a stick, however I used to be given a spoon to eat it with, so in fact I opted for that to keep away from a large number. I discovered, although, that consuming with the spoon made it harder, so I counsel embracing the finger meals as is. Regardless, it was my favourite chew of the day.
The spicy pickle roll-up is surprisingly value your cash.
Spicy Pickle Roll-Up
Casa de Yummy | The Junction | $7
I’ll be sincere, I used to be extraordinarily hesitant to do that rodeo snack—it’s actually a pickle wrapped in a fruit roll-up with Scorching Cheetos on the aspect. However as a result of it’s a finalist for the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards’ Most Inventive class, I couldn’t go away with out attempting it. I discovered it humorous that I used to be given a fork, it is made to be eaten along with your palms. As sudden because the idea is, I’ve to say…I surprisingly loved it. The bitter style from the pickle and the sweetness from the fruit roll-up actually complement one another nicely. I do assume the Scorching Cheetos have been a bit additional, although.
The Flaming Scorching Chili Mac Canine was overwhelmingly huge.
Flaming Scorching Chili Mac Canine
Saltgrass Steakhouse | NRG Middle | $16
Truthfully, generally simplicity is the reply, and that’s very true on this case. The sausage, mac and cheese, Scorching Cheetos, and jalapeños made the recent canine overwhelmingly huge. Additionally, why will we put Scorching Cheetos on all the pieces now? I may barely maintain this with my palms, so I had to make use of a fork and knife, which defeats the aim of a scorching canine, and I may barely get an excellent chew in due to the dimensions (slight disclaimer: I do have small palms, however nonetheless). It may be a finalist on the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards as Finest New Taste, however I wasn’t a fan.
Rodeo Houston vendor Asian Streetness not often misses.
Brisket Fried Rice
Asian Streetness | Carnival | $18
This dish is made with bits of smoky brisket and traditional fried rice. It was tasty, however nothing particular. It’s extraordinarily massive, so though it’s on the dearer aspect—who’re we kidding, the entire rodeo meals is—it’s nonetheless an ideal shareable merchandise. I’d’ve appreciated mine to have extra brisket bits, although.
Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls and Shrimp Chips
Asian Streetness | Carnival | $14
Although I’d have liked extra brisket on my fried rice, this Houston rodeo vendor not often misses. The crab rangoon egg rolls include 5 items and mix cream cheese, crab, and chives, with a candy chile sauce on the aspect. Every chew was creamy and wealthy in taste. The egg rolls have been crispy and held collectively nicely. I positively advocate spending your cash right here, and if you happen to’re nonetheless hungry, seize a Viet taco to fill you up.
The Drowning Taquitos
Mamacita’s | Carnival | $16
That is your traditional Tex-Mex chew: three hen taquitos with salsa, avocado, tomato, and lettuce. It was additionally most likely the prettiest of the day, rigorously layered in a cup, so if you wish to get some Instagram-worthy photographs throughout your rodeo go to, I extremely counsel you cease by and order this dish. Though the taquitos are “drowning,” they weren’t soggy—and I ate them after fairly a couple of minutes of the photographer and I working collectively to search out the right angle for an image. No complaints.
