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 at all times liked going to the Houston Livestock Present and Rodeo rising up. I bear in mind discipline journeys with my faculty to see the animals, going with my household, and as I received older, seeing my favourite artists—shout out Likelihood the Rapper, Bun B, the Chainsmokers, and Large Time Rush. However no journey was full with out one in all my go-to bites, which was both a turkey leg, some sort of cotton sweet, and a variation of a fried dessert.
Now in my function as Houstonia’s meals and journey editor, I’ve determined it is time to enterprise exterior of these three staples and broaden my horizons. So, I went to the NRG grounds this opening week to dive into the quirky and new meals objects 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 setting, that means they don’t all reside 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 Fact BBQ for this 12 months’s rodeo.
Fact BBQ Brisket Burger
Trill Burgers | Trill City | $32
Bun B’s Trill Burger is again on the rodeo for the fourth 12 months 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 Fact BBQ to debut a Fact BBQ Brisket burger, very similar to the Trillen’s Burger that was bought final 12 months. For $22, you will get the burger with all-beef smashed patties, American cheese, beer-battered onion rings, and barbecue sauce; then for $10 you possibly can add on three ounces of brisket from Fact BBQ—which did not seem to be a lot of a collaboration to me.
Though I didn’t love the hefty worth, I used to be a fan of the meals. The huge burger regarded intimidating at first, nevertheless it was scrumptious and held up properly.
Fact BBQ Brisket Fries
Trill Burgers | Trill City | $20
If you wish to expertise the Trill Burger and Fact BBQ collab’ however don’t need to pay the $32 price ticket, then I recommend choosing the brisket fries as a substitute. At $20, the basket comes with three ounces of Fact BBQ brisket (which is shredded, making for a better 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 substances made for an fulfilling expertise.
The elote munchies nachos had been fairly mediocre, however would do the job if we had 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 road corn on the cob. As an alternative, 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 had been a bottle of wine deep, I suppose they’d do the job.
Only a heads-up, the gator basket tastes lots like rooster.
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 shortly disenchanted after I realized it simply tastes like rooster. The fried basket got here with plenty of meat, nevertheless it might’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 very 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 gained Finest New Taste on the 2025 Gold Buckle Foodie Awards, 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 stick to 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 shortly from the grease, nevertheless it 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 checklist this 12 months.
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 this 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 subsequent individual will get one which’s cooked all over.
Who would not love a deep-fried crimson velvet twinkie?
Fried Pink Velvet Twinkie
Fried What!? | The Junction | $8
A fried crimson 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 things, 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 tougher, so I recommend embracing the finger meals as is. Regardless, it was my favourite chew of the day.
The spicy pickle roll-up is surprisingly price your cash.
Spicy Pickle Roll-Up
Casa de Yummy | The Junction | $7
I’ll be trustworthy, I used to be extraordinarily hesitant to do this 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 was a finalist for the Gold Buckle Foodie Awards’ Most Inventive class, I couldn’t depart 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 arms. 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 really complement one another properly. I do suppose the Scorching Cheetos had been a bit additional, although.
The Flaming Scorching Chili Mac Canine was overwhelmingly large.
Flaming Scorching Chili Mac Canine
Saltgrass Steakhouse | NRG Heart | $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 large. Additionally, why will we put Scorching Cheetos on all the things now? I might barely maintain this with my arms, so I had to make use of a fork and knife, which defeats the aim of a scorching canine, and I might barely get an excellent chew in due to the scale (slight disclaimer: I do have small arms, however nonetheless). It may need been 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 basic fried rice. It was tasty, however nothing particular. It’s extraordinarily giant, so though it’s on the dearer aspect—who’re we kidding, all the rodeo meals is—it’s nonetheless a fantastic shareable merchandise. I might’ve favored mine to have extra brisket bits, although.
Crab Rangoon Egg Rolls and Shrimp Chips
Asian Streetness | Carnival | $14
Although I might 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 had been crispy and held collectively properly. I undoubtedly suggest spending your cash right here, and for those who’re nonetheless hungry, seize a Viet taco to fill you up.
The Drowning Taquitos
Mamacita’s | Carnival | $16
That is your basic Tex-Mex chew: three rooster taquitos with salsa, avocado, tomato, and lettuce. It was additionally in all probability the prettiest of the day, fastidiously layered in a cup, so if you wish to get some Instagram-worthy photographs throughout your rodeo go to, I extremely recommend 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 seek out the right angle for an image. No complaints.
