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When you think of fair food it’s easy to imagine giant turkey legs, pulled pork sandwiches and a variety of deep-fried foods.
Read more Looking for vegetarian food at the California State Fair? This is what you can eat
But what are the options at the California State Fair if you are a vegetarian? What about vegan options?
With over 100 food vendors scattered across 350 acres at the CalExpo fairgrounds there are a number of options for plant-based meals. The Sacramento Bee went on a search on behalf of the vegan/vegetarian fair goer and found delicious meals for anyone to enjoy.
Here’s what I discovered:
Is it easy to find meals as a vegetarian? Vegan?
I’ve been a vegetarian for more than 10 years and was a vegan for two of them. In the meat-obsessed culture we live in it can be difficult to find well-rounded meals if you abstain from eating meat.
Luckily for vegetarians, the California State Fair has plenty of plant based meals to choose from. Though I was unable to find a vendor solely dedicated to plant based meals there are plenty of spots that offer vegetarian options and protein alternatives.
As for vegan options, there were fewer options to choose from. Many of the vegan foods I did find were considered snacks rather than full meals. If you are on a solely plant-based diet I would recommend having a meal before visiting the fair or bringing in your own.
Here’s what I ate as a vegetarian
I ordered two bean sopes from Vaqueros. They were savory, filling and topped with plenty of veggies and cheese. Because I opted out of meat protein Vaqueros offered up a scoop of guacamole and sour cream on my plate which made the dish wonderful.
Additionally, I ordered a deep-fried grilled cheese sandwich from Maddy Moo’s. It was crispy and deliciously breaded.
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For dessert, I had deep-fried Hawaiian Rolls that were coated in cinnamon sugar and drizzled with condensed milk. It was sweet, soft and absolutely delightful.
Where can I eat as a vegetarian?
Whether you are looking for a hearty veggie burrito or a tasty gyro, it’s not difficult to find a filling meal as a vegetarian. These are some of the stand-out options:
The Sleek Greek
This Mediterranean eatery has five vegetarian options to choose from including falafel, Greek salad and Greek fries.
Price Range: $10 to $17
Location: Pepsi Promenade and Food Court
Vaqueros
Vaqueros is a large taqueria with dozens of options for vegetarians including sopes, nachos, potato taquitos and bean and cheese burritos.
Prices Range: $12 to $18
Location: The Beer Den area
Maddy Moo’s
This cheese centered vendor offers plenty of vegetarian options including what it calls Rainbow Grilled Cheese, pizza, macaroni and cheese and cheese on a stick.
Prices Range: $10 to $13
Location: The Beer Den area
Tipsy Tomato
The Tipsy Tomato is a pizzeria tucked away in the wine garden. Diners can enjoy cheese, Cali-veggie with arugula pesto and steamed, chilled artichoke Sicilian slices.
Prices Range: $9 to 14
Location: Save Mart Wine Garden
Pepe’s: Fresh Mexican Food
Pepe’s offers six veggie options, the most variety at the fair. Those options include tortas, veggie burritos, nachos and veggie tacos.
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Prices Range: $5 to $18
Location: Pepsi Promenade and Food Court
Grilled Pineapple
The pineapple-centered eatery offers fried rice, spring rolls and a veggie bowl.
Price Range: $5 to $16
Location: Pepsi Promenade and Food Court