The 2024 Big E Eater’s Guide: What to eat and where to find it

The Big E is here — and so is the Big E Eater’s Guide for 2024.

New England’s most decadent display of dining debauchery returns to the West Springfield fairgrounds and the food lineup may be better than ever. More foods than ever are getting fried. The pickles are more prolific. Even the Craz-E Burger is crazier.

For the next 17 days, The Big E is the one-stop shop for all your state fair needs. It has everything from butter sculptures and alpaca shows to fried butter and alpaca wool for sale.

It’s all part of a maddening maze of a fairground awash with a ridiculous roster of vendors selling clothes, trinkets, food and drinks. If you’re down for a ride, there’s also the midway.

But for many visitors, the big draw is the food. The Big E is the home of some of the wildest fair food you’ll see. But it can be a little overwhelming to track everything down.

This is where the Big E Eater’s Guide comes in. We’ve mapped out all of the crazy, traditional and sought-out foods worth trying throughout the fair.

Here are some handy Big E maps to give you everything you need to know to make navigating and finding the food you’re looking for easy.

NOTE: I try my best every year to make sure everything is up-to-date and that the vendors and menus are accurate. Things change and can fall through the cracks. If you spot anything amiss in the guide, please let me know at nomalley@masslive.com.

(This is an updated version of our annual Eater’s Guide that most recently ran in 2023.)

The 2024 Big E Eater’s Guide

The Big E fairgrounds are, well, big. They can also be tricky. The roads bend in weird ways. If you don’t know where you’re going, it’s easy to miss big parts of the fair — or just go in circles.

To simplify things, we’ve broken down the fair into 14 numbered areas. There are seven roads, the food court, four “building” areas and “The Front Porch,” which was added in 2022.

Areas 1-7 are the biggest outdoor hubs for food, 8-10 are side streets, 11-13 have indoor vendors and the state buildings (14) are a whole other subsection by themselves:

1. New England Ave.
2. The Front Porch
3. Commonwealth Ave.
4. Food Court
5. Avenue of States
6. East Road
7. West Road
8. Springfield Road
9. Industrial Ave.
10. Hampden Ave.
11. Young Building
12. Better Living Center
13. New England Center
14. The State Buildings

1. New England Ave.

For those who park in the main lot, or are simply entering from the western side of the fairgrounds (which is most of you), New England Ave. is the first street you’ll encounter. If you see something that says “Near Gate 9A,” it’s on this street.

New England Ave. is like the beginner’s class for The Big E. You’ve got one of the stands selling the signature Cream Puffs. You’ve got some of the most famous crazy foods, such as Fried Butter at Marion’s. Overall, this stretch of road has pretty much anything you need food-wise, giving you an easy place to start before you branch off and explore further.

It can be tempting to fill up at the first stall you find. I mean, you can do that if you want. Don’t let me stop you, I’m just an internet article. I have no power here.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• Marion’s Fried Dough: Fried Butter (Check our review if you want more info)
• Chompers: Chicken Parm Chompers, Chicken Pot Pie Chompers
• Tots-a-Lot: Chicken Tot Pie

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Barbie’s Ice Cream Shoppe – Ice Cream, Fancy Waffle Cones, Upside Down Banana Split, Frozen Bananas, Barbie Ice Cream (Strawberry Ice Cream with Birthday Cake Crumbles), Cracker Jack Sundae

Billie’s Baked Potato – Baked Potatoes

Big E Cream Puff Bakery – Big E Cream Puff, Big E-clair, Chocolate-covered Cream Puff, Pumpkin Spice Cream Puff

Butcher Boys – London Broil Sandwich, Gyros, Italian Sausage

Chan’s Original Chicken-on-a-Stick – Chicken-on-a-Stick, Noodles, Egg Rolls

Chompers – Fried Croquette Balls with flavors like Bacon Cheeseburger, Chicken Parm, Taco, Vegetarian Potato & Corn

Deluca’s – Caramel Apple Sundae, Chicken Parm Sandwich, Deep-fried Meatballs on a Stick, Toasted Garlic Bread Bowl, Deep-Fried Ice Cream Sandwich

Dimitri’s Greek Food – Pita, Falafel, Hummus, Baklava, Gyros, Kabobs

Fluffy’s Hand Cut Donuts – Giant Donuts with Toppings, Giant Donuts, Donut Sundaes, Pickle Donut

Harpoon Beer Experience – Craft Beer, Hard Seltzer, Dunkin’ Pumpkin Spiced Latte Ale, Topped Breaded Pretzels, General Tso’s Colossal Fried Shrimp

The Hub – Cheese Dogs, Chili Dogs, Burgers, Fries, Chicken Tenders

LuAnn’s Bakery – Specialty Cupcakes, Maple Bacon Cupcake

Marion’s Fried Dough – Fried Kool-Aid, Fried Jelly Beans, Fried Butter, Fried Dough, Fried Oreos

NY Style Pizza – Pizza Slices, Pickle Pizza

Penalty Box Pub – Frozen Cocktails, Beer, Hard Seltzer

Piche’s Beignets – Beignets, Beignet Sundaes, Fried Oreos, Funnel Cake Sundaes, Funnel Cakes, Fried Snickers, Fried Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups

Red’s Red Apples – Candy Apples, Samoa Apples

Soup-R Bowl – Soups, Chili, Bread Bowls, Regular Bowls, Maple Marshmallow Drizzled Sweet Potato Fries

Super Dog – 6-inch Dog-on-a-Sick, 12-inch Super Dog, 18-inch Mega Dog

Stella’s Milk & Cookies – Homemade Chocolate Chip Cookies in a Cone or Bucket, Milk

Stella’s Milk & Cookies (2nd location) – There’s now a Stella’s location near the Court of Honor Stage that sells cookies and muffin tops.

Sugar Shakers (Funnel Cakes) – Deep-Fried Whoopie Pie, Funnel Cake, Giant Eclairs

Tootsie’s Fried Dough – Fried Oreos, Dough Nuggets, Fried Candy Bars

Tots-A-Lot – Chicken Tot Pie, Loaded Tots, Apple Dumpling Tots, Bacon Mac & Cheese Tots, Vegan Tots

Wild Bill’s Curly Fries – Chicken Tenders, Foot-Long Corn Dogs, Curly Fries

2. The Front Porch

The Front Porch made its debut last year, adding a fun little nook in the middle of the fair with some colorful vendors and much-needed seating.

This little corner of asphalt paradise is located between the Better Living Center and the Court of Honor Stage. Keep an eye out for the cluster of food stalls. This year, there are some new additions to the area, including some wild cupcakes at LuAnn’s Bakery.

Note: The Place 2 Be is not returning to the fair this year. That was the spot with the crazy milkshakes.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• SoulFully: Spicy PB&J Burger
• Granville Country Store: Mac Melt (Mac & Cheese Melt)

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Granville Country Store – Mac Melt (Mac & Cheese Melt)

Las Papi Platanos – Loaded Plaintain French Fries

Pioneer Valley Poppers – Kettle Corn

SoulFully – Vegan options, Spicy PB&J Burger, Hot Dogs, Loaded Fries, Milkshakes

Wave Mocktails – Mocktails

3. Commonwealth Ave.

If New England Ave. is Big E 101, then Commonwealth Ave. is the intermediate course on your road to getting your fair food diploma. If you’re coming from New England Ave. and go around the Court of Honor Stage, you’ll likely find yourself staring down a jam-packed road full of vendors — and little side streets that branch off.

Here you also find some of the best overall options at the fair, like the BBQ Sundae at Porky’s, the Giant Mozzarella Stick from Angela’s Pizza or the Empanada Tacos from new vendor Macho Taco.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• Angela’s Pizza: Giant Mozzarella Stick, Pickle Pizza
• Porky’s: BBQ Sundae
• Macho Taco: Empanada Tacos
• Veggie Patch: Frozen Cheesecake on a Stick

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Amy’s Sweet Treats – Ice Cream, Crazy Milkshakes

Angela’s Pizza – Giant Mozzarella Stick, Pickle Pizza, Mexican Street Corn Pizza, Normal Pizza

Billie’s Baked Potato – Baked Potatoes

Butcher Boys – London Broil Sandwich, Gyros, Italian Sausage

Captain Nemo’s – Hot Diggid-E Dog, Sundae Supper Keg Tots, Pot Roast Patty Melt

Donut Family: Cinn-a-roll Donuts, Mini Donuts

Jack’s Fries – Chichen Tenders, Corn Dogs, Millennium Chips, Dough Nuggets, Funnel Cakes

Jungle Juice Smoothies – Tie-Dye Smoothie, Berry-Jalapeno Smoothie

Local Brewer Showcase (Near the Court of Honor State) – Rotating lineup of local breweries.

Macho Taco – Empanada Tacos, Birria Tacos

Millie’s Pierogi – Millie’s Masterpiece, Pierogi

Pickle Barrel – Pickles, Apple Cider

Poppie’s Belgian Waffles – Fried Cheesecake, Belgian Waffles, Corn Dogs, Fried Twinkies

Porky – BBQ Sundae, Pulled Pork, Giant Turkey Legs, BBQ Brisket Sandwich, BBQ Split

Red’s Red Apples – Gourmet Apples, Caramel Apples, Candy Apples, Caramel Corn, Cotton Candy

Roasted Corn in a Cup – Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Corn, Parmesan Corn, Mexican Style Corn

Schroder’s Cheese Curds – Cheese Curds

Tootsie’s Fried Dough – Fried Oreos, Dough Nuggets, Fried Candy Bars

Veggie Patch – Frozen Cheesecakes, Frozen Banana, Cheesesteak Eggroll, Deep-fried Pickles, Vegetable Tempura, Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Wings-N-Fries – Buffalo Chicken Eggroll, Chicken Waffle on a Stick, Poutine, Roasted Corn on the Cob

The Wurst Haus/The Student Prince – German Giant 10-inch Bratwurst, Beer Boot, The Mighty Pretzel, Porky Pretzel Bites, Gebraten Potato Pancakes

4. Food Court

A trip to The Big E involves a lot of walking. So don’t hesitate to visit the Food Court, which is one of the spots at the fair with the most seating.

The Food Court is a brick-walled little subsection of the fair that offers shaded tables and easy-to-miss gems.

This locale also includes some of the best deep-fried foods at the fair. Check out the Fried Shepherd’s Pie at EB’s Food for Fun.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• EB’s Food for Fun: Fried Shepherd’s Pie or Fried Mac & Cheese
• White Hut: Quadfather Burger
• Top of the Crust: Caramel Apple Snicker Dessert Pizza

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Big E Cream Puff Bakery – Big E Cream Puff, Big E-Clair, Chocolate-Covered Cream Puff, Pumpkin Cream Puff

Calabrese Market – Paninis, Cucumber Salads, Pasta Salads, Caprese Salads

Cannoli King – Cannoli Dip, Cannoli Donut, Cannoli Cake Bomb

EB’s Food For Fun – Fried Shepherd’s Pie, Fried Mac & Cheese

Hofbrauhaus Oktoberfest Biergarten – Bratwurst in a Blanket, Potato Pancakes, Pork chops, Home Made Pretzels, Fried Spätzle with Cheese Sauce

The Indian Restaurant – Chicken Tikka Masala, Naan Bread, Mix Parathas (Sweet and savory crepes)

Joe’s Clam Box – Clam Chowder in a Bread Bowl, Fried Seafood, Shrimp Tacos, Whole Belly Clams, Clam Fritter Doughnut, Beer

White Hut – Burgers, Fries, Chicken Tenders, Quadfather Burger

The Ultimate BBQ – 3 Pigs in a Bun, Choco-Baco Frenzy, Pulled Pork Mac & Cheese, Chocolate-Dipped Bacon, Ultimate Cowboy Nachos, BBQ Waffles, Mac & Cheese Waffles

5. Avenue of States

Now we’re getting to the deep parts of the fair. If you started at Gate 9A, the Avenue of States represents that fair end of the fairgrounds. But we’ve only scratched the surface of what you can find.

The Avenue of State is home to some of the best food vendors at The Big E. One of our favorites is the New England Craft Beer Pub. In addition to beer, it has Big E All-Stars like the Turducken Sandwich, Beer-a-Misu and a new addition in the Thanksgiving Nachos.

Also keep an eye out for Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House. It’s the lone sit-down restaurant at the fair.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• New England Craft Beer Pub: Beer-a-Misu, Turducken Sandwich, Thanksgiving Nachos
• Storrowton Tavern: Ice Cream Cake Ball
• Sam Adams Beer Garden: Cider-Glazed Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Kettle Korn Express (Storrowton Village) – Kettle Corn

New England Craft Beer Pub – Beer-a-Misu, Turducken Sandwich, Pork Belly Lollipops, Lobster Mac & Cheese, Pulled Pork-stuffed Popover, Craft Beer

Sam Adams Beer Garden – Cider-Glazed Pulled Pork Grilled Cheese, Pizza, Grande Nachos, General Tsos Pizza

Storrowton Soup Shack – Soups, Chowder, Mac & Cheese, Bread Bowls

Storrowton Tavern & Carriage House – Ice Cream Cake Ball, Dessert Ball, Full Lunch/Dinner Menu

6. East Road

East Road is one of the first side roads you may find yourself on at The Big E. It’s the one that goes past the Mallory Complex (where you can find all the farm animals) and ends at The Food Court.

The “Doughco” from Anna’s Fried Dough is a mainstay — and one of our top foods at the fair. Although there’s strong competition from Jim’s Deep-Fried Tacos and the newcomer The Deviled Egg, featuring fried Deviled Eggs.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• Anna’s Fried Dough: “Doughco” (fried dough taco)
• Jim’s Deep-Fried Tacos: Deep-Fried BBQ Brisket Mac Tacos

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Anna’s Fried Dough – Fried Dough, ‘Doughco,’ Fried Dough Bites

Bacon Bomb – Bacon-wrapped burger with BBQ sauce

Buni’s Cinnamon Rolls – Gourmet Cinnamon Rolls

Hot & Fresh Mini Donuts – Mini Donuts

Jim’s Deep-Fried Tacos – Deep-Fried Tacos, including BBQ Brisket Mac, Pot Roast Sundae and Buffalo Chicken options

Mini Donut Express – Mini Donuts by the Bag

Mr. Pickle – Deep-Fried Pickles, Veggie Corn Dogs

7. West Road

West Road is the wide expanse of asphalt that runs between the Midway and the Coliseum at the back end of the fair. It also leads you to the Big E Arena, which is the biggest music venue at the fair.

West Road is a good spot if you’re looking for ice cream or something big and meaty. Take your pick between the Lion’s Clubs from West Springfield and Agawam.

It’s also the home of the Giant Corn Dog Factory, where you can get the famous Bacon-Wrapped Dilly Dilly Dog. You can also find one of the two locations for Moolicious, one of the top ice cream-based vendors at the fair.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• Giant Corn Dog Factory: Dilly Dilly Dog
• West Springfield Lion’s Club: Flatliner Burger
• Agawam Lion’s Club: Bacon Mac & Cheese in a Cone.

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Agawam Lion’s Club – BBQ, Chicken Dinner, Pulled BBQ Chicken Sandwich, All-in-a-Cone (Bacon Mac & Cheese, Meatball, Pulled Chicken, Shepherd’s Pie)

Ann Marie’s Candies – Candies, Fudge and Nuts

Apple Fries – Jolly Ranchers Extreme Slush, Apple Fries, Bacon Caramel Apple Fries, Apple Fry Sundaes

Big Kahuna’s – Gyros, Dorito Gyro, Falafel, Gluten-Friendly Options

Cotton Candy Stall – Tajin Candy Apples

Fried Factory – Blooming Onion, Chicken Strips/Fries Buckets, Spiral Spuds

Giant Corn Dog Factory – Dilly Dilly Dog, Giant Corn Dogs, Korean Dog

Moolicious – Ice Cream, Sundaes, Floats, Moo-nut, Moo Bomb, Cornbread Sundae

Opa Opa Saloon – Local Draft Beer

Pickle Barrel Sirloin Tips – Sirloin Tips, Sirloin Pita

Pig Park BBQ – BBQ Sandwiches, Memphis Ribs, BBQ Bowls, “The Bomb” Nachos

West Springfield Lion’s Club – Burgers, Grilled Cheese, Reubens, Flatliner Burger, Reuben Burger

Yankee Boy/International Lobster House – Tots topped with Lobster, BBQ Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Lobster Dinners, Exotic Meat Burgers, Lobster Nachos

8. Springfield Road

Springfield Road branches off from New England Ave. away from the Midway and toward the Giant Slide. It’s easy to overlook, but is definitely worth a visit.

Moolicious is a must-try destination here, whether you’re getting the amazing Moo Bomb Sundae or the curiously delicious Cornbread Sundae.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• Moolicious: Moo Bomb, Cornbread Sundae
• Sweet & Salty: Butterbeer
• Ferrindino Maple: Maple Creemee Latte
• Waffulicious: Carmel Wafful

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

All-American Craft Beer Bar & Grill – Specialty Sliders, The Big Mick “E” (like a Big Mac), Loaded Fries, Polish “Bomb”

Dr. Vegetable – Corn Dogs, Fried Veggies, Onion Rings, Mozzarella Sticks

Ferrindino Maple – Ferrindino Maple Bacon Hot Dog, Maple Creemee Sundae, Maple Creemee Latte

Moolicious – Moo-nut, Ripieno, Smash-a-pie, Blueberry Pierogi Sundae

Poutine Gourmet – Classic Poutine, Pulled Pork Poutine, Chicken Bacon Ranch Poutine

Super Dog – 6-inch Dog-on-a-Sick, 12-inch Super Dog, 18-inch Mega Dog

Sweet & Salty – Flavored popcorn, Pretzel Bites, Butterbeer, Frozen Oreo

Waffleicious – Stuffed waffles on a stick, Carmel Wafful

Wisconsin Hot Cheese – Monstah Mozz on a Stick, Cheddar Nuggets, Mozzarella Fingers, Swiss-N-Rye on a stick

Yankee Boy/International Lobster House – Tots topped with Lobster, BBQ Ribs, Mac & Cheese, Lobster Dinners, Exotic Meat Burgers, Lobster Nachos

9. Industrial Ave.

This is one of the sections of the fair that runs along Memorial Drive. Industrial Ave. is the stretch that goes from Gate 7 to the Court of Honor Stage at the head of the fairgrounds. This area is home to some big vendors, ranging from The Deep South to that giant tent that sells hot tubs.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• Top The Crust: Mac Daddy Pizza

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Big E Martini Bar – Cocktails

Deep South Food Company – Pizzas, Beer Hall, Cocktails

Dolly’s Honky Tonk – Beer Boot, Cowboy Nachos topped with Pickled Eggs and Pickled Kielbasa

Empanadas – Savory Empanadas, Nutella Empanadas

Mojito Bar – Giant Mojitos, Giant Margaritas, Rum Buckets

Sangria Shack – Blueberry Lemon Sangria

Spiked Iced Coffee – Spiked Iced Coffee

Top The Crust – Gourmet Pizzas, Mac Daddy Pizza, Crab Rangoon Pizza

Wormtown Brewery – Craft Beers

10. Hampden Ave.

This is the other area that runs along Memorial Ave. stretching from the Court of Honor Stage to the Avenue of State. Hampden Ave. is heavy on craft vendors, so there aren’t quite as many food options here.

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Big E Bakery – Cream Puffs, Eclairs

Cinnamon Saloon – Cinnamon Rolls, Apple Crisp, Muffins, Coffee, Oreo Cookie Cinnamon Bun, Tie-Dye Smoothie

Kora’s Cookie Dough on a Stick – Deep-Fried Cookie Dough, Bacon Berry Cookie Dough

Omar Gourmet Coffee – Coffee, Drinks, Brownie Sundae, Cinnamon Buns, Cookies

West Springfield Firehouse Restaurant – Full Egg Breakfast, Breakfast Sandwiches, Deli Sandwiches, Chowder, Burgers, Hot Dogs

11. Young Building

Now we move to the buildings, which provide some much-needed shade and a change-up to the scenery at The Big E. The Young Building (sometimes called the International Building) has a lot of commercial vendors and a lot of “As Seen on TV” goods. But it’s also home to some awesome vendors — and even a speakeasy!

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• The Mick Express: Chocolate Chip Cookie Croissant
• V-One Craft Cocktails: Taylor’s Lavender Haze Lemonade
• The Speakeasy by Stanley: Cocktails

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Dingle Whiskey Bar – Ciders, International Beers, Products from Ireland’s Dingle Distillery

Las Kangris Food Truck – Yellow Rice with Pigeon Peas, Baked Pork, Baked Chicken, Green Bananas “al mojo,” Tres Leches Cake

The Mick Express – Chocolate Chip Cookie Croissant, Polish Godfather Sandwich

The Speakeasy by Stanley – Craft Cocktails

Villa of Lebanon – Hummus, Meat Pies, Baklava, Kofta Kabobs

12. Better Living Center

This is another spot that’s loaded with commercial vendors. For a while, it played second fiddle to the Young Building. But these days, the Better Living Center has really come into its own with some exciting options.

It’s now the home of The Emporium, which serves the new and improved Craz-E Burger. You can also get the double-patty Insanit-E Burger and the Flamin’ Hot Cheeto-dusted Spic-E Burger.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• The Emporium: Craz-E Burger, Spic-E Burger
• The Cantina: Margarita topped with Cotton Candy

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

The Cantina – Margarita topped with Cotton Candy

Dribbles – Coffee, Mini Doughnuts with Sauces

The Emporium – Craz-E Burger, Insanit-E Burger, Spic-E burger

The Wine Loft – Charcuterie Boards, Wine Flights

13. New England Center

In terms of food, the only thing you’ll find here is the Big E Bakery. There are multiple spots at the fair where you can buy Cream Puffs. But this is the only place where you can watch them being made.

Vendors/Foods you should try:

• Big E Cream Puff Bakery: Big E Cream Puff, Cookies & Cream Cream Puff

Full List of Foods and Vendors:

Big E Cream Puff Bakery – Big Cream Puff, Big E-clair

14. State Buildings

Now we’re officially at the Advanced Course of The Big E. The State Buildings are almost like mini-fairs to themselves. On the Avenue of States, you’ll see six buildings, which are all replicas of the actual state buildings in New England. Each of the six buildings houses a variety of vendors that represent their state.

As opposed to most of the fair, the State Buildings consist of small businesses and associations that uproot themselves and set up shop at the fair, providing some unique foods and products. There are some amazing finds inside (and outside) each of the buildings.

The State Buildings – Vendors/Foods to watch for

Rhode Island – Come for the Del’s Lemonade and Clam Chowder. Stay for the Friskie Fries and Cookie Ice Cream Sandwiches from Wright’s Dairy Farm.

Massachusetts – I’ve mentioned in previous years that the Massachusetts Building has risen through the ranks to become one of the coolest destinations among the State Buildings. The Bacon Waffle Burger at Macken’s Specialty Sliders and the beer selection at the Valley Malt Beer Garden play a big part in that.

But there’s more inside, including lobster rolls, cider doughnuts, whoopie pies and a 24-inch Pilgrim Sandwich with all the Thanksgiving fixings.

Vermont – This building has changed a lot over the years. One of those changes is the arrival of one of my favorite vendors: The Vermont Marshall Company. It’s the little shed behind the building selling S’mores Macarons (S’Macarons)

Maine – The Maine Baked Potato is one of the most popular items at the fair. It’s delicious, but be aware that the line is long and they only take cash. Also make sure to check out their lobster rolls and blueberry pie.

Connecticut – This building is bursting at the seams, even with extra space in the back and big centers on each side. The top food here is Bear’s Smokehouse Barbecue, which has a new sandwich called the Bear Necesset-E. Also try out the Pizza from Randy’s Wooster Street Pizza and the Mediterranean food from Noujaim’s out back.

New Hampshire – The highlight here is the Mac N’ Cheese from Zack’s Mac Attack. Meanwhile, behind the building is New Hampshire Kettle Corn, which is my favorite spot to get kettle corn at the fair.

One more note: Make sure to check out behind each state building. Here, you can find some of the quietest spots and best seating options at the fair.

The 10 foods you should try at The Big E

So, yeah, this was a lot to throw at you. With 14 sections and hundreds of vendors, there definitely a wealth of choices at The Big E.

So, to simplify things, here are 10 foods I’d recommend looking for at The Big E to give you a full run of what it has to offer. From cheesy to sweet to snackable, these are the foods I’d look for first at the fair.

Nick’s picks for the 10 must-try foods at The Big E for 2024.

(Note: These are not ranked. They’re just ordered by where they are on the map)

1. Fried Butter from Marion’s Fried Foods (New England Ave.)
2. DoughCo from Anna’s Fried Dough (East Road)
3. Dilly Dilly Dog from Giant Corn Dog Factory (West Road)
4. Turducken Sandwich from New England Craft Beer Pub (Avenue of States)
5. Bacon Waffle Burger from Macken’s Specialty Sliders (Outside the Massachusetts Building)
6. Moo Bomb from Moolicious (Springfield Road and West Road)
7. Craz-E Burger from The Emporium (Better Living Center)
8. Empanada Tacos from Macho Taco (Commonwealth Ave.)
9. BBQ Sundae from Porky’s (Commonwealth Ave.)
10. S’macarons from Vermont Marshmallow Company (Vermont Building)