3 Black-Owned Food Vendors Bringing Rich Flavors to the 2026 Minnesota State Fair
Digital Editor Aaliyah Demry previews the new food lineup at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair, featuring three Black-owned vendors. New vendor Jive Turkey BBQ debuts its Crack-n-Cheese Bowl and stuffed turkey legs, returning vendor Irie Jamaican Express adds Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries to its menu, and Afro Deli & Grill brings its Peri-Peri Bowl, combining fried chicken, beef sambusas and plantains.
As Minnesotans await one of the biggest gatherings of the year, Minnesota State Fair officials have announced the newest food items featured at the 2026 fair, with three of the vendors being Black-owned.
Jive Turkey BBQ, ‘Crack-n-Cheese Bowl’
Known for its signature homemade mac and cheese, Jive Turkey BBQ, a new fair vendor this year, will be serving traditional soul food dishes with a kick for fairgoers.
Menu Items:
- Crack-n-Cheese Bowls topped with hickory-smoked turkey barbecue, deep-fried turkey cracklins and signature sauce.
- Soul Rolls stuffed with macaroni and cheese and collard greens, deep-fried in an egg roll.
- Soul Punch, a muscadine lemonade.
- Stuffed Turkey Legs in two varieties: Cajun Shrimp and Alfredo, stuffed with Cajun shrimp and dirty rice, topped with alfredo sauce and Thanksgiving Stuffed, with a choice of three fillings: macaroni and cheese, stuffing, gravy, yams, collard greens, or cranberry sauce.
- Hickory-smoked turkey legs and turkey barbecue sandwiches.
You can find Jive Turkey BBQ at the fair on the north side of Lee Avenue between Underwood & Cooper streets.
Irie Jamaican Express, ‘Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries’
First debuting in 2025, Irie Jamaican Express is back at this year’s fair, but with a new item on the menu. It’s Jamaican Jerk Chicken Loaded Fries are battered french fries topped with Jamaican jerk chicken, melted cheese, green onions, and drizzled with ranch and jerk sauce. The special fried will only be available at the fair from August 27 to September 1.
The Jamaican vendor is also serving plantains and coconut shrimp. Irie Jamaican Express will be located n the Taste of the Midtown Global Market booth at the International Bazaar, east wall.
Afro Deli & Grill, ‘Peri-Peri Bowl’
Afro Deli, a Fusion and Halal vendor, is back at the with serving up African, Mediterranean and American-style foods. This year is sharing its Fried Peri-Peri. It’s hot chicken, seasoned with African Bird’s Eye chili peppers, garlic, lemon and herbs.
The dish combines mini beef sambusas and fried sweet plantains, all topped with peri-peri sauce and a choice of basbaas, spicy Somali green chili pepper sauce, or spicy red chili sauce.
Click here for a full list of the new 2026 Minnesota State Fair food items.