If you can handle spice, head straight to the hot chicken pancake poppers at Palmer’s Hot Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp. (Sierra Rozen/COURIER HTX)
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo introduced 39 new foods this year. Let’s see if they’re worth their price tag; plus all of the new food items to look forward to.
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is home to some of the craziest food concoctions imaginable. Every year, for three weeks, NRG Park is filled with pickle pizza, fried Oreos, and just about anything you can put on a stick.
With more than 300 vendors this year, scoping out new foods—and figuring out what’s actually worth your money—can be overwhelming. Hopefully, I’ve helped by trying some of the most interesting additions of 2026.
Asian Streetness: Crunchy Sushi Balls
At Asian Streetness, the team fires up sushi lovers with its Crunchy Sushi Balls. These sweet-and-salty fried bites are packed with sushi rice, imitation crab, avocado, cream cheese, and seaweed bits, then topped with spicy mayo, sweet sushi sauce, green onions, seaweed, and sesame seeds.
They reminded me of crispy rice, one of my favorite sushi appetizers. Each hot, crunchy bite delivered a bomb of flavor that definitely ranks high on the uniqueness scale. The dish also earned second place for Best New Flavor at the Golden Buckle Foodie Awards.
Crunchy Sushi Balls (Sierra Rozen/COURIER HTX)
Pro tip: I had a tough time finding this stall. After about 15 minutes of searching and asking four people for directions, I realized it sits outside NRG Arena right next to the tram stop—not inside.
Price: $16 for three balls
Location: NRG Arena, Stall AR603
My rating: 5 out of 5 yeehaws
Mama Tina’s Gumbo: Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
When I heard that Tina Knowles—mother of award-winning pop star Beyoncé—opened a booth at the rodeo this year, I had to see what the hype was about. Mama Tina’s Gumbo keeps the menu simple: Chicken and Sausage, Seafood, Turkey, and a Chicken option that’s pork-free.
A southern Creole classic, gumbo is a staple in the Gulf and people have strong feelings on the best ways to prepare it. I don’t have a dog in the fight, but the Chicken and Sausage Gumbo didn’t disappoint. Even though it was about 80 degrees outside, the rich, well-seasoned gumbo was comforting and hit the spot. The chicken and sausage were tender, and the portion size felt generous for the price.
Chicken and Sausage Gumbo (Sierra Rozen/COURIER HTX)
I didn’t get to see Mama Tina herself, but I’m told she often stops by the booth and may even be scooping gumbo from time to time. So while I didn’t have any luck, you might.
Price: $23 for one cup
Location: NRG Park, Stall J604
My rating: 4 out of 5 yeehaws
Palmer’s Hot Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp: Hot Chicken Pancake Poppers
If you can handle spice, head straight to the hot chicken pancake poppers at Palmer’s Hot Chicken, Catfish and Shrimp. The kitchen deep-fries pimento cheese and shredded chicken in pancake batter, then finishes the poppers with a drizzle of Sriracha honey and a dusting of powdered sugar.
These definitely bring the heat, although I will admit that my spice tolerance isn’t the highest. They also came straight out of the fryer, piping hot, which made them taste as fresh as fried food can.
Hot Chicken Pancake Poppers (Sierra Rozen/COURIER HTX)
Fun fact: the Garland-based restaurant appeared on “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives” in 2024, where host Guy Fieri gave their pimento cheese—featured in these poppers—his stamp of approval.
Price: $15 for three poppers
Location: Rodeo Plaza, Stall RP95
My rating: 3.5 out of 5 yeehaws
Waffle Chix: Strawberries and Cream Waffle Stick
While searching for dessert, I circled back to a booth that caught my eye when I first walked in: Waffle Chix. The waffle-forward stand offers both sweet and savory options, including a loaded breakfast sausage waffle stick. But I had my sights set on one thing—the strawberries and cream stick.
Strawberries and Cream Waffle Stick (Sierra Rozen/COURIER HTX)
This decadent treat took third place for Best Dessert at the Golden Buckle Foodie Awards, though it won first place in my book. The waffle arrived piping hot, crispy on the outside and soft and gooey on the inside. Finished with a generous drizzle of strawberry sauce and cream, it was the perfect way to end my rodeo food tour.
Price: $10 for one waffle stick
Location: Circle Drive, Stall CD204
My rating: 4.5 out of 5 yeehaws
Other new foods at the rodeo include pork-a-palooza pizza at Enzo’s Pizzeria, cheese on a stick with Buldak ramen at Mustards Café, bacon jam beignets at The Cajun Cowboy, Dubai chocolate strawberry cup at Candy Factory, and brisket & brew stuffed pretzels at Texas Pride Grill.
