Best Food Options for Kids at the Houston Rodeo

3/14/17 - By Kate M

The 2020 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was cancelled March 11, 2020 due to concerns over the coronavirus.

There are so many delicious things to eat at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, and food is everywhere! Since kids get hungry quickly, it can be helpful to have an idea ahead of time of what is available and where. As you enter the rodeo, there are huge food tents with lots of yummy options as well as food stands full of fried goodies and more all around the main and children's carnivals.

Families tend to spend most of their time inside NRG Center, where the AGventure area is located. This is where you will find the indoor pony rides, petting zoo, rabbits, bees, chicks, and many other kid-based displays and activities. Inside NRG Center is also where you can check out the cows, goats, and breeding animals and get some great shopping in as well. We've broken down the best, cheapest, healthiest, and most kid-friendly food in the areas you will probably be spending most of your time.

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Shopping Area

Snacks and Kid-Friendly Items
Chick-Fil-A

Waffle Potato Chips $2.75
Fruit Cup $4.00
Chicken Nuggets 8-count $6.00
Chicken Sandwich $6.25

Papa Johns/ Rodeo Houston Snack Bar
Chips $2.50
Roasted Nuts $5.50
Pretzel $7.50
Popcorn $6.00
Papa Johns Pizza $9.25

Healthier Options
Chick-Fil-A
Fruit Cup $4.00
Grilled Chicken Cool Wrap $9.00
Grilled Market Salad $12.00

Green Fork
"Freestyle" Salad $9.00 (add protein for $3.50)

Desserts
Chick-Fil-A
Chocolate Chunk Cookie $2.50

Dippin' Dots
Multiple Flavors Small $5.00 Medium $7.00 Large $8.00

Lobby Hallway

Breakfast Options
Texas Skillet

Breakfast Taco $4.00
Breakfast Quesadilla $7.00

Yoakum Packing
Breakfast Tacos $6.00 - $7.00
Waffle & Sausage $7.50
Pancakes & Sausage $7.50

Stubby's Cinnamon Rolls
Original Cinnamon Roll $4.00, with Icing or Pecans $5.00, the "works" $6.00

Texas Sized Pizza by the Giant Slice (prices were not listed)
Breakfast Burrito
Breakfast Bowl

Snacks and Kid-Friendly Items
Texas Skillet

Tortilla Dog $4.00
Brisket, Pulled Pork, or Smoked Chicken Tacos $7.75
Cowboy Brisket Nachos $7.75
Chicken Quesadilla $7.75

Go Nuts & More 
Bags of Peanuts, Pecans, Almonds, Cashews, & Popcorn $2.00 - $5.00

Texas Sized Pizza By The Giant Slice
Fries $3.50
Hot Dog $4.00
Cheese Fries $5.00
Chili Cheese Fries $5.50
Chili Fritos Pie $5.50
Soft-Baked Pretzel $5.50
Cheese Nachos $6.00
Tornado Potato Fries $6.50
Pizza Giant Slice $6.50 or Whole Pizza $26.00
Oven Toasted Subs served with Tornado Potato Fries half $8.00 whole $11.00
Golden Chicken Tenders Basket $9.00

Yoakum Packing
Footlong Corn Dog $7.00
Sausage on a Stick $7.50
Hamburger $7.50 and $.50 for cheese
Chicken Tender Basket $8.50

Stubby's Cinnamon Rolls
Frito Pie $5.50
Giant Baked Potato $6.50

Healthier Options
Yoakum Packing
1/4 LB. Beef Jerky $10.00
Jumbo Smoked Turkey Leg $12.50

Desserts
Cobbler Cafe
Kiddie Soft Serve Ice Cream Cone $3.00
Soft Serve Cone or Cup $4.00
Soft Serve in Waffle Cone $5.00
Milk Shakes $6.00
Fresh Baked Cobbler $7.00

Go Nuts & More 
Bags of Candy $3.00 or 2 for $5.00

Texas Sized Pizza by the Giant Slice
Cotton Candy $5.50
Funnel Cake $6.50

Granny's Cheesecake & More
Marshmallow with Chocolate $3.00
Frozen Banana $5.00
Cheesecake Plain $5.00 add topping for $1.00
Sliced Apples with Caramel $6.00

Gold Buckle Award Winners
These are items that rodeo officials deemed to be the best foodie picks out of all food offered at the rodeo!

Yoakum Packing Company
3rd place for Best Fried Food - Deep-Fried Brisket Balls

Stubby's Cinnamon Rolls
1st Place for Best Breakfast Food - The "Works" Cinnamon Roll $6.00
2nd Place for Best Breakfast Food - Big Stone Breakfast Sandwich (price unavailable)
1st Place for Classic Fair Food - Cinnamon Roll with Icing $5.00
1st Place for Best Value - Loaded Baked Potato $6.50
3rd Place for Best Value - Original Cinnamon Roll $4.00

Lobby Food Court

Breakfast Options
Alamo Tamales

Breakfast Tacos $4.00

Burton Sausage
Breakfast Tacos $4.50

Snacks and Kid-Friendly Items
Fields of Corn

Pickles $1.00
Roasted Corn $4.00
Corn in a Cup $5.00

Saltgrass Steak House
Baked Potato $5.00
Sausage on a Stick $7.00
Chicken K-Bob $8.00
Steak K-Bob $9.00
Cheeseburger $9.00
Chicken Sandwich $9.00

Holmes Smokehouse
Chips $1.50
Kids Sausage with Chips $4.00
Sausage on a Stick $6.00
Sausage in a Bun $6.00
Foot Long Corn Dog $6.00
Foot Long Hot Dog $6.00
Carved Turkey Sandwich $9.00

New Braunfels Smokehouse
Beef Stix $1.00
Smoked Cheese $2.00
Dill Pickles $2.00
Beef, Pork, or Turkey Jerky $3.00
Pig in a Blanket $4.25
Kid's Meal (Pig in a Blanket and Chips) $4.75
Sausage on a Stick $7.50
Sausage on a Bun $7.50
Baked Potato with butter, sour cream, & bacon $7.50

Alamo Tamales
Potato Chips $2.00
Pickles $2.00
Popcorn $2.00
Bean Burrito $3.00 add $2.00 for Chili and Cheese
Chips & Salsa $5.00
Frito Pie $5.00
Chips & Guacamole $6.00
Kids Meal (3 Regular Tamales & Rice) $6.00, add $3.00 for Chili and Cheese
Fruit Cup $6.00
Medium Tamale Pie $6.00
3 Homemade Tamales $7.00
Lunch Plate (3 Homemade Tamales, Rice & Charro Beans) $8.00

Oakridge Smokehouse
Chips $1.75
Pickle $2.00
Piece of Beef Jerky $3.00
Nachos with Cheese $4.00
Hot Dog $4.25
Corn Dog $4.25
Frito Pie $5.00
Kid's Meal (Hot Dog or Corn Dog with Chips)$5.50 add $1.00 for Punch
Baked Potato $7.75
Sausage on a Bun $7.50
Sausage on a Stick $7.50
Pig in a Blanket $8.25
BBQ Turkey Sandwich $10.00
Chicken Breast on a Bun $10.00

Burton Sausage
Chips $1.50
Kids Sausage $4.00
Sausage on a Stick $6.00
Sausage on a Bun $6.00
Foot Long Corn Dog $6.00
Sausage and Chicken Kabobs $9.00
Loaded Baked Potato $9.50

Healthier Options
Fields of Corn
Roasted Corn $4.00
Corn in the Cup $5.00

Saltgrass Steakhouse
Baked Potato $6.00
Premium Salad $7.00
Grilled Chicken Salad $9.00
Steak Salad $10.00
Frille Cken Platter $12.00

Holmes Steakhouse
Carved Turkey Sandwich $9.00
Baked Potato with Meat $9.50
Jumbo Turkey Leg $9.50

New Braunfels Smokehouse
Beef, Pork, or Turkey Jerky $3.00
Baked Potato $7.50
Smoked Turkey Leg $12.50

Alamo Tamales
Fruit Cup $6.00
6 Vegetarian Regular Tamales (Spinach and Cheese) $8.00

Oakridge Smokehouse
Baked Potato $7.75
BBQ Turkey Sandwich $10.00
Chicken Breast on a Bun $10.00
Smoked Turkey Leg $12.50

Burton Sausage
Turkey Leg $9.50
Loaded Baked Potato $9.50

Desserts

Holmes Steakhouse
Cookies $2.00

Marble Slab Creamery
Various Flavors Kids Cup $4.50

Oakridge Smokehouse
Cookies $1.50
Slushes $4.00

Gold Buckle Award Winners

Holmes SmokeHouse
2nd place for Best Food on a Stick - Bacon-Wrapped Sausage on a Stick (price unavailable)
3rd Place for Classic Fair Food - Carved Brisket Sandwich $9.00

Saltgrass Steak House
2nd Place for Best Value - Babyback Rib Platter $12.00

This list is not exclusive and does not include all menu items

Top photo courtesy of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo; All other photos by Kate M.