Fruteria Cano’s Tropical Coco Fresca combines layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca, a chamoy lava Tajin rim and coconut snow. Photo courtesy of the State Fair of Texas/Big Tex Choice Awards.
The 2026 Big Tex Choice Awards finalists have been announced, and at least one of them has East Dallas ties.
Fruteria Cano has entered its Tropical Coco Fresca — which combines layered pineapple-watermelon agua fresca, a chamoy lava Tajin rim and coconut snow — into the “Sipper” portion of the contest.
Fruteria Cano has been serving East Dallas for decades. The shop’s original location was destroyed by a fire in 2016 on South Beacon Street in the Mount Auburn neighborhood, but that didn’t stop Fruteria Cano, which set up across the street.
“A lot of people think we’re going to close down, but that’s not the plan,” then-manager Louis Cano said in a previous article.
Fruteria Cano appears to have multiple locations in East Dallas, according to Google Maps, including in Old East Dallas on South Carroll Avenue, in the Casa View Shopping Center on Gus Thomasson Road and off Garland Road in a Lochwood shopping center. There are other locations in the Metroplex, including in Oak Cliff.
Winners of the 22nd Annual Big Tex Choice Awards will be chosen by a panel of 35 judges based on taste, value, creativity and fairgoer appeal next week, Aug. 18, according to a press release. Categories include Best Taste – Savory, Best Taste – Sweet, Best Taste – Sipper and Most Creative. The contest is open to concessionaires with at least two years of experience at the State Fair. This year, there are 15 finalists, narrowed down from a record-breaking 77 entries from 46 concessionaires.
Check out all the finalists here.
