How to Eat Like a King at the Texas Renaissance Festival

Located roughly 55 miles north of Houston in Todd Mission, Texas, the Renaissance Festival is one of the state’s most anticipated fall events and the largest Renaissance festival in the nation. For just eight weekends, the festival unleashes its old-time faire in Todd Mission, Texas, welcoming travelers from all over to dress up and indulge in activities that revel in the Middle Ages and antiquity. This year, however, is particularly noteworthy. Following the release of its controversial documentary on its wavering kingship, the festival celebrates its 50th anniversary, and food and drink, as always, is a crucial part of the experience. But contrary to what some might believe, the Renaissance festival goes far beyond turkey legs. From now through the first weekend of December, the festival features entire kingdoms brimming with dozens of vendors offering a bevy of fried goodness and irresistible creations on sticks, plus immersive experiences like high tea time and wine tastings. In essence, there’s something for everyone.

Here’s a guide on dining at the Texas Renaissance Festival in all its glory and a roundup of some of the best and most exciting dishes.

Dine by Kingdom

If you’re partial to a specific cuisine or have a hankering for a dish in particular, you might want to dine by kingdom. The festival features a variety of themed areas, each with its own special food and drink options. Though some restaurants and pubs are off the beaten path or aren’t considered part of a particular cuisine, a majority of the food and drinks can be found in these areas:

Texas Renaissance Festival

Kingdom of Aberfeldy

Located closest to the festival entrance, this kingdom is considered international and features a mishmash of cuisines. Here, you’ll find bangers and mash, Shepherd’s Pie, banh mi, elotes, and salads. It’s also home to the onsite British teahouse Tea and Strumpets and the Queen’s Pantry, which features plenty of sweets, pastries, quiches, Scotch eggs, steamed and baked turkey legs, and a next-level avocado toast sandwich, which makes it a fine stop for breakfast or brunch.

Dylan McEwan

Kingdom of Fiesta

The festival’s village of Latin food staples like empanadas, nachos, quesadillas, and stew or chili bread bowls, plus more popular festival eats, like bourbon chicken, cheese curds, smoked barbecue, and desserts like churros, fried Oreos, and cheesecake on a stick.

Dylan McEwan

Greek Agora

Located near the Arena Stage, this Greek kingdom is known for its various styles of gyros stuffed with beef, lamb, chicken corfu, seafood corfu, falafel, or Mediterranean sausage. Other staples include spanakopita, hummus, souvlaki, baklava, turkey legs, and some of the best lemonade on festival grounds.

Kingdom of Heidleberg

Located near the Tower Stage, festivalgoers will find an overflow of German cuisine, including sausage on a stick, wiener schnitzel, bratwurst, and the Royal Hamburg Sandwich, a hamburger topped with sauerkraut. There is also no shortage of sweets — apple strudel, cinnamon pinwheels, and peach blossom dumplings are favorites here.

Chen Chen

Kingdom of Poland

Also known as Polania, this miniature kingdom near Falconer’s Health features popular Eastern European dishes, including pierogi served in myriad ways, bigos ( Polish stew served in bread bowls), kiszka (blood sausage), potato pancakes, and meats on a stick. This area is also home to the Herot Mead Hall and a Polish-style pub.

Kingdom of Tortuga and Burgundy

These neighboring kingdoms offer a combination of international and French cuisines, with crab cakes, shrimp on a stick, buffalo frog legs, hamburgers, smoked boudin, Cajun-style seafood, beignets, and “French taco” filled with the diner’s choice of a creamy sauce, French fries, and protein (chicken breast, chicken nuggets, chicken tenders, ground beef, or sausage).

Golden Dragon

Though not considered an official kingdom, this stall located between the Arena and the entrance is where festivalgoers can score Asian-inspired dishes and drinks, including boba and Asian American favorites like shrimp fried rice, egg rolls, and General Tso’s chicken.

Italian Village

To find a majority of Ren Faire’s Italian cuisine, festivalgoers must venture to the most East part of the grounds near the petting zoo area, where sandwiches stuffed with Italian sausage, meatballs, or chicken Parmesan, and pasta dishes like chicken alfredo and spaghetti are on offer.

The Best and Most Interesting Dishes

Empanadas

Make a beeline for the iconic Empanada Lady’s shop in the Kingdom of Fiesta, which has been serving up empanadas at the festival for 48 years. The 16-ingredient beef empanadas, flaky pastries stuffed with beef, potatoes, vegetables, and a combination of “New World” spices, have become a highlight for festivalgoers, but if you have a sweet tooth, opt for the dessert version, which features a warm and gooey filling made with bananas, cinnamon, and sugar ($7). The lines here get long but go by fast as the kitchen continuously pumps hot empanadas out of the oven. Diners can also score refreshing fruit smoothies ($11 to $18) and pulled pork sundaes layered with pulled pork, mashed potatoes, and gravy ($14).

Brittany Britto Garley

Buffalo frog legs

If venturing outside typical fair food, consider heading to Cook’s Tavern. The menu features more adventurous dishes like fried alligator on a stick ($13) and fried frog legs ($12), which are surprisingly tender and served with Ranch dressing and Buffalo sauce for dipping. This stall also has excellent pudding in flavors like banana, chocolate, and strawberry.

Brittany Britto Garley

Pierogi

The Polish kingdom, or Polania, offers some of the best pierogi on festival grounds. Diners can opt for pierogi served more traditionally, filled with sauerkraut and mushrooms, potato and cheese, or ground pork and meat for $14, or they can go for the very Texes preparation of pierogi. Diners here will find deep-fried potato and cheese pierogi served on a stick with a side of sour cream ($10) and pierogi nachos made up of deep-fried pierogi topped with guacamole, queso, pico de gallo, and sour cream.

Brittany Britto Garley

Bacon on a stick

If you’re already familiar with the classic festival fair food that is the turkey leg, it might be time to graduate to this other unwieldy slab of meat on a stick. Available in the Fiesta and Poland kingdoms and the Thirsty Pirate Pub, this uber-thick and juicy slab of pork belly is placed on a skewer and deep fried for a mind-bogglingly rich bite that truly is a challenge to finish on one’s own ($13).

Brittany Britto Garley

Tea time at Tea and Strumpets

Ever had tea time in the middle of a festival? Longtime Renaissance festival vendor Rhonni DuBose, who also owns the Queen’s Pantry, hosts a 3 p.m. tea time daily on the breezy second-level deck of Tea and Strumpets. While overlooking the bustling festival, attendees can enjoy DuBose’s handcrafted tea mixes inspired by understated women through history and an elaborate set up of finger sandwiches, scones, macarons, brownies, and other sweet treats. Festivalgoers can make reservations by going online or visiting the booth. Limited seats are available for walk-ins. Tickets are $55 per person.

Brittany Britto Garley

Chimney Cakes

Credited with bringing this European treat to the U.S., this traveling shop is a worthy stop for dessert. As its name suggests, these charcoal-roasted, cinnamon-sugar-coated cylinder cakes are shaped like chimneys and often come off the grill smoking. Stuff them with toppings like Nutella, caramel, and strawberries and cream or homemade apple strudel with soft-serve ice cream, or, try the savory version — the Chimney Dog is salted pastry stuffed with an all-beef hot dog with a side serving of mustard.

Turkey leg

Turkey legs are still and will likely always be a mainstay at Ren Fest, but not all turkey legs are created the same. Though they’re easy to spot throughout the festival, each vendor is in charge of their own recipe and preparation of the turkey leg, meaning you’re bound to get different flavors and sometimes toppings, so choose judiciously ($18+).

Brittany Britto Garley

The Best Sips

Saint Arnold’s 50th Anniversary Beer

All ye looking for a one-of-a-kind brew should check out the festival’s official beer. Brewed from a partnership with Saint Arnold’s, the King’s Fest is created using a light, warm fermentation process (similar to the olden days); it offers a light tang and hoppy taste. (The hops were once used to ward off diseases like scurvy.). This beer is available at various vendors throughout the festival, but the Tap Room located near the entrance is always a wise choice for its knowledgeable beertenders and a first or last beer.

Apple pie mead at Heorot Mead Hall

Located near the Lady Rose Pavilion on the South end of the festival grounds, this hall is the place to enjoy an abundance of mead in good company. Sample fun flavors like blueberry, hibiscus, blood orange, black currant, tamarind, or the festival favorite — apple pie — before committing to a draft for $12. Head to one of its free interactive tastings held at the top of each hour from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. A professional mead maker will give out 12 samples of mead and educate participants on the history and process of making mead.

Brittany Britto Garley

Mjod wine at Odin’s Table

Maker of the official festival wine, Haak Vineyards & Winery features a fun selection of pours centered around the Renaissance, namely, its Mjod, which tastes like a cross between wine and mead. The often shirtless co-owner Kyle Johnston hosts multiple rowdy wine tastings throughout the day, during which attendees participate in trivia banter and try out Haak’s wines. Opt for the 5:30 p.m. tasting, which will guarantee a perfect seat or at least a good view of the Solar Fire performance at 7 p.m. and the following fireworks, which conclude each festival day.

Dylan McEwan

Absinthe tastings and burlesque shows at Wyrmwood Public House

For a walk on the wild side, head to this 21-and-up bar, which features a bevy of adult entertainment, including sultry burlesque shows, a buzzing bar and balcony, and absinthe tastings ($50) held at 12:20 p.m. and 2:20 p.m. daily.

Take Home Treats

Kettle corn

For a popcorn craving on-site or an edible souvenir, let your nose guide you to the King of Corn’s stall near the Arena. You’ll likely hear staff singing some corny version of a pop song while cooking up the popcorn for festivalgoers ($8-$12).

Brittany Britto Garley

Royal nuts

Located near the Odeon stage, this vendor serves pecans, almonds, and cashews covered in your choice of cinnamon or caramel ($6 for a Peasant portion, $11 for a Knight’s portion, and $18 for a Royal Feast).

Brittany Britto Garley

The Texas Renaissance Festival is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends, Sunday and Saturday through December 1. The festival is also open on Friday, November 28, after Thanksgiving. 21778 Farm to Market 1774, Todd Mission, Texas, 77363.