Every year at the San Diego County Fair, concessionaires compete to create the most outrageous “must try” food and drink items to tempt fair-goers’ appetites.
This year, vendors have embraced the event’s 2024 theme “Let’s Go Retro” with creative twists on old-fashioned foods like funnel cake, corn dogs, fried chicken, Pop-Tarts, Creamsicles and more.
In the early days of this year’s fair run, I ed the fair’s “People’s Choice” , who were invited to taste all of this year’s finalists for the best new food items of 2024 in the second annual Fair-Tastic Food Competition. Our votes would serve as a tie-breaker if the three judges — San Diego Magazine’s Troy Johnson, CBS 8’s Shawn Styles and Univision’s Rudy Acosta — disagreed on their top picks. I wasn’t as keen on some of their choices, which were laden with nostalgia, but also an excess of artificial ingredients and salt. So, here are my picks for the best new foods at this year’s fair and where to find them.
The Blue Ribbon — Candied bacon-wrapped pork belly bites
Bacon-A-Fair comes up with several new bacon-wrapped items each year, and this is one of the most savory dishes they’ve ever created. the salty-sweet dish features bite-size cubes of pork belly wrapped in thick-cut bacon, the skillet-fried and glazed with brown sugar. Good in every way. Two locations: By the Petting Farm near the crossover to the infield Kids Zone, and along the Avenue of the Palms across from the Paddock entrance.
The Red Ribbon — Chan’s Chicken on a Stick
The only reason Bacon A-Fair beat out Chan’s signature dish for my top prize was for creativity, not taste. They’re equally yummy. The Chan family makes their own secret-recipe teriyaki sauce, which they slather on ultra-tender, fire-roasted skewers of chicken. It’s simple, but it tastes great and it was one of the few healthy options among this year’s Fair-tastic finalists. The Chans also sell their sauce in bottles. On the Avenue of Palms near the entrance to the Paddock.
The White Ribbon — Dreamsicle Pudding Trifle
Farmer in the Del restaurant inspired happy childhood memories with this new dessert. Inspired by the 1905-era Creamsicle — a tangy orange popsicle with vanilla ice cream inside — it’s a light and refreshing trifle dessert, with layers of crushed and salted graham crackers, whipped cream and feathery orange mousse. This indoor eatery can found at the west end of The Paddock.
Best On-Trend dish — Le Crookie
Mom’s Bakeshoppe has created its own version of this year’s most viral dessert. Born at a Parisian bakery in 2022, the Crookie is a croissant with chocolate chip cookie dough baked on top. Mom’s co-owner Gigi Horowitz said the secret to getting this dish right is baking it just enough for the cookie dough to cook through without drying out the croissant. Having tried these on two occasions, I recommend buying one when it’s still warm from the oven for the best taste experience. Near the front entrance to Bing Crosby Hall.
Best Treat for a Hot Day — Mango Mayhem boba drink
Boba King won a judges’ prize for its SPAM Fries, but I much preferred their cool, tangy and surprising new drink. It’s a slushee made with creamy mango juice and mango popping boba (edible gel-covered balls of sweetened juice that pop when you bite them), topped with whipped cream, a coin-shaped bite of mango-cherry Popsicle and gummy candies. Three locations: On the Avenue of the Palms, at the entrance to the Fun Zone and in the Kids Zone.
Best Fair Classic — Maui Chicken
The Chicken Charlie’s booths may be best known for owner Charlie Boghosian’s deep-fried Oreos, or this year’s wacky funnel cake dog, but his perennial best-selling dish is this healthy, filling and fun-to-eat dish. Savory grilled chicken teriyaki is served in a hollowed-out pineapple half with fresh cut pineapple and a mound of sticky rice. If I’m planning a day at the fair, it always includes Charlie’s Maui Chicken. Two locations: On the Concourse near the California Grown barn and on the Avenue of Palms across from the Plaza de Mexico.
Best Brunch Item — Monte Cristo Sandwich
Cheesy Chef has introduced this year a tasty Monte Cristo sandwich that makes for a good late breakfast or lunch. Born at Disneyland’s Blue Bayou restaurant in the 1960s, the Monte Cristo is a triple-decker ham, Swiss, turkey and cheddar sandwich that’s flash-fried for crunch, then topped with powdered sugar and served with a side of pancake syrup for dipping. In the infield Kids Zone.
Best Surprise Dish — Spicy Korean Corn Dog
West Coast Weenies’ newest option is called a corn dog, but it’s actually a dog AND a rectangular cube of mozzarella cheese, dipped in corn batter and fried, then drizzled with spicy mayo and crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. It has just the right mix of crunch, gooyness, salt, spice and surprise. On the Avenue of the Palms.
