From deep-fried s’mores to spicy pickle pizza, the best things to eat at the San Diego County Fair

For many San Diego County Fair fans, trying to eat as much fair food in one day as humanly possible is priority No. 1.

But this year’s fair has 112 food vendors plying everything from pickle pizza to a cereal-topped chicken sandwich. And with fair food prices at an all-time high, how to choose? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered.

The fair opened June 7 and runs through the Fourth of July. To learn more, visit sdfair.com.

Events

San Diego County Fair returns with the theme ‘Get Out There’

The fair, opening June 7, will feature drone and lumberjack shows, a lengthy concert lineup, off-the-wall edibles and wine and beer festivals before ending with fireworks July 4.

May 31, 2023

Of the dozens of new and returning food items at the Del Mar Fairgrounds we sampled over the past week, here are the ones worth a try and which ones you can skip.

Also included are the winning dishes at the new Fair-Tastic Food Competition, in which judges chose six winners this month.

Flamin’ Hot Potstickers at Chicken Charlie’s

(Fred Greaves / San Diego County Fair)

Leave it to San Diego’s “Chicken Charlie” Boghosian to come up with one of the favorite new dishes at the fair. It’s remarkably simple and sure to be copied by home chefs soon. Hot chicken potsticker dumplings are rolled in crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. That’s it. But it’s scrumptious. Each order includes six potstickers and a side of sauce for the low price (by fair standards, at least) of $8.95. Chicken Charlies booths on Avenue of the Palms and the Concourse.

The Big Skillet Cookie at the Totally Baked Cookie Joint

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Totally Baked Cookie Joint booth makes this “Pizookie-style” dessert to order. A 6-inch chocolate chip cookie is baked in the bottom of a foil pan, then topped with three scoops of ice cream (chocolate, vanilla or cookies and cream), whipped cream and chocolate sauce. The cookie is right-out-of-the-oven warm and the ice cream is of surprisingly good quality. $13. Totally Baked Cookie Joint in the Kids Zone, Infield.

Spicy Pickle Pizza at Pat’s Pizza

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Pat’s Pizza is serving up slices of this New York-born pie that’s still relatively unknown in California. Jason Warrenburg, the concession supervisor at the fair, said he’s hearing rave reviews from concessionaires about this unusual taste sensation. The crust is layered with a ranch dressing-style sauce, sliced pickles and fresh dill, then baked and topped with a generous heap of Flamin’ Hot Cheetos, which add some welcome crunch and spice. $9 a slice. Pat’s Pizza, the Concourse.

The Amaze Bao at Wicked Kitchen

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Wicked Kitchen, a national vegan food service company, is making its first appearance at the San Diego County Fair inside the 17 Hands cafe in the Paddock area. Although the prices are quite high, the dishes are flavorful and well-prepared. There’s an Italian “meatball” dish, a “fish” filet sandwich and a spicy taco. But the best is the Amaze Bao, a bao bun sandwich made with plant-based meatballs, pickled vegetables, jalapeño, cucumber, cilantro, spicy slaw and sweet chili sauce. It’s a flavor explosion. $16.50. There’s also a trio of dairy-free Ice Dream bars and drumsticks ($7.50 each) that have all the creamy sensation of real ice cream. Inside 7 Hands restaurant, the Paddock.

Deep-Fried S’mores on a Stick at Chicken Charlie’s

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

This year’s fair theme is “Get Out There,” an encouragement to enjoy San Diego County’s natural wonders. In keeping with the outdoors theme, s’mores-related desserts can be found at many of this year’s food booths. The biggest (meaning three or four people could share this one) is at Chicken Charlie’s. Jumbo marshmallows are skewered on a stick, rolled in chocolate sauce and then graham cracker crumbs. Then the whole thing is dipped in pancake-style batter, deep-fried and drizzled with more chocolate sauce, graham cracker crumbs and powdered sugar. It’s messy, but if you love s’mores, this one will feed a crowd. $10.95. Chicken Charlies, booths on Avenue of the Palms and the Concourse.

The Bloomin’ Campfire at Bloomin’ Onion

(Fred Greaves / San Diego County Fair)

The Bloomin’ Onion booth has been frying up white onion blossoms for decades. This year, in an homage to the fair’s outdoor theme, it has topped a battered and fried giant onion with french fries and warm chili cheese, which gives the dish the shape and colors of an outdoor campfire. The Bloomin’ Campfire isn’t cheap, but it makes for a tasty, carb-heavy snack for two to three people. $22.50. Bloomin’ Onion, Avenue of the Palms.

A mini apple pie from In Your Face Pies

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Gina Lockaby’s new In Your Face Pies booth serves more than a half-dozen varieties of her fresh-made miniature pies. There are fruit pies, chocolate and s’mores varieties, a chicken pot pie and a vegan option. But Lockaby’s favorite is her mini apple pie, with a flaky top and bottom crust filled with fresh-baked apples and not too much sugar. One version is topped with a sprinkling of cinnamon. These are a good value, with two mini pies (about 4 inches wide) for $8. In Your Face Pies, Plaza de Mexico.

A sample-size portion of the Coconut Shrimp Platter at San Diego’s Original Fish & Chips

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

San Diego’s Original Fish & Chips has been offering fried seafood at the fair since the 1950s. This year, it’s added a new item that has great flavor and value and is fun to eat. Five jumbo shrimp are butterflied, dipped in a coconut and panko crumb-like batter and fried, then served in a faux coconut shell with rice, chopped fresh mango and a drizzle of sweet chili sauce. $15. San Diego’s Original Fish & Chips, Avenue of the Palms.

A heart-shaped strawberry funnel cake from Funnel of Love

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

The Jackson family in southeast San Diego County has been serving up fair food for 50 years. Its latest creation is this booth that serves cooked-to-order heart-shaped funnel cakes with a wide variety of topping choices. The Signature cake is topped with fresh macerated strawberries and sugary strawberry glaze, whipped cream and powdered sugar. It was a little too sweet, but properly cooked through (which can’t be said of all funnel cakes). $14. Funnel of Love, near Del Mar Arena.

The Cap’n Crunch Chicken Sandwich at Biggy’s

(Pam Kragen / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

One of the new items this year at the Biggy’s booth is this hearty sandwich with big, double-fried breast-meat chicken fingers with the sweet and crunchy cereal. That’s all good, but the raspberry sauce poured over the bun and on the chicken inside has a harsh, artificial corn syrup taste. Ask for the raspberry sauce on the side. $15.17. Biggy’s, Plaza de Mexico.

The ramen burrito at Chicken Charlie’s

(Fred Greaves / San Diego County Fair)

Another new dish from Chicken Charlie’s turns Japanese ramen into a walkaround burrito snack. Ramen noodles are tossed with scallions and french-fried onions and a choice of grilled chicken or shrimp. The shrimp option is served inside a spicy red chile tortilla with a side of spicy house dressing. The burrito comes cut in half, which is good because it’s enough for either two people or two meals. $16.95. Chicken Charlie’s, booths on Avenue of the Palms and the Concourse.

The Hot Cheeto Chicken Sandwich at Biggy’s won best of show in the 2023 San Diego County Fair’s Fair-Tastic Foods Competition.

(Fred Greaves / San Diego County Fair)

This year, the fair introduced a fair food contest in which judges chose three sweet and three savory winners in the categories of best value, best play on the “Get Out There” theme and biggest “wow” factor. Booths with this year’s winning dishes have large yellow “Fair-Tastic” signs out front.

Tiffany Dugan of Crutchee’s Cream ice cream holds a chocolate-dipped strawberry shortcake sundae, which won a best value award in the San Diego County Fair’s inaugural Fair-Tastic Food Competition.

(Fred Greaves / San Diego County Fair)

(sweet) Chocolate-dipped strawberry shortcake at Crutchee’s Cream. This shareable sundae is made with shortcake, vanilla soft-serve ice cream, fresh strawberries, chocolate-dipped strawberry, rainbow-sprinkled pretzel, strawberry sauce and a cherry on top.

(savory) Chicken Charlie’s ramen burrito. (See above.)

The S’mores Caramel Apple from the Candyland booth was a winner in the fair’s new Fair-Tastic Food Competition.

(Fred Greaves / The San Diego County Fair)

(sweet) S’mores Caramel Apple at Candyland. Caramel-dipped apple rolled in crushed graham crackers and topped with a roasted jumbo marshmallow and Ghirardelli chocolate drizzle.

(savory) Bloomin’ Campfire at Bloomin’ Onion. (See above.)

Dominic Palmieri of Biggy’s holds his Hot Cheeto Chicken Sandwich, which won the awards for best of show and best “wow” savory item in the San Diego County Fair’s Fair-Tastic Food Competition.

(Fred Greaves / San Diego County Fair)

(sweet) Maple Bacon Bomb at Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls. Cinnamon rolls topped with cream cheese frosting, walnuts, bacon crumbles and maple syrup.

(savory) Hot Cheeto Chicken Sandwich at Biggy’s. Returning from the 2022 fair, Dominic Palmieri’s creation is a fried chicken sandwich dipped in hot cheddar cheese sauce and topped with crushed Flamin’ Hot Cheetos. The brioche bun also is topped with cheese sauce and Cheetos dust and served with dill pickles. The sandwich also won best of show with the judges. ◆