It wasn’t a dare, but it sure felt like one: Eat as many fair foods as you can in one hour — go!
That’s exactly what we did Friday morning as part of the third annual Fair-Tastic Foods Competition, where we ed 25 other judges who chose the best of this year’s culinary offerings at the San Diego County Fair, which opened Wednesday.
Earlier rounds winnowed down the list to 18 finalists, all of whom served their dishes to a new set of judges Friday. That means 18 dishes were served to each judge — 18!
Before we share the official results, let us adjust our belts and tell you about the 10 fair foods that topped our list.
Tres Leches Cinnamon Roll
The folks at the Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls concession stand call this “pure pan dulce perfection.” It comes fresh from the oven and drenched in tres leches sauce — “a sweet tribute to San Diego’s vibrant Mexican culinary soul.” ($14)
Jayne Yutig: This has all of your favorite things in the fair’s famous cinnamon roll: crispy, caramelized sugar and cream cheese icing. This year, it was elevated with the flavors synonymous with tres leches cake. You have to try this.
Michael James Rocha: I agree, but when this landed in front of us, I thought, “Well, that is just a soggy mess.” But I have to it: one bite, and I was a believer. I’ve always been a huge fan of the Country Fair’s cinnamon rolls, so I wondered, “Why mess with perfection?” This is why! It was sweet and crispy and any worries I had about sogginess quickly went out the window. I immediately scribbled four stars in my notebook.
Cajun Honey Dog
This spicy-sweet dog, from West Coast Weenies, is a hot dog wrapped in cayenne batter, glazed in chili butter and topped with jalapeños and sea salt. “It’s a hot dog gone wild,” they say. ($15)
Jayne: This fair icon features a perfectly fried cornbread batter with spicy and sweet flavors. The corndog is glazed with a sweet chili butter and topped with jalapeños. It’s perfect for those who enjoy sweet heat, but it may be too spicy for others.
Michael: I’ve always loved corndogs, and I’ve always loved spicy food. So when this arrived, my tastebuds definitely jumped for joy. It was juicy inside, with the batter fried just right — 30 more seconds in the fryer, and it would have been too well done. I did peel off a couple of jalapeños because I knew I had 16 more foods to try, and I didn’t bring any antacid. But this was a winner.
Cherry Blossom Dubai Chocolate Strawberries
Ricky’s Sweet Paradise is the brainchild behind this sophisticated fare food. They describe it as: “Belgian white chocolate-covered strawberries get a luxe twist with cherry blossom powder and pistachio creme, crispy kataifi pastry and a crumble of pistachios.” ($18)
Jayne: This was a wonderful mixture of strawberries, crispy kataifi pastry and silky pistachio cream. This trendy dessert definitely kicks it up a notch, with the addition of Belgian white chocolate and cherry blossom powder.
Michael: I felt like such a loser because I didn’t really know what Dubai chocolate was. A quick Google search took care of that. This seemed too sexy to be fair food. It looked and tasted like it belonged on a fancy dessert plate served on Valentine’s Day. Fellow judges started tossing around the word “elevated,” and I’d have to agree. It’s delicious and decadent, and can I have more?
Super Volcano Fries
Brought to us by the folks at Farmer in the Del, this is “a full pound of golden fries topped with Kalua pork, beef bulgogi, sunny-side-up eggs, and a flavor blast of sauces, chili crunch, furikake and green onions. ($28)
Jayne: These fries are a summer showstopper. This plate is a visual feast of crispy fries, Kalua pork and bulgogi, topped with a fried egg and furikake. A bunch of other tasty additions are drizzled on top. Don’t leave without trying this.
Michael: Yes, it’s definitely a showstopper, but I was afraid when it arrived. Afraid because it looked so delicious I knew I’d have to eat it all. Fries? Mmm, good! Kalua pork? Mmm, good! Beef bulgogi? Mmm, good! I think I did linger a bit too long over this dish and had to say “No, I’m not done!” every time they tried to take it away from me. Hands off, buddy!
Carnival Fish
The confectioners at Candyland must have had a lot of fun coming up with this concoction: a blue raspberry candied apple dipped in Nerds and topped with gummy fish. ($9)
Jayne: This was made for gummy candy lovers, and I’m one of them! It’s colorful and candy-coated — topped with Swedish Fish and Nerds.
Michael: I didn’t love this as much as everyone else did at first, mainly because the blue-green coating worried me just a tad. “That’s going to be too sweet,” I thought to myself. That said, I did bite into it, and it was not that sweet. The tartness of the apple actually offset the sweetness of everything else. And I do love me some Nerds, so this was a fun treat.
Pork Belly Bao Buns
The chefs at Between the Buns came up with this dish, which they describe as “steamed bao buns packed with soy-glazed pork belly, fresh cucumber, cilantro, chopped peanuts and a drizzle of yakiniku sauce. Soft, savory and snack-sized perfection.” ($18)
Jayne: These bao buns were fluffy and had big chunks of sweet pork belly. The pork was the star! Side note: the cucumber and veggies were over-sauced.
Michael: I’m such a bao snob that I had my doubts. But yes, you are correct, Jayne: the pork definitely was the star. It was perfectly cooked and packed so much smoky goodness.
Loaded Plantains
The folks at Rafikiz Foodz describe their dish as “crispy fried plantains topped with kachumbari (East African veggie salsa) and your choice of chicken or vegan option. Light, flavorful and globally inspired with a San Diego twist.” ($16)
Jayne: This plate is loaded with East African flavors, chicken and crispy plantains. A great option to stray out of your comfort zone.
Michael: If you want a burst of flavor, get this dish. I first tried the plantains, which were perfectly cooked. The vegetable salsa looked simple enough, but it brought so much freshness and just the right amount of acidity to the dish. But the chicken … well, I don’t know how long it was marinated, but it took the dish to a whole other level.
Tajin Me Up Dole
“Tropical meets tangy in this SoCal spin on Dole Whip,” according to the folks at Candy Me Up. “Pineapple soft serve gets topped with fresh strawberries, pineapple chunks and a sprinkle of Tajín. Sweet, citrusy, and just a little spicy — it’s sunshine in a cup.” ($13)
Jayne: This is what you need during a trip to the fair on a hot day. Icy Dole Whip, topped with diced fruit and Tajin. This dessert encomes the flavors of a fruit cup sold at a San Diego fruteria.
Michael: I love Dole Whip, and I love Tajin. How come I’ve never put these two things together? The addition of the fresh strawberries and pineapple chunks made this dessert feel a bit healthier. Yes, we’ll just say it’s healthier!
Hot Honey Goat Cheese Pistachio Pizza
Over at Pat’s Pizza, they’ve been busy coming up with this dish. “Meet the GOAT of pizza — literally! This crispy crust is topped with creamy goat cheese (from our favorite pet goat, of course!), drizzled with spicy honey, sprinkled with pistachios, and finished with fresh basil.” ($12)
Jayne: You’ll see hot honey a lot at the fair, including on pizza. This slice is a hot honey goat cheese pistachio pizza with too many mismatched combinations. The hot honey doesn’t complement the other flavors.
Michael: OK, Jayne, you’re allowed to not like one thing! You’ve met your quota. I actually loved this pizza. OK, I love pizza, period. So loving this pizza wasn’t much of a stretch for me. But I do think the mix of flavors — as odd as as they sound — made for a tasty dish.
Biscoff Milk Tea
If you love Biscoff cookies, Boba King knows you’ll love this drink: “With chewy boba, rich Biscoff lining, creamy milk tea, salted foam and a Biscoff cookie topper, it’s smooth, sweet and a total crowdpleaser.” ($16)
Jayne: This is one of the most surprising and delicious sweet treats at the fair. This combines a creamy Biscoff-flavored milk tea with chewy and perfectly cooked boba. Biscoff cookies are crumbled on top. It’s not too sweet, and a must-try treat to enjoy while walking around the fairgrounds.
Michael: You had me at boba! I’ll it that when this arrived, I immediately pushed the straw deeper into the glass so I could get right to the boba. But this drink has a lot more to offer than that. And yes, Jayne, you’re right: It wasn’t too sweet, which was a plus for me. It looked like it would be too sweet, but I was pleasantly surprised. Props to you, Boba King, props to you!
The winners
If you’re still with us and haven’t rushed out to go to the fair, here are the winners of Friday’s food competition. Pro tip: From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Fridays in June, fairgoers can enjoy all of the 18 finalist entries for 50% off.
BEST OF SHOW
Tres Leches Cinnamon Roll by Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls, which entered its newest dessert treat in the “So San Diego” sweet category, took home the top prize. The entry consists of one of their classic warm cinnamon rolls, made with their proprietary flour blend, and topped with tres leches milks, whipped cream, caramel, piloncillo and cinnamon sugar.
“I’m absolutely overwhelmed with joy,” said Willie Madaus, owner of Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls. “It’s so fulfilling to have this recognition after 48 years of being on these fairgrounds.”
SO SAN DIEGO CATEGORY
The fair’s criteria: This category includes cuisine inspired by the unique culture of America’s Finest County. This includes ingredients sourced from the local land and sea—avocados, citrus and seafood, or items featuring traditional south-of-the border staples and Cali-Mex flavor combos. Carlsbad strawberries, “Cardiff Crack,” Fallbrook avocados and California burritos are San Diego staples!
Savory
Winner: SPAM Wonton Tacos by Boba King
Finalists: Loaded Plantains by Rafikiz Foodz, Mexican “La Jolla” Noodles by Ricos Manjares
Sweet
Winner: Tres Leches Cinnamon Roll by Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls
Finalists: Bacon Churro Fries by Bacon Nation, Tajin Me Up Dole by Candy Me Up
WOW CATEGORY
The fair’s criteria: In the words of Bonnie Raitt, “Let’s give them something to talk about!” We’ve all drooled over some awe-inspiring menu item we’ve seen on Instagram, TikTok or Facebook, amiright? These foods are often colorful, creative, ethnically inspired, or over-the-top in some crazy way.
Savory
Winner: Super Volcano Fries by Farmer in the Del
Finalists: Bò Né by Chan’s Chicken on a Stick, Pork Belly Bao Buns by Between the Buns
Sweet
Winner: Cherry Blossom Dubai Chocolate Strawberries by Ricky’s Sweet Paradise
Finalists: Biscoff Milk Tea by Boba King, Hot Honey Ice Cream Chicken Bowl by Chicken Charlie’s
THEME CATEGORY
The fair’s criteria: This year’s theme is “Summer Pet-tacular” — a celebration of the animals we welcome into our homes and hearts as our best friends. Concessionaires can get creative with ingredients such as hot dogs or Kit Kats, decorate food with ears and whiskers, or be inspired by “Kibbles and Bits” or “Catnip”!
Savory
Winner: Cajun Honey Dog by West Coast Weenies
Finalists: Hot Honey Goat Cheese Pistachio Pizza by Pat’s Pizza, The D-O-Double-G Mac by Maggs Mac Shack
Sweet
Winner: Carnival Fish by Candyland
Finalists: Kit Cat Crunch Sundae by Crutchee’s Cream, Purrfect Gourmet Apple by Sugar Bear
