A COMPETITION TO DROOL OVER

The San Diego County Fair is back with our tastiest competition—the Fair-tastic Food Competition. Featuring our collaborators in culinary creations, this competition is guaranteed to get your taste buds buzzing!

We've challenged our food concessionaires to enter culinary creations in three distinct categories, each with two classes: SWEET & SAVORY.

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SO SAN DIEGO

San Diego cuisine is inspired by the unique culture of America’s Finest County. That means ingredients sourced from the local land and sea—avocados, citrus and seafood. San Diegans love traditional south-of-the-border staples and Cali-Mex flavor combos. Carlsbad strawberries, “Cardiff Crack,” Fallbrook Avocados, and California Burritos are San Diego staples! How can San Diego flare fit into Fair fare?

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WOW

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.

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THEME

One of the stand-out things about the San Diego County Fair is the unique annual theme, which inspires our 20,000 square foot theme exhibit, and a myriad of contests, special events and activities centered around this theme. This year’s theme—Summer Pet-tacular—is 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, animal crackers, Goldfish crackers, Kit Kats, or even catnip!

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TOP 18 FINALISTs
ANNOUNCED

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11
By 11:59pm Opening Day of the Fair

A judging panel of food-centric content creators will narrow the field down to the Top 18 finalists — three in each category and class.

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live championship • FAIR-tastic finals

FRIDAY, JUNE 13
11:30am • Paddock Stage

A live championship production hosted by Z90.3's Rick Morton, and judges Troy Johnson of San Diego Magazine and the Food Network, Claudia Sandoval of Claudia's Cucina and MasterChef, and Rudy Acosta of Univision TV.

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2025 FAIR-TASTIC FOOD SEMI-FINALISTS

Who will be crowned Fair-tastic in 2025? Check out the list of contenders below. The Top 18 Finalists will be announced on opening day—Wednesday, June 11.

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mexican "la jolla" noodles

So San Diego — Savory

Ricos Manjares

Nacho cheese, Tostito chips, corn, sour cream, spicy Valentina, and buttery noodles — this savory snack hits all the right notes whether it's mid-day or midnight. A Fair twist on college cravings.

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SPAM wonton tacos

So San Diego — Savory

BOBA KING

Pan fried SPAM glazed in sweet soy sauce, tucked in wonton shells with slaw and spicy mayo. Sweet, salty, and crunchy with a kick — this handheld bite is pure SoCal innovation.

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Mexi-cali pizza

So San Diego — Savory

Fernie's Brick Oven Pizza

Street taco meets slice life. Stone-fired pizza piled with flame grilled carne asada, melty Mexican cheeses, roasted onions, creamy avocados and a zesty cilantro lime drizzle. A border town fusion masterpiece.

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Blacks Beach Naked Chicken WrAP

So San Diego — Savory

Disco Chicken

This Cali-Mex wrap goes bare—with grilled, no-breading chicken, sweet corn, black beans, cheese, and smoky chipotle aioli. Bold, fresh, and cheekily inspired by San Diego’s most infamous beach spot.

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THE DROWNING TAQUITOS

So San Diego — Savory

Flaco's Tacos

Golden crispy taquitos smothered in guac salsa, crema, salsa verde, pico de gallo, cabbage, and queso fresco. It's fast, flavorful, and Fair-friendly — perfect for foodies on the move.

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pork pupusas

So San Diego — Savory

Cali Pupusas

Thick cheesy handmade masa tortillas filled with pork and served with curtido (pickled cabbage slaw) and fresh tomato salsa. A Central American classic with San Diego soul.

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toro belly bombs

So San Diego — Savory

Tuna Time

Locally caught tuna belly, lightly fried and drizzled in house-made sauces. This crispy bite is coastal cuisine at its finest — a tribute to San Diego's fishing roots, wrapped in serious flavor.

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"Local" moco

So San Diego — Savory

Farmer in the Del

A juicy Brandt beef patty, Ranch 45 smoke pastrami, savory mushroom gravy, a sunny-side egg, and crispy onion strings — all piled high and locally sourced. This island classic gets the SoCal treatment.

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loaded plantains

So San Diego — Savory

Rafikiz Foodz

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.

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texas toast fried chicken tacos

So San Diego — Savory

Between the Buns

Crispy chicken slaw and crinkle-cut fries nestled inside toasted Texas toast "tacos" and drizzled in secret sauce. It's like a California burrito, but totally different.

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banana cold foam matcha

So San Diego— Sweet

BOBA KING

Handcrafted matcha topped with real banana cold foam and crunchy banana chips. It’s fresh, funky, and a total flavor adventure—like sipping something straight from a sunny SoCal café.

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tres leches cinnamon roll

So San Diego — Sweet

Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls

This roll is pure pan dulce perfection. Fresh from the oven and dripping in creamy Tres Leches sauce, this cinnamon roll is inspired by traditional Mexican desserts. Topped with a swirl of tangy Tres Leches cream cheese frosting for a melt-in-your-mouth finish. It’s bold, rich, and rooted in flavor—a sweet tribute to San Diego’s vibrant Mexican culinary soul.

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la sandia locas

So San Diego — Sweet

Sellin Melons

A sweet-spicy street snack gone wild! Juicy watermelon wrapped in a fruit roll-up, drizzled in chamoy, and dusted with Tajín. Bold, bright, and bursting with San Diego flavor—this one's a firecracker for your taste buds and your feed.

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carlsbad strawberry cream chocolate dream

So San Diego — Sweet

Crutchee's Cream

Locally grown Carlsbad strawberries steal the show in this rainbow-sprinkled waffle bowl, loaded with vanilla soft serve, dark chocolate sauce, and a chocolate-dipped strawberry topper. It’s SoCal sweetness in every scoop!

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surf city cone

So San Diego— Sweet

TJ's Ice Cream

This dreamy vanilla cone takes a dive into blue raspberry white chocolate, gets a sprinkle surf, and rides the wave with a custom chocolate surfboard. It’s summer on a swirl—cool, colorful, and totally wave-worthy.

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tajin me up dole

So San Diego — Sweet

Candy Me Up

Tropical meets tangy in this SoCal spin on Dole Soft Serve! 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.

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bacon churro fries

So San Diego — Sweet

Bacon Nation

Churro fries get a savory-sweet remix with vanilla frozen yogurt, crispy bacon, maple drizzle, and bacon mousse. It’s brunch vibes in dessert form—and it totally brings the fiesta to this party.

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pineapple cream cheese coconut samo

So San Diego — Sweet

Rafikiz Foodz

This fluffy, golden pastry is filled with sweet pineapple, coconut, and cream cheese. One bite, and you're transported to a San Diego panadería by the beach.

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deep fried meatballs and mozzarella on a stick

Wow — Savory

Chicken Charlie's

Italian food on a stick. Meatballs and melty mozzarella get battered, fried, and served with marinara for dipping. Gooey, crispy, craveable — handheld perfection.

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stuffed smoked turkey leg

Wow — Savory

The Ranch

This giant turkey leg gets the gourmet treatment — split open and stuffed with creamy smoked mac & cheese, then drizzled with BBQ sauce. It's fair food turned flavor bomb.

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ramen taco

Wow — Savory

Taco Ramen

Crisp fried Ramen forms a taco shell stuffed with spicy Kung Pao beef, crunchy Asian slaw, green onions, and pickled red onions. Bold, spicy and begging to be posted.

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cowboy meal in a cup

Wow — Savory

ChuckWagon Concessions

Yeehaw worthy layers of mashed potatoes, BBQ pork, beans, corn, coleslaw and more — stacked sky-high and crowned with a pickle spear and cornbread wedge. It's smoky, saucy, and totally over the top.

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super volcano fries

Wow — Savory

Farmer in the Del

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. A flavor avalanche.

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Bò Né

Wow — Savory

Chan's Chicken on a Stick

Sizzling beef, butter-splashed drama! This Vietnamese dish is served to you hot from a cast iron pan with rich, savory flavors and eye-catching flair. It's breakfast — and a show!

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Mike's hot honey nashville chicken tots

Wow — Savory

Biggy's

Golden tater tots and crispy Nashville hot chicken are drenched in Mike's Hot Honey and finished with garlicky heat. Sweet, spicy, and packed with crunch — this one's all texture and temptation.

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pork Belly bao buns

Wow — Savory

Between the Buns

Sweet 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.

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cheRry blossom dubai chocolate strawberries

Wow — Sweet

Ricky's Sweet Paradise

Belgian white chocolate-covered strawberries get a luxe twist with cherry blossom powder and pistachio creme, crispy kataifi pastry and a crumble of pistachios. Sophisticated, stunning and absolutely irresistible.

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Lavender white chocolate mexican funnel cake

Wow — Sweet

Mexican Funnel Cakes

Fresh-made Mexican funnel cake gets a luxe upgrade with white chocolate drizzle, floral lavender, cinnamon sugar, and a cloud of whipped cream. Delicate, dreamy, and totally feed-worthy!

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dole pineapple strawberry lemonade float

Wow — Sweet

Crutchee's Cream

Dairy-free Dole pineapple soft serve meets strawberry lemonade in this sweet-tart stunner. Rimmed with Tajin and lime for a spicy zing. Sip it, spoon it, snap it — it's sunshine in a cup!

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watermelon sour patch kids slushie

Wow — Sweet

Sugar Puff Candy

This electrifying slushie explodes with watermelon Sour Patch flavor and a crown of freeze-dried sour gummy worms. Bold, tangy and ready for its close up — pucker up!

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melon me crazy

Wow — Sweet

Sellin' Melon

Half watermelon, all Wow! This icy blend is served in its own rind and splashed with chamoy, Tajin, and summertime attitude. Sweet, spicy, show stopping — this drink's made for sharing and snapping.

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pickle lemonade

Wow — Sweet

Craft Lemonade

Bright, bold and bizarely refreshing! Sweet lemonade meets salty pickle brine for the ultimate mashup you didn't know you needed. Your taste buds won't forget it.

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biscoff milk tea

Wow — Sweet

Boba King

Cookie butter lovers, this one's for you! With chewy boba, rich Biscoff lining, creamy milk tea, salted foam, and a Biscoff cookie topper, it's smooth, sweet, and a total crowd-pleaser.

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hot honey ice cream chicken bowl

Wow — Sweet

Chicken Charlie's

Crisy waffle bowl, velvety ice cream, crunchy hot honey-glazed chicken tenders, and a cherry on top — because "Why not?". Wildly delicious and made to go viral.

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deep fried caramel apple slices

Wow — Sweet

Candyland

Crispy, gooey, golden perfection. These deep-fried apple slices are coated in batter, smothered in caramel, and dusted with cinnamon powdered sugar. Whipped cream tops it all. Insta meet indulgence.

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banana pudding funnel cake

Wow — Sweet

Fried Food Factory

Southern charm goes full glam! Golden funnel cake piled with fresh banana slices, vanilla wafers, banana pudding, caramel drizzle, powdered sugar, whipped cream, and a sprinkle of brown sugar bliss.

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cajun honey dog

Theme— Savory

West Coast Weenies

This spicy-sweet dog’s got bite! Wrapped in cayenne batter, glazed in chili butter, and topped with jalapeños and sea salt—it’s a hot dog gone wild. One paw-some crunch and you’ll be begging for more!

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The d-o-double-g mac

Theme — Savory

Maggs Mac Shack

It’s the ulti-mutt comfort food! Creamy mac ‘n’ cheese packed with grilled hot dog bites, topped with a swirl of ketchup. Hot diggity dog, this bowl's got belly rubs of flavor.

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hot honey goat cheese pistachio pizza

Theme — Savory

Pat's Pizza

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. It’s sweet, sassy, and totally baa-rilliant!

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pawpsicle

Theme— Sweet

TJ's Ice Cream

Strawberry cream house-made ice cream molded into a giant paw, drizzled in chocolate and sprinkled with Oreos. A tail wagging treat!

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carnival fish

Theme — Sweet

Candyland

This blue raspberry candied apple is dipped in Nerds and topped with gummy fish — just like winning a carnival prize, but tastier!

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the golden guppy

Theme — Sweet

Farmer in the Del

Swim into paradise! POG juice, sparkling soda, passion fruit boba, coconut whip, toasted coconut "sand", golden candy guppy, and brûléed pineapple coral — served in a playful fish bowl.

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kit cat crunch sundae

Theme — Sweet

Crutchee's Cream

Purr-fection in a cup! Vanilla soft serve, Ghirardelli caramel, hot fudge, Kit Kat crumbles (vanilla & chocolate), whipped cream, and a whole Kit Kat bar to scoop up the yum!

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paw paw's chocolate chip sugar cookie

Theme — Sweet

Mom's Bakeshoppe

These fresh baked, paw print cookies are made with Ghiradelli chocolate and are pawsitively perfect for dunking in milk or coffee!

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purrfect gourmet apple

Theme — Sweet

Sugar Bear

A caramel dipped apple covered in white chocolate and sweet kitty cuteness — so good your whiskers might twitch!

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PAST WINNERS

2023 WINNERS

FAIR-TASTIC FOOD BEST OF SHOW
WOW Savory
Hot Cheeto Chicken Sandwich • Biggie's

WOW Sweet
Maple Bacon Bomb • Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls

THEME Sweet
S'mores Caramel Apple • Candyland

THEME Savory
Bloomin' Campfire Onion • Bloomin' Onion

VALUE Sweet
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberry Shortcake Sundae • Crutchee's Cream

VALUE Savory
Ramen Burrito • Chicken Charlie

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2024 WINNERS

FAIR-TASTIC BEST OF SHOW
THEME Sweet
Disco Pop Shake • TJ's Ice Cream!

THEME Savory
SPAM® Fries • Boba King

NEW Sweet
Cap’n Crunch® Berry Chicken Sandwich • Biggy's

NEW Savory
Hot Honey Funnel Cake Chicken Sandwich • Chicken Charlie’s

WOW Sweet
Surfing USA Party Shake • Fruit Caboose.

WOW Savory
Spicy Korean Corn Dog • West Coast Weenies

People's Choice
Candied Bacon-Wrapped Pork Belly Bites • Bacon A Fair

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