21 Classic Fair Foods, Ranked Worst To Best

Summer is the time for a lot of things: sitting by the beach, hiking outdoors, and, of course, going to a fair. Not only are fairs a great opportunity to release your inner child by riding on roller coasters and shooting balloon darts, but there's also an opportunity to indulge in copious amounts of fair food.

"Fair food" encompasses a wide umbrella of dishes, but they all tend to have a couple things in common: They're over-the-top, often fried, and may not be the healthiest foods on the planet. But, as someone who grew up showing livestock at fairs and visiting them in my free time, I've come to appreciate the diversity of fair food, as well as the creativity that goes into making these dishes.

I've created a ranking of some of the best and worst food and drink options at the fair, based on factors like novelty and creativity, and how easy each is to eat while exploring everything the fair has to offer. It's important to note that there is a regional component behind fair cuisine, so not all of these items may be found at your local fairgrounds.

Cheeseburgers might be the only food of substance at a fair, so I have to give credit where credit is due. They're also relatively easy to eat when you're walking around the fairgrounds searching for which carnival game to play next. So long as your ketchup doesn't slosh your bun off to the side, you won't need to pack on a holster of extra napkins. But, these meaty staples are just kind of... plain.

Fair food is overpriced, to say the least. So why would you want to spend $8 on a mediocre hamburger that tastes like it was just pulled from a freezer-burnt bag in the back of a cooler? There are just better, more exciting options to choose from at the fair.

Fried dough and funnel cake aren't synonyms. "Fried dough" refers to the large, circular discs of dough that are dropped whole into the deep fryer before being coated in a layer of cinnamon sugar or powdered sugar. You may know them as elephant ears or beaver tails, depending on what state (or country) you're from.

Although it seems really simplistic to drop the dough into the fryer and coat it in a sweet sprinkle, there is a lot of places where this beloved fair classic can go wrong. If the oil is too cold (which happens when vendors are frying so many things at once), the rounds come out greasy and flavored like nothing but frying oil. But, if you get a good one that's light, fluffy, and perfectly crisp, it's delightful. It's all about how big of a gamble you're willing to take.

Churros are a great dessert, both in theory and in practice. You have a long, fried stick of dough, covered in cinnamon sugar, that is relatively easy to hold in one hand as you make your way around the fairgrounds. And while you could make your own churros at home, the dough tends to be a bit more finicky than normal batter — so you're better off leaving it to the pros.

Churros are a special occasion food, but it warrants the question of what special occasion they should be enjoyed at. They might just be better suited for a Mexican restaurant. Plus, there are some items on this list that have a little more quintessential fair feel to them.

Loaded fries aren't just the classic, natural-cut fry loaded with cheese, bacon, jalapeños, and the kitchen sink. Rather, these fries can also look like whimsical shapes with just the right amount of corner to capture all of that topping on each bite. They're essentially engineered to be a texture and flavor experience.

Granted, this dish has to be carefully constructed to ensure that the fries stay crisp, the toppings are perfectly balanced, and the entire plate just works. And, honestly, they're better for enjoying at a table than walking around a fair. Otherwise, you'll risk sticky fingers and leaving more toppings on the tray than you put into your mouth. The mental energy just isn't worth the reward.

I'd reckon to say that nachos probably aren't the top-seller at the fair. Not only is the ratio of this dish too heavy on the chips, but they run into the same issue as loaded fries: They're too messy to enjoy while walking. But nearly all the nacho problems can be solved with a simple, creative solution: walking tacos.

These tortilla chip bags, filled with the staple nacho accompaniments like beef and cheese, are portable and easy to enjoy with a fork. But, the main issue with both nachos and tacos are that they don't scream "fair." Maybe if vendors marketed them as a solution to fair food woes, they would sell better.

Dippin' Dots are kind-of-but-not-really an ice cream. It's essentially a cup of frozen ice cream balls that melt almost immediately on your tongue. You'll find an impressive lineup of Dippin' Dots flavors to please every palate, from kid-favorite cotton candy to the popular chocolate chip cookie dough.

It's easy to see how Dippin' Dots can be so refreshing, yet also an impractical fair food. The pebbles can still melt rather quickly in the heat, and they don't last very long in flavor when the hit your mouth. I'd much rather have a fair food that I can enjoy with time, rather than something I have to scarf down within a matter of minutes.

While the Bloomin' Onion might be most famously associated with Outback Steakhouse, it's also a popular option for fairgoers who are craving something fried. It's no doubt that these onions, coated in breading, are delicious alternatives to less-fun onion rings. Plus, you can also dip them into a tasty sauce to amplify their flavor.

The major drawback to Bloomin' Onions, though, is that they really require several people to eat one of them. I can usually scarf down two or three pieces before I tap out and need a nap. So unless you're okay with throwing most of this coveted carb away, you've got to enlist the help of some folks to help you enjoy it.

The aroma of a spiced nut booth can only really be described as "heavenly." Not only does the heavenly aroma of cinnamon sugar beckon you over, but so does that toasty haze. Eating these nuts is just an extension of the sensory experience; they're best served hot where you can get the perfect balance of crunchy exterior to seasoning.

Despite containing fat and protein all wrapped up in a little, wax paper package, spiced roasted nuts just don't have that greasy appeal of classic fair food. They're also not as refreshing as a dessert, and should really only be reserved for when you're craving a healthy-ish snack before you hit your next ride.

While I am a fan of my local donut shop, I have to order a bucket of donuts whenever I make the trek up to a regional fair. These mini donuts are often made with an automated process, which means that they all come out the same size and shape, and have the same, consistent fry every single time.

I couldn't mention donuts without also mentioning apple fritters, which are also occasionally sold at fairs. If you're craving something nice and light, this is not the item you should be ordering. They're dense, they're flavorful, but they also offer a more exciting eating experience than just standard fried dough. Granted, I can't eat an entire bucket of donuts or fritters on account of how hearty they are, but they're better cold than many of the other options on this list.

Nothing says good ol' American fair like a massive turkey drumstick. These large cuts of meat, which are served just like that, sans sides, kind of make you feel like a caveman when you're both wielding them around on the fairgrounds and also taking a massive bite into the side. It's not that these drumsticks are particularly flavorful or worthy of note, but they are often quite juicy and are so comically large that you can't help but laugh when you see someone eating one. It's surely one of the best fair food novelties that you can order, which is the reason why it has to place in the top three.

Despite the novelty that comes with turkey legs, it lacks the carby, fried component that makes something a quintessential fair food. The top-ranking fair food just has the entire, tasty package.

The fair seemingly has a cuisine of its own. You'll find a medley of sweet, savory, and seemingly everything in between — including some foods that you may have never thought to fry. I ranked each of these dishes based on several factors, the most obvious one being novelty. Foods that were essential to the fair experience and only available (or made well at) the fair ranked higher than those you could buy anywhere.

I also prioritized fair foods that were easy to eat and portable, so that you can indulge in all the fair activities with something delicious in tow. In that similar vein, I selected foods that were easy to eat a fair amount of (pun intended) without making you feel so sick that you couldn't take a ride on a roller-coaster afterward.