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OC Fair 2023: 9 outrageous foods available this year

July 6, 2023

When it comes to fair food, more is more. At the 2023 OC Fair, concessioners are piling on the toppings and coming up with unexpected ingredients to make their offerings as outrageous as possible.

We sampled these nine items in a preview for OC Fair staff members at the San Diego County Fair.

All will be new to the OC Fair, and most are exclusive to the fair as well.

Pink’s Hot Dogs previewed al Hot Dog Egg Roll at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Biggy’s previewed Hot Cheetos Chicken on a stick at Biggy at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar on Thursday, June 15. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chicken Charlie’s previewed a Mediterranean Bowl at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar on Thursday, June 15. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Tasti Chips is serving Tasti Papas Locas at Tasti Chips at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bacon-A-Fair previewed Candied Bacon-Wrapped Pork Belly Bites at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar on Thursday, June 15. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Chicken Charlie’s is serving a Deep-Fried S’mores on a Stick at Chicken Charlie’s at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Swirls previewed Pineapple Whip Dumplings with Fruit Roll-ups at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar on Thursday, June 15, 2023. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Dutchmen’s Funnel Cakes is serving a Mazapán Funnel Cake at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

Bacon-A-Fair previewed a Maple Bacon Smoothie at the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar on Thursday, June 15. (Photo by Mark Rightmire, Orange County Register/SCNG)

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Egg Roll Turkey Dog

What: Pink’s Hot Dogs, the iconic Hollywood brand, will be grilling turkey dogs, encasing them in egg roll wrappers with red and green lettuce before deep-frying. They are then topped with spicy Sriracha mayonnaise and sweet chili sauce. It’s an exclusive.

Find it: Centennial Farm.

Hot Cheetos Chicken on a Stick

What: This exclusive handheld item from Biggy’s is a bunless version of the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos Chicken Sandwich with the other ingredients stabbed onto a skewer. “You get it with pickles and the whole nine yards,” said owner Dominick Palmieri, who has several other concessions at the fair.

Find it: Fair Square, near the Blue Gate.

Mediterranean Bowl

What: This dish is not so much outrageous as unexpected. It’s an exclusive for the OC Fair by Charlie Boghosian, better known for the deep-fried creations he sells at his Chicken Charlie’s stands. It features half an avocado and hummus with pickles on a bed of lettuce,

Find it: Main Mall, Park Plaza.

Tasti Papas Locas

What: This new item from Tasti Chips features freshly fried chili lime potato chips with more than a half dozen toppings. They include jicama, cucumber, nacho cheese, Tapatio Chamoy Sauce, crema, cilantro, a lime wedge and Flamin’ Hot Cheetos dust. “It looks heavy but it’s very refreshing,” said Lori Sutherland.

Find it: Main Mall, Family Fair Way.

Candied Bacon-Wrapped Pork Belly Bites

What: Nate Janousek, owner of Bacon-a-Fair, emptied a bag of brown sugar over bacon-wrapped pork belly slices as he prepared them for the OC Fair preview, joking that he wasn’t ready to go the Flamin’ Hot Cheetos route.

Find it: Family Fairway.

Deep Fried S’mores on a Stick

What: This dessert from Charlie Boghosian is more traditionally Chicken Charlie’s than his Mediterranean Bowl. It’s a deep-fried, batter-covered s’more filled with molten marshmallows, chocolate sauce and crushed graham crackers.

Find it: Main Mall, Park Plaza.

Pineapple Whip Dumplings with Fruit Roll-ups

What: Swirl is serving this exclusive. It features Fruit Roll-ups wrapped around pineapple-flavored frozen dessert. The soft serve freezes the Fruit Roll-ups, making them like a hard candy that adds a sour note to the pineapple, according to Palmieri.

Find it: Family Fairway.

Mazapán Funnel Cake

What: Dutchmen’s Funnel Cakes will be serving a dessert made with De La Rosa peanut candy.

Find it: Carnival.

Maple Bacon Smoothie

What: This exclusive concoction from Bacon-A-Fair is frozen yogurt, whipped cream, a little bit of milk and “several iterations of bacon,” said Janousek. “There’s crumbled bacon on top. There’s a bacon garish and then there’s bacon blended into it with maple syrup. Cheers.”

Find it: Family Fairway.

OC Fair

Where: OC Fair & Event Center, 88 Fair Drive, Costa Mesa.

When: July 14-Aug. 13.

Hours: 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday; 11 a.m.-midnight Friday and Saturday.

Admission: $13 Wednesday and Thursday; $15 Friday-Sunday; $9 for people 60 and older and children 6-12 years old. Tickets need to be purchased in advance online at ocfair.com/oc-fair/buy-tickets

Parking: $12

Information: ocfair.com/oc-fair

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