The top 10 foods at the 2022 California State Fair, according to Bee interns

The California State Fair opened at Cal Expo last week, back in full force for the first time since 2019. The fair runs for 17 days, featuring rides, agricultural competitions and an impressive range of foods, from funnel cake to fried artichokes.

This year, the fair will offer the $2 taste of the fair from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays, allowing attendees to purchase bite-sized portions of fair favorites. For a $28 pass, attendees can also participate in the food festival, partaking in up to four exclusive items from over 30 participating vendors.

Bee interns taste tested and reviewed foods at the fair so you can stick to the hits during your visit — here are their top 10 picks.

10. FUNNEL CAKE WITH THE WORKS FROM TOUCAN

If your classic heap of twisted fried dough and powdered sugar isn’t enough for you, welcome to The Works: a full funnel cake topped with sweet condensed milk, strawberry, apple, chocolate chips and a mountain of whipped cream. The dish is a little overwhelming if you’re in the middle of a fair food marathon. If you’re looking for your typical funnel cake, we recommend just one or two toppings. But if you want an extravagant take on the fair classic, The Works will over-satisfy your urges.

9. BLOOMIN’ ONION FROM SHARKY’S ONION AND FRIES

The bloomin’ onion is a state fair staple, but this version from Sharky’s Onion and Fries is especially delicious. An entire fried onion sliced into petal-like pieces, this dish is extremely shareable and will go fast in a crowd. Because of the light coat of batter on the onion and the lemon wedge served with it, this bloomin’ onion manages to deliver an astonishing amount of fried food without feeling too heavy. The lemon and the dipping sauce that accompany the onion are both necessities.

8. CHICKEN KEBAB FROM CHILLIN’ AND GRILLIN’

This kebab is big — served-across-two-plates big. Although it costs $23, if you split it with your family or friends, the kebab becomes one of the most cost-effective meals at the fair. It is your typical kebab combo — big chunks of chicken layered with zucchini and bell pepper, grilled to a light char, slathered in a sweet and tangy sauce. But this isn’t your typical barbecue sauce; it is more akin to an orange chicken glaze. Its size and nutrition make it a good meal for a family of four.

7. CORN DOG FROM MILO’S CORN DOGS AND PIZZA

As a veteran food stand of the state fair, Milo’s Corn Dogs and Pizza again delivers a worthy effort. Their corn dogs have a hit-the-spot factor. The jumbo corn dog comes in three sizes: small, medium and large. However, the medium could more accurately be described as large. The cornbread coating on the dog sets this recipe apart from the ones you’re probably used to getting in the freezer aisle.

6. MAPLE BACON CINNAMON BOMB FROM COUNTRY FAIR CINNAMON ROLLS

Country Fair Cinnamon Rolls is less like a traditional cinnamon roll and more like a moist, decadent piece of cake, slathered with ice cream and filled with sweet bacon. The shop is perfect for the end of your state fair food journey, when you’re ready for dessert and even more ready for an air-conditioned environment. Check out the maple bacon cinnamon bomb for a wonderful mix of savory and sweet; word has it The Works and the plain frosted cinnamon roll are also hits.

5. GYRO FROM THE SLEEK GREEK

Your choice of meat with tomatoes and tzatziki all wrapped up in a pretty pita pad. This gyro is a classic Mediterranean meal done well — almost surprisingly well. You wouldn’t expect a gyro from a booth at a fair in Sacramento, far from the shores of Greece, to be as good as this was. The pita was fluffy, the meat nicely cooked, and the sauce a balance of tang and cream. This combo is not too heavy yet very filling. This vendor’s name is only proven by this sleek and Greek dish.

4. BACON-WRAPPED HOT DOG FROM HOT DOGGIN’

While Hot Doggin’ is one of the vendors competing in this year’s food competition, you don’t need to try their most elaborate menu options to be amazed. The bacon-wrapped hot dog is nothing less than an engineering feat. The bacon adheres to the hot dog as if the item was manufactured together. There are no air pockets between the two elements, creating the perfect bite. Like any respectable hot dog seller, you can dress your dog in any of the classic toppings after purchase.

3. PIÑA COLADA FROM PEPE’S FRUIT SWEETS BY J

Picture this: you arrive at the eating area after a long day of hitting the rides or exhibits. It is probably over 100 degrees, and maybe hot fried food is not looking as appealing as it did in the morning. Or maybe you have already pounded back a corn dog and funnel cake and the idea of another oil-soaked dessert is not cutting it. Enter the piña colada. After the poor Bee interns tested out too much fair food to move, the nonalcoholic piña colada was there to refresh us. This cold drink hits the spot, and transports the mind to a tropical beach, even as the body may be sweating in the heat. Even those adverse to pineapple will find solace in this sweet drink, which satisfies without being too filling. With it, you may just find the rejuvenation needed to go ride that one terrifying ride, or trek across the fair to view more exhibits and competitions.

2. DEEP FRIED ARTICHOKE HEARTS FROM SHARKY’S FISH FRY

Come for the novelty of a deep-fried artichoke heart, stay because the ones on offer at Sharky’s are incredible — perfectly cooked artichoke hearts in crunchy, salty shells. Some semblance of a vegetable is especially welcome after eating a lot of meat and sugar, even if it is heavily battered and fried. Make sure not to skimp on the ranch available at Sharky’s, and to watch out for oil splatter when you bite in.

1. BEEF RIB FROM SOUL ONA ROLL

When Bee interns went to place our order from food truck Soul Ona Roll, we were interrupted by two customers who informed the food truck employees that the ribs they just ordered were “the best ribs we’ve ever had.” With that expectation in mind, we ordered one beef rib and wordlessly shared it among us.

The interrupting customers did not lie. The rib was top tier, and gave a true taste of the south in the middle of California — as one Bee intern said, “it feels like I just walked to Texas and grabbed a rib.” This rib came late in our food-tasting experience, and yet we easily polished it off. The meat fell right off the bone and it was perfectly seasoned.

Food truck owner Tony Ransome bases his dishes on family recipes from Louisiana, where his parents grew up. Although he would not reveal all the secrets behind his ribs, he did share that he sticks exclusively to dry rubs — no sauces — and cooks the ribs for over six hours.

“In this area, (soul food) is on the resurgence,” Ransome said. “... We want everyone to taste the food we grew up on, just healthier and fresher.”

The family-run food truck is a bit off the beaten path, tucked away from most of the food options over by the petting zoo and western saloon stage. But it is definitely worth the visit, both for the ribs and the family feel.

This story was originally published July 18, 2022 at 11:06 AM.