15 Insane Foods You Need To Try at the Fair This Summer

Yes, we were just as confused as you were when we first heard about it. "Deep-fried lemonade?! What?! How?!" Wild Bill's Curly Fries added this item to their menu three years ago, which consists of three lemon cakes ("Made with real lemonade, not that powder stuff," says owner Michael Lis.), batter-dipped and deep-fried, then dusted with powdered sugar and lemon frosting. The pièce de résistance? A pipette of lemon juice, which lets you add as much mouth-puckering tart flavor as you see fit.

By far, deep-fried Oreos (bottom photo) are the most popular item Brian "the deep-fry guy" Shenkman sells at his stands—and for good reason: When deep-fried, the Oreo basically liquifies, getting you as close to Oreo cookie dough (AKA nirvana) as you can get. If you love that, you've got to try the deep-fried buckeyes, which are essentially balls of peanut butter dough dipped in chocolate, then batter-dipped and fried. It's like the love child of a Reese's Cup and cookie dough.

Also known as the Luther Burger, this meal combines savory and sweet by sandwiching a classic patty and all the fixin's with two Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts. At some fairs it's harder to find local Krispy Kreme shops—like State Fair Meadowlands in New Jersey; the nearest one is in Penn Station in Manhattan—Little Richards owner Dave Higman will drive out and buy 100 at a time, then freeze them and use them as needed. "They grill better when they're frozen anyway," he says. "If they're fresh, the donuts will mush down as they heat up."

If you ask fair employees where they eat dinner, many will direct you straight to Spaghetti Eddie's. The kiosk specializes in classic Italian food, but when it comes to the Holy Grail of Fair Foods—something deep-fried on a stick—the shop doesn't disappoint: The Super Stick features pepperoni and pepperjack cheese threaded on a kabob, dipped in a garlic tempura batter and deep-fried. The batter is lighter than most fried foods, so you won't feel like you've downed a bowling ball of grease after trying one (or three).

Sure, you could get a row of strawberries or an apple dipped in chocolate, but if you're going to the fair, you might as well go all out with a slice of New York-style cheesecake from Everything Chocolate.

These chocolate, Oreo-flecked churro pastries are fried and rolled in sugar, giving them a crispy exterior that gives way to a warm, doughy center. Gu-Ma's Zeppoles serves them with a cup of frosting that mimics Oreo filling, proving that there's no such thing as too much.

Why bother with nachos when you can get fully loaded fries? If you're feeling savory, go for Funtastic Foods' pulled pork fries, which come covered with meat, melted cheddar and barbecue sauce. If you're craving sweet, try the sweet potato fries drizzled with marshmallow fluff, sea salt and brown sugar.

Just like Mama used to make, right? Okay, maybe not exactly, but the ground alligator meat atop extra-gooey macaroni and cheese at Chester's Gators and Taters will make you freak out twice over—first, that you're eating gator, and second, that you actually like (maybe even love) it. It's like Hamburger Helper kicked up a notch.

The piña coladas at Armstrong Concessions may be alcohol-free, but that doesn't make them any less delicious. They're the most popular smoothie the stand sells, and the coconut-pineapple blend may be just enough to make you forget about the kid who keeps stepping on your foot while you're in line for the Scrambler. (Side note: Please don't eat anything before riding the Scrambler. Just don't.)

If pulled pork and marshmallow fluff are a little too intense for your fry tastes, you've got to try the bacon-topped curly fries at Wild Bill's. Plus, once you see the surprising gadget they use to make 'em, you'll want to order one just to see it for yourself.

You haven't had cheese sticks like this before—and not just because they're served on a stick. Angela's Pizza breads and deep-fries a quarter-pound of mozzarella to make one stringy, cheesy, gooey behemoth of an appetizer.

It's no surprise the bestseller at Griff's Onion is its deep-fried—yup—onion: The extra-crispy batter isn't mushy, like some fried onions, and is served with a heaping cup of Thousand Island dressing. If onions aren't your thing, try the fried avocado strips with Ranch dressing.

Chester's Gators and Taters keeps its homemade ribbon fries on display at all times, so you can sample a few while you decide just how adventurous you're going to be with your lunch (beyond Gator Mac & Cheese, the company also specializes in Shark on a Stick). The crispy chips taste a lot like the kettle-cooked ones you'd find in stores, only fresher—and with less risk of chipping a tooth.