Ranking crazy foods at this year's Pima County Fair

A fried chicken sandwich topped with Captain Crunch cereal and a drizzle of raspberry sauce.

A gigantic block made up of hundreds and hundreds of golden brown, deep-fried curly fries.

A soft pretzel that doesn’t just have a sprinkle of salt but is covered in nacho cheese and crumbles of Hot Cheetos.

These aren’t dishes I made up or put into a random name generator; these are a few of the funky meals found at the Pima County Fair, going on now through April 26 at the fairgrounds, 11300 S. Houghton Road.

The fair is more than rides and concerts; it’s the time of year you get to try the craziest concoctions free of any judgment.

If you walk down a city street with a huge turkey leg in hand, you may get a few concerned looks. But if you’re walking down the main midway with your turkey leg glistening in the colorful, flashing lights, you’ll be met with looks of jealousy.

With so many options, it’s almost impossible to decide what to snack on after getting flipped in the air a couple of times by a wild ride.

Are you craving a giant corn dog? Want something trendy like Dubai chocolate-fried Oreos? Or what about a pickle pizza?

Don’t worry, I’m here to help.

I tried a few of the unique meals at the Pima County Fair this year, and I’m ready to rank them from my least favorite to the best of the best. That way, you can spend more time enjoying everything the fair has to offer rather than going back and forth on what to chow down on.

6. Pork-a-palooza pizza

This slice was one of the new options at the fair this year. It was also the meal I was most curious about. A New York-style pizza topped with pepperoni, chicharrons (deep-fried pork rinds or pork belly) and a drizzle of sriracha sounds interesting, doesn’t it?

As an avid chicharron fan, I was down to give it a try, excited to see how the crispy pork would pair with all the other ingredients.

Unfortunately, I wasn’t too impressed. The pizza itself was OK, but I was getting no flavor from the chicharron. You get a nice crunch, but none of the savory, salty flavors I love.

I will say, the sriracha on the pizza was quite good. It definitely was the star of the show and added a kick to the meal that made it stand out.

5. Mini me turkey leg

I love a good turkey leg, but I never can get myself to actually buy one since they are usually too big and too hard to finish. When I saw that they had a mini version of this classic fair staple, I knew I had to try it.

The mini-me turkey leg was so cute and the perfect size. It still has that fun, novelty effect without making you feel like you wasted a lot of food and money.

It tasted good, but I do wish it was juicier, since some of my bites were a bit dry.

When it comes to turkey legs, the experience is more fun than the actual flavors. I did like walking around the fair while taking comically big bites of my drumstick. If you’re looking for a fun treat that’ll make a great Instagram photo, I’d suggest the mini-me turkey leg. (Though it’s the mini version, two people can easily share.)

4. Dubai chocolate strawberry cup

In 2025, I predicted that the fair would have lots of Dubai chocolate treats; sadly, I was a year too early. But the Dubai chocolate trend has now hit the fair, in both strawberry cup form and drizzled on top of fried Oreos.

For this specific treat, I had to bring in the help of an extra special guest, Arizona Daily Star sportswriter Justin Spears. For some odd reason, I’m allergic to pistachios but no other tree nut, so Justin had to take the reins on this one. (It was also the first time he’d ever had Dubai chocolate.)

I was a bit jealous when I saw the cup. The strawberries were perfectly red and ripe. I just know they tasted amazing. (Seriously, I need their strawberry dealer’s information.)

Back to homepage

Subscriber Login

Keep reading with a digital access subscription.

Subscribe now

Justin gave this viral dessert his stamp of approval, saying it tasted great. If you’re into rich and decadent flavors, I’d definitely recommend you give Dubai chocolate a try.

3. Frosted animal carnival cookie

One of my all-time favorite childhood snacks was those brightly colored, frosted animal cookies. The sprinkles and birthday cake-style flavors drove me crazy and earned a very special place in my heart.

When I saw that they had a giant cookie that encapsulated all those nostalgic flavors, I went straight up to the booth and gave them my card.

No surprise here, the cookie was amazing. It tasted exactly like those frosted animal cookies, including all the sweet vanilla and white chocolate flavors that make them so addictive.

The cookie itself was also the perfect texture, firm yet chewy. It wasn’t hard and crunchy or overly gooey and underbaked.

I do suggest saving this treat for nighttime since it does have a drizzle of frosting on top that tends to melt in the Tucson heat.

2. Blooming onion with pulled pork

As Justin and I were trying to decide which savory food to try next, we passed by some Telemundo reporters who were filming a segment with a blooming onion. That’s when I made the decision we also had to try it.

This was one of the most extravagant dishes I have seen at the fair. Strings of golden brown onions come together to look like a deep-fried flower. It is like a rare wildflower topped with cheese, barbecue sauce and pulled pork.

Thankfully, it tasted as good as it looked. The onions were fried to perfection, each with a crispy, flaky exterior that gave an audible crunch with each bite. The cheese and barbecue sauce added flavor that complemented the subtle sweetness of the pork.

I have to thank those Telemundo reporters for showing me a fair dish that far exceeded my expectations.

1. Fried Gansito

One thing about me: I do not play about Gansitos. These mini Mexican dessert cakes that combine chocolate and strawberry flavors are some of my favorite treats. They hit the spot every single time.

Now, I’ve had cold Gansitos (you haven’t lived until you've put a Gansito in the freezer), but I’ve never tried a fried one.

My fried Gansito looked like a dessert corn dog, complete with a layer of powdered sugar. I took one bite and instantly knew this was the best treat at the fair.

It was like a sweet, fluffy pancake filled with gooey chocolate and bright strawberry filling. Everything about it was amazing.

My only regret is that I didn’t buy two more to take home for later.

Seriously, I’m still dreaming about fried Gansitos.

Photos: Pima County Fair opening day, 2025