Olivia Russo
Editor-in-Chief
Marina Bravo
Arts Editor
From Corn Dogs to Fruity Pebble Pineapple Fried Shrimp, the Los Angeles County Fair has anything one would want to snack on while spending their day walking around and petting animals.
We – Editor-in-Chief Olivia Russo and Arts Editor Marina Bravo – attempted to find the best food among the countless food stands lining the fairgrounds. Along with us, we brought a few of our close friends to get a well-rounded opinion on every item, including their own foods they wanted to try. These include Allyson Villa, Janine Sevillana and Janira Hernandez. We tried anything that caught our eye, from sweets like beignets to savory items like cheesy garlic bread.
Our first stop was Hot Dog on a Stick, where we tried their Pickle Lemonade, Corn Dogs and their Cheese on a Stick. For starters, if you’re a pickle lover, the Pickle Lemonade is a great way to stay refreshed on those hot fair days. It has a sweet yet pickly flavor, and pairing it with their classic on-a-stick treat ties the whole ensemble together.
The other two items are regular menu items at all of their locations, so they were unsurprisingly great items. A perfect pick for the fair, but eating off a stick can be a little difficult when walking around. As the night went on; however, it became apparent that our first stop may have been our best one.
Next, we visited Gino’s Pizza and Wings, where we had their Garlic Bread. The food arrived a little burnt, and the flavor was not the best bread we’ve had. It didn’t make an impression with the whole group who tried it, but if you’re in the mood for a giant slice of pizza, that might be a better option.
At the same time, Hernandez got an Electric Lemonade from the Craft Beer stand across the path, which came with its own shaker and shot glass. Although the drink is only for those 21+, it was a perfect cocktail for the fair. Villa said that it tasted more like the alcohol than the flavoring, but it was not worth the $20.
After hanging out at the petting zoo and befriending some goats, which may have taken more time than we expected, we tried the comforting taste of Funnel of Love, Strawberry Funnel Cake.
Villa, Sevillana and I (Olivia Russo) tried the funnel cake last year, and it has been on our minds since. The classic comforting familiar taste was definitely a highlight of the evening. Sevillana still maintained throughout the night that it was her favorite part of the food we tried.
Maggs Mac Shack had mac and cheesy goodness with a variety of different toppings. They served different kinds of mac and cheese plates, including BBQ Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese, Lobster Mac and Cheese and Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese.
We ended up trying the OG Mac and Cheese. Although it didn’t blow us away, it was still fairly good for being something you’d find at the fair. The mac and cheese came with a side of fries, which hid underneath the pasta.
The group enjoyed the taste and also enjoyed the strawberry lemonade that came with the meal.
Russo and Villa decided to have a Korean Corn Dog from Chan’s Eatery. The stand also specialized in boba and coffee, and I wonder if that was the better choice from the menu. We chose the potato corn dog, which has the hot dog and cheese fried in a batter with potato pieces. After the first bite, it was already a tiring flavor. Villa later described it as a gentrified version of the savory treat. Due to our reactions, Hernandez and Sevillana opted out of trying it.
The savory treat was definitely a new one for me (Marina Bravo). I wasn’t sure if my first time having one of these at the fair was a good idea, but it definitely was not bad. I just don’t care for overly cheesy things, but regardless, I was excited to try.
After taking a short break for the corndog, we were on our venture to find the next treat. Esquisites and Elotes were next on the menu. Sevillana tried the Hot Cheeto Esquite as it was recommended as the better option by the vendor. She enjoyed it but described it as a bit underwhelming.
Villa and Russo shared an Elote, which also had Hot Cheetos on top. This was easily Villa’s favorite of the array of foods we tried, and I (Russo) would have to share the sentiment. I do not tend to like eating corn off the cob as it proves to be fairly messy, but I think it mixes the flavors the best. Villa, however, believed that her Esquite from last year was equal to the Elote this year.
At this time, Hernandez was on the search for a sweet treat, so we took a walk around to see what treat would be her pick. On our trip, we found Chamoy Treats, a stand that sells different drinks and various popcorns.
Russo picked the caramel corn (a favorite of the classic fair foods) and a cherry slush, while Bravo continued her pickle-themed drinks, trying the Dr. Pickle, which featured Dr. Pepper soda and Pickles. Villa also purchased The Cowboy, made up of Dr. Pepper, Grenadine and a topping of a Maschino cherry and lime.
The Cowboy was not bad; however, it was much more of the soda than the flavoring. This didn’t matter much to Villa as she loves both of those elements.
“It was a 10 out of 10,” Villa said. “It was like if I made a Shirley Temple with Dr. Pepper.”
The Dr. Pickle was definitely more pickly than the Pickle Lemonade from Hot Dog on a Stick. This is something definitely made for true pickle lovers. However, it did simply taste like Dr. Pepper and pickle juice.
Only a few steps away was the Spud Ranch, where Sevillana got a Ranch Hand Potato. The item was a hit, but the whole group likes potatoes, so it was bound to be good.
We continued our journey through the stands, still on the hunt for a sweet treat. We got a little lost along the way, but we found Harold & Bells, which we stopped at to get some beignets. One serving comes with five, so we were each able to try one. The result was a bit underwhelming, as it was a little drier than the ones that members of the group had previously had. They were also the worst pick with the wind, having the powdered sugar drop all over our clothes.
We started winding down at this point, each looking to see if there was one final item. I almost made a purchase of chocolate-covered strawberries from Boujee Berries, but finding out that three strawberries were $15, it was simply not worth it.
Villa and I (Russo) split from the group to find the berries, but ended up stumbling on the Breads of the World stand, where we picked a pretzel covered in salt. We met back up with the main group, who were at Get Fried, as Marina was getting a combo meal.
During the wait time, we tried the pretzel and could not even make it past the second bite. It was much too salty and hard, which could be due to how late we got the item. All of us had to wash down the food with what was left of The Cowboy.
I (Bravo) had finished off my night with a $30 cheese burger and fries. Although the customer service was lovely, the burger was as cold as its unmelted cheese. Unfortunately, as a cheeseburger lover, this did disappoint. The fries, however, were perfect.
The Los Angeles County Fair will run until May 31, with all the same stands we tried. Our top recommendations would be paying a visit to Funnel of Love, Maggs Mac Shack and the Spud Ranch.
Olivia Russo can be reached at olivia.russo@laverne.edu.
Marina Bravo can be reached at marina.bravo@laverne.edu.
Marina Bravo is a senior communications major with a concentration in public relations. She is arts editor and a staff photographer for the Campus Times, and has previously served as a staff writer and photographer for the Campus Times and La Verne Magazine. She enjoys going to live shows and everything spooky.
Olivia Russo is a senior journalism major with a concentration in print/online journalism and a minor in criminology. She is the Editor-in-Chief for the Campus Times for Spring 2026. She has previously served as the News Editor, LV Life Editor, a photographer and a staff writer for the Campus Times, as well as a staff writer and photographer for La Verne Magazine.
