The LA County Fair opens May 7, and ahead of opening day, members of the media got to taste some of the fair faire during Media Preview Day.

Yes, there were deep-fried things. Lots of them. There were giant desserts, TikTok-inspired drinks and enough sugary goodness to send anyone into a food fair frenzy.

But my favorite part was talking with the vendors behind the creations.

According to Sarah Vargas, Fairplex social media and communications specialist, this year’s fair features more than 1,000 food items across 144 food locations. In other words: come hungry and maybe wear stretchy pants.

While there’s no possible way to eat everything at the fair (challenge accepted?), there are a few vendors that stood out, not just for the food, but for the stories behind the food.

If you’ve ever wondered who creates the wild, over-the-top eats at the fair, the answer might surprise you. Most aren’t traditional restaurants. They’re longtime fair vendors who spend the year traveling the circuit, testing recipes, chasing trends and cooking up crowd favorites.

Here are a few vendors serving up the fair food fun this year—one ramen taco, vegan milkshake and bacon maple cinnamon roll at a time.

Rocks Concessions

If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual funnel cakes and turkey legs at the LA County Fair, Rock’s Concessions is leaning into sweet-and-savory mashups with a strong social media appeal.

The stand will serve a mix of Hawaiian-, Japanese- and Asian-inspired fair food, including musubi topped with spicy mayo, Spam wonton tacos and Vietnamese coffee.

Charity and Sean Rocha of Rock's Concessions/Boba King work nine months of the year, traveling to various fairs. They said they're probably best known for their Boba teas, but this year, they are offering some new dishes, like Spam wonton tacos.

Charity said the Spam tacos are the item fairgoers should try if they’re only ordering one thing.

“I think that they’re delightful,” Charity said. “They’re crunchy. The flavor of the Japanese barbecue sauce on the Spam is kind of something that’s unexpected.”

The tacos feature Spam glazed with Bachan’s Japanese barbecue sauce and served in crispy wonton shells.

For families with kids, Rocha said the stand’s boba drinks tend to be the safest bet. The menu includes milk teas, flavored teas and slushies, along with lemonade topped with strawberry popping boba.

“That is a fan favorite with children,” Charity said.

One of the most Instagram-friendly menu items isn’t even displayed at the preview booth this year: Spam fries. Rocha described them as a full can of Spam cut into fry-shaped strips, deep-fried and served back inside the can.

“Awesome for walking around, awesome for sharing, great for photos,” Charity said. “You’ll see them all over Instagram.”

Rocha said the team is optimistic about this year’s fair after weather impacted opening weekend attendance in 2025.

“It’s going to be so fun,” she said. “We are happy to be here, excited to be here.” 

Taco Ramen

Fusion food is nothing new at the LA County Fair, but Taco Ramen is taking it to another level with deep-fried ramen taco shells, kimchi quesadillas and wonton nachos piled high with toppings.

The stand, located just inside the Blue Gate tunnel entrance to the right, blends Asian and Mexican flavors into fair food designed to be both over-the-top and internet-ready.

Celia Smith, who has been working the LA County Fair for 42 years, said the concept grew out of the team’s focus on Asian-Mexican fusion.

“Each year, I just kind of look for those two things that meet and create,” Smith said.

One inspiration this year came from a popular online food trend: kimchi quesadillas. Taco Ramen created its own version using Napa cabbage kimchi with a house marinade.

The stand’s signature item—and likely its wildest—is the ramen taco. Instead of a tortilla, the shell is made from ramen noodles that are cooked, shaped into circles, frozen, and deep-fried before being folded into taco shells.

The tacos are then filled with kung pao beef and topped with red onions, cilantro and sauces.

For younger fairgoers, Smith pointed to the kimchi quesadilla, describing it as “real cheesy” with the kind of dramatic cheese pull social media loves.

One of the best shareable items may be the wonton nachos. The dish swaps tortilla chips for crispy fried wontons topped with birria, cabbage, red onions, jalapeños and white cheddar.

“It’s a great portion for two people,” Smith said.

The Vege Box

Fair food is often known for giant turkey legs, deep-fried desserts and meat-heavy menus. But at the LA County Fair, The Vege Box is offering something different: a fully vegan menu designed to appeal to both plant-based eaters and curious fairgoers.

According to Vincent Villalpando of The Vege Box, the stand is the only food vendor at the fair offering a 100% vegan menu, though some other stands offer vegan options.

The concept started after the owner developed a severe dairy allergy.

“She started it because she got, like, an allergic reaction to dairy,” Villalpando said. “There’s a lot of people that have that issue.”

One of the stand’s featured items this year is vegan chicken and waffles, alongside vegan desserts like strawberry shortcake topped with dairy-free whipped cream.

For fairgoers looking for a wild-card pick, Villalpando recommended the vegan grilled cheese sandwich. Instead of butter, the stand uses vegan mayonnaise to toast the bread.

“That one’s always worth it,” he said.

Villalpando said even non-vegans tend to enjoy the sandwich, while kids often gravitate toward the stand’s peanut butter milkshakes made with almond milk or coconut milk.

One of the best shareable items may be the Crispy Cali Wings, breaded cauliflower served with homemade vegan ranch and buffalo sauce.

The Vege Box’s menu reflects a broader shift in fair food culture, where plant-based options are becoming more common. But fully vegan stands remain relatively rare at large fairs, making the booth stand out among the usual carnivore food staples.

Wild Hog

The latest food-and-drink trend to hit the LA County Fair isn’t deep-fried—it’s dirty soda, or so I was told.

At Wild Hog, one of three fair stands operated by Irene along with Chuckwagon and Texas Town Barbecue, a new drink called the “Shark Attack” is bringing TikTok-inspired soda culture to the fairgrounds.

Karina, whose mother Edna created the drink, described the colorful concoction as a mix of Sprite, sugar-free raspberry syrup and strawberry syrup topped with whipped cream, raspberry sauce and a gummy shark.

“That’s why we call it the Shark Attack,” she said.

The drink debuted at this year’s fair after Karina introduced her mom to the growing popularity of “dirty sodas,” customizable soft drinks that have exploded on TikTok and at chains like Swig.

“I was like, ‘Mom, that’s like the new thing, the trending thing on TikTok,’” Karina said.

From there, Edna began experimenting with flavors at home before nailing down the recipe for Shark Attack, as well as drinks called "Coconut Lime Fizz," "Cherry Bomb" and "Cowboy Float."

How many recipe attempts didn’t make the cut? “Couple, honestly,” Karina laughed.

Irene's fair roots go back decades. She said her late husband worked fairs for more than 50 years, while she spent about 40 years working alongside him.

Now, a new generation is helping introduce newer trends to longtime fair traditions—one gummy shark at a time.

Cinna Roll Shack

For fairgoers with a sweet tooth, the Fair offers no shortage of desserts. But at Cinna Roll Shack, the focus is entirely on oversized cinnamon rolls topped with everything from strawberries and cream to bacon and maple glaze.

The stand specializes in cinnamon roll creations made exclusively for fairs. In addition to the LA County Fair, Jasmine Jara said the business also operates at the OC Fair.

The menu ranges from traditional cinnamon rolls to more elaborate variations, including Oreo-topped rolls, a new strawberries-and-cream version and the bacon maple cinnamon roll, which Jara said is the must-try item this year.

“I would probably do the bacon,” she said. “Yeah, so good.”

The strawberries-and-cream cinnamon roll is the newest addition to the lineup this year.

Jara said they've been working fairs for more than five years. She enjoys the atmosphere and creativity that comes with fair food culture.

“You get to see everybody enjoy the food,” Jara said. “Everyone has fun.”

Like many fair vendors, Cinna Roll Shack doesn’t operate a traditional storefront. Instead, the business focuses on seasonal fair appearances, where giant desserts and over-the-top toppings have become part of the experience.

What This Means for Local Fairgoers

Fair food is its own ecosystem, powered by vendors who specialize in high-volume, high-impact dishes you can’t easily get anywhere else. So if you’re heading to Pomona, think of it less like dining out—and more like a once-a-year food adventure.

Pro tip: Pick one “wild card” item, one safe bet and one thing to share. Your wallet (and stomach) will thank you!