Must-Try Fried Favorites at the Great New York State Fair
Monday, August 16, 2021 11:00 AM by Mary Kate Harrigan

Where’s the best place to get your fried food fix this summer? The Great New York State Fair! We’re here to cover all the best fried foods and treats so you can make the most of your Fair experience. From the purely delicious to bizarre, check out our list of some of the most popular fried food items from NYS Fair present and past to get an idea of what to expect for the 2021 season. Enjoy your visit to The Great New York State Fair and you can thank us when you bite into one of these fried masterpieces.
Heart Failure- Jim Hasbrouck's Fried Specialties
What happens when you deep fry a Hofmann hotdog wrapped in bacon? You serve it between a Twinkie along with cheddar cheese, bacon bits, a Snickers bar and top it off with a peanut butter sauce drizzle to make the "Heart Failure." Be one of the first to tried this new fried food at the NYS Fair this summer.
Deep-fried Breakfast- Jim Hasbrouck’s Fried Specialties
No need to wait until lunch or dinner, start your fried food journey with breakfast. The deep-fried breakfast is composed of breakfast sausage, bacon, ham, hash browns, cheese and eggs assembled between two pieces of French toast. The concoction is then wrapped in a cinnamon roll, coated in cinnamon batter then fried and topped with real berries and maple syrup. Don’t blame us if you’re too full after to try our next items but it’s certainly a delicious way to start your day!
Big Kahuna Donut Dog- Big Kahuna
A Great New York State Fair staple, the Big Kahuna Donut Dog delivers something for both the salty and sweet loving fair-goers. This menu item is the best of both worlds. It consists of a hotdog wrapped in bacon with a maple glazed Long John donut serving as the bun.
The Difibulator- Jim Hasbrouck’s Fried Specialties
Can’t decide which food item you want to treat yourself with during your visit? Why not try them all in one meal. Jim Hasbrouck’s Fried Specialties pushes the limits with this one but nevertheless makes it a unique Fair food item not to miss. The Difibulator is made up of an angus beef burger, topped with deep-fried pickles, deep-fried cheese curds, deep-fried bacon slices then topped with cheddar cheese all between two grilled cheese sandwiches.
Fried Gator Mac n’ Cheese- Chester’s Gators and Taters
Hailing from the South this stand certainly brings a unique eat to Syracuse during the Fair by offering an adventure for foodie fairgoers. The Gator Mac n’ cheese consists of a heaping boat of mac n’ cheese topped with delectable fried gator pieces. It’s not one to miss!
Caramel Crack Fries & Flamin' Hot Cheetos Fries- Big Kahuna
These two new takes on classic fries are here to surprise. You can opt for the Sweet Caramel Crack Fries or keep it spicy with the Flamin' Hot Cheetos Fries. Try them both and pick your favorite.
The Harvester- Jim Hasbrouck’s Fried Specialties
Your traditional Thanksgiving meal gets a wild spin with this flavorful dish. This item starts with turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and bacon- which is then all deep-fried to perfection. The Harvester is then topped with cheese and cranberry sauces and placed between two slices of sourdough bread.
The Heart Attack- Jim Hasbrouck's Fried Specialties
Want to try a local Hofmann hot dogs but too adventurous for just ketchup and mustard? Enter "The Heart Attack" which is appropriately named considering it consists of 2 Hofmann hot dogs stuffed with chili, wrapped in bacon then deep-fried (do you sense a theme here?). If that's not enough food action for you then you'll be happy to know this fried favorite is then topped with chocolate sauce, a Hershey Bar and sliced jalapenos- you'll have to try it to believe it!
Bonus: Chocolate Covered Crickets and Grasshoppers- Jim Hasbrouck’s Fried Specialties
Jim Hasbrouck once claimed he can fry anything, known for testing the limits of fried goodness he has now decided to offer chocolate covered deep-fried crickets and grasshoppers on a stick. For culinary dare devils, we commend the bravery of anyone who decides to try this one.