Woman Goes Viral Showing American County Fair Foods That “Would Put Europeans Into A Coma”
For many people, some events or places can’t be imagined without certain foods, and county fairs are no exception. While they are not all exactly the same, they might have some of the same staples, which, according to some people, could put a European into a coma.
That’s how one netizen, a TikToker under the name of ‘Dandy Demon,’ described the food she saw at an LA county fair. She captured the dishes and snacks in a video that ended up being viewed by millions of people, and quite a few of them had thoughts, which they shared in the comments. So, if you’re curious to see their opinions and the food itself, scroll down to find it all below.
County fair foods can get crazy—there’s no doubt about it
Image credits: Richard Sagredo / unsplash (not the actual photo)
This netizen said the food she saw at the LA county fair could put a European into a coma
Image credits: dandydemon
The woman’s video was viewed by millions of people
@dandydemon And I’ll defend this food with my life #countyfair#lacountyfair#fairfood#wieiad♬ original sound – IG: dandy.demon
Started more than a century ago, the LA County Fair hosts over 750,000 guests annually
Image credits: Dennis Zhang / unsplash (not the actual photo)
For those wondering what exactly a county fair is, it’s an event, usually held every year, during which people get to take part in competitions, look at all sorts of displays, enjoy various forms of entertainment, and, of course, go crazy on different kinds of food.
The LA County Fair, in particular, the one where TikToker Dandy Demon filmed her video, was first held back in 1922. What reportedly started with a 43-acre field of beets and barley has grown into a playground of 500 acres over the years, with the county fair taking place every May (though, up until 2022, it used to be September). Nowadays, the LA County Fair reportedly hosts more than 750,000 guests every year.
Bearing in mind that few big events can do without loads of food, it’s no surprise that county fairs are usually brimming with food options as well. According to the LA County Fair webpage, in 2025, there were as many as 158 entries for food and drinks, and visitors could choose from several tasting options.
Vendors deep-fry all sorts of foods during county fairs
Image credits: Mollie Merritt / unsplash (not the actual photo)
Delving deeper into county fair food, CNN wrote that Americans can deep-fry anything. And looking at Dandy Demon’s video, that seems to be true. But when it comes to fair food, it’s not all about it being deep fried; fair food also often presents some rather unexpected combinations, like Captain Crunch on a burger or chicken and donuts, which might, if not put them in a coma, make certain Europeans gasp, at least.
According to food writer and author of Fair Foods: The Most Popular and Offbeat Recipes from America’s State & County Fairs, George Geary, the bizarre combinations stem from competition and wanting to outdo other vendors. “People are trying to top each other every year,” he told CNN.
Talking about some of the county fair staples, the expert covered a few of the somewhat unconventional items, such as fried butter, for instance. “It’s like an inside-outside pancake,” he said. “You’ve got the batter on the outside and it fries and the butter inside melts.”
Another deep-fried snack that might be difficult for Europeans to comprehend is fried Coca-Cola, which was reportedly first presented at the Texas State Fair back in 2006. “What they’ve done is flavored with Coca-Cola a batter, kind of like a funnel cake,” Geary explained, making sense out of how one fries something liquid.
Nowadays, county fair goers can’t imagine the event without all sorts of foods, be it fried or not, and that’s undoubtedly part of the charm. As for Europeans – while some might indeed be put into a coma by the Captain Crunch burger and other delicacies, I’m pretty sure some would love to give them a go. After all, Americans don’t eat such foods every day, so when the county fair comes, you might as well treat yourself to a Flamin’ Hot Cheetos-’N’-Cheese pickle or some cotton candy tacos.
Netizens shared their thoughts in the comments, many emphasized that people don’t eat fair food everyday
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Correction. Once a year we eat like we have universal healthcare. Nearly everything shown is food that you may eat only once before never trying it again. These are pretty extreme even by fair food standards... except for the fried butter. I still don't get fried butter and I've seen it repeatedly at fairs. You give me fried gator and I'm willing to try it, but I just can't work myself up to eating a fried condiment.
Load More Replies...According to Bored Panda, there are three locations in the world; "America", "Europe", and "Japan".
The America/Europe culture war exists in the imagination of Bored Panda Staff. That's why staff members have the title of "writer" instead of "reporter".
The people defending it keep saying 'it's fair food, we don't eat it all the time' - why would you eat most of these things ever? I thought my diet was bad but I'm obviously an amateur.
Remember that lady that went viral mocking beans on toast? I rest my case 😀
I hate beans - it’s a texture thing. Would still rather eat only beans for my entire life than whatever that cereal burger thing was!!
Load More Replies..."German Christmas markets are so mindblowing and the food so alien and weird."
I'll take a German Christmas market over that monstrosity any day!
Load More Replies...I’ve been to exactly 2 fairs in my life and I would to this day k**l for a fresh funnel cake
I can almost smell and taste the oil and fat hanging heavy in the air. That's why I lost my appetite at local festivals last week. Deep-fried, soaked in fat, fat on fat. Terrible delicacies are made with love elsewhere too. In Finland, events serve vendace fried in butter as a delicacy. The heads are still on so you can stare at their lifeless, fried eyes while eating. I was delighted to see that the vegan food stall had the longest queue. I didn't go after it because I felt unwell. I understand that most people crave something fatty and salty when they're partying, but eating unhealthy regularly is a bit like committing prolonged suícíde with food.
I’d eat the frozen banana with choc and sprinkles and that’s about it really. The rest looks so gross. 😬
I’m a foodie I love trying new things…to me taking already existing products and just repurposing them into different foods isn’t really new…this menu is an insult to anyone with a sensitive palette!!
Europe is a varied place. Scotland is part of Europe and I got to sample their culinary delights - such as deep fried mars bars, deep fried haggis, and deep fried pizza. Then in France I had the sweetest drink I have ever had- Stella Artois mixed with sprite and grenadine.
"Stella Artois mixed with sprite and grenadine" is called a "Monaco" and is not supposed to be overwhelmingly sweet. It's a variation of the spanish Clara. Granadine should be 1) actual pomegranate syrup, not the s****y oversugared overcolored artificial syrup you commonly use for ice shavings and 2) added in drops, not by the bottle. Also, you should not use Sprite (that is oversugared) but plain Gazzosa (or pschitt, as they call it in France).
Load More Replies...I could see eating one of these things once. Per year. And it would have to be veggie, for me anyway.
Minnesota state fair- if you can deep fry and put it on a stick we’ll eat. Fried corn, fried pork chops, bacon, and cheese to name a few. However, we have way more normal food like street tacos and burgers
I got diabetes and high cholesterol just from looking at these photos.
Yeah these are pretty extreme for fair food. Most likely a gimmick to get people to come to their stand. They see Captin crunch cereal on a chicken sandwich and think i have to see this then get in line then decide they don't want the crazy item and then buy something without the crazy ingredients. Most of these look too messy to eat and don't sound appetizing enough to spend the money to buy them.
I love how we, as a country, are always equated to the worst foods that exist - of which, I've never even SEEN in my entire five plus decades of life. Imagine if the people in other countries looking down on us were compared by the same metric...
This is just once a year! Twice if you go to the state fair and the county fair.
But fair food is supposed to be like this, everywhere, isn't it.
Load More Replies...I'm just gonna put this right here: Several European countries have high rates of overweight and obesity. According to Eurostat, countries with high percentages of overweight adults include Croatia and Malta (both around 65%), followed by Iceland, Czechia, and Hungary (all 60% or higher). Other countries with high rates of obesity include Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic.
I had a deep fried butter pat in the deep south once. It was a scant tablespoon of frozen sweet butter, battered and fried. If you know the savory aroma of really good freshly melted butter, it fill my entire head with that essence. It was really good but simultaneously the last one I ever had.
I'd try a lot of those things! As people have said, it's fair food. They don't eat like that all the time.
As an American, just looking at this gave me high cholesterol lol I know it's fair food and it's supposed to be crazy, but I just can't
Don't you know? That how we Americans eat all the time! Even going to fairs, I never ate any of this garbage. But "this is how Americans eat!" Honestly, it's exhausting... with our s**t politicians, s**t GOP voters, and s**t police state there are plenty of real targets to have a go at.
Load More Replies...You are what you eat. Therefore Americans are fat, carbohydrate laden, sugar vessels. I've never seen such disgusting sh!t given the label "food."
I wouldn't be able to eat anything more than a chicken leg and depending on how greasy it is. You have to be very careful with fried and greasy food when you don't have a gallbladder because it will give you diarrhea.
I kinda want to try the bacon deep fried chicken legs and baby bottle full of cool aid 😂
Shot by a 400 pound redneck on a mobility scooter, with a deep-fried, sugar-glazed triple cheeseburger with chocolate sauce in one hand and an AR-50 in the other?
Load More Replies...Its county fair food. ^^ Its not like the ones in Norway sells salads. (and if you go to swedish border stores, they would politely laugh about the candy one....)
Typical Norwegian fair food: Fiskeboller, deep fried cod meatballs served in a bun with potatoes and mustard; Pickled herrings on rye bread; Salmon burgers and tacos; all of those are rich in omega 3 fats. Pinnekjøtt, very lean cuts of lamb meat, seasoned, cured and air-dried. Svele, a yoghurt based pancake, or waffles with cheese or jam. Overall, they are absolutely better and healthier options.
Load More Replies...The bananas with the sprinkles are cute. They remind me of fairy bread (bread with butter and 100s and 1000s/other sprinkles if you're WRONG 😆).
Cute? It looks like something you'd buy at an adult store (batteries not included) 😉
Load More Replies...US citizen here - I have eaten 1 on the foods featured here, the fried dough also called elephant ears and I split it with about 5 people. I can't imagine eating these foods even once a year; just looking at it makes me nauseous.
How high is the percentage of overweight people? You eat like your healthcare is free.
That’s the kind of thing you eat once to see what it’s like. I’d probably try the bacon wrapped chicken. Not the Cap’n Crunch on a bun though.
Correction. Once a year we eat like we have universal healthcare. Nearly everything shown is food that you may eat only once before never trying it again. These are pretty extreme even by fair food standards... except for the fried butter. I still don't get fried butter and I've seen it repeatedly at fairs. You give me fried gator and I'm willing to try it, but I just can't work myself up to eating a fried condiment.
Load More Replies...According to Bored Panda, there are three locations in the world; "America", "Europe", and "Japan".
The America/Europe culture war exists in the imagination of Bored Panda Staff. That's why staff members have the title of "writer" instead of "reporter".
The people defending it keep saying 'it's fair food, we don't eat it all the time' - why would you eat most of these things ever? I thought my diet was bad but I'm obviously an amateur.
Remember that lady that went viral mocking beans on toast? I rest my case 😀
I hate beans - it’s a texture thing. Would still rather eat only beans for my entire life than whatever that cereal burger thing was!!
Load More Replies..."German Christmas markets are so mindblowing and the food so alien and weird."
I'll take a German Christmas market over that monstrosity any day!
Load More Replies...I’ve been to exactly 2 fairs in my life and I would to this day k**l for a fresh funnel cake
I can almost smell and taste the oil and fat hanging heavy in the air. That's why I lost my appetite at local festivals last week. Deep-fried, soaked in fat, fat on fat. Terrible delicacies are made with love elsewhere too. In Finland, events serve vendace fried in butter as a delicacy. The heads are still on so you can stare at their lifeless, fried eyes while eating. I was delighted to see that the vegan food stall had the longest queue. I didn't go after it because I felt unwell. I understand that most people crave something fatty and salty when they're partying, but eating unhealthy regularly is a bit like committing prolonged suícíde with food.
I’d eat the frozen banana with choc and sprinkles and that’s about it really. The rest looks so gross. 😬
I’m a foodie I love trying new things…to me taking already existing products and just repurposing them into different foods isn’t really new…this menu is an insult to anyone with a sensitive palette!!
Europe is a varied place. Scotland is part of Europe and I got to sample their culinary delights - such as deep fried mars bars, deep fried haggis, and deep fried pizza. Then in France I had the sweetest drink I have ever had- Stella Artois mixed with sprite and grenadine.
"Stella Artois mixed with sprite and grenadine" is called a "Monaco" and is not supposed to be overwhelmingly sweet. It's a variation of the spanish Clara. Granadine should be 1) actual pomegranate syrup, not the s****y oversugared overcolored artificial syrup you commonly use for ice shavings and 2) added in drops, not by the bottle. Also, you should not use Sprite (that is oversugared) but plain Gazzosa (or pschitt, as they call it in France).
Load More Replies...I could see eating one of these things once. Per year. And it would have to be veggie, for me anyway.
Minnesota state fair- if you can deep fry and put it on a stick we’ll eat. Fried corn, fried pork chops, bacon, and cheese to name a few. However, we have way more normal food like street tacos and burgers
I got diabetes and high cholesterol just from looking at these photos.
Yeah these are pretty extreme for fair food. Most likely a gimmick to get people to come to their stand. They see Captin crunch cereal on a chicken sandwich and think i have to see this then get in line then decide they don't want the crazy item and then buy something without the crazy ingredients. Most of these look too messy to eat and don't sound appetizing enough to spend the money to buy them.
I love how we, as a country, are always equated to the worst foods that exist - of which, I've never even SEEN in my entire five plus decades of life. Imagine if the people in other countries looking down on us were compared by the same metric...
This is just once a year! Twice if you go to the state fair and the county fair.
But fair food is supposed to be like this, everywhere, isn't it.
Load More Replies...I'm just gonna put this right here: Several European countries have high rates of overweight and obesity. According to Eurostat, countries with high percentages of overweight adults include Croatia and Malta (both around 65%), followed by Iceland, Czechia, and Hungary (all 60% or higher). Other countries with high rates of obesity include Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the Czech Republic.
I had a deep fried butter pat in the deep south once. It was a scant tablespoon of frozen sweet butter, battered and fried. If you know the savory aroma of really good freshly melted butter, it fill my entire head with that essence. It was really good but simultaneously the last one I ever had.
I'd try a lot of those things! As people have said, it's fair food. They don't eat like that all the time.
As an American, just looking at this gave me high cholesterol lol I know it's fair food and it's supposed to be crazy, but I just can't
Don't you know? That how we Americans eat all the time! Even going to fairs, I never ate any of this garbage. But "this is how Americans eat!" Honestly, it's exhausting... with our s**t politicians, s**t GOP voters, and s**t police state there are plenty of real targets to have a go at.
Load More Replies...You are what you eat. Therefore Americans are fat, carbohydrate laden, sugar vessels. I've never seen such disgusting sh!t given the label "food."
I wouldn't be able to eat anything more than a chicken leg and depending on how greasy it is. You have to be very careful with fried and greasy food when you don't have a gallbladder because it will give you diarrhea.
I kinda want to try the bacon deep fried chicken legs and baby bottle full of cool aid 😂
Shot by a 400 pound redneck on a mobility scooter, with a deep-fried, sugar-glazed triple cheeseburger with chocolate sauce in one hand and an AR-50 in the other?
Load More Replies...Its county fair food. ^^ Its not like the ones in Norway sells salads. (and if you go to swedish border stores, they would politely laugh about the candy one....)
Typical Norwegian fair food: Fiskeboller, deep fried cod meatballs served in a bun with potatoes and mustard; Pickled herrings on rye bread; Salmon burgers and tacos; all of those are rich in omega 3 fats. Pinnekjøtt, very lean cuts of lamb meat, seasoned, cured and air-dried. Svele, a yoghurt based pancake, or waffles with cheese or jam. Overall, they are absolutely better and healthier options.
Load More Replies...The bananas with the sprinkles are cute. They remind me of fairy bread (bread with butter and 100s and 1000s/other sprinkles if you're WRONG 😆).
Cute? It looks like something you'd buy at an adult store (batteries not included) 😉
Load More Replies...US citizen here - I have eaten 1 on the foods featured here, the fried dough also called elephant ears and I split it with about 5 people. I can't imagine eating these foods even once a year; just looking at it makes me nauseous.
How high is the percentage of overweight people? You eat like your healthcare is free.
That’s the kind of thing you eat once to see what it’s like. I’d probably try the bacon wrapped chicken. Not the Cap’n Crunch on a bun though.


























































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