Miami Youth Fair: 10 Wild Things You Can Eat

The Miami-Dade County Youth Fair is turning 73, but don’t expect it to act its age. Through April 6 (excluding March 31 and April 1), Miami-Dade’s annual explosion of lights, rides, games, and glorious chaos returns with a “Retro Rewind” theme – and a food lineup that’s more electric than the Tilt-A-Whirl at midnight.

This year’s edible headliners go way beyond turkey legs and funnel cakes. Think curry tacos, soul food egg rolls, and a dessert that looks like it collided with a candy aisle. With more than 30 new eats across 130 food stands, you’d be wise to wear stretchy pants.

Whether you’re chasing nostalgia or just here for the food coma, the 2025 Miami-Dade County Youth Fair is serving up a culinary fever dream you won’t want to miss. Just don’t blame us when you need a funnel cake nap halfway through. Below, we’ve ranked the 10 tastiest things you can get in order from 10 to 1.

Funnel Cakes, Curry Tacos, and Nerd-Covered Ice Cream Cones

Here are the craziest must-try fair foods you’ll want to snap, devour, and maybe question your life choices over:

10. Guava & Mango Candy Apples

Tropical vibes meet childhood nostalgia. These sticky, glossy apples come coated in either a guava- or mango-flavored candy shell.

9. Elote Sundae

Corn in a sundae cup? You bet. This returning favorite layers roasted corn with mayo, Hot Cheeto dust, cheese, and cilantro, all topped with a lime wedge.

8. Pop Pops Greek Burger

A double-decker flavor bomb: juicy beef patty meets sliced lamb gyro meat, feta, tomato, lettuce, and house-made tzatziki.

7. Soul Food Egg Rolls

Collard greens, creamy mac and cheese, and grilled chicken get stuffed into a crispy fried wrapper. It’s like a Sunday dinner, deep-fried and handheld. No fork needed.

6. Deep-Fried Corn

Corn on the cob takes a dip in buttermilk, gets rolled in spicy flour, fried to golden perfection, then topped with mayo and a shower of Parmesan. A crunchy, creamy street food remix.

5. Nerdy Explosion

A waffle cone packed with vanilla soft-serve, rolled in crushed Nerds for a rainbow crunch that looks straight out of a ’90s cartoon.

4. Delhi Curry Chicken Tacos

Butter chicken goes full fusion. These soft, fluffy tortilla tacos are packed with butter chicken curry, melted cheese, cilantro sauce, fresh cilantro, onions, and crispy Boondi (chickpea flour fritters).

3. Pistachio Churros

Crispy churros drizzled with creamy pistachio glaze and topped with strawberries. It’s a bougie dessert that still knows how to party.

2. Peanut Butter Overload Funnel Cake

This is not a drill: This funnel cake is pumped with peanut butter and smothered in peanut butter chips, Reese’s Pieces, peanut butter puffs, and a thick drizzle of even more peanut butter. Basically, it’s peanut butter squared.

1. Café Colada Elephant Ears

The most Miami dessert on the grounds. A golden funnel cake gets dressed up with powdered sugar, colada-flavored icing, and a streusel crumble. Sweet, crunchy, and caffeinated-it’s like dessert did a shot of espresso and took over the fair.

Pro tip: Grab the Fun Guide or download the Youth Fair app to track down each wild new item and vote for your favorite in this year’s Foodie Award contest. Voting ends April 2, so don’t sleep on it.

Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition. Through April 6, at the Fairgrounds, SW 112th Avenue and Coral Way, Miami; 305-223-7060; fairexpo.com.