ALLENTOWN, Pa. — From Dubai to the Lehigh Valley.
Allentown Fair’s reigning Best New Food champion is banking on a viral TikTok craze to capture even more votes in 2025.
The owners of Amish Donuts, creators of last year’s award-winning s’mores pastry, has introduced its Dubai Chocolate doughnut, a take on the viral pistachio kataifi chocolate bar popular in Dubai.
Amish Donuts' glazed and sweet version sells for $10 and is filled with pistachio cream in the middle and topped with chocolate sauce, whipped cream and kataifi shavings, a type of dough commonly found in Greek and Mediterranean desserts.
It's among 20 new items hoping to win the Best New Fair Food contest at the fair, which opened Wednesday and continues through Labor Day, Monday, Sept. 1.
Locations of the foods can be found on the fair's website.
At the fair, look for the red diamond-shaped signs and QR code at the participating food stands, inside Agri~Plex, at each entry gate and at both InFAIRmation booths.
Voting continues through the fair, and the winner will be announced on Monday, with updates posted online and on-site.
Pumpkin funnel cake, souped-up Kit-Kat
For more than a decade, Dawn Beers and her family have experimented with sweets that keep fairgoers coming back to Amish Donuts.
“It was my husband’s idea to try pumpkin funnel cake,” Beers said of the autumn-like creation Amish Donuts debuted at the York State Fair, which, up until last year, was held in September (the Central Pennsylvania-based fair now is in July).
"They told us, ‘We already have too many funnel cakes.’ So we tried apple, and it didn’t work.
"We kept testing until we figured out pumpkin. Now everybody does it — pumpkin lattes, pumpkin coffee — but back then it was something new," Beers said.
NPR reported that Dubai’s chocolate craze took off in 2024 on TikTok, where influencers promoted the treat as a souped-up version of a Kit-Kat.
Since then, the hot-ticket item has found its way into mainstream brands such as Baskin-Robbins and Trader Joe's.
"My husband and daughter said we have to come back bigger and better," Beers said of their Dubai-inspired treat. "So we did."
For the Beers family, the foodie contest isn’t just about getting the most votes, but about the community embracing its sweet side.
Last year, a local brewer crafted a beer during the fair's Farm-to-Table series using its funnel cake.
“People come back year after year to try what we make,” Beers said. “That’s the best part.”
Authentic Mexican brisket
Up a few tents on the fairgrounds, another contender is taking a savory approach — introducing authentic Mexican flavors to an audience eager for bold and meaty dishes.
“I wanted to bring the true taste of Mexico to town,” said Greenburg Lemus, owner of the restaurant La Cocina del Abuelo.
Lemus, who has worked in the restaurant industry for more than 30 years, struck out on his own three years ago.
He said the loyal following from his food truck and Allentown restaurant at 621 Hamilton St. has given him the momentum to prepare for a second location in Bethlehem, which he expects to open this fall.
“A lot of Mexican restaurants here are Americanized," he said. "With us, everything is fresh, roasted and made from scratch — no chemicals, no shortcuts."
Lemus said he hopes foodies will vote for his delicious brisket dish, marinated with a blend of Mexican chilies — ancho, morita, guajillo — for hours before it ever hits the plate.
“You can’t rush it,” he said. “Just like my birria tacos — they take 21 hours to prepare. That’s how you get the real flavor.”
This is Lemus' second year competing in the fair's Best Fair Food and popular Iron Chef Competition, the first round of which starts Friday.
Last year, he lost by a narrow margin in the culinary cook-off.
“Now I have to catch up,” he said. “But I feel good. This year I’m focused.”
Whatever way foodies vote, both Amish Donuts and La Cocina del Abuelo say the fair competition is about more than bragging rights.
“It’s about sharing what we love to make,” said Beers, the reigning dessert queen.
“People come here for an experience — and food is part of that tradition.”
Other foods for which you can vote
Cheesy Pepperoni Roll Dog from Buns on the Go: Beef hot dog rolled in empanada dough with pepperoni and cheese then deep fried.
The Old Smokey from Pocono Potato Chip Co.: Locally grown potatoes made to order into twisted gourmet potato chips, topped with slow-smoked pulled pork, cheddar cheese, barbecue sauce, sour cream, house-made pickled red onions and house-made pickled jalapeños.
Fresh Strawberry Parfait from Kopper Penny Koncessions: Layers of graham cracker crust, whipped cream and fresh strawberries, served with or without chocolate sauce.
Dinky’s Bacon Jam Sundae from Dinky’s Ice Cream Truck: Choice of ice cream topped with homemade bacon jam, a piece of bacon, whipped cream and a cherry.
Fair Flight from Uncle Louie G: Choose four flavors from among 20 gourmet Italian ices.
Character Cotton Candy from Sugar Rush Character Cotton Candy: Cotton candy spun into playful character shapes such as puppies, Hello Kitty, Among Us, Ninja Turtles, Minions and more.
YGP BBQ Waffle Cone from You Got Pork’d: Sweet waffle cone stuffed with mac ‘n’ cheese, your choice of pulled pork, brisket or smoked chicken, and topped with house-made barbecue sauce.
Jailhouse Rock Ice Cream Nachos from Mon & Mel’s Sweet Scoops Ice Cream Truck: Plate of waffle chips topped with two scoops of ice cream, banana slices, peanut butter sauce, marshmallow sauce, chopped peanuts, whipped cream and bacon bits.
Mac & Cheese on a Stick from First National Bank of Hot Dogs: A secret blend of cheese and elbow macaroni dipped in corn dog batter and fried.
Chocolate Birthday Cake Kettle Corn from Hoff’s Kettle Corn: Chocolate birthday cake-flavored kettle corn with sprinkles.
Pambazo from La Casita de Familia: Chili-dipped roll stuffed with chicken or chorizo, potatoes, carrots, lettuce, queso fresco and sour cream.
Shawarma from Hot and Fresh Grill: Chicken or beef mixed with onions and peppers, served with lettuce, white sauce and cheese.
Hog Wild Fries from Famous Fries: Fresh cut fries topped with cheddar cheese, pulled pork, barbecue sauce, house-made ranch, coleslaw and a tender pork rib.
Peach Short Cake from Bissingers Apple Dumplings: Homemade shortcake with fresh peaches and whipped cream, with option to add milk or ice cream.
The Buckeye Sundae from Taste Our Balls: Homemade deep-fried buckeye (chocolate peanut butter) balls with vanilla ice cream, peanut butter syrup, whipped cream, sprinkles and a cherry.
Island Girl Wings from Shugar Shack Soulfood: Oven-roasted jerk wings with pineapple mango habanero sauce.
Buttermilk Fried Chicken Sandwich from Elegant Eats: Buttermilk fried chicken breast on a buttery brioche bun with crispy candied bacon, beefsteak tomatoes, iceberg lettuce, dill pickles and a house-made roasted garlic aioli.
P3W (Pop Pop’s Petal-Wich) from Brass Rail: Cheesesteak on a toasted roll with Cooper cheese, fried onions and petal sauce.
