Top 10 Deep Fried Foods

When it comes to takeout Chinese food, this is hands down one of the most popular dishes. But according to food-author Andrew Coe, the humble egg roll was actually invented in New York City in the 1930s. Many cultures have dishes similar to this Chinese takeout favorite, but you know a classic egg roll when you see (and taste) one. Similar to spring rolls, which are made with rice paper, egg rolls are different in that they are made with a flour-based dough, which gives their wrapping a distinctly crispy, yet chewy texture, and have the added meaty goodness of chicken, pork, or shrimp shoved inside. Plus, we think it counts as a serving of veggies, since there’s some carrots and cabbage stuffed in there too. 

Is there any fried food more quintessentially American than these puppies? A hot dog on a stick, dipped in corn batter and deep fried to golden perfection - it’s a tasty carnival and boardwalk treat reminiscent of a simpler time. The origin of the corn dog is highly contested with multiple parties taking responsibility. But we do know that it appeared in its earliest form (minus the stick) in 1927. It’s since been reinterpreted every which way, like trading the corn batter for a battered French fry crust, giving you a hot dog and fries wrapped in one. But the classic interpretation, as celebrated on National Corndog Day, simply can’t be beat. 
 

Although common in many regions of the world including Southeast Asia, North Africa, East Africa, the Middle East and more, samosas are most strongly associated with Indian cuisine, mentioned in history books as early as the 10th century. The most popular main dishes in Indian cuisine are curry dishes - meat and/or vegetables in a thick, flavorful sauce, served with rice or naan bread. They’re delicious, but not exactly an ideal food on the go. Samosas on the other hand, are the perfect quick and portable tasty treat. A wheat, or maida, flour shell is stuffed full of potato, peas, spices, green chilies, (and sometimes meat), then deep-fried. Paired with either mint sauce or a tamarind chutney, samosas are generally affordable, and sure to satisfy.
 

Squid is an extremely popular food in the Mediterranean, Asia and certain areas of Europe, South Africa and the Middle East, where it’s served in countless different preparations. In North America however, fried calamari reigns supreme. A popular dish, especially in seafood restaurants and bars,fried calamari is a great alternative to your more “run of the mill” appetizers like mozzarella sticks, or wings. Calamari can get tough and chewy if overcooked, so keep it under 2 minutes in the fryer and serve with lemon for a simple, yet scrumptious treat. Got a friend who’s grossed out by squid? Slip a couple fried calamari in amongst their onion rings and change their minds. Just… make sure they don’t have a seafood allergy first.

Speaking of those delicious crispy rings of vegetable goodness… you didn’t think we’d leave them out, did you? Is there any better way to eat an onion than in their deep fried, battered, ring form? You can go for a simple milk and flour batter, but given that they’re a classic bar food, you really need to try beer battering them to experience onion rings at their best. A&W is credited with helping to popularize them across the States as a fast food side, but recipes can be found dating back as far as the early 1800s. If an onion ring was good enough to stand in as a wedding ring for Marge Simpson, then it’s good enough for us… just give us a whole plate.

Doughnuts come in all shapes and sizes, with many related dishes around the world including funnel cakes, beignets, churros and loukoumas. But when you hear the word doughnut, it’s hard not to imagine the classic powdered version, or frosted with sprinkles. There are a number of contested stories explaining how doughnuts developed their famous shape. Some believe the tale of a sea captain who, struggling to hold his “oil cake” and the wheel of his ship, poked or shot a hole through the cake’s center, creating a “dough nut hole.” Others say some savvy cook simply realized they’d bake more evenly in a ring shape. Regardless, they’ve only grown in popularity since, and were a staple for young men serving in WWI.

Tempura isn’t your typical frying batter. It’s usually made with cold water, wheat flour, egg and optional spices. Tempura is traditionally cooked in sesame seed oil, which helps give it a distinct flavor, and preserves its uniquely light, crispy texture. The batter is also kept very cold, and mixed minimally to avoid triggering the gluten, which would result in a more doughy finished product. Japanese society has been frying food since ancient times, but the current base recipe, still used today, can be traced back to 1671. Tempura is usually applied to vegetables and seafood, with shrimp serving as a particularly lovely pairing. It’s typically served on a bed of rice or with soba noodles, or accompanied by a dipping sauce.

Whether you say “po-TAY-to” or “po-TAH-to”, let's call the whole thing delicious and deep fry these suckers. From fries to chips or pommes de terre frites, you know you’re ordering something delicious. This side dish has been reinterpreted too many ways to count, but you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t enjoy a basic side of perfectly cooked fries seasoned with some combination of salt, ketchup, vinegar or mayo. Funnily enough, French fries may not have even originated in France, though the French do still argue it; instead, some trace their origin to Belgium, dating back to the 1600s. American soldiers first encountered the delicious side dish there in WWI, where the local language is French, and thus referred to them, wrongly, as French Fries.

Some iteration of this dish exists in most cultures around the world. That being said, most fried fish dishes can be traced back to pescado frito, a dish that originated in the Andalusia region of Spain. Historians believe that Spanish Jews emigrating to England introduced the dish upon their arrival in the 17th century, and that it then evolved into the widely popular English dish fish and chips. Typically, cheaper fish is used, since the battering and frying technique helps to mask bland flavors through seasoning and pleasant textures. But cheap fish or not, when properly spiced up, fried fish is simply divine.

Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
- Cheese / Mozzarella Sticks
- Fried Pickles
- Buffalo Wings
- Deep-Fried Mars Bars

With a wide variety of possible preparation techniques, Southern style is still the most iconic version. The idea was first brought to the table by Scots immigrating to the U.S., where African slaves got a taste and made it even better. A staple of soul food, when properly prepared, fried chicken is a textural combination that is hard to beat. The flour dredge provides a satisfying, crunchy exterior when fried, giving way to mouth-wateringly juicy meat on the interior. There are some fast food juggernauts, from KFC to Popeye’s and Chic-fil-A, that claim to have perfected the recipe, but at heart, fried chicken is still a home cooked meal above all else. And if you’re in a breakfast-y mood, add some waffles, or go to L.A.’s Roscoe’s. 

Do you agree with our list? What’s your favorite deep fried food? For more mouth-watering top 10s published every day, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.