Top 20 Tastiest Deep Fried Foods

This is a great street-food-style alternative for vegetarians and vegans and a real staple in Middle Eastern cuisine. Depending on where you get it, falafel can consist of fava beans or chickpeas, or a combination of both. It’s versatile in the sense that it can serve as a snack, appetizer, side, or even be part of a larger main dish. The food has so much history and popularity that McDonald’s in Cairo, Egypt introduced its own iteration: the McFalafel. It’s a tortilla wrap filled with tomatoes, lettuce, onion, pickles, tahini sauce, and ding ding – you guessed it – falafel. With all due respect to Mickey D’s though, there’s better places to get some tasty, authentic falafel.

#19: Fried Pickles

Are they controversial? Perhaps. But fried pickles hold a special place in many people’s hearts — and their stomachs. These battered dill pickles are sliced and deep-fried. They started to gain popularity in the United States, particularly in the South, during the 1960s and 1970s. Nowadays, you may see them at a carnival, fair, or even at a chain restaurant like Zaxby’s or Buffalo Wild Wings. Fried pickles pack a juicy, tangy flavor with a satisfying crunch. And if you want to bring an extra dimension, ranch dressing – or another dipping sauce – can deliver that.

After hopping off the ferris wheel, carousel, or one of those dizzying amusement rides, you might hear a voice in your head. That voice is telling you to go satisfy your funnel cake craving. This is an absolute carnival classic and one of the oldest fried foods in the United States. This warm, golden brown, crispy delight is made by pouring batter into hot cooking oil through a funnel. Funnel cakes are often dusted with powdered sugar for a simple, yet amazing combination of crispy texture and sweet flavor. They can be great for sharing, thanks to their shape and texture, which make them easy to tear into pieces. Although, they’re so good that you might not want to share!

They get their name from the French word croquer, which means to crunch. While they originated in France, croquettes have made their way to various other European countries, as well as other continents around the world. Croquettes are small breaded rolls that can be filled with different ingredients. If you’re in Spain for example, one common type of croquette is filled with jamón, which makes for a delicious meat-style tapa. Around the world, it’s common for croquettes to include fish such as cod, as well as cheese or vegetables. The contrast between the outer and inner parts of the croquette complement each other like popcorn and a movie.

Take a classic Mars chocolate bar, cover it in batter, and deep fry it in oil, and you got something that might even catch the eye of Willy Wonka. This treat originated in Scotland, most likely during the 1990s. Deep-fried Mars Bars became a menu item at various fish and chip shops and gained popularity as a quirky “you-gotta-try-this” topic among teenagers and tourists. The deep-fried Mars Bar is a fun novelty treat that draws in tourists, but it’s not necessarily a staple, regular dessert. Deep-fried Snickers also joined the deep-fried candy bar scene and made their way to American state fairs in the 2000s.

Whether dipped in chocolate or rolled in cinnamon sugar, a churro can satisfy your sweet tooth. Much of the churro’s history lies in Portugal and Spain, but they also appear in variations in Latin American cuisine and Philippine cuisine. Churros can be enjoyed as a snack, dessert, or even for breakfast. You can find them in many places, including cafes and carnivals. One of the most historical and famous spots for churros is Chocolatería San Ginés in Madrid, where you can dunk a fresh, crisp churro in thick hot chocolate for a mouthwatering combo.

Often served steamed or boiled, wontons are an iconic food in Chinese culinary history. In countries outside of China, such as the United States, another common way to prepare these delicacies is by deep frying them. If you’re in the mood for a little crisp factor to accompany the bursting flavor on the inside, fried wontons won’t let you down! Pork is a common filling inside the crispy outer layer, but you can find other options too. Dip these things in duck sauce, plum sauce, sweet and sour sauce, or hot mustard, depending on your taste preferences — and you’ve got yourself an excellent appetizer.

At the Los Angeles County Fair during the early 2000s, a fried-food connoisseur introduced the public to deep-fried Oreos. It’s the classic cream-filled sandwich cookie dipped in pancake batter and deep-fried. How could it not be good? These sweet treats became a mainstay, spreading to state fairs and carnivals around the United States. They made their way overseas as well. Oreos were originally introduced by Nabisco in 1912 and have since satisfied countless people’s cookie cravings. But the game-changing idea of deep frying them added a whole new layer to the Oreo’s iconic status.

Cheese, crispy breading, and marinara sauce if you’d like. What’s not to love? Frying cheeses dates back to 14th century medieval France. However, the much different modern-day mozzarella sticks surfaced in the United States during the 1970s. The hand-held food has become a staple appetizer in the US. Multiple survey results have shown mozzarella sticks near the top of the list for best and most-ordered appetizers in the country. It’s a great choice to enjoy while watching a game at a sports bar or taking a snack break at the bowling alley.

Believed to have originated as far back as the 7th century, empanadas have roots in the Galicia region of Spain. They later became a major part of other cuisines, including multiple Latin American countries where they became a significant contributor to street food culture. Empanadas are a simple, yet delicious half-moon-shaped food. The dough on the outside wraps around meat, cheese, tomato, corn, or other ingredients. The empanada is versatile not only in terms of the ingredients that can be put inside, but also its suitability as an appetizer or main course.

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.

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.




Let us know in the comments what food you think would be really good deep-fried!