Year after year, the Canadian National Exhibition somehow undoes itself with wilder food and drink concoctions than the previous year.
Canada’s biggest annual fair is back at Exhibition Place from August 15 through September 1. For 2025, the lineup is truly next-level: expect unique fusion treats, deep-fried fruits, and so much over-the-top indulgence that your taste buds won’t know what hit them.
Without further ado, we’ve rounded up some of the wildest foods you have to try at The Ex for 2025:
Deep Fried Frozen Watermelon
The sweet summer fruit has been battered and fried until warm, making it one of the more highly polarizing mash-ups of the year. Find it at Mr. Pickle.
Fruity Pebbles-Coated Corn Dog
Sweet cereal meets savoury comfort at Korean Dogs.
Labubu-Themed Deep-Fried Cheese Curds
Gooey deep-fried cheese curds are topped with macaron crumbles, buttercream, and edible glitter, inspired by the viral Labubu toy trend. Find them at King of Curds.
2-Foot-Long Hot Dog
Not for the faint of heart or appetite, this is a beast of share-able proportions. Find it at Sam’s Grill.
Lobster Ice Cream
Just when you thought it couldn’t get crazier than ketchup and mustard-flavoured ice cream from a few years back, this ice cream has chunks of real lobster within. Grab it at Blue Claw Lobster Shack.
Butter Soda
This “dirty soda” variant is topped with silky butter foam instead of ice cream. Find it at Dirty Sodas.
Sushi Corn Dog
This hotdog is wrapped in sushi rice and seaweed, battered, deep-fried, and drizzled with spicy mayo and soy glaze. Find it at Sam’s Grill.
Chicken Nugget-Stuffed Cookies
Craig’s Cookies took the classic chocolate chip cookie and crammed in a chicken nugget, served with BBQ sauce on the side.
Churro Pizza
A cinnamon-sugar churro crust topped with pepperoni, mozzarella, and tomato sauce, blending dessert with dinner. Find it at Pancho’s Bakery.
Hash Brown Ice Cream Sandwich
Two crispy hash brown patties sandwiching a slab of vanilla ice cream. Find it at Ice Cream Sandwiches.
Biscoff Ice Cream Fried Chicken Sandwich
Crunchy meets creamy via fried chicken coated in Biscoff ice cream. Find it at Los Vietnamita.
Kimchi-Topped Fried Dumpling With Ice Cream
Spicy meets cold in this quirky dish by K-Dee’s Twisted Gourmet.
Smash Burger Taco
Smash patty meets taco in this creative mash-up. Find it at Smash City.
The BACONE
A cone stuffed with bacon topped with habanero bacon cotton candy – and a butter tart for good measure. Find it at Greekery Bakeshop.
Which of these would you be willing to try?