Five foods to try at the Illinois State Fair

I'm back from the Illinois State Fair, where I checked out some fair staples and a couple of newbies.

The big picture: Springfield may be known for its horseshoe, a toasted sandwich topped with meat, fries, and cheese sauce —and even a deep-fried version that Monica tried a couple of years ago — but the fair offers a lot more.

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What they're saying: "Count the memories, not the calories," can be heard across the intercom throughout the fair.

Here are five foods to try:

Tornado potato ($5): These stackable chips are made in a spiral cutter, fried and then seasoned to your liking.

The verdict: They come in Cajun and plain flavors, and I'd definitely recommend both.

Flamin' Hot Cheeto corn dog. Photo: Moyo Adeolu/Axios

Flamin' Hot Cheeto corn dog ($14): Topnotch Concessions dips the traditional Illinois treat in nacho cheese then coats it with flamin' hot flakes.

The verdict: While I'm a fan of flamin' hots, I'd pass next time on this strange combination.

• Yes, but: You can go the traditional route with a jumbo corn dog ($9) from McKinney Corndog .

Spicy ramen. Photo: Moyo Adeolu/Axios

Spicy ramen ($16): If you stop by Indolishus , you'll be tested to see just how much spice you can handle from this Texas-based chef. My "crazy ramen" came with onion, egg and shrimp.

The verdict: The ramen was tasty and had my nose running! This is certainly worth a visit.

Deep-fried Oreos. Photo: Moyo Adeolu/Axios

Deep-fried Oreos ($10): It's hard to resist the pull of these chocolate sandwich cookies dunked in batter and deep fried from Pam's Concessions .

The verdict: The more powdered sugar, the better tasting these desserts are. It's also not a state fair unless I get my hands on a few of these.

Lemon Shake-Up Photo: Moyo Adeolu/Axios

Lemon Shake-Up ($8): Despite many concession stands claiming to make the best lemonade, I prefer shakeup from The Donut Family .

The verdict: The freshly squeezed drink includes a twist of citrus orange and discounted refills.

If you go: The Illinois State Fair runs until Sunday at the state fairgrounds in Springfield. You can walk off the calories while exploring the massive grounds' live performances, roller coasters and outdoor games.

• Bring cash or expect additional charges for credit card use at concession stands.