Top Foods at Orange International Street Fair
August 28th, 2008, 10:00 am · 12 Comments · posted by Nancy Luna, Staff Writer
The Orange International Street Fair kicks off Friday evening in downtown Orange.
For the uninitiated, the fair is a meal fest perfect for fast foodies. It features international eats made and sold by charitable groups in Orange and other nearby cities. Most booths serve food within minutes.
Last year, I went crazy - blogging live all weekend and adding about two inches to my waistline. I gobbled everything from Greek food to Swedish desserts.
This year, I will simply guide you to the best eats. 
If you’re in the neighborhood this weekend, please stop by this fun event. Unlike the Orange County Fair , the money you spend here is for a good cause. Proceeds from each food and beverage booth help various worthy organizations.
Top Eats
Greek Street – It’s hard to pin down any specific food on this street. Everything is good from the gyros to the sweet honey-dipped loukoumathes. (Photo: That’s me eating a souvlaki from Greek Street last year. It’s essentially a gyro with grilled chicken. This is usually the first place I go on Friday.)
Mexican Street – The homemade tamales and quesadillas on this street are heavenly.
German Street – Bratwurst. Killer, tasty brats grilled and sold by volunteers from Orange Lutheran High School.
Beef teriyaki on Ginza Street – Part of the charm here is the assembly-line of volunteers shoving meat onto skewers before they hit the grill. It’s a sight worth seeing.
Irish Street: Best Beer & Entertainment — Hands down, this is the place to hang out for a cold brewski and great Irish music. (Disclaimer: My husband, Brady, is the street captain of Irish Street’s beer booth, where Guinness, Bass, Stella Artois, Hoegaarden and Boddingtons are served. I’ll be volunteering (pouring beer) on Saturday night after 5 p.m.)
Kettle Corn — I know you can buy kettle corn anywhere these days. However, I’m addicted to this fresh-popped sweet snack. I usually buy about 3-4 bags during the three-day event. There’s two booths that sell kettle corn in various spots throughout the fair.
What kind of money is made at the Street Fair? Our Watchdog reporter looks at the organization’s finances. You’ll be surprised at how much the fair makes on beer bracelets.
More Orange Street Fair information, which runs Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Old Towne Orange. (Interactive map, parking information, event hours.)
(Aerial shot of 2007 Orange International Street Fair courtesy of Will Hare Jr. Photography)
Archive: The Fast Food Maven’s 2007 Orange Street Fair encounters (16 stories)
August 28th, 2008 at 11:50 am
I AM SO EXCITED! Street Fair, here I come!
August 28th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I’ve never been before. But I can’t wait!
August 28th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
This is one of the greatest community events in Orange County. I’m a big fan of Irish Street. We live down the street so we walk over. This will be our 4th year.
August 28th, 2008 at 12:59 pm
I’ll be working the Irish St. beer booth as a volunteer on Friday!
August 29th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Does this mean there’s a party over at Maven’s house afterwards?
August 31st, 2008 at 12:29 am
This is my favorite Orange County event of the year, even better than the OC Fair because the focus is just food! My favorites are the lucamades (Greek) and the abelskivers (Danish–both are definitely spelled wrong)! I was able to get one of them last night and hope to go tomorrow night to finish it off! It’s great because I live down the street so I don’t have to worry about parking!
August 31st, 2008 at 5:28 pm
I just got back from the fair with my girlfriend and the food was awesome. I had a the spicy bratwurst and I’m still lickin my chops and my fingers….Tasty!
August 31st, 2008 at 5:29 pm
I just got back from the fair with my girlfriend and the food was awesome. I had the spicy bratwurst and I’m still lickin my chops and my fingers….Tasty!
August 31st, 2008 at 5:36 pm
I went yesterday. While the effort is commendable, the variety and quality of food can be found at any mall food court.
August 31st, 2008 at 7:35 pm
What would be even cooler than Street Fair is if local government allowed more small businesses that actually catered to the thousands of college students who ACTUALLY live in Orange.
Orange could be a great town for more than three days of the year if local government cared.
Orange is officially the lamest college town of all time. It is so conservative the town’s movie theater is actually a church.
Seriously, I like antiques as much as the next guy but how about some book stores, more art galleries, and real restaurants?
Orange could be about a lot more than inauthentic “international” food and drinking.
What do I know though, I just live there and have to drive several miles to spend my money on things like groceries and books instead of spending my money in the ten block radius I’d like to.
August 31st, 2008 at 10:46 pm
End of Fair Footnote: My last stop Sunday night was Greek Street. I got my daughter hooked on the beef kabobs, and what do you know: the whole Greek area ran out of hot food. I rushed there at 8 pm and noticed no lines. Then, I said: “Wait a minute. The lights are out.” Finally , a man in a folding chair said they ran out of food around 6 p.m. “A good year,” he says. Well, yeah. But, if you were doing so hot, why not order more?
Oh well. My daughter insisted on Greek food so we walked home, and I took her to Daphne’s. But, does anyone know of a better place to get good gyros at a decent price?