More than 70 food traders were challenged to create something completely new for the Show’s inaugural Best Bites competition, and they certainly understood the assignment.
Among the creations is a giant 35-centimetre hot dog loaded with fries, cheese sauce and fried onions, plus fried chicken and waffles served together on a stick.
Sweet options include jam-filled churros, an ice-cream toastie packed with breakfast cereals and something called Dragon’s Breath, featuring colourful cereal bites with a dramatic smoky effect. Then there’s the Loaded Hot Choc Stack: a cup of hot chocolate topped with 20 mini pancakes, melted chocolate, whipped cream and cookies.
Twenty-three dishes were entered, with ten finalists selected.
At this rate, you’ll need a ride home rather than a ride pass afterwards. The ten finalists will feature at the 2026 Melbourne Royal Show, running September 24 to October 4.