Winners have included an 11-year-old boy and a 69-year-old grandmother. Former Cincinnati Reds Pitcher Frank Pastore did it in a record time of 9 ½ minutes, and held that record for 21 years until Joey Chestnut took the title on March 24, 2008 with a time of 8 minutes and 52 seconds. Another famous person who tried this was Takeru Kobayashi, the six-time hot dog-eating world champion.
The unofficial record for the fastest time belongs to a Bengal Tiger. His meal was limited to the steak only and he dined in the front of the building. The technique was the simplest we’ve ever seen: sniff, lick, gulp! It took him less than 90 seconds.
One year the linebackers and linemen from UCLA flew into Amarillo to take the challenge. Unfortunately, none of their names made it to the “Wall of Fame” on that visit. Some come in on a regular basis to claim their FREE meal.
Back in the ‘60s professional wrestler Klondike Bill ate two of the dinners within the one-hour time limit. Richard LeFavre, a soft-spoken gent from Nevada, ate two of the steaks on the Donny and Marie Show in the 1990s.
I was told that about 1 out of every 9 men succeed while 1 of every 4 women succeed! I asked what are the average size of the people who succeed and the management said that between 135-200 lbs.
While my family and I were dining there, the person in the above picture tried it. He came all the way from Colorado. After 28 minutes, he gave up.
Admit it, Susan: you tried. 🙂
I don’t eat too much red meat. I am more into salad and seafood. But it was quite an experience.
Best wishes,
Susan Polgar
You should tell Shirov about this place. He could probably do it.
Not good to promote over eating.
People are starving in some parts of the world…
This is wasting food by forcing people to overeat.
You are of course right, but if I eat less, how exactly are they going to have anything from it???
I somehow doubt the steak that I won’t eat is going to end up in Africa instead.