Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls, roll up, roll up! Feast your eyes on the most absurd, the most outrageous, the most downright ridiculous food eating competitions the world has ever seen. Prepare to be amazed, astonished, and perhaps a little nauseous as we explore these gut-busting events!
1. Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest
Step right up and witness the legendary Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest! Held every Fourth of July on Coney Island, New York, this competition sees contestants devour as many hot dogs and buns as they can in just 10 minutes. The current record? An eye-popping 76 hot dogs, set by Joey Chestnut in 2021!
2. World Oyster Eating Championship
Welcome to the World Oyster Eating Championship! Held in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland, competitors slurp down as many oysters as possible in three minutes. The current record is a staggering 233 oysters, set by Colin Shirlow in 2005. The slippery, slimy spectacle is not for the faint of heart.
3. Wing Bowl
Experience the Wing Bowl, where contestants consume chicken wings by the truckload! Held annually in Philadelphia before the Super Bowl, this event sees competitors devour hundreds of wings in a mere half-hour. In 2018, Molly Schuyler set the record by eating 501 wings!
4. Big Texan Steak Challenge
Yee-haw! At the Big Texan Steak Challenge in Amarillo, Texas, participants attempt to conquer a 72-ounce steak, shrimp cocktail, baked potato, salad, and a roll—all in under an hour. Those who succeed get their meal for free and earn a spot on the restaurant’s wall of fame.
5. World Ice Cream Eating Championship
Cool off at the World Ice Cream Eating Championship! Held in New York City, contestants gobble up as much ice cream as they can in six minutes. Brain freeze? More like brain blaze! In 2017, Miki Sudo set the record by eating 16.5 pints.
6. Acme World Oyster Eating Championship
Gather ’round for the Acme World Oyster Eating Championship in New Orleans! In eight minutes, competitors aim to devour hundreds of raw oysters. Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas holds the record, consuming 46 dozen oysters in 2005. It’s a shucking good time!
7. Sweet Corn Eating Championship
Step right up to the Sweet Corn Eating Championship in West Palm Beach, Florida! Competitors chow down on sweet, buttery corn on the cob, racing to see who can eat the most in 12 minutes. Patrick Bertoletti holds the record with 44 ears of corn eaten.
8. St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship
Ladies and gents, witness the fiery St. Elmo Shrimp Cocktail Eating Championship in Indianapolis! Contestants brave the spicy horseradish sauce to consume the most shrimp cocktails in eight minutes. Joey Chestnut set the record with 18 pounds, 9.6 ounces in 2021. It’s a scorcher!
9. World Pie Eating Championship
Pies, glorious pies! At the World Pie Eating Championship in Wigan, England, contestants wolf down meat and potato pies as fast as they can. The challenge? Speed and no cutlery allowed! The record stands at 35.4 seconds for a standard-sized pie.
10. Krystal Square Off
Witness the Krystal Square Off, where competitors devour as many Krystal burgers as possible in eight minutes. These tiny sliders pack a punch, and the current record is a whopping 103 burgers, set by Joey Chestnut in 2007!
11. Kimchi Eating Championship
Enter the Kimchi Eating Championship in Koreatown, Los Angeles! Contestants consume bowls of this spicy, fermented cabbage in record time. The event celebrates Korean culture, and the record is 8.5 pounds in six minutes, held by Miki Sudo.
12. Blueberry Pie Eating Contest
Blueberry pie lovers, unite! At the Blueberry Pie Eating Contest in Maine, participants gorge on pies without using their hands. The event is part of the Wild Blueberry Festival, and it’s messy, fruity, and a berry good time!
13. Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich Eating Contest
Step right up to the Peanut Butter & Banana Sandwich Eating Contest in Biloxi, Mississippi! Contestants channel their inner Elvis, wolfing down as many sandwiches as they can in 10 minutes. This quirky event pays homage to the King’s favorite snack.
14. Haggis Eating Competition
Brave souls gather for the Haggis Eating Competition in Scotland! Competitors scarf down this traditional dish of sheep’s organs encased in a stomach. The event is part of the Robert Burns celebrations, and it’s a true test of culinary courage!
15. Butter Eating Contest
Yes, you read that right—the Butter Eating Contest at the Iowa State Fair! Contestants gulp down sticks of butter, proving their mettle and their cholesterol levels. The record stands at 7 sticks in five minutes. It’s slippery, it’s greasy, it’s ridiculous!
16. Spam Eating Contest
Spam lovers, rejoice! At the Spam Eating Contest in Waikiki, Hawaii, participants munch on this canned meat product to their heart’s content. The event is part of the Waikiki Spam Jam, celebrating Hawaii’s love for Spam.
17. Garlic Eating Competition
Witness the Garlic Eating Competition in Chideock, England! Contestants devour raw garlic cloves, braving the pungent power for eternal glory. David Greenman holds the record with 33 bulbs in one sitting. Vampires beware!
18. World Pea Eating Championship
Ladies and gentlemen, the World Pea Eating Championship in Witcham, England! Using only a straw, contestants must suck up and consume as many peas as possible in a set time. The record is 7,175 peas in one hour, set by Janet Harris. It’s small, it’s green, it’s utterly ridiculous!
Gastronomic Feats of Madness!
So there you have it, folks—the 18 most ridiculous food eating competitions that will leave you astounded and maybe a little queasy. Do you think you’ll enter next year?
Featured Image Credit: Shutterstock / a katz.
For transparency, this content was partly developed with AI assistance and carefully curated by an experienced editor to be informative and ensure accuracy.
