The Most Insane Eating Challenges in America
Some restaurants around the country pride themselves on a signature dish. And some of these places love their signature dish so much they decide to prepare it in mass amounts… and then challenge guests to eat as much of it as they possibly can. People from all over the world visit certain establishments to try these crazy food challenges. If they are victorious, they win not only pride, but usually a spot on a wall of fame.
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All of these restaurant challenges have one thing in common - participants have to eat a ridiculous amount of food, and sometimes within a restricted amount of time. But not all of these challenges are created equally. For example, The Inferno Soup at Nitally's ThaiMex Cuisine challenges participants to slurp down an insanely large 48-ounce bowl of spicy soup (that includes 12 different hot peppers from around the world) in 30 minutes. Additionally, Randy's Wooster Street Pizza in Connecticut challenges participants to eat a stuffed pizza so large they claim they can't even list the amount of toppings on the menu.
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From donuts to pho, we've compiled a list of the most unusual restaurant challenges and ranked them based on the amount of food, as well as any other special regulations like time limits and the spice factor.
#5) Papa Bob's Bar-B-Que: Kansas City, Kan.
Kansas City is known for their insane barbecue, and Papa Bob's takes this insanity to the next level with their "Ultimate Destroyer Challenge." This barbecue delight is a massive sandwich, composed of a 12-inch hoagie bun, a half-pound of pulled pork, a half-pound of hickory-smoked sliced pork, a half-pound of hickory-smoked ham, a half-pound of hickory-smoked turkey breast, three half-pound hickory-smoked hamburgers, a half-pound of smoked brisket, smoked BBQ sausages, and plenty of sauce. Oh, and did we mention it comes with one and a half pounds of fries and four pickles?
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#4) Mallie's Sports Bar & Grill: Southgate, Mich.
This sports bar claims to have the world's largest burger, so it is only fitting they have a challenge to go along with it. The "Hellfire Hat Trick" challenge is so hot that participants are required to sign a waiver before they start eating! The challenge tasks participants to consume one Hellfire burger, six Hellfire wings, and one bowl of Hellfire chili all in 30 minutes. The best part? Winners receive free burgers for an entire year.
#3) Paddy Long's: Chicago
The name of the challenge at Paddy Long's is straightforward: "The Bomb." Participants have 45 minutes to eat "The Bomb," which is 5 pounds of ground sausage, pork, and beef mixed with spices and then all wrapped in a weave of brown sugar bacon (yes, it is meat wrapped in meat). The meat is then cooked in the pig roaster and served with a large side of fries. Winners get a T-shirt and their picture on the wall of fame.
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#2) Nitally's ThaiMex Cuisine: St. Petersburg, Fla.
The Inferno Soup Challenge at Nitally's ThaiMex Cuisine combines two food challenge components in one; not only is the sheer quantity of food challenging, but it is also incredibly spicy. The soup is served in a 48-ounce bowl and contains 12 kinds of peppers from around the world. The spiciest pepper used is the bhut jolokia, also known as the Ghost Chile. Many have attempted the scorching soup, but few have succeeded in consuming the massive bowl in the time limit of thirty minutes.
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#1) Stadium Grill: Columbia, Mo.
The Hail Mary Challenge at Stadium Grill is a beast - and many have failed to conquer it. The burger has just about everything on it, and a lot of it at that. It starts with 5 pounds of beef, and is then topped with bacon, pulled pork, three cheeses, onion rings, and fried eggs, all served with a pound of fries. Challengers have one hour to finish the meal, and the winner is given the $49.99 meal for free, a $50 gift card for every month until the next person wins and they are dethroned (or for one year).
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-Meredith Whitman, The Daily Meal
