Competitive eating has long fascinated Americans, with the annual Nathan’s 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest as a prime example. Contestants, some expected and others surprising, compete to eat the most hot dogs in a limited time, crowning a champion in a spectacle that is both intense and hard to look away from.
Though once a widespread craze with well-known competitors, the popularity of competitive eating has somewhat declined.
In the past, Fox even aired competitions that expanded beyond hot dogs and wings to unusual categories like butter.
One of the most famous competitive eaters is Takeru “Hot Dog” Kobayashi from Nagano, Japan. For years, he faced off against American Joey Chestnut in a fierce rivalry for the Nathan’s contest title. Their showdown was revisited in a Netflix special, Chestnut vs. Kobayashi: Unfinished Beef. In that event, Chestnut ate 83 hot dogs in 10 minutes to win the $100,000 prize, while Kobayashi finished with 66.
Meanwhile, Burger King, a brand under Restaurant Brands International, has moved away from hot dogs, despite previous attempts to keep them on the menu. The chain now focuses fully on hamburgers and has launched its own challenge: introducing a massive new sandwich inspired by the classic Whopper.
Burger King’s latest offering aims to attract attention from fans of big, bold flavors and impressive food portions, tapping into the same fascination with eating contests and large servings that has captivated audiences for decades.
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