Upcoming New York City eating contests
New York City eating challenges
(All New York City eating challenges and contests in database)
2024 Nathan’s qualifier circuit announced
Six Nathan’s qualifiers were posted today. Registration opens April 12.
- May 11 Comstock, MI West Michigan Whitecaps game
- May 17 Times Square, NYC
- June 6 Cleveland, OH Parma Rib N Rock
- June 8 Bristol, CT
- June 15 Pleasanton, CA Alameda County Fair
- June 22 Washington, DC Giant National Capital BBQ Battle
The last Central or Mountain time zone qualifier was at the Iowa State Fair in August 2019.
Molly Schuyler won the first prize of $1,000 in yesterday's meatball eating contest at Millie's of Staten Island. Dan Kennedy was the runner-up and Wayne Algenio was 3rd. update NBC New York has a video
Millie's in Staten Island will hold a meatball eating contest on March 9 awarding $1000/$500/$250.
Memory Motel in Manhattan will hold a wing eating contest during halftime of Sunday's Chiefs vs. Ravens AFC Championship game awarding a Super Bowl table valued at $2500.
"Airsoft Fatty" faced off against Eric "Badlands" Booker in a chug-off held at Times Square in New York City.
The new video game "Spiderman 2" is set in New York City. One of the Brooklyn locations features a public appearance for a hot dog eating champion who has eaten 77 hot dogs in 10 minutes.
Asian Journal has an article about last Sunday's eating contest at Lumpia Fest in New York City won by Dan Kennedy
Wayne Algenio ate 48 pierogis yesterday to defend his title at Pierozek's eating contest in Brooklyn and claim the $500 first prize.
Pierozek in Brooklyn will hold a pierogi eating contest on October 8 awarding $500 to the winner. The runner up will receive $300.
The NYC Hot Sauce Expo will hold several spicy eating contests in Brooklyn this weekend. On Sunday, the Carolina Reaper pepper contest will award $1000 if the Guinness record is broken.
The New York City Philippines Fest will hold a lumpia eating contest awarding $1000 to the winner on October 8. 2022 winner Wayne Algenio will appear.
The New York Post has an article about the Feast of San Gennaro terminating its eating contests. Its cannoli competition was probably the most famous eating contest in Manhattan. The article has quotes from Matt Pruznick, cannoli champion the previous two years, and Crazy Legs Conti, winner of the 2009 contest.
The Feast of San Gennaro, which will start Thursday in the Little Italy Section of New York City, has dropped all four of its eating contests. The cannoli competition was probably the most famous eating competition in Manhattan.
Jungly in Long Island City, NY will hold a hot wing eating contest July 23 awarding a pair of UNC Michael Jordan 1 shoes.
Joey Chestnut wins 16th Nathan’s Famous title
The 2023 Nathan’s men’s contest has been cancelled due to lightning and rain. I am not sure why the 2020 contest setup could not be recreated in the second floor of Nathan’s Famous’ building and the competition held later today.
update Ronnie Hartman says the contest will start around 2pm eastern
| 1st | 62 | Joey “Jaws” Chestnut | 16th title |
| 2nd | 49 | Geoffrey Esper | |
| 3rd | 47 | James Webb | UK Commonwealth record |
| 4th | 45 | Nick Wehry | |
| 4th | 41 | Bartley Weaver, IV | |
| 6th | 36 | Gideon Oji | |
| 7th | 29.75 | Zozan Paku Paku | |
| 8th | 29.5 | Max Suzuki | |
| 9th | 27.5 | Darrien “Cheesecurd” Thomas | |
| 10th | 27 | Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan | |
| 11th | 26 | Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran | |
| 12th | 25.75 | Derek Hendrickson | |
| 13th | 22 | Joey Przybylowicz | |
| 14th | 16 | Ronnie “MegaByte” Hartman | |
| 15th | 15 | Crazy Legs Conti |
2023 Nathan’s Famous women’s contest
Gigi’s Time is running a livestream on youtube Super Friends NYC is also doing a live stream
| 1st | 39.5 | Miki Sudo | |
| 2nd | 33.5 | Mayoi Ebihara | Japanese women’s record |
| 3rd | 24.25 | Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco | |
| 4th | 13.25 | Larell Marie “The Real Deal” Mele | |
| 5th | 11.5 | Katie Prettyman | |
| 6th | 10.5 | Jocelyn Young | |
| 7th | 9.75 | Kelly Wong | |
| 8th | 9 | Mary “I Love ’em HOT!” Bowers | |
| 9th | 7 | Rene Rovtar | |
| 10th | 6.5 | Cherish “Five Pounds” Brown | |
| 11th | 5.5 | Abby Horowitz | |
| 12th | 4.5 | Julie Goldberg | |
| 13th | 4.25 | Elizabeth Salgado | |
| 14th | 3.5 | Prudence DiBenedetto | |
| DQ | ? | Barbara LaBarge |
Nathan’s qualifier May 13 in Kissimmee, FL
A facebook event page claims that the first Nathan’s Famous qualifier of 2023 will take place May 13 at Old Town in Kissimmee, FL (south Orlando). BBQ in DC will also hold a qualifier in Washington, DC on June 24. The traditional New York Mets Father’s Day qualifier might also return. Nathan’s will sponsor the giveaway promotion for their June 18 game, which has previously been a hint that a qualifier will take place during the event.
update April 21 A press release says there will also be qualifiers in Cincinnati on June 17 (probably a Reds game) and Pleasanton, CA (probably a return to the Alameda County Fair)
Registration opens today (April 21) at noon eastern for the Kissimmee qualifier.
Alexandra Domrongchai wrote an article for Food and Wine about her attempt at the 8 pound Megamori Tsukemen ramen challenge at Tabetomo in New York City
The BagelFest Winter Games will hold a bagel eating contest in Brooklyn on January 15 awarding $500 to the winner.
Pierozek will hold a pierogi eating contest in Brooklyn on October 8 awarding $500 to the winner. Joel Hansen won last year's competition.
Mashabale has a report on last Friday's cannoli eating contest held at The Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy, probably the most famous eating contest in Manhattan.
Matt Pruznick ate 18 cannolis this afternoon to defend his title at the Feast of San Gennaro in Little Italy.
2022 Men’s Nathan’s Famous contest
| 1st | 63 | Joey “Jaws” Chestnut | attacked by stage crasher during contest |
| 2nd | 47.5 | Geoffrey Esper | |
| 3rd | 41 | James Webb | UK Commonwealth Nathan’s finals record |
| 4th | 40 | Nick Wehry | |
| 5th | 33.5 | Pat “Deep Dish” Bertoletti | 1st finals since 2012 |
| 6th | 29.5 | Pablo Martinez | |
| 7th | 29 | Derek Hendrickson | |
| 7th | 29 | Gideon Oji | |
| 7th | 29 | Juan “more bite” Rodriguez | |
| 7th | 29 | Bartley Weaver, IV | |
| 11th | 28 | George Chiger | |
| 11th | 28 | Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran | |
| 13th | 27 | Steve “The Rabbit” Hammond | |
| 14th | 25.5 | Derek Jacobs | |
| 15th | 25 | Ronnie “MegaByte” Hartman | |
| 16th | 20 | Brett “The Branimal” Healey | plans to retire after contest |
Joey Chestnut was rushed by a stage crasher, but still managed to defend his title.
For people who lack ESPNews, DutchMazz is running a live video from the top of the Coney Island subway station. Tim “Eater X” Janus was on the bus of champions, perhaps he will compete.
2022 Nathan’s womens contest
| 1st | 40 | Miki Sudo | 1st parent in 21st century to be top male or female |
| 2nd | 26 | Michelle “Cardboard Shell” Lesco | |
| 3rd | 23.25 | Sarah “Unstoppable Bab” Rodriguez | |
| 4th | 15 | Larell Marie “The Real Deal” Mele | |
| 5th | 13.75 | Katie Prettyman | |
| 6th | 12.25 | Sophia Devita | |
| 7th | 11 | Jocelyn Walker | |
| 8th | 10.25 | Holly Titus | |
| 9th | 8.5 | Kathryn Tesch | |
| 10th | 7.5 | Rene Rovtar | |
| 11th | 7 | Julie Goldberg | |
| 12th | 5 | Prudence DiBenedetto | |
| 13th | 4 | Catie Livermore |
Miki Sudo will look to become the first parent with the top male or female total in the Nathan’s Famous finals in the 21st century. All of the other previous top finishers since 2001: Takeru Kobayashi, Joey Chestnut, Matt Stonie, Sonya Thomas have been childless. There do not appear to be any surprises with the field. w
Eater X, injured Joey Chestnut at weigh in
The Nathan’s weigh in was held today. Joey Chestnut was in crutches. He made a instagram post on December 29 about a leg injury requiring surgery. Tim “Eater X” Janus was present; it was not clear if he will be a competitor. His last eating contest was in October 2015.
update The official field is now out. There are no major surprises. Beard Meats Food will compete and Tim Janus will not make a comeback. Instead of doing a blog entry for each article about the competitors. I will have links to all the coverage of the confirmed entrants below
Geoff Esper
Nick Wehry
Gideo Oji
Pat Bertoletti
Ronnie Hartman
Brett Healey intends to retire from competitive eating after Nathan’s
Juan Rodriguez
Steve Hammond
Bartley Weaver, IV
James Webb
Adam “Beard Meats Food” Moran
George Chiger
Derek Hendrickson
Pablo Martinez
Derek Jacobs
Miki Sudo
Michelle Lesco
Katie Prettyman
Sarah Reinecke Rodriguez
Sophia DeVita
Larell Marie Mele
Jules Golberg
Holly Titus
Jocelyn Walker
Rene Rovtar
Prudence DiBenedetto
Catie Livermore
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