The Hi Desert Star has an article about Naader Reda eating 33 pancakes in 80 minutes at the Denny's in Yucca Valley, CA. Reda was denied $1,260 for finishing a pho challenge in Las Vegas due to his status as a "professional" eater.

October 5, 2011 at 10:12 am by ojrifkin · More posts about:Inland Empire, Naader Reda, Pancake Eating Challenges | Permalink * Comments (31)

31 Comments »

  1. KevinRoss said

    October 5, 2011 @ 10:20 am

    Nice article. BTW, if the pho place didn’t tell you about the pro eater thing or make you sign anything saying you weren’t a pro eater, maybe small claims court if you feel like sticking it to them. Unfortunately, that takes time and you work 🙂

  2. Anonymous said

    October 5, 2011 @ 11:54 am

    oh no, that means that Seiken will take his camera to ihop and try to eat 34 pancakes in 79 min.

  3. Randy Santel said (Registered June 2, 2010)

    October 5, 2011 @ 12:14 pm

    That is the biggest bunch of BS I have ever heard of. They made you pay the $30? Naader, you should have wiped your ass with the $20 & $10, and then told them to F**k them selves… I hope that place gets burned down or something happens to cause $1,260 worth of damage!!

    On a positive note, do what I did with a 24″ pizza challenge at Wheat State Pizza. They have the no professionals bs rule. The prize was supposed to be $500 in cash. I talked the owner into getting $500 in gift cards to be donated to local charities.

    Try to get some money donated to somebody!! That really is BS if they don’t pay anything. & if they dont, do free damage. Call local newspapers and tell them about the situation. Get the restaurant a bunch of bad press!! F them!!

    In todays world, people would love to report on a cheap ass restaurant that won’t donate or pay a reward!!

  4. NReda said

    October 5, 2011 @ 12:25 pm

    Thanks guys. Randy, I’m getting on it. If you go to Pho 87’s website, their homepage lists two professional eaters as “cheaters” for having collected the prize money several months back.

    (Through back channels, I heard the owner even called the participants after she found out who they were and asked them to RETURN THE MONEY, but that’s off the record)

    Apparently, their real motive is to avoid paying anyone, but that doesn’t mean I need to be quiet about it.

  5. capn brian said (Registered November 17, 2010)

    October 5, 2011 @ 12:33 pm

    “Although Reda began eating at a very young age, he did not enter the world of competitive consumption until about two years ago.”

    i love this line. reminds me of that kobi article the onion did.

  6. anonymous said

    October 5, 2011 @ 12:35 pm

    Lansky Deli in NYC is another ripoff. They advertise a jackpot sandwich which is around 3 or 4 lbs of deli meat with toppings. If you finish it you still pay the tab which is in the $20 to $25 range. All you get for your efforts is a tea shirt and a pic with some old 90 yr old fart that looks like deceased baseball manager Leo Durocher . I think hes the owner or manager.They promise to post that pic of on their website but it never happens.

  7. Shocking! said

    October 5, 2011 @ 1:54 pm

    Pho 87 lists Gilbert and Torres as two “cheaters,” so now they can add the one they caught before getting taken. Does this actually surprise anyone? This bunch has pretty shown what their prioritie$ are.

  8. totally agree said

    October 5, 2011 @ 2:37 pm

    I agree with shocking. Was there any real evidence Torres ate that 8lb pizza? . The video shows her eating the last piece of crust and then receiving a fake $1000 from the owner for publicity purposes

  9. juanmorebite82 said (Registered July 12, 2011)

    October 5, 2011 @ 3:18 pm

    Diablos Catina here in vegas pulled the same thing, only i was told by one manager that their 4lb burrito (which they claimed had never been completed) would be free. But when the check arrived the charge of $40 was there, I refused to pay, left a tip for our server n walked out.

  10. Matt "Mega Toad" Stonie said (Registered June 22, 2010)

    October 5, 2011 @ 4:41 pm

    I got payed $1000 for the Pho King Challenge, after 4 months of threating to get a lawyer involved LOL

  11. anonymous said

    October 5, 2011 @ 6:08 pm

    As a pro he should know better..These contests are made for average eaters, and not made to stroke ones ego..

  12. anonymous said

    October 5, 2011 @ 6:15 pm

    Hey Nader,Instead of screwing the amateur eaters why dont you go to IHOP and eat all the pancakes you want..,but I guess you dont want to compete against anyone that would give you any comp.

  13. MOTIF said (Registered September 3, 2011)

    October 5, 2011 @ 9:18 pm

    I think most of these resturants set up these large money prizes with no intention of paying them, but simply to draw attention. It’s just funny to see what happens when “pros” show up and kill the challenge, they start shaking and try to get any excuse to invalidate the win.

  14. Anonymous said

    October 5, 2011 @ 10:05 pm

    Seiken has already done pancakes and is the best. In fact he has done it all but we just don’t know it yet. Next he will get a local restaurant to make a Pho challenge of 1 pound and he will set the new record. The peoples champ is Beautiful Brian Seiken. Hip hip Hooray

  15. Anonymous1 said

    October 5, 2011 @ 11:57 pm

    If there was no indication that professionals couldn’t win the prize, and they just let him attempt it under the impression that he would win something, then told him no in the end, that is pretty shitty. If he wanted to take it to court, he would probably win. They also didn’t have to charge the 30 bucks on top of denying the 1,260. The restaurant sounds pretty douchey.

    But, if certain restaurants want to have them, I don’t think a rule (if clearly stated and known upfront) barring professionals from doing their challenge is ridiculous at all. These challenges are directed towards amateur eaters, and are made to create publicity and ultimately make the restaurant money. If they were directed towards professionals, first of all there probably wouldn’t be prizes (since the people attempting the challenges are pros), and they would be a hell of a lot harder (10-20lbs or so, something that’s a “challenge” for a professional).

    It’s no different than if a local rec center had a contest for people to come in, and if they make 30 free throws in a row, within some amount of time, they get a free months membership. It would be pretty dumb if NBA players were coming in, dominating the challenge, and making the center lose money.

  16. Anonymous said

    October 6, 2011 @ 5:39 am

    I’m always read a lot about Seiken on this site, but I was surprised to find out he’s not in the top 10 in the rankings on the IFOCE website. It must be because they’re not updated yet. I expect him to give Joey Chestnut a real battle at Ben’s Chili.

  17. Me no like pho 87 said

    October 6, 2011 @ 6:02 am

    The lady owner is a real mean lady. She is so fake it’ll make you puke. The idea is for no one to ever finish the challenge therefore their greedy asses never have to pay. They go home everyday after closing and worship the money they’ve made like it’s the god they worship. Pho 87 is the most disgusting,vile,sick place on earth I hate it there and I would rather starve then give them any business.

  18. anonymous said

    October 6, 2011 @ 9:44 am

    Its funny how OJ goes out of his way to find out that Don Lerman intends to sue the UN but if Seiken were to do the same he wouldnt bother posting it on this site

  19. Anonymous said

    October 6, 2011 @ 10:49 am

    Why doesn’t Seiken get treated fairly on this sight? I want to know now!

  20. Poor BB said

    October 6, 2011 @ 11:49 am

    He never gets flown to naval bases. Never gets called for Regis and Kathy show. Never gets anything and he lives in NYC yet? Its always the same crew Conti Janus Conti Janus Conti Janus.

  21. Anonymous said

    October 6, 2011 @ 11:58 am

    All this Seiken talk. It must be a slow CE news day.

  22. beautifulbrian said

    October 6, 2011 @ 12:09 pm

    I appreciate all the comments in regard to my status on this site. I dont whether or not its pure sarcasm or genuine but this guy has a personal vendetta against me for the past 3 years. When i tried to bury the hatchet he turns around and credits some of my stories to other links or sources. He enjoys head games knowing that it annoys me. I dont need him or the paltry bone he throws my way from time to time like “Brian Seiken posted a video” Unless he shows a viable interest in my site or decides to link my editorial on his own free will then he can shove the rest for all i care. Thats all i have to say about the matter. I think that basically sums it up

  23. nobody cares said

    October 6, 2011 @ 1:45 pm

    Hey Seiken why you give up that tired old rant & tell people why you don’t attend contests in your own town,NYC?All of your hate & lies are catching up to you,don’t look behind you…

  24. This is what I said

    October 7, 2011 @ 7:03 pm

    1:45 You have got to be high.
    I don’t agree with you that nobody cares. Brian has a big personality, talks his mind, and thats why I love this guy. I look forward to every article he writes (even though the lack of paragraphs drives me nuts lol) about CE. I don’t always agree but he has balls and doesn’t pull any punches.

    I may be be a minority but BB, Kobi, Joey, Pat, Sonya, CLC etc.. are all in rarified air as legends and make CE worthwhile entertainment for us average Joes. Is it possible that eaters that eat more may be a bit jealous of BB’s popularity?

    As for your comment about “looking behind you” that is a threat right? You better back off dip shit, anytime he needs a back up you better believe I will be happy to me you in person. If I see anyone start shit at a contest against anyone not just Brian I will step in. He lives and breaths this stuff so back off will ya… this CE deal is his thing and he deserves respect as a legend whether you are willing to admit it or not, not this anti Seiken BS I regularly see on this site.
    Jimmy “Tig” Leto
    NY

  25. beautifulbrian said

    October 7, 2011 @ 8:33 pm

    Jimmy leto whoever you.are thanks for having my back. Unfortunately I can’t say the same about some of my old comp eating buddies who remain silent on this blog whenever I get slammed. They are not friends they are no damn good .Matter of fact nothin but fake sellouts if you want my honest opinion. .. Just for the record nobody cares is gavonne a worthless piece of shit not worth wasting your time with. People have the right to voice their opinion about me and I certainly can’t do anything about it especially if they prefer to remain anonymous. As far as any actual physical confrontation that will never happen . If anyone ever decides to make a move on me at a contest I will be waiting . J am actually looking forward to some fool that is dumb enough to put their hands kn me all I can say is good luck!

  26. On the Ballot said

    October 8, 2011 @ 2:00 am

    Brian Seiken for President!

  27. beautifulbrian said

    October 8, 2011 @ 2:05 am

    1212 i will swear on the holiest of all Jewish holidays which starts tonight that i am not 7:03 pm. . Check with your god and savior OJ Rifkin to verify the IP . FYI you are a pathetic anonymous creep that shows his face on eatfeces because its the only place you can show your face.. I dont need the rubber room you need it more than anyone because Brian Seiken is your entire life. You live and breath my every word because without my existence you have none. If i had one wish the wish would be for or any of the other anonymous whimps to show up in DC this Sat . So far not one BB hater has ever come forward and talked smack to me at an MLE contest or admitted they are one of the haters. I will repeat it again and again and again SCARED SHIT PUSSIES THATS WHY . Go ahead and keep talking your bullshit with the keypad cause its the only way you can and will ever show your sorry punk ass face Case closed.

  28. Anonymous said

    October 8, 2011 @ 11:26 am

    Time on the job doesn’t qualify Seiken as a legend. Perswonally, I’ll acknowledge that he has made significant contributions over the years.

  29. Anonymous said

    October 8, 2011 @ 3:49 pm

    Why does Brian always have to elude to violence? No one at a contest is going to lay their hands on you or take a swing at you. Those who dislike you will just ignore you like they have done in the past. Please Brian, you are not the big tough guy that you claim to be. I’ll bet you sobbed like a little girl when you got busted in Tennessee for driving with a suspended license.

  30. Anonymous said

    October 8, 2011 @ 4:12 pm

    I think Brian Seiken could take anybody in competitive eating. No one would dare mess with him.

  31. anonymous said

    October 8, 2011 @ 5:03 pm

    If you notice when the comment starts off with Brian instead of BB its a hate comment coming from the same anonymous asshole that’s been riding Seiken for months. It’s one individual and that’s a fact. Sooner or later every dog has its day

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