Kobayashi Eats 69 Hot Dogs, Unofficially Breaks World Record

Joey Chestnut won his 5th straight Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest title at Coney Island yesterday by scarfing down 62 dogs in 10 minutes. As reported earlier, long-time leader of the competitive-eating world Takeru Kobayashi was ineligible to compete because he would not sign an exclusivity contract with Major League Eating.

Not letting the event pass without an attempt of his own, Kobayashi set up shop at mid-town Manhattan Outdoor Rooftop Bar, Club and Restaurant and ate a record 69 hot-dogs in 10 minutes, while the actual contest was broadcast in a screen off to the side.

Of course, we could have made the title of this article 10x more sexy by saying “Move aside Chestnut, Kobayashi eats 69 hot-dogs.”

Although, the case may be true, the title wouldn’t have accounted for many of the variables that go along with competitive eating, including a mixed audience, fellow competitors to either urge you on or slow you down, and the scrutiny of unbiased judges.

69 hot dogs is impressive nonetheless, and there is indeed video to prove it.