Food Challenges That Are Straight Outta Jersey

New Jersey is known for living large. Big personalities, big aspirations, big opinions and of course, big appetites. If you are one of those people with big appetites, you need look no further than Jersey for one of the many food challenges offered to patrons.

Patch took a look at five popular gut-busting contests from around the Garden State that adventurous eaters may want to give a try.

Surf Taco's Tsunami

Surf Taco, known for coastal cuisine with a Mexican flare, has been serving Jersey shore visitors since 2001 and their famous Tsunami burrito has always been a part of their menu.

"The Tsunami was created in 2001 when we opened our first location in Point Pleasant beach," Surf Taco owner Rob Nagel told Patch. "It’s a two-foot burrito packed with chicken, rice, beans, lettuce, sour cream, pico de gallo, guacamole smothered in our enchilada sauce and jack and cheddar cheeses."

The challenge is to eat the four-pound monster, priced at $16.95, in 15 minutes or less. Nagel said over the years more than 10,000 customers have given it a shot. Those who do, get added to the "Wall of Fame" at that location.

Nagel said they have seen it all over the years, but he's hesitant to promote customers getting sick from overeating.

"We recommend sharing this burrito with a couple friends," Nagel said. "But if you’re up for the challenge have at it."

There is one thing, Nagel said, they have not seen in the last 18 years.

"Nobody has ever eaten two," he said.

RU Hungry? Fat Sandwich Challenge

The "grease trucks" surrounding Rutgers University in New Brunswick have been around since the 1970s, but it was Ayman Elnaggar's innovations to RU Hungry? that made the infamous "fat sandwich" a worldwide phenomenon.

For the uninitiated, the fat sandwich is generally some variation of foods such as burgers, cheesesteaks, mozzarella sticks, chicken fingers, pork rolls, marinara sauce, falafel, gyro meat, bacon, fried eggs, French fries and condiments all shoved into one roll.

Most famous on the menu is the "Fat Darrell," which contains chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, french fries, marinara sauce. According to the owner, the fan favorite is the "Fat Romano," containing cheesesteak, egg, beef salami, lettuce, tomato, french fries, mayo and ketchup. The "Fat Filipino," noted as most popular, holds cheesesteak, gyro, chicken fingers, mozzarella sticks, lettuce, tomato, french fries and tzatziki sauce and the original flavor sandwich which is the original "Fat Cat," double cheeseburger, lettuce, tomato, french fries, mayo and ketchup.

These additions to the menu came about in the late 90s and that is when Elnaggar introduced the FAT Sandwich challenge.

The rules are pretty simple:

• Contestants must choose Five Original Fat Sandwiches (three for women)
• Contestant must eat all within 45 minutes to win
• Those who complete the challenge win a free meal and the chance to to name and create their own sandwich to add to the menu.

Rutgers student Emily Szpak beat the RU Hungry? fat sandwich challenge four years ago when she was a sophomore, consuming three fat sandwiches in just 42 minutes, according to The Tab.

"I didn’t train or anything. I was drunk,” Szpak, who was a nutrition major, said in the report.

Brick Lane Curry House: P'hall Challenge

Described as excruciatingly hot curry that is more pain and sweat than flavor, the P'hall Challenge at Montclair's Brick Lane Curry House is a test for even the most daring eaters.

According to their website, those customers interested in participating in the challenge are required to state a verbal disclaimer not holding the eatery liable for any physical or emotional damage after eating this curry.

And that is because the repercussions are real, not imagined.

"A person actually started bleeding," owner Sati Sharma told Adam Richman on the television series "Man Vs. Food."

The prize for completing the challenge is an ice cold beer and a certificate of completion.

Sonya Pinero took the challenge and said it took her weeks to overcome the digestive trauma eating the food caused her.

Despite the pain, contestant Bryan DePalma said he didn't regret the attempt.

"It was worth the temporary blindness," he wrote on the business website.

Johnny G's Pizza: 32" Jumbo Pizza Challenge

Out of all the challenges on the list, this one might be the most Jersey. Contestants have the opportunity to win cash if they can down a giant pizza pie from Johnny G's Pizza in Toms River.

Over 200 people have attempted the challenge, and less than 10 have succeeded and it isn't hard to see why. The challenge consists of eating an entire 32" pizza pie in under an hour.

Mark Gdd took the challenge, and won last year.

The prize is more than a delicious pizza, it is also $250 cash.

Clinton Station Diner: Burger Challenges

There are multiple burger challenges available at the Clinton Station Diner, and they come with increasing monetary awards. The owners note that all challenge items can be ordered from the Bank Street business in Clinton as a non-competitive meal as well.

• Atlas: this is a solo challenge where the contestant must finish three pounds of beef in 45 minutes. The prize is the meal is free.
• Zeus: This challenge can be done solo, or with friends. seven pounds of beef, 15 pounds total must be ingested by a solo contestant in 90 minutes. With a partner, the duo has 45 minutes and with three people the time drops to 30 minutes. The prize is a free meal and $500.
• Mt. Olympus: Now the challenges are getting serious as four people are required to tackle 25 pounds of beef and 50 pounds total in one hour. The meal is on the house if you do and the quad gets to split a $1,000 prize.
• 8th Wonder: This extreme eating monstrosity invited a contestant and nine friends to consume 105 pounds of burger in one hour between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. as it must be witnessed by management. The winning team gets $2,000.

One successful group divied up the portions and the proceeds on their way to victory:

So by now we figure you are either extremely hungry or extremely nauseous, or maybe a little of both. Maybe we’ve inspired you to give one of these a try. If you do, we’d love to hear from you. Or maybe there are some others you think should be on this list. Share in our comments below.

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