Location: Santa Monica, CA
CHESTNUT TAKES CARNITAS TACOS TITLE!
History was made at The 2018 Pacific Park World Taco Eating Championship and it smelled and tasted delicious. For it smelled and tasted like the 62 Los Angeles Street-Style Carnitas Tacos devoured by one Joey Chestnut over eight minutes of sanctioned competition. The result marked World Record number 45 for the Great One. The result is forever etched into the history books and into the lives of those who were on hand to witness it.
It was not easy. In keeping with Los Angeles Street-Style Carnitas Taco tradition, these tacos were served on two small corn tortillas, tasty roasted pork piled high and garnished with a zingtastic* salsa verde and cilantro, which some parts of the English-speaking world call coriander. Learn something new every day, huh. The double tortilla presented a pressing challenge to all contestants on this day. It would take concerted effort and teeth discipline to prevail.
And so Chestnut did. Bite after bit in relentless pursuit of victory. He would trail Gideon Oji by half a taco at the conclusion of Oji’s first tray. He would take the lead shortly after, settling into his trademark rhythm and never relinquishing command for the remainder of the event. Oji would have to settle for second, after consuming 52 tacos. Congratulations to Adrian Morgan, who finished third with a confident 40. Miki Sudo (37), Erik Denmark (32.5) and the man they call Taran Eckel (32) would round out the money positions. Others ate less. Some were DQ’d, but let’s not dwell on that. Let us appreciate greatness. It is an honor to witness it.
Full results below.
FULL RESULTS! 1. Joey Chestnut 62 Street-Style Carnitas Tacos in 8 min! 2. Gideon Oji 52 3. Adrian Morgan 40 4. Miki Sudo 37 5. Erik Denmark 32.5 6. Taran Eckel 32 7. Nathan Klocke 17 8. Mary Bowers 14 9. Casey Lin 10 10. Stewart Lopez 6 DQs for Marco Gutierrez and Mikey McDonigal
- Zingtastic—a terrible expression or one worth keeping around? It’s hard to tell. I’m on the fence about it, if I am being honest. It’s evocative, sure, but it grates. It describes the salsa verde in this instance truly but it lacks authority and ballast. In the public interest, it is published here without fear or regret.
This contest took place at 4pm local time on National Taco Day—THURSDAY October 4, 2018, at Pacific Park, 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401!
About Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier, LA’s only admission free amusement park, offers 12 amusement rides, 14 midway games, an oceanfront food plaza and beachside retail shops. Signature rides include the Pacific Wheel, the world’s first solar-powered Ferris wheel; The West Coaster, a steel roller coaster that races 55 feet above the Santa Monica Bay; and Inkie’s Air Lift Balloon Ride, the high-flying, family-share kids ride. For additional information and hours of operation, call 310-260-8744, visit www.pacpark.com, follow on Twitter: @pacpark and Facebook: facebook.com/pacificpark
CLICK HERE for more information about The 2018 Pacific Park World Taco Eating Championship!
Become a fan of The Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier Facebook Page.
Follow Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier on Instagram @PacPark.
Follow Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier on Twitter @PacPark.
CLICK HERE to check out Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier’s YouTube Channel!
Become a fan of the MLE Facebook Page
For instant results to all Major League Eating Contests, follow @eatingcontest
*All applicants must be 18 years of age or older and fully acknowledge and understand the inherent dangers and risks associated with participating in an eating contest. The applicant further acknowledges and understands that the MLE/IFOCE coordinates with event sponsor(s) to select and approve eligible participants, and that the MLE/IFOCE shall decide, at its sole discretion, whether an applicant is eligible to participate in any eating event, and/or related activities. The MLE/IFOCE may revoke an applicant's eligibility to participate in the eating contest, or related activities, at any time, for any reason, at its sole discretion. The MLE/IFOCE and the event sponsors reserve the right, at any time, to change any and all details concerning the event, including, e.g., time, duration, location and prize structure.