World Taco-Eating Championship Returns To Santa Monica

SANTA MONICA, CA — Joey Chestnut, the number-one ranked competitive eater in the world, will be in Santa Monica, California to compete alongside other top-ranked Major League Eating athletes for the second-annual Pacific Park World Taco-Eating Championship on October 4. This year’s competition, presented by Pepsi, will feature up to 15 Major League Eaters from across the nation, Pacific Park announced.

The event honoring "National Taco Day" will set a new world record for the number of Pacific Park Los Angeles street-style carnitas tacos that can be eaten in eight minutes. At last year’s inaugural event, Chestnut demolished 62 street-style carnitas tacos to take the title and set a world record, the Pacific Park press release said.

"Pacific Park’s World Taco-Eating Championship is becoming the premier eating competition on the West Coast and continues to draw the top talent in the field," said Jeff Klocke, Vice President and General Manager of Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier. "We are excited to welcome our new presenting sponsor, Pepsi, who is supporting the efforts of MLE and Pacific Park to engage the top competitive eaters in the world."

The event will be held at Pacific Park on the Santa Monica Pier with a background featuring the world-famous Pacific Wheel Ferris wheel.

Richard Shea, President of Major League Eating, said they are thrilled to be back in Santa Monica for the event.

"Leading MLE athletes are hungry for this title, and Chestnut will be hard-pressed to defend his title," he said.

Chestnut will face fierce competition, including: No. 1-ranked female competitive eater in the world Miki Sudo from Tucson, Arizona; No. 14-ranked Juan Rodriguez from Seattle, Washington; No. 44-ranked Sergio Reyes Raya from San Francisco, California and No. 47-ranked Mary Bowers from Beverly Hills, California.

The event will be Friday, October 4, at 11 a.m. Pacific Park is located at 380 Santa Monica Pier, Santa Monica, CA 90401.