Beefing Over Hot Dogs: The History of Chestnut vs. Kobayashi

The Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi rivalry has led up to their showdown on Netflix’s Unfinished Beef. How much do you know about their history?

I’ve always known about the Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest—it’s a Fourth of July tradition, after all—but I’ve never actually watched it or paid much attention to the competitors. I’ll admit, there’s something fascinating about competitive eating but also a bit revolting. Still, I can respect anyone who’s into it. If you had mentioned the names Joey Chestnut or Takeru Kobayashi a year ago, I would have drawn a complete blank. But ever since the news broke that Kobayashi was booted from this year’s hot dog contest, it seems like their names are everywhere.

For those who don’t know, Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi are two of the biggest legends in the world of competitive eating. Kobayashi, often credited with bringing the sport into the mainstream, dominated Nathan’s contest for years, setting world records with incredible speed and capacity. Then along came Joey Chestnut, who not only dethroned Kobayashi but also went on to win the contest multiple times, cementing his place as the new king of competitive eating. Their rivalry has been intense, to say the least.

To finally settle the score, Netflix has teamed up with these two food-eating titans for a showdown like no other. Their new show, Unfinished Beef, debuts today and promises to be a battle royale for the ages. But if, like me, you’re a bit behind on the history of these champions, don’t worry—check out the video below to get up to speed!

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