local
Joey Chestnut eats 66 hot dogs, wins Mustard Belt at Nathan's Famous contest
By Safiya Riddle | The Associated Press at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC)
· July 4, 2026
· 3 min read
Crowds gathered in the sweltering heat Saturday to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday by watching famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut defend his world hot dog eating championship in Coney Island, where he downed 66 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. Miki Sudo defended her title as wel...
Key takeaway Saturday marked the 18th time Chestnut, 42, won the so-called Mustard Belt in just 21 appearances at the internationally televised Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog eating contest.
Why this matters in The San Francisco
San Francisco 's own competitive eating enthusiasts likely took notice of Joey Chestnut's 18th Mustard Belt win, wondering how local eateries might capitalize on the trend. With the city's vibrant food scene and penchant for creative eating challenges, it's possible that San Francisco could host its own hot dog eating contest or similar events in the future. The success of Chestnut, a frequent competitor in international eating contests, may inspire local restaurants to develop their own competitive eating events, potentially drawing in crowds and boosting business. As the city continues to evolve its culinary landscape, incorporating competitive eating events could be a unique way to engage with the community and attract visitors from around the Bay Area. With its rich history of hosting eclectic events, San Francisco may be the perfect place to bring competitive eating to the forefront of the local food scene.
About this story
Original reporting by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) . The San Francisco surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
For the complete original report, visit NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) . Have a tip or correction? Contact our newsroom .
Category: local ·
Published: July 4, 2026 ·
Source: NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? Crowds gathered in the sweltering heat Saturday to celebrate the United States’ 250th birthday by watching famed competitive eater Joey “Jaws” Chestnut defend his world hot dog eating championship in Coney Island, where he downed 66 hot dogs in just 10 minutes. Miki Sudo defended her title as wel...
When was this published? This article was first published on July 4, 2026 by NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC) and curated for The San Francisco readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Safiya Riddle | The Associated Press at NBC Bay Area (KNTV, NBC). To learn more about how The San Francisco selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more local coverage from The San Francisco, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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