My Yoshinoya Gyudon Eating Contest Experience



The gastronomic journey is endless, yet its more delicious than the glutton's destination. This has been my motto for food which makes me love food a lot, and to be part of something cool about food is always a green light for me. This is why I participated in different eating contest in the past to see, if my digestive system is prepped up for the job. Yoshinoya's Gyudon Eating Contest this year gave me an opportunity to much on my favorite Japanese dish, the Gyudon and recently I won in the media challenge along with the 28 weekly winners from different branches which one of them took home 100,000 pesos.


Well, let's back track a little bit to where its started. Last January, just weeks before the actual Gyudon Eating challenged opened in Yoshinoya stores in Metro Manila, we were gathered to have the bloggers' edition of the Gyudon eating challenge with bloggers which are also experts in eating very fast. This pushed me to stick with my technique and with just grams in difference, I emerged as the winner for that edition. That then, I became the representative for the media challenge that will happen on February. 

In preparation  I do have to get accustomed with eating Gyudon one in a while so can chew faster and take in more bowls. I would go to different Yoshinoya stores in the Metro like Glorietta, Mall of Asia, SM Megamall, SM North EDSA, SM Manila, etc. I would also check out the daily and weekly winners which are very competitive, with some eating as much as 4 bowls in 5 minutes! This became more of a challenge to me even I would be on the media part competing with winners in the TV, radio, and print media. I would also imagine that do train themselve somehow.

And on the nerve-wrecking day of the finals wherein all 28 contenders with the 4 media challengers sit in with a set of Gyudon for each is prepared. This time the challenge was 15 minutes which would take a toll on my stomach than my mouth. As a precaution, our blood pressure was taken and medical teams are on standby for any medical problems. The nervousness would also get intense once all of the contestants are introduced one by one. 

With my set of 10 bowls prepared, 3 water bottles, spices and utensils prepared, its now or never. I was planning to have it documented on my phone but I don't have time to set it up, and once we were in the seat, there is no turning back.

3..2..1.. Timer starts...

I quickly grabbed the first bowl and prepared the devouring process. All I am now thinking on  that moment is to eat...swallow...eat....With the first three bowls seems ok for me but it gets heavier and harder on the fourth bowl onward  It was like a fight for my life with the others at their 5th bowls. I tried to look at my fellow media men who is also taking effort to finish their bowls. The bad thing I did was drinking a lot of water which bloated my stomach more and made it full quickly. Actually, one super bowl is considered to be good for one hungry person, add another one and you're already full. Imagine I was grueling on the 5th bowl and never stopped chewing the beef strips. 

15 minutes are over, and time to count the bowls. I don't have the energy to investigate on my fellow media challengers and the other contestants. But the challenge is not over yet because we have to wait 30 minutes more for our bowls to be accounted for and make sure we don't "release" them in public. It was like the longest 30 minutes of my life as I was counting down the time while a musical performance was made by P2BP (Proud 2 B Pinay) in the remaining minutes. 

I'm don't know if I made it to the cut, it all up in the hands of God now. And finally, the announcement came, it was to first award the winner for the media challenge. I would not really pay attention because I am more concerned on how many bowls of Gyudon are in me. And then the sound of victory was heard. I won the media challenge and winning 30,000. It was indeed sweet victory as it will help a lot in paying my tuition fees and other bills. It really felt good, and also proud along with my fellow bloggers who witnessed the event. 

I am also happy for the 3 major winners, especially to the grand winner who finished 8 bowls! I am just amazed with all of the contestants and also made friends with some of them. It was an unforgettable experience of a lifetime, and I do because I really like Yoshinoya's Gyudon which I can say is the best in the country! Until next year, I hope to be part of this again, or will another blogger emerge victorious? Find out next year!    

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