# Eat A Huge Steak - Get Free Meal! **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 2, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566 "2022-06-02T13:33:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 1:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/1 "2022-06-02T13:33:37Z")
“Eating a 96 oz. steak with all the trimmings” to get a free meal was a common enough trope decades ago. A few places were supposedly famous for doing it and it was an occasional tripe in movies, TV and news. 1. Is this still a thing, given legal changes, increased gluttony, professional eaters and increasing beef prices? 2. Do you know anyplace that still does this? 3. Any good stories about it? 4. Was this ever extended to other foods - eat twelve packages of hot dogs? Drink two hundred tequilas? Seems a dicey proposition… ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/2 "2022-06-02T13:46:26Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > increasing beef prices? This one’s unlikely to be the cause, I think - inflation-adjusted beef prices were not on any kind of long term upward trend pre-Covid. [USDA ERS - Chart Detail](https://www.ers.usda.gov/data-products/chart-gallery/gallery/chart-detail/?chartId=76970) My money would be on liability concerns dampening enthusiasm for running these promotions. ---
**Author:** ![solost](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/solost/32/11776_2.png) [@solost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/solost)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/3 "2022-06-02T13:48:03Z")
> [@Dr\_Paprika](#): > > Is this still a thing, given legal changes, increased gluttony, professional eaters and increasing beef prices? Pretty sure it’s still a thing. There was a show called “Man vs. Food” I used to occasionally watch not too long ago where host Adam Richman used to travel to different restaurants either tackling a “eat a lot of (X) and it’s free” challenge" or “try to finish a plate of incredibly spicy (Y)” challenge. He usually accomplished the challenges, if I recall, but it always looked very painful and not fun. ETA: Increasing beef prices may have affected the “96 oz. steak” type challenges, but there are a lot of varieties, like eat a giant pizza, sub, hamburger, etc. I’m guessing the restaurants count on the publicity making up for the loss, plus a lot of people probably fail and have to pay. > **[Man v. Food (TV Series 2008– ) ⭐ 7.3 | Reality-TV](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1342711/)** > > 30m | TV-G ---
**Author:** ![TheCuse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thecuse/32/2854_2.png) [@TheCuse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheCuse)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/4 "2022-06-02T13:59:41Z")
Adam Richman won a Frittata challenge here in Syracuse in 2010. Mother’s Cupboard still runs the challenge to this day, as well as another one for pancakes. Once in a while I get a 1/2 order to go and I get two meals out of it. > **[Mother's Cupboard - Syracuse, NY - Man v. Food](https://www.foodiepie.com/restaurant.php?rst=Mothers-Cupboard-Syracuse-NY)** > > Mother's Cupboard in Syracuse, NY - view the Yelp rating, restaurant images, location/map and highlighted meals as seen on Man v. Food. EDIT: Sorry–link no workie ---
**Author:** ![Turek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/turek/32/18782_2.png) [@Turek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Turek)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 2:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/5 "2022-06-02T14:20:31Z")
> The world famous 72-ounce steak challenge! > > You do not need to make reservation for challenge attempts. When you’re ready, we’re ready! Challenge attempts available during all regular business hours. 72-ounce Steak Dinner Challenge Includes: Shrimp Cocktail, Baked Potato, Salad, with Roll, Butter, and of course the 72oz Steak > **[The 72oz Steak - The Big Texan Steak Ranch](https://www.bigtexan.com/72-oz-steak/)** > > How the FREE 72oz STEAK DINNER legend was BORN and the RULES...Soon after the original Route 66 Big Texan open it's doors in 1960, owner Bob (RJ) Lee was amazed ... ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/6 "2022-06-02T14:25:59Z")
If anyone has ever driven I40 through the west, they’d know about the Big Texan. Billboards line the freeway for hundreds of miles in both directions. They have one on display in the lobby. It’s…yuge. I usually eat there when I am doing a Route 66 trip, but I just get a regular steak. No one has even taken the challenge when I was there. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 2:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/7 "2022-06-02T14:28:53Z")
There’s entire Youtube channels devoted to this kind of stuff. Raina Huang has one: > **[Raina Huang](https://www.youtube.com/c/RainaHuang)** > > Hey everybody! Raina here! My channel is mainly on competitive eating and I hope to entertain everyone with my videos! Thank you so much for everyone's supporting me and I will continue to improve and make more quality videos for everyone!... Or, better yet, here you can search for food challenges: > **[Challenges Archive - FoodChallenges.com](https://www.foodchallenges.com/challenges/)** ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/8 "2022-06-02T14:37:28Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > There’s entire Youtube channels devoted to this kind of stuff. There are at least a dozen channels where women and men do these, typically posting one or two videos a week. ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/9 "2022-06-02T14:43:55Z")
According to The Big Texan’s own website, 87,655 have attempted, and 10,077 have succeeded. If you fail, you pay the full $72 price of the meal, so while they’ve given away $725,544 in steak dinners (at $72; I’m sure their actual cost is probably closer to about $30), they’ve taken in $6,311,160 from the losers. Now $72 is expensive for a single meal, but considering you get a ridiculously huge steak, shrimp cocktail, a baked potato, salad, and a roll, in a full service sit-down restaurant, it actually seems like a relatively good deal. Another couple of sides and you could feed a family of 5-6 with it. ---
**Author:** ![Dr\_Paprika](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr_paprika/32/3042_2.png) [@Dr\_Paprika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr_Paprika)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/10 "2022-06-02T14:53:57Z")
Sorry, increasing beef prices was meant as a joke. I could have put “beyond steak” too. ---
**Author:** ![muldoonthief](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muldoonthief/32/3188_2.png) [@muldoonthief](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/muldoonthief)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/11 "2022-06-02T15:05:06Z")
Man Vs. Food is back on the air, but with a new and inferior host. Most of the challenges have a time limit, though, so he’s eating 4-5 lb of food in 30 minutes or so. But they have no problem finding the challenges across the USA. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/12 "2022-06-02T15:19:55Z")
I generally have seen that food challenges have for years been shifting away from “mass quantities” and towards “Scoville damage.” Every year, somebody breeds a newer, hotter pepper and every year somebody invents a new challenge based around it. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/13 "2022-06-02T15:23:39Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > Now $72 is expensive for a single meal, but considering you get a ridiculously huge steak, shrimp cocktail, a baked potato, salad, and a roll, in a full service sit-down restaurant, it actually seems like a relatively good deal. Another couple of sides and you could feed a family of 5-6 with it. _if the steak is good_. They could use separate, low quality steaks, or be intentionally not caring about how they cook those steaks, or just be a naturally crappy steakhouse, and it would be less appetizing to try to finish one. I wouldn’t attempt it myself, but only because during the pandemic I have started eating mass quantities less so my stomach is smaller and I wouldn’t like a shrimp cocktail regardless. But minus the shrimp cocktail, if I had my buffet stomach back I would be up for it providing I knew the steak would be good. ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/14 "2022-06-02T15:27:35Z")
For the Big Texan Challenge at least, they give you a chance to taste your steak before the contest begins. That way you can get it cooked exactly the way you like, and I suppose reject an inferior steak. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/15 "2022-06-02T15:27:44Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > There are at least a dozen channels where women and men do these I like **Katina Eats Kilos**. She is physically fit, and yet accepts challenges to eat massive meals. > **[Katina Eats Kilos](https://www.youtube.com/c/KatinaEatsKilos)** > > I do weekly food restaurant challenges and food/travel vlogs highlighting exceptional foods and BIG eats around the world! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/16 "2022-06-02T15:30:23Z")
I’ve seen her videos as well. It’s amazing what these men and women can eat and still remain functional. ---
**Author:** ![Thing.Fish](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thing.fish/32/9168_2.png) [@Thing.Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thing.Fish)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/17 "2022-06-02T15:32:01Z")
Just curious; has anyone ever encountered an offer such as this outside the United States? It feels like one of those things that only Americans would think is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/18 "2022-06-02T15:32:13Z")
[![](https://yt3.ggpht.com/LYLsszEzIZmfTkYRtcViLdaShoCxdnd1LPp8PJPYcCqv_OwpLNpMfrXOaaZ3TpxPb-32MW3o1ttw=s800-nd-v1) ](https://yt3.ggpht.com/LYLsszEzIZmfTkYRtcViLdaShoCxdnd1LPp8PJPYcCqv_OwpLNpMfrXOaaZ3TpxPb-32MW3o1ttw=s800-nd-v1) She’s functional! ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/19 "2022-06-02T15:34:08Z")
I meant immediately after finishing the meal, but yes, she’s quite fit. I believe she’s even competed in physique competitions, but has to change her eating plan as she cuts for a show. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Bravo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_bravo/32/493_2.png) [@Johnny\_Bravo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Bravo)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2022, 3:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566/20 "2022-06-02T15:36:06Z")
> [@Thing.Fish](#): > > Just curious; has anyone ever encountered an offer such as this outside the United States? [This guy](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beard_Meats_Food) has no trouble at all finding challenges in England. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/eat-a-huge-steak-get-free-meal/965566.md?page=2)