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Mega-meal: Giant bowls of pho and other Sydney food challenges

Callan Boys
Callan Boys

Supersize me: the formidable pho at Huong Xua in Canley Heights.
Supersize me: the formidable pho at Huong Xua in Canley Heights.Edwina Pickles

There are big breakfasts and then there gigantic, out-of-control, gargantuan breakfasts for the ages.

Last week The Corner Cafe in Portishead, England, set a gut-bursting challenge to consume a greasy spoon breakfast comprised of 59 items including, but not limited to, six eggs, two omelettes, six sausages, six bacon rashers, six hash browns, two portions of beans, four slices of toast, and a bowl of chips.

Punters are given an hour to scoff the £15 ($28) "Monster Mega Breakfast" which, according to the Bristol Post, contains over 8000 calories (about four times the recommended daily intake). Successful challengers win a breakfast voucher, trophy, key ring, and the honour of having their photograph plastered to the cafe's "Wall of Fame".

Food challenges of this magnitude are popular the first-world over. Clinton Station Diner in New Jersey has a 23-kilogram burger that must be consumed with the help of four friends in the space of three hours. Then there's the Italian Challenge at Mike and Angelo's in Ontario, Canada, where contestants have to eat separate plates of lasagne, spaghetti, meatballs, chicken parmigiana, sausages, garlic bread and a red velvet cupcake within 90 minutes, and with no toilet breaks.

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Closer to home, Sangria in Parramatta was selling what it claimed was Sydney's biggest breakfast in December. If a diner could down a $29 plate of four fried eggs, four bacon rashers, four hash browns, chorizo, grilled tomato, sauteed mushrooms, and spinach within 20 minutes, breakfast was free. The promotion ended in the new year but not before one customer completed the challenge in two minutes, 15 seconds.

For eager eaters in Sydney, there's a number of other spots throwing down the gut-bursting gauntlet.

Killa Burger Grill, Burwood Heights, Rhodes and Carramar

The $35 "Killa Kage Challenge" involves eating a burger with a 30-centimetre diameter within an hour. You'll also have to wash it down with a drink, chips and soft serve if you want to make the 'Killa wall of fame'.

Komachi, Surry Hills

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Komachi's ramen challenge invites you to finish a Godzilla-sized bowl of ramen noodles in 60 minutes. Successful slurpers win $100 and the ramen is no charge. Unsuccessful challengers have to pay $100 for the privilege. Bookings are essential as Komachi only lets two people attempt the challenge each day.

Huong Xua Vietnamese Restaurant, Canley Heights

Fragrant Vietnamese noodle soup is usually a cure-all for any ailments, but not the 2.5kg bowl at Huong Xua which is sure to induce all sorts of belly aches. Finish the formidable pho and all its fixings with 11 minutes and it's on the house. Otherwise, you'll be forking over $17.

The Norfolk, Redfern

The Norfolk's annual "World Famous Taco Eating Comp" celebrated its fourth birthday in December. Players have to eat as many tacos as they can in five minutes. Simple stuff, really. According to The Norfolk's "Ten Taco Commandments" heckling is permitted, but throwing of food is not.

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Cafe New York, Chatswood

You've got one hour to finish two racks of ribs and a plate of chips. The meal's free if you polish it off but be prepared to cough up $84 and have your photo plastered on the "Wall of Shame" if you don't. The rules are also quite stern in the stipulation that if you vomit, you pay.

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Callan BoysCallan Boys is editor of SMH Good Food Guide, restaurant critic for Good Weekend and Good Food writer.

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