Asheville’s Wildest Food Challenges for Brave Bellies and Big Appetites
Looking to spice up your trip to Asheville? Whether you’re a seasoned competitive eater, an aspiring food influencer, or just someone with a hollow leg and something to prove, Asheville is serving up a smorgasbord of outrageous food challenges that’ll have you loosening your belt and flexing your jaw. Come hungry, leave a legend.
1. The PIE.ZAA 28-Inch Pizza Gauntlet
Location: PIE.ZAA
The Challenge: Eat a massive 28-inch cheese pizza—solo—in 28 minutes or less.
This is Asheville’s sauciest showdown, and it’s not for the faint of crust. At PIE.ZAA, they’re dishing out a pizza the size of a steering wheel, and you’ve got 28 short minutes to conquer it all by yourself. That’s roughly a slice every 3.5 minutes… no pressure.
Win and you get:
• Your meal for free
• A lifetime of “Yeah, I did that”
Lose and you get:
• A belly full of regret (and pizza)
2. Shuck It Like You Mean It at The Lobster Trap
Location: The Lobster Trap – every Tuesday during Oyster Night
The Challenge: Eat as many oysters as you can in a timed window.
This one’s a real shellabration. Every Tuesday night, as the shuckers fly and the live music plays, The Lobster Trap throws down a raw and rowdy oyster eating challenge. No fancy credentials needed—just a love for briny bivalves and a strong gag reflex.
What’s on the line:
• Eat 50 oysters? You get a T-shirt!
• Eat the most oysters? A swag bag and eternal street cred.
• Also: $1 oysters all night, so win or lose, it’s a shuckin’ good time.
3. Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack Wall of Flame
Location: Rocky’s Hot Chicken Shack
The Challenge: Eat 6 Extra Hot wings in 20 minutes—then sit in spicy silence for five more minutes.
You ever wanted to weep while smiling? This is your moment. At Rocky’s, their Extra Hot wings are made with ghost peppers and dark intentions. Conquer six wings in 20 minutes, then sit without water, milk, or mercy for five more. It’s a test of endurance, pain tolerance, and possibly sanity.
Survive and you receive:
• A Wall of Flame T-shirt
• A place on the official Wall of Flame
• Our deepest, most fiery respect
Pro tip: Don’t touch your eyes.
4. The Mega Burrito Boss Battle at Papas & Beer
Location: Papa's & Beer
The Challenge: Take down a burrito roughly the size of a small child.
This isn’t your average lunch—it’s a tortilla-wrapped mountain of meat, beans, rice, and dreams. Papas & Beer is famous for their Mega Burrito Challenge, and if you can finish it in one sitting, you won’t just be full—you’ll be famous.
Complete the challenge and you’ll earn:
• A commemorative T-shirt
• A discount on your next meal
• Possibly, a nap in your car
Warning: May induce food coma and spontaneous pride.