In 1998, Denny's Beer Barrel Pub in Clearfield, Pennsylvania, introduced the World's Largest Hamburger, a six-pound giant (including fixin's and bun), as a regular menu item. 853 people have ordered it since then, but only one has finished it.

Then, early this year, Denny's lost its title. The Clinton Station Diner in Clinton, NJ, introduced "Zeus," a hamburger that more than doubled the championship size to 12.5 pounds.

Now Denny's has recaptured the crown. Its Beer Barrel Belly Buster tips the scales at a terrifying 15 total pounds (for a sense of scale, it's equivalent to 42 McD's Quarter Pounders with Cheese). It is so huge that not even Denny's can imagine any one person eating it, so the rules for consumption are that any two people who can eat it within a three-hour period will get it for free. Denny's has sold two thus far, but neither team came anywhere near to conquering this new Everest of meat.

Update - June 2006: The record was broken by Fuddruckers Restaurant in May, at Foxwoods Casino in Ledyard, CT. They grilled up the "Largest Commercially Available Hamburger" that, when cooked, weighed 29 lbs., 9 ounces.

[05/08/2005]