QDOBA Mexican Eats® Hosts First-Ever World Burrito Eating Championship in Honor of National Burrito Day

Leading fast-casual Mexican restaurant invites Joey Chestnut and other top-ranked professional eaters to vie to become the official QDOBA World Burrito Eating Champion

MILWAUKEE, March 30, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- To celebrate National Burrito Day, QDOBA is hosting the first-ever QDOBA World Burrito Eating Championship on Thursday, April 6, from 11-1 p.m. CST at The Beer Garden in Deer District (1134 Vel R. Phillips Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53203) near Fiserv Forum. In partnership with Major League Eating (MLE), the competition will feature 10 professional eaters, including first-ranked Joey Chestnut, fourth-ranked Nick Wehry and 27^th ranked Eric "Badlands" Booker. Each of them will be vying to set a new world record and become the World Burrito Eating Champion, as well as winning $10,000 in cash prizes. The championship will be livestreamed across QDOBA social channels; fans can join the fun by visiting Facebook, YouTube, Instagram or TikTok at 12 p.m. CST on Thursday, April 6.

QDOBA will debut its World Eating Championship Burrito, featuring fan-favorite grilled adobo chicken, cilantro lime rice, black beans, 3-cheese queso, roasted tomato salsa and guacamole, during the competition. For any create your own QDOBA entrée, the hand-smashed guacamole and signature 3-cheese queso is always free and levels up every meal. Eaters will be challenged to consume as many World Eating Championship Burritos as possible during a 10-minute window. Milwaukee-area fans, foodies and sports enthusiasts of all ages are invited to join the fun. The free and open-to-the-public event for the first 500 people will have music, free food samples, giveaways, activities and more.

"Eating competitions focus solely on quantity of food consumed, and while that remains the goal, we wanted to ensure our quality food was center stage by creating a flavor-forward burrito that both professional eaters and fans would love," said Katy Velazquez, Executive Chef at QDOBA. "It's not every day professional eaters can enjoy freshly prepared guacamole and our signature 3-cheese queso while filling their stomachs! We've always been committed to delivering delicious and bold flavors, and an eating competition is no different."

"I've been a longtime fan of QDOBA as I crave bold flavors that fill me up; the first-ever QDOBA World Burrito Eating Championship will definitely be a challenge, but I am determined to add another world record to my resume," said Chestnut. "I look forward to making Major League Eating history in the heart of Milwaukee's Deer District."

QDOBA's World Eating Championship Burrito will be available for a limited time for online or in-app ordering only from April 6 through April 21. For more information about the QDOBA World Burrito Eating Championship, visit www.qdoba.com/national-burrito-day.

About Major League Eating
Major League Eating is the world body that oversees all professional eating contests. The organization, which developed competitive eating and includes the sport's governing body, the International Federation of Competitive Eating, helps sponsors to develop, publicize and execute world-class eating events in all varieties of food disciplines. MLE-sanctioned eating contests provide dramatic audience entertainment and offer an unparalleled platform for media exposure. Major League Eating holds approximately 70 events annually, including the Nathan's Famous Fourth of July Hot Dog Eating Contest in Coney Island, NY. For more information, visit MajorLeagueEating.com and follow us on Twitter @eatingcontest.

About Deer District
Deer District is Milwaukee's newest neighborhood and is redefining the city's downtown. Anchored by the world-class Fiserv Forum, a preeminent sports and entertainment venue and home to the NBA's Milwaukee Bucks, the 30-acre Deer District is Milwaukee's premier location for people to live, work and play, and is a hub for the city's vibrant future. A year-round destination, Deer District features a myriad of dining and entertainment options in addition to Fiserv Forum including The MECCA Sports Bar & Grill, The Cluckery, The Beer Garden, Good City Brewing, Punch Bowl Social, Drink Wisconsinbly, Fat Tuesday and Insomnia Cookies. Deer District also features a large plaza which serves as an ideal setting to enjoy live music, festivals, outdoor movies, fitness classes and other events. Additionally, Deer District includes GATHER at Deer District, the Bucks' state-of-the-art training center, the Froedtert & the Medical College of Wisconsin Sports Science Center, and the 550 Ultra Lofts apartment building, which are both located directly across from Fiserv Forum. Future developments for Deer District include The Trade Milwaukee, a 200-plus room Marriott Autograph Collection hotel, two FPC Live operated music venues, additional high-end apartments, and further commercial, office space, real estate and entertainment opportunities. For more information on Deer District, visit DeerDistrict.com. 

About QDOBA Mexican Eats
QDOBA is a fast-casual Mexican restaurant with more than 740 locations in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico. Committed to bringing flavor to people's lives, QDOBA uses ingredients freshly prepared in-house by hand throughout the day to create a variety of flavorful menu options. Guests can experience QDOBA's delicious offerings by enjoying one of its chef-crafted signature eats for convenience and ease, or by customizing their own burritos, bowls, tacos, quesadillas, nachos and salads to suit their personal tastes and cravings. Premium toppings can always be added to entrées at no extra charge, including signature 3-cheese queso and hand-crafted guacamole. For four years running, QDOBA has been voted the "Best Fast Casual Restaurant" as part of the USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice Awards.

Backed by over 25 years of proven success in the United States, and recently Canada and Puerto Rico, QDOBA is prioritizing franchise growth in key markets such as Arizona, Georgia, Ohio, North Carolina, Nevada, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas. For additional information about the QDOBA franchise opportunity, visit www.qdobafranchise.com.

Discover more at www.QDOBA.com or on the QDOBA app, which is available for download on the iTunes App Store or Google Play. Fans can also connect with QDOBA on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter and TikTok.

SOURCE QDOBA