Some people train for marathons. Others take on something even tougher — a Taco Bus burrito the size of a small child.
Back in 2017, Taco Bus hosted the El Jefe Burrito Eating Championship at our Original Tampa location on East Hillsborough Avenue, bringing together some of the Bay Area’s boldest eaters for one massive showdown. The prize? $250 cash and a year of free El Jefe burritos — plus eternal bragging rights, of course.
The challenge: finish a 2.5-lb El Jefe burrito faster than anyone else — and try to stay upright afterward.
The Results
- 1st Place: Michael Jenkins – 2 min 22 sec
- 2nd Place: Noah Ramsey – 2 min 52 sec
- 3rd Place: Meredith Marsh – 3 min 24 sec
- 4th Place: Miles Ryan – 3 min 48 sec
- 5th Place: Aliana Perez – 4 min 03 sec
Tons of fans, families, and friends packed the lot to cheer them on — and maybe question their life choices — while enjoying a day full of tacos, music, and laughter.
“That burrito looked big on the table, but way bigger once the timer started,” one contestant joked after catching their breath.
Giving Back While Having Fun
The event wasn’t just about bragging rights. Proceeds helped benefit Krewe for Kids and Joshua House, local nonprofits supporting children and families in the Tampa Bay community.
As always, Taco Bus kept it local — good food, good fun, and a good cause.
As Seen Around Tampa Bay
The 2017 El Jefe Championship drew plenty of attention from local media, including:
- ABC Action News – Coverage of the El Jefe Burrito Challenge
- Tampa Bay Times – Tampa Bay’s Spiciest Food Challenges
- Creative Loafing Tampa Bay – Think You Can Eat a Burrito That Big in Under 4 Minutes?
A Taco Bus Classic
We might not run the El Jefe Challenge every year, but it remains one of our favorite memories — a true Tampa original.
Huge thanks to everyone who came out, competed, cheered, or just stopped by for tacos that day. The El Jefe Challenge reminded us what Taco Bus has always been about: community, flavor, and a little friendly chaos.
Stay tuned — you never know when the next big (really big) burrito challenge might roll back into town.