Unless you’ve been living under a rock, hiding in a cave, or avoiding every form of modern media, you’ve probably heard of the rather popular American TV shown Man vs Food; a celebration of the biggest and best food challenges across the US. From donuts the size of human heads to spicy wings that you have to sign a disclaimer to consume, host Adam Richman has toured the States consuming every kind of extreme cuisine – and now the trend is hitting restaurants across the UK. If you’re a fan of the show (or just extremely hungry) and want to try a Man vs. Food challenge for yourself here in London, here are five of the best …

• Burgers at Blacks, Croydon

Given the name of the restaurant, you won’t be surprised to learn that the challenge here is the consumption of a burger … one that weighs 14lb and contains a whopping 15,000 calories! Affectionately known as ‘The Beast’, Burgers at Blacks offers their patrons the chance to chomp through this champion sandwich in one hour to secure themselves an iconic “I Devoured the Beast” t-shirt (but if you fail, you’ll have to pay the full £40). Vas Herodotou, the owner of the establishment, revealed, “It’s a burger like no other. It’s definitely not for the faint-hearted.” Oh, and just so you know, it comes with fries and a milkshake on the side.

• Fat Boys Café, Croydon

There must be something in the air in Croydon, as our second challenge is also located there! This time, instead of a burger, you’ll be facing off with the Blowout Breakfast, a giant take on the classic fry-up which comes with an entire pack of bacon, two jumbo sausages, two eggs, a whole tin of beans, mushrooms, and a fried slice just for good measure. If you clear your plate, you get a celebratory t-shirt and the meal is free – but if not, you’ll need to cough up £7.75.

• Red Dog Saloon, Hoxton

What we like about this place is the variety of the challenge – there are three options for you to attempt. The biggest is the Devastator Burger challenge, which features three 6oz patties, 200g of pulled pork, applewood smoked bacon and American cheese all topped off which a chunky bread bun. However, if you’re blessed with stubborn taste buds rather than a strong stomach, you could try the Hot Wings challenge, where you’ll be presented with a pile of chicken wings marinated in fresh Naga Viper chillis (for those not in the know, read: very hot). They also offer a Bucket o’ Wings challenge where you can beat the heat and choose your own flavour. What’s the catch? You’ll have to eat 50 of them to come away triumphant!

• Ray’s Pizza, Bloomsbury

Listen up, pizza lovers – this challenge is for you! Tuck in to an incredible 26 inch pizza with your choice of toppings. From simple, classic Margarita to the spicy New York Hot, there’s something to tickle all taste buds on the menu – but even the website itself warns that “ordering 26 inches is a serious commitment!” Unlike many of the other challenges, there are no prizes offered for conquering this cheesy, doughy opponent – just eternal glory.

• MEATliquor, Soho

MEATliquor is a dining outlet with a great little slogan – “Come hungry. Leave Drunk” – but their Triple Chilli Challenge is more likely to give you a bulging belly than a tipsy glow. Consisting of a portion of chilli cheese fries, a green chilli cheeseburger and an enormous chilli dog, it’s a chilli laden feast strictly for fans of spicy, meaty dishes. However, if you’re thinking of taking up this challenge, it’s only fair that we warn you that the current record is an astounding 3.25 minutes – so only those who can guzzle with gusto need apply!

If you fancy yourself as a bit of a Man v. Food kind of guy (or gal) then TableCrowd’s Man v. Food Crowd will be right up your street. It hosts regular dinners that devour some of London’s toughest food challenges. View the Crowd and join to receive updates of upcoming social dining challenges. The next challenge is the Devastator Burger Challenge at Red Dog Saloon on Sat 4th May.

Read other tales of food challenges taken on my our members here. http://tablecrowd.com/blog/?s=devastator