Krystal Lovers have been enjoying The Famous Krystal Burger for more than 75 years!

Most of you have eaten a Krystal (shame on you if not) but many of you might not know some of the history behind the Krystal Burger and all its greatness. So, as a little end-of-the-week treat, here are 10 fun facts that you might not know about The Krystal Burger. Enjoy.

• The first Krystal Burger was eaten by French Jenkins in 1932.
• The Famous Krystal is not a mini burger but technically a Slider, according to A Hamburger Today, which is defined as: “A thin slice of beef, cooked on a griddle with onions and pickles piled atop the patty. The steam from the onions does as much cooking as the griddle. The buns are placed atop the onions, absorbing the flavor.” Though, The Krystal Company simply refers to its small, square famous burger as a Krystal or Krystal(s) when eaten in multiples.
• The most Krystal Burgers to be consumed in an eight-minute period of time is 103, done by Krystal Square Off IV winner Joey Chestnut in 2007.
• More than 239 million Krystal Burgers are eaten every year.
• Because of the many diehard Krystal Burger fans, the Krystal Lovers Hall of Fame was created to honor customers who have a passion for the brand. Those who are inducted get featured on over a million of his or her very own Krystal Burger or Cheese Krystal boxes.
• If you put Krystal Burgers end to end, it would take 5.5 billion to reach the moon, 184,654,680 to travel around the Earth and 7,750 to reach the top of the Empire State Building.
• Krystal’s introduction of chicken to the menu was in response to the nation’s food rationing (including beef) as a result of World War II. Once the war ended, Krystal went back to offering it’s signature, number one seller then and still today – The Krystal Burger.
• Unlike most ordinary double burgers that simply add an extra burger patty, Krystal took the concept to the next level with its Double Krystal that features double the burger, double the bun and double the toppings for twice the taste.
• The Krystal menu changes throughout the year to introduce new items, but because of it’s popularity, the Krystal Burger is always offered in the first four combo options, making it the most featured item on the menu at any given time.
• Krystal Burgers are sold in 384 Krystal restaurants in 11 states across the South.

All this talk has us hungry for a Sackful. I see a Krystal Run in our interns’ near future. Hey, don’t judge -  they have to stay busy somehow!

Takeru Kobayashi celebrates after winning his fourth Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating title.

Japanese speed-eating legend Takeru Kobayashi defeated his arch-rival and reigning champ Joey Chestnut to reclaim the world hamburger eating title Sunday at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn.

The 31-year-old from Tokyo earned a score of 93 Krystal hamburgers in eight minutes, setting a world record under a new no-dunking rule established this year. Chestnut, of San Jose, Calif., finished second with 81.

Presented by The Krystal Company, the Krystal Square Off is the only world hamburger eating championship sanctioned by Major League Eating.

Kobayashi’s victory over Chestnut today before a live televised audience and a crowd of more than 10,000 puts him back on top of the sport he brought into the American mainstream more than eight years ago, only to see his star fall the past three years following several high-profile losses, including a loss to Chestnut at last year’s championship in Chattanooga.

“We knew today’s Krystal Square Off championship was going to be a battle for the ages with Kobayashi hoping to reclaim his glory and Chestnut defending his two-year reign as champ, and both eaters did not disappoint,” said Brad Wahl, vice president of marketing, The Krystal Company. “Kobayashi’s commanding win over Chestnut proved once again why he is the sport’s biggest star.”

Read more about Kobayashi’s stunning victory on the Krystal Square Off blog.

Take the family down to Chattanooga Waterfront to join all the fun for the Krystal Square Off VI!

Courtesy of KrystalSquareOff.com:

With only two days left until the main event, the countdown is officially on to see who will take home the honor, the eminence and all the glory of what it is to be the Krystal Square Off VI Champion. And while the showdown between Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi, Patrick Bertoletti and all the best eaters is what you’ve all been waiting for, there is much more to come leading up to the main event to help satiate your appetite until Sunday, Sept. 27 at 2 p.m.

The Krystal Square Off VI list of weekend events will also include the World Hamburger Eating Championship Official Press Conference, the “KrystalFest” Tailgating Party, an amateur eating contest and much more. All events will take place at Chattanooga’s 21st Century Waterfront (Ross’ Landing) and are free and open to the public.

FRIDAY, SEPT. 25

2:30 p.m. – Press Conference at Ross’s Landing: For those that need a refresher course from the pros on the biggest competitive eating competition this side of the Mason-Dixon line, head on down to the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship Official Press Conference. There, the top three ranked eaters in the world, Joey Chestnut, Patrick Bertoletti and Takeru Kobayashi, will meet face-to-face for the official pre-contest press conference and photo opportunity. These top gurgitators will make predictions, talk about the new rules and discuss their strategies for winning competitive eating’s most coveted title, its $20,000 cash prize and bragging rights for establishing a new world-record in front of a live audience of 10,000 people.

SUNDAY, SEPT. 27

9:00 a.m. - Krystal Square Off VI Bicycle Poker Run begins.

Noon – 2 p.m. – “KrystalFest” Tailgating Party: Come get your grub, game, and groove on with Krystal as they close in on one of the biggest sports competitions in the world. Activities include:

- Free Krystal Burgers and Krystal Blitz Energy Drink to first 1,000 people
- Carnival games for kids, balloons, Krystal prize giveaways and more
- Live music from 38 Special’s Jeff Carlisi and The Hold On Bruce Lees
- Boat Parade of Competitive Eaters and a stop by Autograph Alley to sign autographs for spectators.
- Registration and Drawing for 12th Man Contest. Must be 18+ and have valid photo ID.
- Registration and Drawing for Sackful Challenge Teams. Must be 18+ and have valid photo ID.

2 – 3:00 p.m. – Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship

- SportSouth Live broadcast begins
- 2-minute Sackful Challenge with four teams of two eaters competing to win $100 each.
- Introduction of eaters by George Shea, Chairman of the IFOCE
- 8-minute Krystal Square Off VI World Championship Final
- Award Presentations

Courtesy of KrystalSquareOff.com:

The biggest names in the sport of competitive eating will go head-to-head and bite-for-bite live on SportSouth starting at 2 p.m. this Sunday, Sept. 27, at the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship in Chattanooga, Tenn. And, for the first time since it’s inception, Krystal Lovers will also be able to watch this same great coverage LIVE ONLINE at KrystalSquareOff.com

Among the eaters set to battle for the $50,000 cash prize purse include defending Krystal Square Off champion Joey “Jaws” Chestnut, three-time Krystal Square Off winner Takeru Kobayashi, the second-ranked eater in the world Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti and nine other masters of mastication.

The live-televised and live online streaming 60-minute special event coverage will include behind-the-scenes footage with the eaters, exclusive interviews and the main event featuring top gustatory athletes tackling the famous Krystal Burger, and for the first time ever, the Krystal Big Angus Burger, a two-handed, all-Angus beef burger. Also new this year is a “No Dunking” rule, making this year’s event the most thrilling event in Major League Eating.

And just in case you miss it the first go ’round, the contest will also re-air on television immediately after the Atlanta Braves game on Sunday, Sept. 27 on FOX Sports South.

For more Krystal Square Off VI live coverage, follow @KSquareOff on Twitter.

On Sept. 27, the city of Chattanooga, Tenn. will play host to the most thrilling Major League Eating event in history as Joey Chestnut, Takeru Kobayashi and all of the world’s best eaters face off for the title of Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship. And thanks to the Chattanooga Convention and Visitors Bureau, one lucky family will get to experience this monumental event and a full weekend of fun-filled activities “VIP” style.

Beginning today, competitive eating fans hungry for the ultimate Chattanooga Family Vacation and Krystal Square Off VI Getaway can register for a chance to win by visiting Chattanoogafun.com/krystal. The package includes:

• Two-night luxury accommodations at the fabulous Sheraton Read House
• One Chattanooga area attraction VIP Pass good for two people at over 40 attractions, including the Tennessee Aquarium, the IMAX 3D Theater, Ruby Falls and Rock City Gardens
• Krystal Square Off VI VIP Access that includes your very own luxury suite “sky box” at the live televised championship, complete with catered food and beverages and the best view of the contest.

It’s definitely a weekend you won’t want to miss, so be sure and register today. The drawing will take place on September 21.

About The Krystal Square Off
The Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship is one of the majors in the sport of competitive eating and the only world hamburger-eating championship sanctioned by Major League Eating, the world governing body of all stomach-centric sports.  SportSouth, the nation’s largest regional sports network, will televise the finals of Krystal Square Off VI live from Chattanooga, Tenn. during a one-hour program.

Get excited! Krystal has released all the juicy details for this year’s Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship. But not so fast. You know the drill. We just give teasers here on Krystalist.com. To get full KSO updates and news, you must visit KrystalSquareOff.com/blog.

Here’s a preview of what you can expect to see:

• A video featuring Krystal’s VP of Marketing, Brad Wahl, giving you the inside scoop on what’s in store for Krystal Square Off VI
• Krystal’s two new major rule changes for Krystal Square Off VI
• Schedule of Krystal Square Off VI qualifying dates and cities
• Information on how to compete in and qualify for Krystal Square Off
• Krystal’s total cash purse prize and list of top twelve cash payouts

Don’t forget, the Krystal Square Off VI World Hamburger Eating Championship will take place on Sept. 27, 2009, on the banks of the Tennessee River in Chattanooga. So mark your calendars now for the big day. It’s an event you won’t want to miss.

It’s that time again – Krystal Square Off Season. Ah, it’s music to our ears. Or is that still the sound of last year’s cheers for Joey Chestnut’s win that we’re hearing? Either way, the Square Off is back, it’s breaking the rules of tradition and it’s bigger than ever.

How so? We’re not leaking all the details here. You’ll have to head over to KrystalSquareOff.com to learn about the official date, talks of two new rule changes in the competition and much more. And, be sure to bookmark the KrystalSquareOff blog to hear about all of the upcoming KSO news, see photos, watch videos and get a behind-the-scenes scoop from interviews with the eaters.

KSO updates will also be available for fans on Twitter. Sign up to follow @ksquareoff and you’ll receive the most recent KSO details in real time as they unfold.

As always, stay tuned to learn more. It’s just the beginning!

We’re less than three weeks away from Nathan’s World Hot Dog Eating Championship, which means that The Krystal Square Off isn’t far behind (hint: think August). To help you get in the spirit, we wanted to highlight the Major League Eating’s (MLE) current Top Ten Eaters on the circuit worldwide. And, for a quick introduction and description of each, check out this article on Examiner Atlanta.

Top Ten Eaters:

Stay tuned for information about Krystal’s upcoming KSO VI to learn about dates, qualifying tour locations, new competition highlights and much more!

To see MLE’s top 50 list and to learn more great eater stats, visit http://majorleagueeating.com.

As host of the annual Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, Krystal has become an avid fan of the famed competitive eating greats and loves to give a shout out when possible. Luckily, we’re not the only ones!

Eat Feats recently posted the following poll: Top Male & Female Competitive Eaters of 2008 and the votes are in. However, after much debate the top spot is still undecided. Nominees include:

Male
•    “Furious” Pete Czerwinski
•    Joey “Jaws” Chestnut
•    Bruce “The Hangman” Pobanz
•    Takeru Kobayashi “The Tsunami”
•    “Beautiful” Brian Seiken
•    Don “Moses” Lerman
•    “Crazy Legs” Conti
•    Tim Janus “Eater X”
•    Arnie “Chowhound” Chapman
•    “Gentleman” Joe Menchetti
•    “Pretty Boy” Pete Davekos
•    Brad “Old School” Sciullo
•    Rich LeFevre “The Locust”
•    Patrick “Deep Dish” Bertoletti

Female
•    Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas
•    Natsuko “Gal” Sone
•    “Little” Tomoko Miyake

We can already think of a few food major-leaguers that aren’t on the list. And, is it just us, or do we need some more women in the game? Tell us who you think deserves the title of best competitive eater.

Take a look at the video below of competitive eating greats Joey Chestnut, Sonya Thomas, Eric “Badlands” Booker and more chowing down at Artie’s Deli’s annual turkey-eating contest in 2005 in New York City.

At only 100 pounds, Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas beat out seven men for the title. Now that’s some stuffing!

Of course, we prefer watching these expert eaters compete at the Krystal Square Off World Hamburger Eating Championship, but on Thanksgiving – turkey trumps beef.

I wonder what these guys will eat for Christmas…

Thanksgiving Turkey Eat-Off

Want to see more competitive eating footage?  Check out the Krystal Square Off competitive eating videos.