• 22 contestants competed in a weird rotisserie chicken-eating contest on a Brooklyn sidewalk, drawing a lively crowd and plenty of attention.
• Winner Robert McGee devoured a whole chicken in under 7 minutes, then immediately ate a full cheese pizza and took home $500 and a golden chicken trophy.
• The quirky event, organized by viral brand Old Jewish Men of New York, boosted local business and is quickly becoming a beloved Brooklyn tradition. The weird spectacle was a hit.

Only in New York could a battle for poultry supremacy stop foot traffic on a Sunday afternoon. On a sunlit Brooklyn sidewalk, chaos clucked to life as 22 determined contestants gathered for the second annual Rotisserie Chicken-Eating Contest, an absurd but oddly mesmerizing display of carnivorous commitment, focusing on weird rotisserie chicken-eating tactics.

Hosted by the cheekily irreverent lifestyle brand Old Jewish Men of New York, the event transformed an ordinary stretch of Seventh Avenue outside Roma Pizza into a stage for one of the most outrageous food face-offs the city has seen. And in a surprising twist, the man who devoured his way to victory followed up his feat with an entire cheese pizza — as if downing a whole Costco rotisserie chicken wasn’t enough of a stomach-stretcher.

From Sidewalk Gimmick to Urban Tradition

What started as a quirky idea born from TikTok videos has morphed into a local tradition with an unmistakable Brooklyn flair. Weird rotisserie chicken-eating has become a hallmark of these events.

Organizer and Park Slope resident Noah Rinsky, the 36-year-old brains behind Old Jewish Men, stood proudly among the crowd, surveying the madness he had sparked. “Rotisserie chicken is the people’s meat,” he quipped, gesturing to the $4.99 Costco birds that served as the centerpiece of the competition. “It’s cheap, it’s satisfying, and let’s face it — everyone has a rotisserie chicken memory.”

Rinsky’s content has garnered millions of views, with followers apparently sharing his passion for this humble bird. “There’s a kind of fandom around it,” he explained, still slightly baffled by the poultry frenzy. “One video led to another, and here we are — turning a street corner into a stage for chicken combat.”

A Crowd-Pleasing Carnival of Chaos

The scene was equal parts absurd and electric. Onlookers laughed, cheered, and recorded every greasy bite as participants tackled the birds with gusto, tearing through crispy skin and tender meat under the hot July sun. Napkins flew, chicken grease glistened, and the unmistakable scent of roasted poultry filled the summer air.

Despite its silliness, the event wasn’t just for laughs. With corporate sponsors like antacid brand Quellix, neighborhood pet supply giant Petco, and even online prediction market Kalshi jumping on board, the event had the markings of a legitimate — albeit eccentric — New York tradition in the making.

Unfortunately, Kalshi’s hopes of allowing spectators to wager on the contest didn’t pan out. “The SEC didn’t approve betting on competitive chicken consumption,” Rinsky said with a wry smile. “We’re not Vegas — yet.”

The Chicken Stars of Brooklyn

One familiar face in the crowd was 73-year-old Brooklyn actor David Roffe, another Old Jewish Men regular who has recently become something of a local celebrity. Wearing a t-shirt emblazoned with a Costco chicken barcode, Roffe proudly talked about his YouTube series The Chicken Show, where he interviews city personalities — including NYC Comptroller Brad Lander, social media star New York Nico, and even ex-Congressman Anthony Weiner — all over plates of roast chicken.

“It’s more than just food,” Roffe insisted. “Chicken brings people together. And also, let’s be honest — it’s a hilarious way to get noticed.”

Victory, Pizza, and Public Praise

After just six minutes and 44 seconds of intense chewing, gnawing, and swallowing, the crowd erupted. Standing over the remains of his Costco conquest was 35-year-old Robert McGee from Far Rockaway, the new champion of this deliciously ridiculous showdown.

“I’ve been training all week,” McGee confessed, grinning through a light sweat. His training regimen? Chicken wings — lots of them. “I’m just glad I didn’t choke.”

Though he missed last year’s record of finishing in under five minutes — set by legend-in-the-making Danny Moriarty — McGee secured his spot in chicken history. His prize? A golden chicken trophy, a crisp $500 bill, and a fresh cheese pizza from Roma Pizza, which he wasted no time inhaling

“I’ll put the money in savings,” he shrugged. “But that pizza? That was always part of the dream.”

The Heat, the Meat, and the Mystery

While McGee’s time fell short of last year’s record, some blamed the weather — or possibly the bird itself. “The white meat seemed tougher this year,” Rinsky observed, hinting at a possible conspiracy in the consistency of Costco chickens. “They’re all supposed to be standard, but who knows? Maybe we got a super bird.”

Whatever the reason, the weird rotisserie chicken-eating crowd didn’t seem to care. Applause, laughter, and delighted screams echoed down the block as the event wrapped up. Some attendees even began talking about next year’s competition before this one had ended.

A Boost for Business, A Win for Brooklyn

For Phil Castellano, whose family has owned Roma Pizza for over four decades, the chicken-eating chaos was more than just entertainment — it was good for business.

“This brought a lot of life to the block,” Castellano said, beaming. “People come in for a slice, hang around for the contest, then stay and shop. Events like this keep the neighborhood vibrant.”

That vibrancy was on full display Sunday, with strangers becoming fast friends over shared laughs and dripping chicken grease. Kids watched wide-eyed, elderly locals shook their heads in amused disbelief, and tourists stumbled into what must have seemed like a fever dream of New York eccentricity.