For Japan’s top face-stuffer Nobuyuki “the Giant” Shirota, its not just about who can eat the most plates of curry, fried chicken, or natto rice, its also about sharing one’s love of gluttony with fans and followers. “The King of Gluttony” plans to open a limited time noodle shop in Osaka, Shirotaya, specializing in the competitive eater’s favorite udon noodles in a rich, salty-sweet meat broth.
The standard size bowl comes with 16 portions of noodles, costs 4,000 yen ($40) and if finished in under 30 minutes earns the eater a special present. The grand size, double the noodles and the price, is free if finished in under an hour. For the weak at stomach, partial portions will be available down to 1/16 the standard size, or just one serving of noodles, for 600 (about the price of a bowl of noodles at a typical shop).
Shirotaya is scheduled to open on April 25, at the start of Japan’s Golden Week holiday, and will run until August 31. Shirota himself will make an appearance in the restaurant on the 4th Saturday of every month.
This is not the first move to brand himself by Shirota, who has been flirting with retirement. He has in the past endorsed snack foods from FritoLay in their Food Battle Stadiums series, also featuring Tomoko Miyake.
