Smoke & Barrel has launched the second edition of The Beast Speed Challenge at its Wyndham Street restaurant in Central to celebrate six years of smoking meat in Hong Kong. Running throughout autumn on a walk-in basis, the solo eating contest costs HK$350 per person and tasks brave diners with conquering a massive platter of smoked meats and sides single-handedly.
What is Smoke & Barrel’s The Beast Speed Challenge?
The Beast Speed Challenge 2.0 is an unreserved solo eating contest in Central where diners attempt to polish off a massive, multi-meat smokehouse platter single-handedly.
Named after the restaurant’s massive 1,500kg wood-fired smoker imported from Missouri, the challenge centres on a feast that is normally meant for a group to share. Every element on the tray is smoked in-house, featuring ribs, pulled pork, fried chicken, and signature brisket cooked over hickory for 16 hours.
While there is no strict countdown, every attempt is timed and recorded on a live leaderboard inside the restaurant and on Instagram. The rules are simple: one person, one platter, and absolutely no help from the rest of the table.
Participants receive tangible rewards alongside bragging rights:
- All finishers: Earn an official Smoke & Barrel Beast Medal regardless of their total time.
- Monthly winner: The fastest eater each month secures a HK$500 dining voucher and a Smoke & Barrel cap.
- Six-month champion: The fastest competitor over six months wins a HK$2,000 dining voucher, a cap, and a t-shirt.
- Grand prize: The fastest diner of the year wins a private cooking class at the Pit House for six people, complete with group t-shirts.
The current time to beat stands at an impressive 15 minutes.
How to take on the meat eating challenge in Central?
Taking on The Beast Speed Challenge requires no advance planning, as it operates entirely on a walk-in basis at the Wyndham Street location.
Hungry contenders simply need to head to the Central smokehouse, request the challenge platter for HK$350 per person, and prepare to tackle the tray solo. Because reservations are not required for the challenge, you can pop in whenever the craving (or competitive streak) strikes.
What else is happening for Smoke & Barrel’s anniversary?
Smoke & Barrel is also marking its sixth anniversary with bottled house barbecue sauces for Mid-Autumn Festival and a family-friendly weekend brunch across both locations.
If you prefer to take the flavours home, the kitchen has bottled its signature glazes into a Mid-Autumn Sauce Box (HK$148 for a box of three, or HK$58 per bottle). The set features Hong Kong Lemon Tea BBQ Sauce, Soy BBQ Sauce made with local Koon Chun soy sauce, and a BBQ Chilli Crunch spiked with smoked garlic and Spanish sherry vinegar.
Meanwhile, Saturdays and Sundays bring a Weekend Brunch (HK$300 per person) to both the Central and Sai Ying Pun restaurants from 11.30am to 3.30pm. Families can enjoy a dedicated kids corner with a soft play area, ball pit, and free dining for children under eight, while dogs get their own dedicated pet menu at the Sai Ying Pun branch on Third Street. Optional 90-minute free-flow drinks packages can be added for HK$150.
Essential details:
- Dates: From September 2 onwards throughout autumn
- Location: 1/F–2/F, Wyndham Mansion, 32 Wyndham Street, Central (also at 100 Third Street, Sai Ying Pun for brunch)
- Opening hours: 11.30am–10.30pm (closed Mondays in Central, closed Tuesdays in Sai Ying Pun)
- Price: HK$350 per person for the challenge; HK$300 for weekend brunch; HK$148 for sauce box
- Booking/Website: Walk-ins only for the challenge; brunch bookings via WhatsApp on 5663 4191