Fat Jessie's, Dallas

Jessie's Challenge at Fat Jessie's pits you up against a mountain of food that includes 1.5 pounds of cheese steak, six cheeseburgers, a bowl of chili, eight bacon-wrapped jalapenos, five fried eggs, 1.5 pounds of gyro meat, and of course, a basket of fries for good measure. Finish in 60 minutes or less, and your picture goes up on the winners wall; fail, and it ends up on the losers wall.

Still, it's hard to say anyone ever really loses when they eat at Fat Jessie's. That's because the menu is packed with favorites from the owner's hometown of Chicago, including beef sandwiches dipped in au jus, char-grilled burgers, and hot dogs that have been dragged through the garden. Here are a few other stand outs:

• Char-grilled Maxwell polish loaded with grilled onions, mustard, and sports peppers on a steamed poppy seed bun
• The Guido sandwich, which is stacked with spicy Italian sausage, hot peppers, marinara sauce, and mozzarella
• The Ainsley sandwich, a vegetarian specialty that features a cilantro lime avocado spread, thinly sliced cucumbers, red onions, tomatoes, and crumbled feta cheese