A record run with a very expensive receipt
A Las Vegas man has claimed the Guinness World Record for visiting the most Michelin-starred restaurants in 24 hours, after making it to 28 spots and spending more than $1,000 along the way. The man in question is Joshua Fyksen, a sommelier who has now turned competitive eating into a remarkably organized travel plan.
Fyksen had previously set the record in 2023 with 22 restaurants, only to lose it in 2024 to Indian food enthusiasts Sujoy Kumar Mitra and Rajnish Kumar Tripathi, who visited 25 restaurants in Hong Kong. So, naturally, he went back to New York, where he had set his earlier mark, and tried again.
Planning around reservations, timing and whatever the menu would allow
Fyksen said the challenge was not simply a matter of showing up hungry and hoping for the best. He had to map out the route carefully, taking menu formats, timing and reservation windows into account.
“Eleven Madison Park only offers a tasting menu that takes hours, but if you look closely, their small bar offers a few small bites,” he said, describing how he worked around the limitations.
“I emailed several restaurants that don’t offer à la carte and asked for exceptions,” he continued. “A few said yes, some even agreed to open early to fit me in, but most stuck to their routines.”
The effort began at Oxomoco in Brooklyn and ended at Gramercy Tavern in Manhattan, the 28th restaurant on his list. That final stop was enough to put the record back in Fyksen’s hands.
The bill was, predictably, not subtle
Guinness World Records verified the achievement, and Fyksen did not exactly pretend the financial side was pleasant.
“I can’t even imagine the total cost, including the trip, or maybe I prefer not to,” he said. “But the food alone cost $976.97, plus tips. Transportation between restaurants was another $474.37.”
That brings the total to well over $1,400, which is a hefty price for a day of eating even before you factor in the logistical ballet required to make it happen.
Fyksen also singled out a few dishes he particularly enjoyed: the Jonah crab salad with Apple and Wasabi at Le Pavillon, the Scallop Dumpling with English Peas and Foie Gras at Tuome, and the Tortellini Pomodoro at Torissi.
“Honestly, there wasn’t a single dish I didn’t enjoy this time around,” he said.
For Fyksen, then, this was not just a record attempt. It was a carefully plotted comeback, a citywide dining sprint, and a reminder that world records can be as much about planning and patience as they are about appetite.
