Chestnut's gastric feat at the Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest on Coney Island marked a return to form for the 32-year-old Californian, who saw his eight-year winning streak broken by challenger Matt "Megatoad" Stonie in 2015.
This year, the 24-year-old Stonie fell short, managing just 53 frankfurters to come second.
The women's contest was won for the third time by Miki Sudo, 30, who chomped down 38.5 dogs.
Held by one of America's best-known wiener purveyors, the competition supposedly dates back 100 years.
It is held annually on the July 4th holiday, and pushes America's love of Independence Day hotdogs to a stomach-churning extreme.
Joey Chestnut, right, is declared Nathan's Famous Fourth of July International Hot Dog Eating Contest winner, ahead of Stonie (left) Source: AAP
Competitors slide franks into their gullets while drenching the buns in water to make them easier to swallow, then wriggle around to help the meaty mouthfuls descend into their stomachs.
Chestnut trains regularly, often eating between 35 to 70 wieners at a time, as well as drinking copious amounts of water to maintain his stomach's stretchiness.
He broke his own competition record of 69 hotdogs, dating back to 2013. On June 25, he managed 73.5 dogs during a qualifying round.
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Anyone who vomits is disqualified.
Thousands come to watch the competition, broadcast by national sports network ESPN. This year's total prize purse amounted to $40,000.
Among Chestnut's curious eating accomplishments: In 2015, he ate 205 chicken wings in just 12 minutes, and earlier this year downed 30 gyros (Greek sandwiches) in 10 minutes.
