We tried 'millionaire's bacon' -- the $US7-a-slice breakfast treat that could be the new avocado toast

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

Millennials have heard enough about avocado toast — the dish that sparked outrage last year when demographer Bernard Salt suggested young people can’t afford to buy homes because they spend too much money on overpriced toast. 

Now there’s a new expensive breakfast indulgence that San Franciscans are obsessed with.

“Millionaire’s bacon” is a thick-cut, succulent-and-sweet version of the breakfast staple and it’s increasingly popping up on menus across the Bay Area. Its decadence might make you feel rich, but you certainly don’t need to be a millionaire to try it. The bacon ranges from $US2 to $US7 a slice.

We tried millionaire’s bacon at Taylor Street Coffee Shop in San Francisco. Here’s the verdict.

I love bacon. Here's me eating some that I sprinkled on a cauliflower dish.

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When I first read about 'millionaire's bacon' in the San Francisco Chronicle, I couldn't wait to try it. I placed an order for pick-up at Taylor Street Coffee Shop, which serves the dish.

Hoyul Steven Choi is a local restauranteur credited with bringing millionaire's bacon to San Francisco. He started serving it out of his Pacific Heights brunch spot Sweet Maple in 2012.

A server poses for a photo inside one of Hoyul Steven Choi's restaurants.

The dish quickly took off, and Choi introduced it to his other restaurants in the Bay Area.

You can find millionaire's bacon at Sweet Maple and Choi's other restaurants, including Taylor Street Coffee Shop, Blackwood, and A Kitchen Story in San Francisco; Fred's Coffee Shop in Sausalito; Berkeley Social Club in Berkeley; and Kitchen Sunnyside in Mill Valley.

What makes millionaire's bacon so special? It starts with the cut.

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Choi recommends using bacon cut from the center of the pork belly. These strips are typically shorter and have less fat than regular-cut bacon, according to food blog Cook's Illustrated.

Millionaire's bacon is about a half-inch in thickness -- about eight times thicker than the standard bacon sold in stores. 'It's almost like a bacon steak,' Choi told the Chronicle.

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Source: San Francisco Chronicle

These thick slabs of pork are covered with sugar and cayenne pepper for a one-two punch of sweet and spicy flavour. The bacon cooks at a low temperature in the oven for a few hours.

Millionaire's bacon has amassed a cult of fans in San Francisco.

A hashtag for the breakfast item -- #millionairesbacon -- has over 3,300 posts on Instagram.

There are t-shirts and tote bags to commemorate its awesomeness.

Choi's restaurants post to Instagram and Facebook whenever the item sells out.

I ordered a to-go plate with two scrambled eggs, whole wheat toast, a mixed greens salad, and two slices of millionaire's bacon for a grand total of $19.63. My dog was jealous.

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

Millionaire's bacon starts out sweet like candied bacon jerky and sneaks up on your tastebuds with a hint of cayenne pepper. It struck a good balance.

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

Though it was easy to cut into smaller bites, the bacon was a little tough to chew, like jerky. I was turned off by the stickiness and used a fork and knife instead of my fingers to eat it.

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

Overall, the bacon was good, but not worth the $4 I paid to upgrade from standard bacon. I also would prefer it with a side of mac and cheese and baked beans -- but not breakfast.

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

You can try millionaire's bacon a few ways at Choi's restaurants. At Sweet Maple, where a side order of millionaire's bacon goes for $8, you can have it in a Bloody Mary for $12.50.

The more upscale Blackwood restaurant serves a 'one percenter's burger' that includes millionaire's bacon, a Wagyu beef patty, white cheddar, tomato and arugula. It costs $21.

A Kitchen Story offers millionaire's bacon topped with walnuts, chilli flakes, and cardamom as a side special. A regular side of the sweet-and-spicy treat costs $9.

However you like your millionaire's bacon prepared, it's best shared with friends.

Melia Robinson/Business Insider

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