Millionaire's Bacon: The Savory Treat Taking San Francisco by Storm

This indulgent dish of thick-cut, sugar-coated bacon is a brunch favorite with a complex sweet-and-spicy flavor profile.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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Millionaire's bacon, a decadent take on the breakfast staple, has become a cult favorite in San Francisco's brunch scene. This dish features thick-cut bacon coated in a blend of brown sugar, spices, and seasonings, then slow-cooked to create a chewy, caramelized texture. The dish was first introduced in 2012 at Sweet Maple restaurant and has since inspired a variety of copycat recipes, including Snoop Dogg's "Billionaire's Bacon." Millionaire's bacon offers a sophisticated flavor profile that balances sweetness and spice, making it a unique and indulgent treat.

Why it matters

Millionaire's bacon represents a growing trend in the food industry towards more indulgent, elevated takes on classic dishes. Its popularity in San Francisco, a hub of culinary innovation, highlights the city's reputation for embracing unique and flavorful food experiences. The dish's success has also inspired a wave of copycat recipes, showcasing its broad appeal and the public's appetite for this savory-sweet bacon creation.

The details

Millionaire's bacon is distinguished from traditional candied bacon by its thicker cut, around 1/2 inch, and its more complex flavor profile. The bacon is cooked at a low temperature for an extended period, allowing the sugar to fully caramelize without burning the spices. This slow-cooking method results in a chewy, jerky-like texture rather than a crispy finish. Sweet Maple, the restaurant that first introduced the dish, offers four flavors: original, citron (orange and sea salt), cinnamon and chipotle, and savory rosemary, giving diners a range of options to explore the dish's versatility.

  • Millionaire's bacon was first introduced in 2012 at Sweet Maple restaurant in San Francisco.
  • In 2020, Sweet Maple owner Hoyul Steven Choi spoke with SFGate about the dish's unique preparation and ingredients.

The players

Sweet Maple

A San Francisco restaurant that first introduced millionaire's bacon in 2012 and offers four flavors of the dish.

Hoyul Steven Choi

The owner of Sweet Maple restaurant, who provided insights into the preparation and ingredients that make millionaire's bacon a unique and indulgent dish.

Snoop Dogg

The rapper who has created his own version of the dish, called "Billionaire's Bacon," which includes brown sugar and chili flakes.

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What they’re saying

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee (Instagram)

The takeaway

Millionaire's bacon's success in San Francisco highlights the city's reputation for culinary innovation and the growing public demand for indulgent, elevated takes on classic dishes. The dish's complex flavor profile and unique preparation method have inspired a wave of copycat recipes, showcasing its broad appeal and the potential for other restaurants and home cooks to create their own versions of this savory-sweet bacon treat.