It Took Quite A Bit Of Time For Shake Shack To Add Bacon To The Menu

Bacon is not so much a food but more of a cultural obsession. Very few breakfast meats command the attention that bacon does, and the Maillard reaction is the scientific reason behind this obsession. As bacon sizzles away in the pan, the sugars within the fat content react to the amino acids produced as the bacon browns. This reaction is responsible for producing more than 150 flavor compounds, as well as the saintly smell that is capable of waking even the deepest sleeper on a Saturday morning.

In addition to breakfast, it's hard to imagine the array of burger toppings without the option of crispy, crunchy bacon. But that was, unfortunately, the sad state of affairs happening at Shake Shack for many years. From decidedly humble beginnings (the now beloved restaurant got its start as a hot dog stand in Madison Square Park), the Shake Shack chain currently consists of 377 locations spread out throughout the U.S. and elsewhere in the world. While Shake Shack is known for using wholesome, quality ingredients, bacon was conspicuously missing from the menu for quite some time.

Shake Shack burgers are the stuff of legends, but it took the chain eight long years to offer bacon as an option. While there's no definitive reason why it took so long for the restaurant to add bacon to its menu, it's likely that the decision rested with Mark Rosati, Shake Shack's culinary director. Rosati was there from the very beginning, starting as a manager in Madison Square Park and eventually ascending to his current position. As the culinary director, Rosati is integral to the menu development process, which means he calls the shots when it comes to additions and eliminations.

Despite taking nearly a decade to include bacon on Shake Shack's list of burger toppings, Rosati told the Michelin Guide that the SmokeShack (which is a cheeseburger topped with twice-smoked bacon) is one of two burgers he'd happily eat for the rest of his life. Perusing the rest of the chain's most recent menu iteration makes it clear that Rosati has finally come around on the subject of bacon.

Perhaps in a bid to remedy its previous lapse in the bacon department, Shake Shack now ensures that lovers of this fine food are fully covered. In 2022, the restaurant released the Bourbon Bacon Cheddar Burger, which features bourbon-infused bacon jam (courtesy of Maker's Mark), white cheddar, and shallots. To get the perfect flavor, the bourbon jam is made in-house using bacon smoked over applewood for six hours.

Shake Shack fans can also get their bacon fix in other ways. Along with the SmokeShack, diners can enjoy a bacon cheeseburger featuring applewood smoked bacon over an Angus beef patty. Additionally, you can also opt to add bacon to any burger or sandwich the restaurant offers, including the grilled cheese or the Chicken Shack. With so many ways to customize your order with bacon, it appears that Shake Shack has finally jumped on the bacon bandwagon with the rest of the world.