Television series
United States of Bacon
- Light-hearted
- Dip in and out
A gleeful road-trip series where host Todd Fisher chases bacon creations across America, visiting restaurants and food joints hunting for the most extravagant, inventive, and occasionally absurd ways chefs have found to cook with pork belly. It's comfort food tourism for people who think bacon makes everything better—and aren't shy about it.
If you liked this
Man v. Food2008
Adam Richman visits restaurants doing extreme food challenges and indulgences. Same infectious enthusiasm for excess, same small-town American food court energy, same host who genuinely loves what he's eating.
But The challenges sometimes overshadow the cooking itself, and Adam's enthusiasms can feel a bit much even for food lovers.
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives2007
Guy Fieri road-trips to beloved casual restaurants, celebrating bold flavors and chef personalities. The format is nearly identical—American kitchens, enthusiastic host, focus on what makes each place special.
But Guy's catchphrases and delivery wear thin quickly if you're not already a fan, and the show prioritizes personality over cooking technique.
Good Eats1999
Alton Brown teaches you the *why* behind cooking, making every ingredient and method fascinating. Less about excess and more about understanding food—but the same appetite for discovery.
But The pacing is slower and educational in a way that's different from bacon tourism; some people find Alton's humor dated.
Not sure tonight? Get a pick in a minute, starting from United States of Bacon
The wildcard
Something you would not have found on your own.
Salt Fat Acid Heat2018
Both celebrate American food culture, but this one teaches you to taste and cook like a chef instead of just consuming.
Samin Nosrat teaches the four fundamentals that make food taste good, using simple ingredients and clear science. It's bacon-adjacent—understanding *why* bacon works is even better than just eating it—but it transforms how you think about cooking.
But It's educational and meditative, not sensational or indulgent; there's no competition, challenge, or travel, so the pacing feels very different.
More like this (7)
How to Ruin Diwali: Meet the Parents2026
Meat expert Janos Nenpál travels America celebrating all things carnivorous with infectious passion. If bacon excites you, this goes deeper into the whole animal and the people raising it.
But It's grittier and less glossy than what you might expect; some viewers find it too earnest about sourcing and farming.
Food Network Star2005
Competitive series where aspiring food personalities pitch themselves to judges. You'll see the personality-driven food TV format deconstructed and the kinds of hosts who succeed in this space.
But It's a reality competition, so drama overtakes genuine food discussion; the format can feel repetitive across seasons.
Chopped2009
Chefs race against time using mystery ingredients, which creates real creativity and problem-solving. Different angle on American food talent and what people can do under pressure.
But The basket ingredients are often deliberately awful, which means you're watching people salvage chaos rather than celebrate great food.
Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern2007
Zimmern travels globally eating genuinely strange things with respect and curiosity. Same adventurous spirit as bacon hunting, but it'll push your comfort zone in ways bacon never could.
But If you want food that feels familiar and indulgent, watching organ meats in unfamiliar places is the opposite; slow pacing too.
The Great Food Truck Race2010
Food entrepreneurs compete across cities with mobile kitchens, focusing on real cooking and business smarts. American food culture meets actual stakes and skill.
But The competition format sometimes overshadows the food itself, and the business drama can feel forced.
The Chef Show2019
Same appetite for American food and personalities, but inverted: instead of chasing bacon creations in a car, it invites excellence into one kitchen and lets you watch the thinking happen.
Jon Favreau and chef Roy Choi cook meals with famous chefs, filmmakers, and musicians—less about competition or tourism, more about genuine conversation and craft. You see real cooks solving problems and making things delicious together.
But It moves slowly, assumes you care about the guests' work outside food, and celebrates nuance over spectacle or excess.
Jiro Dreams of Sushi2011
Both are love letters to a single ingredient elevated through passion, but this one asks what happens when you spend decades on one thing instead of hunting for the newest thing.
A documentary following an elderly sushi master's obsessive pursuit of perfection in a tiny Tokyo restaurant. It's about food as a life's work, where every detail matters and repetition builds mastery.
But It's meditative and austere—the opposite of bacon excess. Long, slow, no drama, and if you're not ready to sit with obsession, it feels remote.
People
Cast
Todd FisherHost