Is it coincidence that the cheery yellow decor of this South Melbourne Korean-Japanese cafe is almost exactly the same shade as the cheese gracing its bulgogi sausage and egg muffin? We think not. The cult brunch item has been wowing its tribe of fans since owners Eun Hee An and Mei Onsamlee trod the boards at their OG West Melbourne cafe, and they had the good sense to take it with them on their cross-CBD migration in 2024. Its killer combo of spicy housemade pork sausage, fried egg, cheese, onion and chilli jam demands a place in our grateful hearts. 315 Clarendon Street, South Melbourne; @moon_mart_

A maximalist approach defines the search engine marketing at this Albert Park fave named after a Paul Kelly song. The beef sausage and egg is standard, but then you can add tomato, bacon, cheese and tomato relish, should you desire. And you should desire. There’s also the option of adding fries, which is a bold philosophical take on the adage, “Start the day the way you mean to finish it”. Bonus points for excellent coffee here. Grab a seat in the sun and soak up an immense sense of satisfaction before walking it all off at nearby Port Melbourne beach. 84 Bridport St, Albert Park; @leapsandboundsalbertpark

Con Christopolous’ newie burst out of the blocks with a take-no-prisoners approach to beer-friendly dining and a positive attitude towards the BFD (breakfast for dinner) movement. The foodie’s equivalent of a club banger, the egg and cotechino sausage muffin here is like a Fergus Henderson fever dream: the ultra-porky meat is pan fried, topped with Comté cheese and a fried egg, popped between two toasted slices of the house-baked English muffin and dressed with tomato ketchup. Pickled green tomatoes perch on the side for picking at daintily between bites, or shoving inside the whole delightfully messy melange. 380 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne; @lepubmelbourne

Even the top end of town isn’t immune to the charms of the sausage and egg muffin. At this hardworking Spring Street hangout, the sausage patty is made in house, the cheddar cheese is molten perfection and the fried egg has just a bit of looseness to the yolk so you won’t ruin your white shirt if you’re eating on the run. Add a tangy house sauce and a buttered English muffin, and it’s happy days for the pollies and public servants, who might also pimp it up with a sneaky hash brown. 215 Spring St, Melbourne; andacafe.com.au

It’s all about the ‘bazzinga’ sauce. This punchy blend of mayo, chilli paste, fried shallots, spring onion, dill and tarragon elevates Warkop’s take on the sausage and egg muffin from familiar to seriously craveable. Built on a house-made sausage patty and fried egg, it’s a nostalgic nod to comfort food with a bold Indonesian twist. From Barry Susanto and Erwin Chandra’s homesick Indo-inspired menu, this is the kind of breakfast that hits every note. Adding cheese will cost you a couple of extra bucks, but it’s an easy yes from us. Every time. Multiple locations; warkop.com.au

So you think all the news coming out of the United States is depressing? Pause to consider the offerings at this old-school take on the American-style diner. Park yourself in a booth for a toasted muffin sandwiching sausage, cheese and folded egg (think of a cross between scrambled and an omelette). It’s totally sound, but it’s the tangy addition of a bacon chutney that makes it all zing. Go the full Elvis and swap the muffin out for the house-baked cheese biscuits. Get a side order of bacon and MacGyver your own extra happiness. Shop 2/130 Lonsdale St, Melbourne; operatordiner.com.au

When you’re looking for an elevated dupe of a certain fast food behemoth’s breakfast muffin, there’s none better than Hector’s. The sausage muffin here is based on the fundamentals of a fluffy toasted English muffin, a juicy and herby sausage patty with a hint of spice, a smothering layer of melted American cheese and the house dill mayonnaise that lifts it into an order you can truly be proud of. Go crazy and add bacon as well, if you dare. But be sure to get there early(ish) to avoid disappointment: it’s available only on the brekky menu until 10.30am. Multiple locations; hectorsdeli.com.au

You’ll have to track this food truck down on its wanderings around Melbourne and country Victoria – special mention for keeping morning-after spirits high at events like the Queenscliff Music Festival – but it’s worth the mileage to sink the incisors into one of their sausage and egg muffins – AKA, the ‘Fugmuffin;. The sausage is pork and fennel, the cheese is American and gloopy, and there’s fried mortadella in there as well. Just to finish off any pretentions that this is good for you, there’s whipped maple butter bringing it all home. An outstanding effort from a hangover-busting crew. Multiple locations; @fugazi_pizza

The baseline breakfast muffin at this hipster hang doesn’t officially contain sausage – it’s simply a folded egg roll with American cheese and house sauce on a milk bun. Rather, the idea is that you can go to town customising your muffin to your heart’s content. There’s a sausage patty in the offing here, and a beef patty, yes. But there’s also the tantalising option to add mortadella, or pastrami, or bacon. Or why not commit wholeheartedly to the carnivorous cause and pile them all on, plus a hash brown? There’s no judgment here, and no rules, so you do you. 316 Smith St, Collingwood; hificollingwood.com.au

Prahran Market’s dual personality – it’s a place to do the weekly shop, but also to stuff your face while doing so – took a quantum breakfast leap with the opening last year of Nouns on its Market Square. Its owners are behind venues like Leonards House of Love and Frankie’s Tortas and Tacos, so you can trust them to go down and dirty in style. To wit, the Muffin Top: sausage patty, cheese, burger pickles, a fried egg with a bit of yolky run and a soft and fluffy toasted bun. Its supersized sibling, the Mighty Market, goes the extra mile with bacon and beer-soaked onions. Prahran Market, 163 Commercial Rd, South Yarra; @nounshamburgers