I lived in Chicagoland for more than 30 years. I’m the city’s biggest fan and a firm believer that it’s the greatest city on earth.
So when I first watched the hit TV show, “The Bear,” I remember closing my eyes and thinking to myself, “this is the perfect love letter to Chicago.”
Between references to our local grocery store (affectionately referred to as "the Jewel") and the actors' perfect nasal accents, I felt like producers finally got Chicago right.
At the center of all this was, of course, the city’s unbeatable dining scene.
Chicago is gritty, welcoming, edgy, and innovative. This odd combination is perfectly wrapped in our many restaurants. Whether grabbing a juicy Italian beef or sitting down at a Michelin-starred restaurant, you’re experiencing Chicago at its most honest.
If you’re a Chicagoan or a visitor looking for a true taste of the Second City, visit these five real-life restaurants that both inspired and were featured in “The Bear.”
In this article
Mr. Beef
Mr. Beef is what started it all.
Though small in size, it made a big impact, inspiring the TV show’s fictional sandwich shop, The Original Beef of Chicagoland, and really, the show itself.
You must try the Italian Beef, and it better be dipped. Top it off with hot giardiniera or sweet peppers. One bite of this mouth-watering beef and you’ll have earned your Chicago card.
Mr. Beef is located in the bustling Chicago neighborhood, River North, and it's a true no-frills counter-service establishment that has long served working-class Chicagoans. While they accept credit cards, cash is preferred.
Ever
The show sends Richie to learn how to run a high-end restaurant at a fictionalized version of Ever in Season 2, Episode 7 (Forks); it also features prominently in the Season 3 finale.
In reality, Ever holds two Michelin stars. Tucked in the West Loop neighborhood, Ever screams elegance, theatrics, and ultra-fine dining. The minimalist space makes room for the extraordinary presentation of food.
For example, one of Ever’s most iconic dishes is the Liquid Nitrogen Hamachi. While the fish is served frozen, it thaws as you consume it, seemingly by magic. While dining here, expect to pay a worthy premium to enjoy an eight- to 10-course meal over 2 to 2.5 hours.
Following your meal, you can meander to the adjoining lounge, aptly named After, to enjoy a cocktail.
Margie's Candies
In Season 2, Episode 3 (Sundae), Sydney ends her personal culinary tour across Chicago at Margie’s Candies original location, located at the corner of Western and Armitage.
For me, Margie’s Candies is one of my favorite spots to ride my bicycle past. Its old-school sign feels like it's beckoning you to sit inside and enjoy a taste of old Chicago.
Open the doors and you step into a bygone era of ice cream parlors. Their signature dishes, the hot fudge sundae and the atomic sundae, are served in staple clamshell dishes. The chocolate poured from the cool metal on the silver sauce cups always reminds me of my grandmother taking me for ice cream as a child.
Kasama
I was lucky enough to live within walking distance of Kasama, a modern Filipino restaurant and bakery, for a period of my life.
Located in East Ukrainian Village, Kasama appears in Season 2, Episode 3. Additionally, Chef Genie Kwon makes an appearance in the finale of Season 3.
Today, Kasama is a two-Michelin-star restaurant. Dinner is the star of the show, and available by reservation only, featuring a modern Filipino tasting menu. Reservations go fast, so plan well in advance. Though if you can’t get in, it’s worth stopping into their bakery. At one point, I was privileged to live close enough to pick up a coffee and pastry once a week.
Lou Mitchell’s
Lou Mitchell's first appears in a montage in Season 3, and is spotlighted in Season 4, Episode 8 (Green). Marcus spots his estranged father sitting inside, a pivotal moment for his character.
Personally, Lou Mitchell's has been a staple breakfast spot in my life. Just a stone’s throw away from Chicago Union Station, I’ve enjoyed countless cups of coffee and egg skillets at this diner-style eatery before commuting to work.
Lou Mitchell's is what a diner should be: friendly service, greasy bacon, and a server who remembers you by name. When visiting, expect good old-fashioned Midwest hospitality, and be sure to try their world-famous fluffy omelets.
The Shortcut
Start at Mr. Beef, the inspiration for the show, and try the dipped Italian beef with hot giardiniera. Cash preferred.
The two tasting-menu stops need advance planning. Ever runs a multi-course dinner in the West Loop, and Kasama serves dinner by reservation only. Book several weeks out rather than hoping for a walk-in.
If you forgot to plan ahead, you can still experience Margie's Candies, an old-school ice cream parlor at Western and Armitage, and Lou Mitchell's for a classic diner breakfast a short walk from Union Station.
