Mr. Beef

📺 Season 1 Episode 1 “The System”

🍽️ The Bear creator Christopher Storer spent time working at Mr. Beef and shot scenes both on location at the River North restaurant and in a soundstage recreation of the space. Joe Zucchero, who founded the restaurant in 1979, died in 2023, but his son Chris has taken over and made a few cameos on the show. The Beef may have transformed into a fine dining establishment, but Mr. Beef is still slinging its iconic sandwiches.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Trogo Kitchen & Market

📺 Season 1 Episode 1 “The System”

🍽️ Trogo is the second-floor restaurant inside the Green Exchange building in Logan Square, overlooking the Kennedy Expressway’s Diversey exit. The cafe is home to various pop-ups and used the kitchen for The Bear’s pilot episode.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Roeser’s Bakery

📺 Season 1 Episode 4 “Dogs”

🍽️ Marcus gets inspiration for his Season 1 doughnut experiments by visiting Roeser’s, Chicago’s oldest family-owned bakery, residing in Humboldt Park since 1911. While it’s best known for its custom cakes, Roeser’s offers a wide selection of seasonal treats and is a particularly popular place to pick up paczki on Fat Tuesday.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Ed Debevic’s

📺 Season 1 Episode 4 “Dogs” (mention only)

🍽️ Despite having no restaurant experience, Carmy’s dad was inspired to open the Beef after a friend invested in Ed Debevic’s. Open since 1984, the ’50s-themed diner in Streeterville is known for its sassy servers who dress in costume and sometimes dance on the soda counter. Popular with families and parties, the spot features a huge menu including skillets, pancakes, sliders, and floats.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

The Green Door Tavern

📺 Season 1 Episode 6 “Ceres” (mention only)

🍽️ Located just next door to Mr. Beef, the Green Door Tavern is visible in several shots, and Richie mentions its closing in Season 1 as evidence that the neighborhood is changing. But just like River North isn’t nearly as gritty as it’s portrayed in the show, the bar, dating back to 1921, is alive and well, continuing to serve an excellent selection of beer and whiskey along with classic pub grub. Be sure to visit the Drifter, the speakeasy hidden in the basement.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Gene & Jude’s

📺 Season 1 Episode 7 “Review”
🍽️ Another institution spotlighted: Gene & Jude’s has been slinging red hots topped with sport peppers, mustard, relish, onions, and crispy French fries since 1946, moving from Chicago to River Grove in 1950. Generations of customers have visited the small suburban space to scarf down Depression Dogs and tamales standing up. The restaurant doesn’t have any seats, and it definitely doesn’t serve ketchup.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Johnnie’s Beef

📺 Season 1 Episode 7 “Review”

🍽️ While Mr. Beef is the primary inspiration for the Beef on The Bear, the show also nods to another iconic Italian beef joint as part of the Episode 7 montage. Open since 1961, suburban spot Johnnie’s Beef has piled its signature sandwiches with giardiniera and also dished out hot dogs and charcoal-grilled Italian sausages. Finish the meal by cooling off with a lemon Italian ice.

🔗 Facebook Page
📍 Google Maps

Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse

📺 Season 1 Episode 8 “Braciole” (mention only)

🍽️ Marcus mentions his love for the double-smoked maple-glazed bacon at Michael Jordan’s Steak House in Season 1. The Bulls legend’s Magnificent Mile restaurant is a place to splurge, serving flights of filet mignon and New York strip along with warm lobster tail and 23-layer chocolate cake. There’s even a $75 cocktail made with Jordan’s favorite rye and tequila for those really looking to go all out. There’s also a little ’90s Bulls story in Episode 4, Season 2, with Luca in Copenhagen.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Potash Markets

📺 Season 2 Episode 3 “Sundae”

🍽️ Receipts from Potash Markets and Whole Foods can be spotted in Carmy’s (Jeremy Allen White) apartment, and he’s shopping there when he runs into his childhood crush. Potash has been selling locally sourced meat, produce, wine, and beer in the Gold Coast since 1950. It also offers catering and party platters.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Weber’s Bakery

📺 Season 2 Episode 3 “Sundae” (mention only)

🍽️ Richie is dropping off his daughter, she told him they celebrated her mom’s new promotion with “the good cake from Webers”

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Kasama

📺 Season 2 Episode 3 “Sundae”

🍽️ The first stop on Sydney’s Chicago food tour is Kasama, where she feasts on mushroom adobo, a longanisa sausage sandwich with hash browns, a mango tart, and matcha latte. America’s only Michelin-starred Filipino restaurant, Kasama, offers baked goods and casual fare in the morning and transitions to a tasting menu at night. Chefs Tim Flores and Genie Kwon won the James Beard Foundation Best Chef: Great Lakes award in 2023.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Margie’s Candies

📺 Season 2 Episode 3 “Sundae”

🍽️ Episode is named “Sundae” in honor of the treat that Sydney enjoys at Margie’s Candies. The same family has owned the ice cream parlor since 1933, serving generations of customers who will wait in lines that stretch around the block for a banana split on a hot summer day.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Pizza Lobo

📺 Season 2 Episode 3 “Sundae”

🍽️ Sydney (Ayo Edebiri) blissfully chows down on a slice of pepperoni pizza while standing in front of Pizza Lobo’s takeout window, making sure viewers know that Chicago isn’t just devoted to deep dish. She also tries to poach some workers, catching a break in the alley that leads to Lobo’s kitchen. The restaurant also has a location in Andersonville and both offer large patios with fire pits and bocce courts, serving hot cocktails in the winter and frozen ones year-round.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Giant

📺 Season 2 Episode 3 “Sundae”

🍽️ Verdana French Bistro doesn’t actually exist. The scene in “Sundae” where Sydney visits the restaurant to get advice was filmed at Logan Square’s Giant, and its actual chefs can be seen working in the background. Grab a seat at the kitchen counter or on the patio for tempura trout roe bites, a beautiful plate of pasta, and a spritz.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Pequod’s Pizza

📺 Season 1 Episode 7 “Review”
📺 Season 2 Episode 7 “Forks”

🍽️ Deep dish favorite Pequod’s is featured where it is mutilated to present to tourists dining at Ever. No micro basil is required to enjoy the rich pie, and its famous caramelized crust, produced by burning mozzarella on the edges of a cast-iron pan is shorn away. This location has been around since 1992 and the Morton Grove original dates back to 1970.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Beck’s Chicago

📺 Season 2 Episode 7 “Forks”

🍽️ While cameras never set foot inside, Richie’s entry into Pequod’s in Season 2, Episode 7 gives viewers with a nice shot of Beck’s neon sign. Beck’s is a sports bar partial to Kansas City sports fans with some of the city’s best wings. It’s owned by the same team behind Toon’s, a venerable Lakeview bar.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

The Exchange

📺 Season 3 Episode 1 “Tomorrow”

🍽️ Sydney travels to NYC to try Carmy’s food at his fictional restaurant. This scene was filmed at The Exchange in Chicago. Commonly used for Events and Weddings.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Daniel

📺 Season 3 Episode 1 “Tomorrow”

🍽️ Carmy is seen walking into a New York City restaurant, and being shown how to make dishes by chef Daniel Boulud.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

The French Laundry

📺 Season 3 Episode 1 “Tomorrow”
📺 Season 3 Episode 9 “Apologies”

📺 Season 3 Episode 10 “Forever”

🍽️ Shown in the flashback scenes of Carmy wearing a French Laundry chef jacket. Chef shows Carmy how to de-bone a chicken.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Restaurant Depot

📺 Season 3 Episode 8 “Ice Chips”

🍽️ It’s not a restaurant, but most industry members are familiar with the Depot on Goose Island. In Season 3, Episode 8, a pregnant Natalie needs a solo adventure to replenish C-folds, so she hits up the store… and promptly goes into labor.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Olivia’s Market

📺 Season 4 Episode 4 “Worms”

🍽️ This small grocery store in Bucktown near Damen and Wabansia is a secret weapon for locals who don’t want to shop at big stores. Olivia’s appears in Episode 4, Season 4 as Sydney shops with her niece.
🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Sluggers World Class Sports Bar and Grill & Dueling Pianos

📺 Season 4 Episode 5 “Replicants”

🍽️ Gary is seen in the batting cages at Sluggers learning his wine facts. It was previously revealed that Gary used to play in Minor League Baseball.
🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps

Metro

📺 Season 1 Episode 7 “Review”

🍽️ The episodes montage is set to Sufjan Stevens’ “Chicago” and kicks off with a nod to the singer-songwriter’s performances at Metro music venue. Since 1982, the independently operated Wrigleyville music venue has nurtured local talent and served as a showcase for national and international acts including R.E.M., Lizzo, and Chance the Rapper.

🔗 Visit Website
📍 Google Maps