Amanda Rosenberg / Virtuoso
Cariño's blue corn tetela. The best seats in the house at Loaf Lounge. Daisies' Wieners Circle crossover.
Kelly Sandos Kim Kovacikas Dave Yakir
Six great Windy City dining spots that deserve a “Yes, chef!” – from Mr. Beef to Kasama.
The Bear tells its millions of viewers what Chicagoans already know: The city’s dining scene rolls deeper than a slice of its famous pizza. The stressful but always amusing plotline doesn’t just give viewers ample glimpses of Jeremy Allen White’s biceps (although let’s be honest, we’re all looking) – it lets Chicago’s real-life restaurant world shine on the screen.
Some of the city’s best restaurants act as supporting characters on The Bear, with the show’s fictional characters using their fired-up kitchens, real-life menu items, and impeccable settings. We’ve rounded up a few of those places here, plus some other of-the-moment spots where we could imagine ourselves running into Carmy or Sydney on their days off.
The OG: Mr. Beef
No restaurant is more synonymous with The Bear than Mr. Beef, the inspiration for the show’s fictional Original Beef of Chicagoland. After Joe Zucchero opened the River North neighborhood stand in 1979, it quickly became one of the most prominent among Chicago’s herd of Italian beef shops. Zucchero’s son, Chris, took over Mr. Beef, and his friendship with The Bear creator Christopher Storer helped generate Storer’s initial idea for the show. Since The Bear’s debut, Mr. Beef has become a pilgrimage site for fans, who come for the daily lunch specials: Italian beef – topped with hot and sweet peppers and sandwiched in a French bread roll dripping in "au jus” – plus hot dogs, pizza puffs (Chicago’s version of a calzone, with puff pastry instead of traditional dough), and deli subs.
Cariño's moody, Latin-inspired interior.
Kelly Sandos
Taco Time: Cariño
Cariño opened its doors in Uptown last December, treating visitors to fine dining with Latin flair. Make a reservation for the 12- to 14-course tasting menu or, after 10 p.m., let chef Norman Fenton change the way you feel about tacos forever: His eight-course taco omakase showcases options such as a suadero (a cut of beef from the cow’s middle) taco wrapped in a corn tortilla and tetela (a blue-corn masa triangle filled with duck confit). The experience makes for a great nightcap after seeing a show at the Aragon Ballroom, a five-minute walk away.
Filipino Ingenuity: Kasama
Make like sous-chef Sydney on her epic, restaurant-hopping day off in season two and head for the Ukrainian Village neighborhood and Michelin-starred Kasama. In 2020, spouses Tim Flores and Genie Kwon opened the sleek restaurant with the idea that Flores would make the food and Kwon would bake the pastries. Copy Syd’s ambitious order and get the mango tart, a breakfast sandwich with longanisa (a sweet Filipino sausage) and a hash-brown patty (which must be put into the sandwich before taking a bite), the mushroom adobo, and a matcha latte. Later, a reservation-only dinner showcases the couple’s 13-course, Filipino-inspired tasting menu.
Dig into a decadent slice (or more) of Loaf Lounge's The Bear Chocolate Cake.
Christopher Testani/Loaf Lounge
Dessert Central: Loaf Lounge
In The Bear’s third episode, pastry chef Marcus obsesses over his chocolate cake recipe, meticulously refining it throughout season one. Behind the scenes, Sarah Mispagel-Lustbader, co-owner of the Avondale cafe Loaf Lounge, worked as a consultant on the show, developing recipes for every sweet that viewers see. At Loaf Lounge, Marcus’ pièce de résistance is known as The Bear Chocolate Cake – a moist, three-layer mountain of cocoa slathered in a Taïnori chocolate ganache. Also worth trying: the oatmeal cream pies and vegan blueberry scones.
France by Way of Chicago: La Serre
To match the upscale tone of The Bear’s second season, head to La Serre in the West Loop for a meal inspired by Provence and Saint-Tropez. Opened in March this year, the restaurant’s bohemian, greenhouse-style interior teems with troughs of flowers, ferns hanging from the ceiling, and white wicker chairs. The vibe matches chef Nikitas Pyrgis’ fresh, light food: Order the Dover sole meunière or the Angus beef steak – either way, add a pairing from La Serre’s expansive French wine selection.
Daisies' piled-high pastry case.
Maya Faye
For the Love of Carbs: Daisies
After Logan Square’s Daisies debuted in 2017, it closed briefly before reopening in March 2023 at a larger, improved location nearby. The Michelin-green-starred restaurant specializes in seasonal pasta dishes (with gluten-free alternatives) such as agnolotti with beets and smoked trout roe, plus protein-packed plates of pork loin and salmon collars. Although Daisies is known for its pasta, dessert is a must – the strawberry shortcake is a classic choice. The Chicago-style hot dog croissant – a beef frank wrapped in pastry and topped with a pickle – highlights the restaurant’s collaboration with popular local hot-dog stand The Wieners Circle.
Great Chicago Luxury Hotels
The Peninsula Chicago
A 15,000-square-foot spa, three restaurants, and a rooftop bar with city views highlight a stay at the 339-room Peninsula Chicago. Look closely in The Bear’s new episodes: Scenes from season three were shot in The Peninsula’s lobby and restaurant. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.
Four Seasons Hotel Chicago
The 345-room Four Seasons Hotel Chicago welcomes guests in contemporary rooms steps away from some of Chicago’s best shopping on Michigan Avenue. Book the hotel’s three-hour The Bear-inspired tour, led by historian and Chicago native Liz Garibay, for a proper introduction to Chicago landmarks, with stops at a few of the restaurants featured in the show. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.
Park Hyatt Chicago
Home to art-filled rooms and a lounge with a wine cellar and six-seat sushi counter, the 182-room Park Hyatt Chicago also features NoMI Kitchen, an upscale, Midwestern-style restaurant. A new collaboration between NoMI and Moody Tongue (the world’s first two-Michelin-starred brewery) foregrounds Chicago flavors in a four-course tasting menu. Virtuoso travelers receive breakfast daily and a $100 hotel credit.
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