After binging The Bear, fans inevitably ask: Can I eat at The Original Beef? Is there a real restaurant? Where was it filmed?
The answer is complicated—like most things about Chicago beef.
The Short Answer
No, The Original Beef of Chicagoland is not a real restaurant. It's a fictional creation for the show.
- The building is real (and you can visit)
- The restaurant style is absolutely real
- Many Chicago beef stands inspired the show
- You can absolutely eat food like this all over Chicago
The Filming Location
The exterior shots of The Original Beef were filmed at Mr. Beef on Orleans, a legendary Italian beef stand in Chicago's River North neighborhood.
Address: 666 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654
Mr. Beef has been serving Chicago since 1979. It's the real deal—a working beef stand that existed long before The Bear. The show's crew would film exteriors there, though interiors were shot on a soundstage.
Can you eat there? Yes! Mr. Beef is open and serving. Expect a line after The Bear's success. The food is excellent—and the vibes are 100% authentic Chicago beef stand.
Real Restaurants That Inspired The Bear
Creator Christopher Storer grew up in Chicago. The show draws from real places:
Mr. Beef on Orleans: The exterior location. A Chicago institution.
Al's Beef: Multiple locations. Often cited as Chicago's best. Open since 1938.
Johnnie's Beef: Elmwood Park. Cash only, no seating, absolutely legendary.
Portillo's: The chain that introduced Italian beef to the masses. Not as "authentic" but consistently good.
The Publican: The fine dining energy of Carmy's previous life mirrors restaurants like this Fulton Market spot.
The Bear's magic is mixing beef-stand chaos with fine-dining precision. That combination is pure fiction—but both worlds it draws from are very real.
Where to Actually Eat Italian Beef
If The Bear made you hungry, here's your Chicago beef itinerary:
- Johnnie's Beef (Elmwood Park)
- Al's Beef (Multiple locations - Taylor St is the original)
- Mr. Beef on Orleans (yes, THE location)
- Get it dipped (wet)
- Add hot giardiniera
- Eat over the counter (it will drip)
- Have napkins ready
Outside Chicago: Italian beef is harder to find elsewhere. Portillo's has expanded to some other states. Otherwise, you'll need to make it yourself (see our recipe guide).
What About The Bear Restaurant?
In the show, The Original Beef transforms into "The Bear"—a fine dining restaurant.
This transformation represents something real about Chicago's food scene. Neighborhoods like Fulton Market have seen blue-collar spaces become high-end destinations. The tension between old Chicago and new Chicago is real and ongoing.
- Alinea (if you want truly wild fine dining)
- Girl & The Goat
- Blackbird (RIP)
- Monteverde
The show captures something true: Chicago's food scene is world-class, whether you're at a beef stand or a Michelin-starred tasting menu.
The Takeaway
The Original Beef isn't real—but the world it represents absolutely is. Chicago's beef stands are institutions. The fine dining scene is thriving. The tension between tradition and innovation, family and ambition, the old neighborhood and the new money? That's the most real thing about The Bear.
Next time you're in Chicago, skip the tourist traps and find a beef stand. Order it wet with hot. Stand at the counter. Let it drip. That's the real Bear experience.