Hungry Brain

A hidden gem in the middle of Chicago. Great dj play here and the atmosphere is coool

Amazing place for real jazz and great beer. Thank you guys!

I go here every other month for the Wild & Sublime programs. It's a comfortable spot with a great bar.

Super chill place to see some jazz, with excellent sound. Excellent bartender, small but choice selection of beers, great cocktails.

What a fun little spot! We loved our date night here. Great music, casual crowd. Will come back!

Very cute little venue, and if you like jazz and piano, this is a place you'll enjoy. Very cozy, so prepare for close quarters. You'll want to arrive early, as seating is quite limited. Definitely worth a visit!

Love this place. My first time there was for jazz night - a rotating cast of extremely talented players just shredding song after song. I was incredulous when someone asked if I wanted to jam. I play a little jazz, but being nowhere near the level of these players, I declined, content to just listen. Great ambiance, intimate setting, I keep coming back for more.

Excellent place for live music. Drinks are good, place spacious

I was at Brick town sound party! Good music people filling floor. One of my favorite place

Prepare yourself for a snug experience at this charming small setting perfect for jazz and piano enthusiasts. Be sure to come early as seating is restricted. It's definitely a must-visit place if you appreciate a cozy atmosphere.

great local spot... a family member's show thankfully led me here--when i've lived in the area for years. sadly didn't visit sooner but will now always keep in mind. they were out of a few drink ingredients but i still really enjoyed my visit - love the chalkboard menu and intimate setting for a show. can't wait to hang out in the beer garden on cooler evening.

Was invited to see band play here with group of friends and loved it. Open and spacious bar with plenty of seating and reasonable drink pricing. Great sound and had awesome crowd!

I've only been here once and as I live in Palos Heights I'm unlikely to become a regular. With that said. It is the best music venue I've been to! The bar staff is super friendly and helpful. I'm looking forward to returning November 18 for really special show featuring some of the best Chicago singer/songwriters.

Never knew this place existed as I used to come to this area somewhat frequently in the early 2000s and the later part of the decade as well. I recently came by as I was invited here for a date. Im glad she chose this spot as I really enjoyed myself here. First off, there is an 80+ year old man by the name of Erwin Helfer and he is excellent on the piano...seriously check him out! The drinks here are awesome as I had the Last Rites which includes mezcal, green chartreuse, cherry cordial and lime...very awesome! The awesome lady behind the bar with the puffy afro was very cool. Very intimate setting here and a good place for dates as well as groups.

We stopped by on a Tuesday night for our date night, to my surprise this was a cozy dimly lit space for jazz. Bar is cash only but has a decent selection of craft beers. Lovely broken in seating, tables, everything to ensure the jazz musicians receive your full attention. 100% will be coming back for more boogie woogie

Everyone raves the Hungry Brain and we needed a place to have a drink and digest the show we just stepped out of at Beat Kitchen so we walked on over. We noticed as we walked in that there was a jazz band playing. We found a table, sat down, used the bathroom, went to the ATM, went to the bar, waited a long while to be served, got advice from a patron sitting at the bar to "jump in or we may get ignored", even though it was pretty chill in there, and then noticed our table was taken. We decided to sit at the bar. So, we finally had our drinks, sat down, and then a guy went around the room and asked everyone for a ten dollar cover. About 10 seconds later, the band took a break. I thought it was an interesting practice to ask for a cover after people were settled in, because we for sure would not have gone in if someone at the door was asking for a cover.

IPA on tap? Check Brain motif? Check Awesome bartenders? Check Good music? Check Completely great? Check Five checks, five stars, end of review.

Come on Tuesday night around 7:30. Unmetered parking on Belmont. Yay! Inside, there is a stage, a drum kit, microphones, and a baby grand piano. For the first set of the evening, Erwin Helfer sits at the keyboard in a listening environment. No one talks while he plays. Yay again!! He gives some background about the song he'll play next. It might be one of his originals, or something from the Duke Ellington songbook, or Stephen Foster with a boogie woogie touch. Whatever it is, it's going to be great. Also, the price is fantastic: Free.

I love this place - from their wonky assortment of furniture right down to their $4.50 craft beers (decent selection I may add). Jukebox has a nice selection of classic and indie tunes. But watch it - it only takes ones and fives. Don't even dream of putting a ten in there. You're not getting anymore plays than you would for a fiver, but you're losing your full ten spot. Believe that. (Special thanks to the bartender who gave us five bucks to make up for our jukebox loss) My favorite Roscoe Village dive bar - and really my favorite Roscoe Village bar in general.

I was pleased with the place overall. They only accept cash, so it limited the drinking I did here. There was jazz on Tuesday! Tables were newish. I was pleased with my Founders Breakfast stout. I don't normally come to Roscoe Village, now I'm curious what else I've been missing. The place doesn't have a sign, don't let it scare you away.

Something off of the Sundance Channel. That's what I thought when I first visited this dark, 80's retro low-key bar, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. It's so easy to drive or walk right by this humble little bar and that's really a shame if you don't get to experience this gem. After partying near boystown, a good friend introduced me to this cute little cash-only bar just a few doors east of Western on Belmont. We were warmly greeted by Luz, who went ouf her way to help us pick special beers. And make NO mistake about it, it's all about the quality beer selection on draught and in bottles. They don't serve food but encourage you to bring your own or have it delivered to the bar. Sometimes the "Tamale Guy" shows up. They're like the everyday person's version of Hopleaf Bar. The prices are very affordable here and on some nights you have to keep your mouth closed when there's a live band playing, because people want to hear the music... not your puffed up convo. Take it outside!

This is a love note, not a review. 2015 was coming to a close and I spotted the bartender. RA!!! It was her first night on the job and she had on these high-waisted jeans. RA!! Girl, you don't need to make an old fashioned because you are all the sugar I need. RA!! No, but seriously, where is my cocktail? If you read this, girl of my dreams, I want to hold your hand. 2016 is already a success because I know you're out there for me. RA!!

Come for the booze. Stay to get your brain fed. I was first introduced to Hungry Brain a few years back when an old friend did readings there every so often. It was a great place that promoted community, culture, art, and booze. Unfortunately it closed. I was deeply heartbroken and I knew that the world would surely end. Luckily, every creative person's favorite dive bar has since reopened and the world hasn't ended. Huzzah! I've been back a few times since reopening and have had more than my share of amazing performances from local musicians. I've also drank my weight in Steigl beer. It's fantastic to see that this Chicago staple has had a new lease on life. Sadly, they don't have draft beer anymore but they have decent can and bottle choices. I suggest ordering a cocktail because they usually make them strong, but not overwhelming. They place is still BYOF so bring in whatever you want to eat as you drink. The new staff is just as friendly and engaging as the old staff. I do miss the old look of the place with all the random chairs and string lights. However, the new look is very neat. I highly recommend this place if you want to check out live music in a very intimate environment. I'm done gushing over this place now. So now go check it out.

The best bar in Chicago that's all you'll ever need to know the rest is magic to be witnessed and time to declare as history. Blessed to have had that community when I was local, forever has my heart.

We stopped in on a Sunday night for jazz. It's a pretty laid back vibe and intimate space with a small stage. There was a 'suggested' cover. The bartender was pretty friendly and they have a decent selection of spirits and beers in bottles/ cans, at fair prices. Definitely check it out if you're into some modern jazz.

This bar was oozing with potential, but somehow it didn't seem to gel. The bartender was helpful. She gave me great recommendations of other places around town to check out and exchanged my five for ones with a smile. The ambiance was comfortable with eclectic knick knacks placed here and there, Pacman and other early 80's arcade games, and a superb juke box. I played Gnarls Barkley, James Brown, and Art Brut. However, no one seemed affected by the music. The people in the bar seemed somewhat disconnected. The sets of friends talking about the bad dating scene and other random mishaps didn't even acknowledge the other couples with the same conversations. I like communal bars where everyone is friendly to each other. I didn't get this here at all. I ended up leaving after two drinks and 10 games of Pacman. I would give Hungry Brain another chance, maybe during another trip to Chicago, but not on a Wednesday night..

"Hungry...Brain...." That sounds like zombie dialogue to me. But it's not the theme of this bar. Maybe a hungry brain; one that craves knowledge or culture. While this isn't a high brow salon, this dive bar does host a lot of eclectic events from shows, to open mics, to readings and has a lot of character. It's quite dark illuminated by different colored strings of Christmas lights, candles, and a few interesting lamps. A hodge podge of old or shabby chic furniture. Lots of posters of local events and entertainment on walls. An intriguing collection of art that each invite a closer look. And a Galaga/Pac Man machine in the front by the stage (and most of the time seating area) and an Arachnoid machine in the back. All of this doesn't seem insincere or self consciously odd but inviting. Like we were in a true blue place. They have a neat beer list and the bartender was a pip. The jukebox is fantastic with a great selection of classic rock, Motown, 90's alternative, new music, movie soundtracks. We found the atmosphere, music, and games a delight. Now. Much ado has been made about the cozy couches. On the stage there's 2 couches, a sturdy arm chair, a coffee table, and a stool. These couches either are different than the ones mentioned in other reviews or I'm descended from the Princess and the Pea because one couch is goofy. It's like one enormous mushy pillow. We sat in it and instantly sank to the center swallowed up by the marshmallow couch; our asses were 'bout 4 inchs from the floor. The other red velvet one was better but had a couple wonky springs. The ID checker guy who also clears tables was downer. We left a beer and glass of water on a stool by us and our coats. He started taking them and I said we weren't done and he was curt. The crowd is mixed you'll see big groups and even a guy reading a book alone with a Guinness at a table. A tamale guy came. Fun, chill place. "Hungry Brain!" - no zombie.

DAMN, THEY GAVE ME A VERY HARD TIME ABOUT BRINGING MY KIDS IN THERE TO HEAR ONE OF MY OTHER KIDS PERFORM. My 15 year-old daughter was performing here last night for her banjo recital along with her Old Town School of Music class. She was to be on stage with her entire class, consisting of about ten adults, for about ten minutes. I arrived at the front door right at 8 pm when they open; the door was locked, so I knocked. The bartender came to the door, pointed at my boys, (ages 19 and 6), and says in the rudest of rude tone of voice: "What are THEY doing here?" I explained that my 15 year-old daughter would be performing with the Old Town people and that we were here to hear her and would be leaving when she was done performing. Then the bartender says, "Well, if she is only 15, she can't even perform here; you can't come in." I looked at my boys and said, "Come on, we're going in." and we did. We just walked in. The bartender said "I can't believe you just did that." I said, "believe it." She said, "you can't do that." I said: "we just did." The bartender stormed away in a huff. And, we proceeded to sit at a table in front of their stage. As promised, we left forty minutes later when my daughter's class, first to perform, was finished. I probably wasn't here long enough to give the place a fair shake, and I might go back after reading the many other positive reviews before I sat down to write this one. But whatever happened to a little common sense and some manners? EDIT: 10/29/07 Today, someone sent me the review below about the Hungry Brain, and suggested I remove my Hungry Brain review . This new review was written yesterday by Hollie S., who by the way as of today has no other reviews on Yelp: 10/28/07 Okay, just so I get this straight, you brought you kids to a bar, were told you couldn't bring them inside, and then you took them inside anyway? And then you have the nerve to complain about it? And about the door being locked in a semi-secluded area at night while the bartender was there alone? [NOTE: HOW WOULD THIS REVIEWER KNOW THAT THE BARTENDER WAS THERE ALONE? I DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS ALONE. MY REVIEW SAYS NOTHING ABOUT THAT AT ALL!!! AND IT'S GERMANE, ...WHY, HOLLIE?] You can go back to "give the place a fair shake," but I doubt you'll be welcome. Hollie: Thank you for your feedback. Out of curiousity, today I checked with the Alderman's office about their understanding of applicable law, and I read the pertinent provisions of the Chicago Municipal Code myself. Apparently, there is an Illinois statute that makes it legal for minors to perform (as opposed to drink) in bars. So, according to the Alderman (not a lawyer, I realize) it was legal for my minor daughter to perform at the Hungry Brain. Am I nuts or is there something ironic and a little messed up about a bar allowing a minor to perform but giving the minor's parent a hard time about that minor's minor sibs, accompanied by an adult, coming in to see the performance? That is the gist of my complaint about the Hungry Brain (even if they have legal discretion to refuse service to anyone, adults included). I think the Hungry Brain's exercise of discretion in this particular circumstance was awful, because (a) it was legal for me to be in there with my minor children and (b) one of my minor children was performing in there - legally. The City of Chicago Municipal Code expressly permits a bar owner to allow a person under 21 into the bar if they are accompanied by a parent or guardian. Here it is: 4-60-140 Prohibited activities. (a) ... It shall be unlawful for any person licensed to operate a tavern to permit any person under 21 years of age to enter or remain within the licensed premises unless such person is accompanied by a parent or guardian.

I want to keep you a secret, Hungry brain, but then how would I shout your praises from the rooftops? I suppose I could go to the rooftops and shout "I HAVE A SECRET!" really loud, but that's almost as annoying as those people who giggle or snort loud enough for everyone to hear but go "Nothing" or "Nevermind" when you ask them what's funny, even though they purposely made a noise so you would ask them what they're laughing at. It's like a game they play where you're supposed to keep asking until YOU look like the annoying one they have to put up with, like you finally pestered the secret out of them, which is ridiculous because they're usually ugly, lonely looking people and you didn't care or want to know in the first place but they kept giggling and it was disturbing you and finally you're like WHAT IS SO FUCKING FUNNY? and they go "Nothing." I hate those people, Hungry Brain. Do you know what I don't hate? You, Hungry Brain. I don't hate you at all. You are so dark, like a mysterious Arabic man. Like Sayyid on LOST or something, only a bar. Your jukebox is full and sexy, like a woodsman's beard (not a hipster beard). You have Galaga, and a stage full of sprung couches and thrift store coffeetables (and a piano). You serve PBR in BOTTLES, Hungry Brain, because you're fuckin' classy, dig? What I'm trying to say, Hungry Brain, is ... well- Would you- *gets down on one knee, proffers very large, building-shaped ring* Will you marry me? I love you so much.

Sometimes, at some bar in New York full of screaming people, desperate to prove that the $12 they just paid for some variation of a decent whiskey/vodka was totally worth it, I dream of the Hungry Brain. There, if you get there early enough, you can stake out something comfy and warm, it's like the greatest basement in the world, and watch the world go by with some friends, or somebody you like. And you can just talk, and occasionally get up to go to the jukebox - they used to have every Material Issue album there - and that made it feel like home, even if they only get played once in awhile - and I wonder if they still have all the Material Issue albums there. It's not O'Rourke's, may O'Rourke's rest in peace, but it'll do while we wait for the heaven that has O'Rourke's. You can drink cheap here, cheap and good. And they don't mind if you go down to the burrito place on Damon and Belmont and bring back something tasty. And that burrito place is good. I had one of the best conversations of my life here. No, I had two of the best conversations of my life here. I've seen friends perform here and when I moved to New York, this was the bar where I said good bye to Chicago from. Unlike some of the other bars in Chicago I used to like a lot, notably the Hopleaf, the Hungry Brain has continued to be pretty great and I'm happy there every time I'm back. A bar should be comfy. A bar should be a place where you can drink in peace. A bar should have music that doesn't make you feel like an asshole. A bar should only rip you off a little, just enough to make you know the world's not a sucker. A bar should be a place where you can get a bit too passionate about friends, lovers, politics and art. A bar should have bartenders who don't make you feel like you've got a bit of snot hanging from your upper lip. A bar should let you bring in a tasty burrito when you haven't gotten around to eating. On all these things, I've got to say, the Hungry Brain fulfills every hope one can have. There are some bars, where even when you're drinking alone, you don't feel lonely, you feel pretty good about the world, the Hungry Brain is one of those. God bless it.

This is my boyfriend and his friend's favorite bar -- so of course every time I have been in Chicago, we go here. It's known to frequenters as 'The Brain' It's a dive bar that reminds me a lot of my favorite dive bars back home in Seattle. It has never been crowded -- which I find to be a lot of places in Chicago. Low lights -- I think this Christmas lights might be the only thing keeping the place lit? They also have random things on the walls and shelves, which is a better thing to keep your eyes occupied than a blaring television, which they don't have, thank god. They don't accept cards here but there is an ATM. I am very ignorant when it comes to beer outside of the west coast -- but I have always been pleased with what they have on draft. Both my boyfriend and the bartender have made excellent reccomendations to accomadate my PNW (Pacific Northwest) tastebuds. I'm not much of a hard A person -- but they seem to have a decent selection of stuff. The staff has always been very friendly (I am assuming it's because the people I was with frequent the Brain). It is never too loud so you can carry on a conversation with not only the person next to you, but the person two seats down from you.

If Eric Foreman's basement had a baby with a retro diner you would get the Hungry Brain. There are couches on one end and diner-y booths/tables on the other. Strange, but brilliant. I like this place. It has a very laid back vibe. I was waiting for someone to stand up and recite poetry but it never happened. Shoot. If you sit at the bar like I did, you can stare at all the kitschy brain-themed items on the shelf. Brain cave, pretty pretty brain cave. . . I found the beer selection to be average- there were the usual hangover-inducing offenders and some nice mid-range beers. I actually forgot what I drank but it was cold, relatively cheap and bubbly so does it really matter? I would also like to give major props to the Juke Box. How did they know I LOVE Steely Dan???

With a name like "Hungry Brain", you'd think that they'd cater to the likes of the undead, or the Walking Dead, you know, ZOMBIES. Not true!!! Everyone who was there when I stumbled there on a recent Saturday night was very much alive, with their very human activities of breathing in air and blood coursing through their veins. At least, I assumed that they were, I didn't get close enough to anyone to feel them breathe on me or check their pulses. Anyways, I loved this dive bar which was suggested by a friend. It was chill, yet had plenty of energy on a Saturday night, but not too loud or crazy, perfect for divin' with friends. And they had couches! So comfortable and awesome to sit on a couch, chatting with friends. But be warned that the couches are from the 60s and 70s, so you might fall into one of them and not get out because they're broken, but hey, I'm not complaining! Jukebox - check Comfortable seating - check Sweet lighting - check Meet me there next Saturday night, friends?

My friend jumped up off a couch and knocked a woman's drink out of her hand. He didn't get booted. Then I saw Batman at the bar ... in January. Finally, I nearly broke my ass plopping down in an arm chair. Hungry Brain is like a strange dream, and I wasn't drinking.

My brother and his wife were in from New Jersey. I took them here for a drink because I like it so much. "I like this place," my brother says. "All the girls are wearing glasses." I looked around. "Not true! That girl's not." I nodded in her direction. "Astute observation, but what are you implying?" His wife looked at him, waiting for the answer.

I like the kitschy ashtrays. A lot. I think they are what keeps me coming back. Or is it the cheap drinks? Or the nice bartenders? Or the couches? Or the abundance of seating? Or the awesome jukebox? Or how I love coming here any day of the week with one person or 10 people. Wish it was closer to my house. Thank god for the Western bus.

I once heard you can judge a place by where it lingers...in your heart, in your soul...in your hair. Please let me preface this by saying that I had a terrible cold while here, and I should apologize to any hipsters I infected with my germs on Sat night. That being said, I'm looking forward to checking out this place again when I'm well. The bartender was very nice, but not in that overly nice creepy way...just cool and attentive. Even to the point of asking my friend how many shakes of bitters he wanted. I felt very comfortable in the place itself, as I felt my butt sink ever so nicely into the green couch in the corner. If you are allergic to smoke, or perhaps hypersensitive you might need to avoid this place cause damn it gets smokey up in herrre. All I had to drink was a 4 dollar Guiness (so you know I was really sick) and my friends had 2 mixed drinks that totalled to 7 bucks. Sweet deal! Just make sure you have cash on you, or you'll be hitting the ATM across the street.

Just went there last night for Letters X, Letters XXX would be better but I had a good time just seeing it with the one X. There isn't a reason in the world you shouldn't go see this show, it's free and its good. A little too short but again, free. Not a bad bar otherwise either. The jukebox rocks! We heard Ramones, Gogol Bordello, Fugazi and all kinds of other shit. They have a respectable enough beer selection as well but nothing too elaborate. Even without a production going on I would hang out at this bar...If I lived anywhere near it.

Hungry Brain is one of the higher rated bars in Chicago for a number of reasons: - Quality craft beer selections, including some Three Floyd's beers you don't see very often. - Said quality craft beers are also silly cheap. Last time I was there they had Dogfish Head for 4 bucks. I almost thought it was an error. - Solid juke box. The location is off the beaten path, but that's also a good thing because you don't have an overly crowded place. Do your best to visit this dive bar. It's worth the effort. 120/365

I went for a birthday party. Just looking up the address for a place called 'Hungry Brain' (two stars) Went to bar to order and saw scrawled on a small chalk board for specials "Harp $3" (up to three stars) Free theatre, great attitudes and cash only - which sticks to bar top as you order up (four stars and counting) I went to order a girlie shot for the birthday girl (chocolate cake to be exact), the bartender looked me in the eye and said, "I don't make that." (that's right, you've just gotten Woohoo! 5 stars) It feeds my hungry brain.

I might have been the oldest dude in the place, but I can pull it off cause I'm a cool dude in a loose mood. A quirky, hipster joint with vintage furniture and lighting. Quite comfortable, living room feel. It does have entertainment venues. I was recently there observing a Lisa DeRosia and Lush Budget performance. Don't wear coordinated outfits in this place, cause that's a giveaway that yer non-Scottish. I don't know if it was part of the theme last night, or if the Skipper from Gilligan's Island look is all the rage these days as I seem to have spied an inordinate amount of Captains caps and Hawaiin shirts in the audience. But, I do know that if you have the compunction to wear a Russian Combat Helmet in public with Chuck Taylor knock offs you certainly can pull it off here. All serious, though, it's a great place. $4.00 for the great tap beers and yer not limited to the Bud and Miller. No one bothers you here, and you are quick to blend into the wallpaper once you sit in one of the comfy Sofas or chairs. Even these Bohemian Hipsters are hooked on the cells and texting, so feel free to imbibe in your electronic addiction here. It's located just down the street from Chicago PD's Area 5, so if you get locked up your buddies can literally bond you right out...but, no worries with that, the BRAIN ain't seedy, and dangerous at all. It's an intellectual crowd, and friendly. They kept calling me SIR, and I kept turning around to see if my father was there. I'm definitely going back often.

I don't know of many dives where you can get a bottle of Dogfish Head for $3.50. Holy crap. What cruel god kept me away from this place for so long? Whenever you see a bar selling a beer like that at a price like that, you know you're dealing with owners that are more interested in seeing their patrons have a good time than anything else. I'm a fan. Bring your flashlight. It feels like an old neighborhood power outage shindig. Fortunately the power is still on, though, and you get to reap the benefits of a phenomenally good jukebox.

Wow - haven't been to a good old dive like this in quite some time! Yes, the Bulls happened to be playing in a playoff game the night we went, but the place was completely empty. We walked in to this very dimly lit big open bar to find lots of couches, loungy chairs, and old school booths, ordered a few beers and rotated our seating choice three times, just for the hell of it. Good juke box, chill vibe, nice bartender, more unique than most bars - a good option for a bar you can actually converse with and hear your companions.

Well I was neither hungry nor angry when I went there; actually, I was simply coaxed by friends I had gone to visit in Chicago. It is a chill place with a rather mixed crowd, so regardless of which social group you belong to, you are bound to feel comfortable. On entry I spotted the Pacman machine close to the stage, rushed to it with an aim of beating the prevailing high score. But bah!!, I failed miserably. My consolation target the jukebox wasted my 10, only to be told by some cutie that it accepted 5's and 1's only. However the jukebox has a variety of good music, so regardless of your genre of choice you are bound to find something that suits you on it. Well we hit the couch with my newfound friend, hit off with small talk. The seats were rather comfortable. In addition, gladly the amiable bar attendants did not have me waiting when I sought drinks from them. Talking of drinks, the thing I liked about this place are the really affordable drinks. Plus there is the Tamale guy, he popped in at around 10.

Sometimes you wanna go where nobody knows your name, but they're always glad you came. This place makes you feel welcome like an ex gf who's been bootycalling you for months. Strolled in here on a Tuesday night for an after dinner drink and happened upon an improv comedy night in progress. The first guy doing his shtick was a little boring and I honestly felt could tell a funnier story about a visit to City Hall to pay my parking tickets, but the talent got progressively better. Your night isn't a total waste if you can have some good brews and laugh at lesbian's account of her "first kiss" and her mission to get laid and getting (in her own words) some "Puss" for the first time in college. A hetero man can relate! The decor is eclectic to say the least. Imagine you have one Saturday afternoon and only $75 to furnish your bar, what do you do? You hit up every garage sale you can and pick up mismatched couches, tables, and chairs..somehow it all comes together nicely and The Brain has a nice homey feel like drinking in your buddy's basement circa 1970. I've been here twice and if you have an affinity for dive bars, add this one to the top of your list!

Coming here I was hoping it would be a wee bit more chill but honestly I was pleased after I got over how loud it was. Not just the music they were playing but the people were just obnoxiously loud. That's my number one complaint with certain bars is the noise factor. It's dim, there's a bunch of tables with relatively comfy seats but the best place to chill is up on the little stage like area which is elevated where they have sofas and tables. If you sit there, you're bound to have a good time. The bartender we met was a badass, he was a younger guy with longer hair. Everyone in this joint looks like a hipster by the way. We were going to take some umbrella that somebody left and he went, "hey man I don't see anything!" which was cute, then when the guy who lost his umbrella came back and we returned it to him we told the bartender later and he ended up joking about ridiculous ways we should have given it back to him. Haha, he was a fun guy and made some sick whiskey sours. Art and décor is cute here. I wish it was more horror and or/smartly decorated though. For a hungry brain bar and all. My brain was still hungry leaving, but that's what late night Mexican food and conversation on the ride home is for I suppose.

Letters/X was kick ass last night at the Hungry Brain. Hilarious. Sure sure, the hungry brain was as crowded as can be, packed to the brim during Letters/X, but no one was pushy. The beer is so cheap, with plenty of options to choose from. It's comfy, cheerful, and has a great stage. Moreover, the fact that it is called THE HUNGRY BRAIN just about earns it 5 stars on its own. We had a friendly bartender too. And the Tamales man came, and made us even cheerier. Bit of a pain in the ass to get to if you don't have a car and don't live near the Western bus... but hey, I'm glad I suffered through the torrential rain and long soggy bus stop interludes.

Top five in the city(IMO) for chilling with peeps and drinking good beer from the typical "cash only" b.s. in the city of Chicago. Reasons I enjoy this place? Good beer, cheap prices, chill atmosphere, comfy couches(please no bed bugs), and a GREAT Jukebox which is a rarity it seems these days as it feels like most bars let the bartenders choose the music or DJ the whole night through. Enjoy Suckas'!!!

Im not really a fan of dive bars, but eclectic/bizarre/craft beer dive bars?? SOLD! I came here last week with a friend and was immediately drawn to all the crazy shit on the walls. Random eclectic artwork, craft beer signage, toys, couch sections, 1970's tables, and brain-affiliated items behind the bar really add to the craziness that is Hungry Brain. I had a bells two hearted and my friend had an original sin. At $4.50 for each drink, the pricing cant be beat, especially in Chicago. A couch area to relax and chat it up, good music playing on the jukebox, christmas lights, comfy bar stools, and a nice dark setting all tie in to make this a great go-to dive to close out the night. However, don't come here if you are hungry for brains bc they don't serve any food (as far as i know - i was pretty wasted). All in all, if you are a fan of craft beer like me, and dont want to overpay like most places in Chicago, Hungry Brain is the place. It just screams unpretentious =)

As jaded as I am about most dive bars that turn trendy in Los Angeles, the Hungry Brain was a pleasant surprise and change of pace while I was in the Chicago area. Hanging out there with friends was further sweetened with the ample seating area, cheap-ass drinks and the lack of overbear music that usually requires shouting in a fellow's ear just to carry a conversation. Big props to my boy, Makoto, for introducing my friends and I to this speakeasy-like dive bar. The atmosphere is both warm and inviting due to the unpretentious patrons, the dim lights and seating arrangements. It was nice to move the various seats around so that we could all sit in a circle and carry on a conversation. The bar was roomy enough to make frequent trips back to the bar for more and more drinks. Did I mention the drinks were cheap?

The bartenders remember your drink - and, often - your name. Bar and door staff are very friendly. The place rarely gets so crowded that you can't find a seat - even on weekends, even on amateur drinking nights like St. Patrick's Day and NYE. And it's a really good place for mid-week drinking. The live music is exceptional, the beer and liquor selections generous, the drinks stiff, and the jukebox, well, damn - the jukebox really is the best in the city.

Almost reason enough to move to Roscoe Village. Well, that and maybe chicken and waffles. This bar has great beer at decent prices and a Centipede game. I like the layout, it's very open with a bar, some tables, and couches. It's pretty unmarked on the outside, so you just have to know what you're looking for, I guess. The clientle is pretty diverse, but mostly of the white young 20-somethings set. But no one is snobbish and it never gets annoyingly packed. Drinks are pretty cheap and seating is abundant. I definitely recommend this place!

I came here for the 1st time this past Saturday. Whenever I come to a place like this for the first time, I always get pissed about the fact that I hadn't discovered it earlier. Hungry Brain is right up my alley - low-key, unassuming, great tunes, great atmosphere. A great place for drinking and socializing. I really like the fact that here you can enjoy the tunes while still being able to hold a conversation. That alone will always earn a place my business. That and reasonabaly priced booze. Staff was quick and courteous. Bar has all of the standard beers and then some. I started out with PBR bottles and I think they may have been $2.50. They've got a random assortment of taps, Harpoon IPA, some kind of Bells, and I forget what else. It doesn't really matter, they've pretty much got any beer that will make the standard drinker happy. Oh, and to keep in the theme of my past reviews, they do serve high life here. The bar itself is your standard dive, non-descript on the outside (you have to look kinda hard to find it), and an assortment of barstools, tables/chairs, and a couches/lounge section. I seem to remember a ms. pac man game being there as well. Oh, and check out all of the weird/cool brain artwork all over the place, especially the Jagermeister IV into a brain over the bar. This is also a stop for the Tamale guy, so be on the look out for him. I sampled the fare this particular evening, and it was delectable. Conclusion: Hungry Brain has made it into my bar rotation. Give it a try if you are so inclined.

Great, great place. No TVs on the wall, great, Chicago-centric indie jukebox. They even have a tiny beer garden outback. The thrift store furniture is top-notch. They even have pinball! Lots of actors/jazzhounds hang out here. Last place to have bottled Schlitz in a bottle *sigh*. You won't break a 20, and you'll go home drunk and happy. Highly recommended. Note: You must pick your nights carefully, however. I've come here occasionally looking for conversation, and instead got a crappy one act play or a jazz show where everyone was real quiet.

At the moment, this is my favorite bar. And I'm NOT a pothead... Maybe I like to keep things low-key. Maybe I like to feel like I've stepped back in time. And maybe, just maybe I dig dim-lighting but no matter what the reason is for my attraction, this place rules! You walk in and immediately your shoulders hunch just a bit, your hair becomes unraveled and your craving for fine wine is out the window. This is the type of bar you bring friends to and also the type of bar you MAKE friends at. The beer is cheap enough. The music is good enough. And those deep, vintage sofas make you feel cozy enough. It also doesn't hurt that John, the bartender is seriously cute... My sister and I both agree. WINK!

I only recently found this place, which is unfortunate as I moving from Chicago soon and would have liked to spend more time here. It's cash only, which is somewhat inconvenient, but that's a small price to pay for such a cool bar. The jukebox is well stocked, the lighting is just sparse enough to make it cozy without being ridiculous and the couches are older than I am, in a good way. I went on a Saturday night and was pleased to find that it was not jam packed, but rather sparse. Those that were there were very friendly and seemed to be enjoying themselves. They also have a stage area that has seating so its a great place for people watching. Added bonus? Lady Pacman.

I love dive bars, and this one is no exception. Non-pretentious, cash only, and just a little out of the way. The mismatched tables/chairs remind you of your grandparent's basement. Sweet cider on tap and good music. And who should appear last night but the tamale guy himself. I wish DC had a tamale guy.