Mr. Beef
Sandwich shop · River North
666 N Orleans St, Chicago, IL 60654
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72043857/IMG_2947.0.jpeg "Mr. Beef by Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago")
![Mr. Beef by Mr. Beef on Orleans [Official Photo]](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/62543308/mr_beer_orleans.13.jpg "Mr. Beef by Mr. Beef on Orleans [Official Photo]")
:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24483431/IMG_2949.JPG "Mr. Beef by Ashok Selvam/Eater Chicago")
Highlights
Classic Chicago Italian beef sandwiches and a must-visit for fans
Classic Chicago Italian beef sandwiches and a must-visit for fans
"The Chicago beef-sandwich shop behind the inspiration for the TV series The Bear is returning to Los Angeles for a pop-up at Uncle Paulie’s Deli on July 19 and July 20. The shop and its beef sandwiches served as the inspiration for The Bear’s fictional restaurant, the "Original Beef of Chicagoland." Alongside the sandwiches, Courtney Storer (the culinary producer and a co-executive producer on The Bear) will serve Italian ice from her pop-up, Coco’s to Go; a pickle cart sponsored by HexClad and exclusive merchandise will also be on-site." - Rebecca Roland
"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." - Ashok Selvam
"Located in River North and widely recognized as the inspiration for the FX show “The Bear,” this shop has become a major tourist draw with long, often-block-long lines and a jump in demand from a few hundred to as many as nearly 800 sandwiches per day. The high-volume counter operates briskly and expects customers to order quickly, reflecting its newfound fame and heavy foot traffic from visitors and locals alike." - Tori Allen
"Mr. Beef has been making Italian beef sandwiches in River North since 1963, long before it became the inspiration behind The Bear. And if this counter service spot’s longevity isn’t enough to convince you of its greatness, their sandwiches will. The meat and gravy isn’t too peppery or salty, which allows the pure beefiness to shine through, and the sturdy bread develops a pleasant softness as it soaks up all the juices. Just know that Mr. Beef is cash-only, so stop by an ATM before grabbing lunch (they’re only open until 4pm). It’s mainly a takeout spot, but they do have an old-school communal table in the back." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"America’s longest Interstate Highway, I-90, runs 3,099.7 miles from Seattle through Boston. If you drove the entire stretch without stopping (not quite possible without pausing to re-fuel or re-charge the vehicle), the trip through Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New York, and Massachusetts would take over 50 hours. May as well make a longer voyage of it at the highway’s mid-point in Chicago. Mr. Beef, a family-run institution since 1979 has been canonized on a popular angry chef dramedy series, but you can’t beat the real thing. Get the Italian beef, spicy (with hot peppers) and wet (with extra au jus) — never doubt a soggy sandwich. There’s also free parking next to the counter-service restaurant, a big bonus." - Vox Creative
