Mr. Beef
Mr. Beef — River North sandwiches that sets the standard. Order the Beef. Casual, established, and unapologetic about it. No long waits, cash only. "While I'll bet this is one of the best places to have, we thought the concept was overrated" — Sarah Sue [$]
What 1,941 diners keep saying
What 1,941 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Great experience getting a classic Italian Beef here. So unbelievably tasty. The fries and the Italian sausage are great too! Loved eating at the long table in the elegant dining room with a bunch of friendly strangers. We waited in line for 20 minutes, absolutely worth it.”

“When in Chicago! I understand why this place spawned a show (The Bear). It lived up to the hype. Had the Italian B beef sandwich with spicy peppers. Was two wrapper soak through flavorful. Fries were like traditional Quebec style fries. Sat in the common room. What an experience! Don't miss.”

“You get what you expect really good sándwich for its price and size, I got there 4:10pm (they close at 4) and still the staff were super nice and sold me a sandwich definetly a great spot even more if you like The bear series”

“Great Italian Beef! I got the Italian Beef with sweet peppers and cheese fries on the side - was not disappointed!”

“My son asked us to visit this establishment from his love of “The Bear”. Upon arrival, there was a long line outside. This is an indication of good food. We got the Italian Beef, and rate it a 10 out of 10. The staff is sweaty due to all their hard work!”

“10/10 experience and food. Don't think the TV show The Bear is real? You need to check out Mr. Beef. Chris and his staff are outstanding and the food hits the spot perfectly.”

“As a huge fan of The Bear, visiting Mr. Beef was one of the highlights of my trip to Chicago. I originally came because of the show, but I left thinking about the Italian beef sandwich. The beef was incredibly tender, juicy, and packed with flavor. It’s easy to understand why this has become such an iconic Chicago classic. The atmosphere was lively, the staff worked efficiently, and it genuinely felt like a neighborhood institution rather than just a TV filming location. The only difference from The Bear? I didn’t hear any employees yelling at each other. As a fan, I was almost disappointed but as a customer, I was very grateful. Whether you’re a fan of The Bear or simply looking for an outstanding Italian beef sandwich, this place is absolutely worth the visit. 原本以為自己是為了《大熊餐廳》而來,沒想到最後真正讓我念念不忘的是牛肉三明治。 唯一跟《大熊餐廳》不同的是,這裡沒有聽到員工互相大吼;身為粉絲覺得有一點點可惜,但身為客人則非常開心! 如果你也是《大熊餐廳》的粉絲,或只是想吃一份真正好吃的 Italian Beef,我都很推薦來這裡。”

“Some things you just hope live up to the hype… Mr. Beef does!!! We were able to hit it just right with a little line, which moves at a good pace. The great guys behind the counter have 100 things going on but ensure you get the experience you’re looking for. It was a hot day when we visited and it was over 100 degrees behind that grill, bless them for hanging in there. Now the food, we got “The Bear” which was an Italian beef with half sweet and half hot peppers. Wow! I had had one other Italian beef during our visit and this one was superior. I also got a polish, deep fried at the suggestion of the cook, with everything on it and enjoyed that too! Did I mention the beef was good? Wow! Just do it! Go to Mr. Beef!”

“I got the italian beef sandwich and my husband got the hamburger. They were both SO good! Service was also quick! If you have a big group, it is good to note that there is only one long table to sit at and a small bar area. Must stop when you go to Chicago!”
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