The Best Restaurants in Chicago, According to the Cast of ‘The Bear’

The third season of The bear was released on Hulu and Disney+ this week, and Eat well had the incredible opportunity to join the full cast (yes, really!) for a private virtual press conference. Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, Abby Elliot, Matty Matheson, and Ricky Staffieri got together and shared sneak peeks of the new season as well as their favorite Chicago moments — and of course, the food scene is front and center.

“I think Chicago is such a great city and you can find such beautiful food on every scale, you can be impressed by something on every level,” lead actor White said. “Which I suppose is true in a lot of cities, but I find it very clear and sort of ‘in your face’ in the city of Chicago.”

We’ve compiled the list of all the notable food stops that cast members raved about during the event, from ice cream parlors and takeout restaurants to sit-down restaurants that are worth the money. If you’re visiting Chicago soon, here are the actors’ top 6 picks from The bear.

The 6 Best Restaurants in Chicago, According to the Actors The bear

Birrieria Zaragoza

This family restaurant is a “grand restaurant” that actor Moss-Bachrach (who plays Richie Jerimovich) personally loves. Serving Mexican cuisine, Birrieria Zaragoza has locations in Uptown and Archer Heights. The cast has been seen in the restaurant on numerous occasions, and Matheson (Neil Fak) recently recommended trying the cabeza if you’re planning to visit.

Duck Duck Goat

The entire cast raved about Duck Duck Goat as a standout restaurant. The Chinese restaurant transforms classic flavors into a modern atmosphere for a gorgeous dinner experience. Best known for its homemade dumplings, wontons, noodles and more, the fresh, vibrant dishes are worth the higher prices, according to the cast. The restaurant is located at 857 W Fulton Market.

Journey

“We all had a really nice meal at Viaggio in the West Loop,” Staffieri told Theodore Fak on the show, as the cast burst into agreement.

“Viaggio is big,” White said.

“We love Viaggio,” Matheson agreed.

It’s safe to say that if you’re picking one restaurant on this list, Viaggio seems to be the highlight. For a relaxed Italian-American fusion, head to the modest restaurant and bar at 1027 W Madison St. for pasta, seafood, drinks, and more.

Mackerel

“I haven’t been to a lot of high-end restaurants. I’m kind of a hermit,” shared Colón-Zayas, who plays Tina Marrero. “But I love Puerto Rican food. My favorite was this restaurant, Ponce.” She explains that she “just missed home” and wanted a taste of her culture.

Ponce Restaurant is a family-owned establishment located at 4313 W Fullerton Ave, proudly serving traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. For those looking for somewhere on a budget, you will love the meal and the prices.

Gene and Jude

“I love having a dog at Gene & Jude,” Matheson recalls. A must-stop at Matheson, Gene & Jude’s is where you’ll want to get a Chicago-famous hot dog for the best bite. Embrace your inner tourist, head to 2720 N River Road and order a dog with mustard, relish, onion and hot peppers. Don’t even think about asking for ketchup.

Margie’s candy

White noted that there was an ice cream restaurant the cast once went to that was worth mentioning, and Staffieri revealed the name.

“We went to Margie’s Candies in Uptown, it was nice,” he said. No matter which restaurant you choose for dinner above, you can easily incorporate Margie’s Candies for dessert. Located in Bucktown and Ravenswood, the candy and ice cream parlor serves up sundaes that are a dream come true. Best of all, they maintain the classic look of a retro candy store: what’s not to love?