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

Season 3 of The Bear was released on Hulu and Disney+ this week, and EatingWell had the incredible opportunity to join the full cast (yes, really!) in 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 united together and shared sneak peeks of the new season as well as their favorite moments in Chicago—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 at every single sort of scale, you can be impressed by something at every level,” lead actor White said. “Which I guess is true of a lot of cities, but I find it to be very clear and sort of ‘in your face’ in the city of Chicago.”

We compiled the list of every noteworthy food stop the cast raved about during the event, from ice cream parlors and grab-and-go joints to sit-down restaurants worth the price tag. If you’re visiting Chicago soon, here are the top six picks from the cast of The Bear.

The Top 6 Restaurants in Chicago, According to the Cast of The Bear

Birrieria Zaragoza

This family-owned restaurant is a “big one” 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 at the restaurant plenty of times, and Matheson (Neil Fak) recently recommended trying the cabeza if you’re looking to visit.

Duck Duck Goat

The whole cast exclaimed that Duck Duck Goat was a standout restaurant. The Chinese restaurant takes classic flavors into a modern atmosphere for a gorgeous dinner experience. Best known for their house-made dumplings, wontons, noodles and more, the fresh and vibrant dishes are worth the higher prices, per the cast. The restaurant is located at 857 W. Fulton Market.

Viaggio

“We all had a very nice meal at Viaggio in the West Loop,” Staffieri, Theodore Fak on the show, said as the cast erupted in agreement.

“Viaggio is big,” White said.

“We love Viaggio,” Matheson nodded.

Safe to say, if you’re going to choose any restaurant on this list, Viaggio appears to be the highlight. For relaxed, Italian American fusion, head over to the modest restaurant and bar at 1027 W. Madison St. for highly rated pasta, seafood, drinks and more.

Ponce

“I didn’t do a lot of high-end restaurants. I’m kind of a hermit,” Colón-Zayas, who plays Tina Marrero, shared. “But I do dig the 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 joint on 4313 W. Fullerton Ave, proudly serving traditional Puerto Rican cuisine. For those looking for a lower-budget spot, you’ll love the meal and the prices equally.

Gene & Jude’s 

“I love getting a dog at Gene & Jude’s,” Matheson reminisced. A must-stop for 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 down to 2720 N. River Road and order a dog with mustard, relish, onion and sport peppers—just don’t even think about asking for ketchup.

Margie’s Candies

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

“We went to Margie’s Candies up in Uptown, that was nice,” he said. Whichever restaurant you pick for dinner above, you can easily fit in Margie’s Candies for dessert. Located in Bucktown and Ravenswood, the candy and ice cream parlor serves sundaes that dreams are made of. Best of all, they still maintain the classic appearance of a retro candy store—what’s not to love?