Chicago | From Old-School Icon to Internet-Famous

The restaurant that inspired The Bear — Mr Beef! Actually, it was recommended in Lonely Planet 17 years ago already. Located in Near North, close to downtown/tourist areas. We came right after checking into our hotel — saw quite a few people with suitcases too. On a weekday afternoon, waited about 15 minutes from line to meal. Ordered the Combination Sub (thin-sliced beef + sausage) and pistachio cannoli. While waiting, admired the intensely styled interior. The show’s portrayal of grumpy staff and borderline-questionable cleanliness felt pretty accurate 😅 The House Rules sign is a must-read — aggressively worded, felt like asking one extra question might get you yelled at! They now accept cards but with a fee — ATM inside for cash. Overall, the Midwest local diner vibe felt real — finally seeing the America from movies and TV shows. We sat in the “Elegant Dining Room” — one big communal table and benches. The beef in the sandwich was mild, but the pickles were great — celery paired well with the meat. Warning: each sub felt like it came with an ounce of oil — wipe the table and seat before eating! The cannoli was extremely sweet — classic old-school style, a couple bites was enough. After that, walked to the lakefront — Lake Michigan is so vast and blue, it really looks like the sea. Grabbed a horchata from Big Shoulders Coffee (so good!) and passed by several historic buildings. In Lincoln Park/Old Town, saw the infamous Wiener’s Circle — “famous for its unruly, foul-mouthed ambiance” 😅 Tried the Chicago char-dog (no ketchup allowed, they say) — pretty plain, but the cheddar fries were tastier. Not far away is the Wrigley Field — game night meant bars and fan shops buzzing everywhere. But after too much “white people food,” we held out until reaching Chinatown — found a seafood spot for greens and salted fish chicken clay pot 🥲… so good to have a real Chinatown. Taste buds finally revived! The Vietnamese options in this area looked solid too. Traveling this year seems to always hit heatwaves — Chicago was at its hottest when we visited. But anywhere out of direct sun, the wind kicked in strong — Windy City lives up to its name. Winter here must be no joke ❄️ #GlobalFoodies #HiddenGem #Chicago #ChicagoEats 🥪🌭🌊🏙️✨