The Hidden Location of The Bear & Uncovering the Truth about Beef Restaurant

The Bear, a Hulu comedy-drama television series, quickly gained popularity in its first season by centering around a struggling Italian beef sandwich shop in Chicago. The show features an ensemble cast including Jeremy Allen White, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, Ayo Edebiri, Lionel Boyce, Liza Colón-Zayas, and Abby Elliot. The series begins with Carmy, played by White, returning home to Illinois after his brother's tragic suicide. To Carmy's dismay, his brother had left the restaurant to him, despite being a former renowned chef in New York City's fine-dining scene before being compelled to return to Chicago.

Following the highly acclaimed first season, Hulu wasted no time in renewing The Bear for a second season. The show garnered rave reviews from both critics and fans, even receiving recognition at various award shows. With such success, it comes as no surprise that Hulu seeks to capitalize on its popularity. The highly anticipated second season of The Bear is scheduled to premiere on June 22, 2023, and will continue the captivating story of The Beef and its employees as they embark on a new chapter.

The Bear Is Set In Chicago's River North Neighborhood

The Bear is set in the bustling River North neighborhood of Chicago, which serves as the perfect backdrop for the show. The production team, along with the talented cast of the Hulu television series, chooses to film on location in various parts of the city, capturing the vibrant essence of Chicago. In addition to these authentic settings, the crew also takes advantage of the state-of-the-art Cinespace Chicago Film Studios, where numerous renowned shows like Chicago Fire, Chicago PD, Chicago Med, Fargo, and more have been produced.

The Bear's Original Beef Is Inspired By A Real Chicago Restaurant

Mr. Beef, located at 666 N Orleans St in the River North neighborhood of Chicago, is an authentic Italian beef sandwich restaurant that served as the inspiration for the fictional eatery, The Original Beef of Chicagoland, or The Beef, in Hulu's The Bear. Originally owned by Joe Zucchero, who purchased it from Carl Bonavolanto and Tony Ozzauto in 1979, Mr. Beef has become an iconic establishment in the area. Even though Zucchero passed away in March 2023, the restaurant continues to be owned and operated by his family.

For the upcoming season 2, The Bear's production team made sure to capture the essence of Mr. Beef by filming exterior scenes at the iconic Chicago restaurant. Although the restaurant had to temporarily close its doors to accommodate the filming, the cast and crew also utilized another location for the interior shots. While drawing inspiration from Mr. Beef, the characters in the show will embark on a journey to rebrand The Beef.