Chicago's Mr. Beef: The Restaurant That Inspired The Bear

Mr. Beef inspired the FX show The Bear, and it serves the most delicious beef sandwich in Chicago. Learn more about the restaurant.

The next time you’re in Chicago, stop by the renowned Mr. Beef restaurant for their delicious original Italian beef sandwich. The sandwich shop has not only been a local favorite for nearly three decades but is also the inspiration for the smash FX series The Bear. The lines may be longer now, but it’s still worth your time; the food is still very affordable and satisfying.

Mr. Beef in Chicago, the restaurant that inspired the hit series, The Bear — **Mr. Beef, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. – Restaurant Review | Condé Nast Traveler (cntraveler.com)**

CBS Sunday Morning travels to Chicago to speak with Christopher Zucchero, son of original owner Joseph, who established the sandwich store in 1979. Since then, it’s become a Chicago institution. Discover why:

Opened in 1979 by Joseph Zucchero, Mr. Beef is a Chicago joint that draws throngs from all over for its juicy Italian beef sandwiches, inspiring the hit FX series “The Bear.” When Zucchero died last March, his son Christopher stepped up to run the family business. Correspondent Tracy Smith talks with Christopher, whose River North sandwich shop is booming like never before.