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Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
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This has been my bar-of-choice since I started going to bars. A place with no tvs, a good jukebox, cheap drinks, and friendly atmosphere. I feel really at home here.
Just recently they started doing free live shows every Monday night. Sometimes stand up comedy, sometimes bands, sometimes zine readings, or other random things. Definitely check them out. There is a lot of talent going through there.
Yeah, this is a good one!
I have been here a few times and it is always pleasant. I can't say anything bad about it. There is something missing about it though, I don't know what that is and will always be up for the Hungry Brain.
The decor is great, the staff is always nice and attentive, the music is good, the clientele are fine, yeah not too shabby!
One of my new favorite bars in chicago. I came here to watch shitty VHS movies last monday. It has a home-y feel to it... and the patio in the back is superb.
I will be back here, at least to people watch.
Eh. That's how I always feel when my friends make me come here. I'm not exactly sure why they're so in love with it. It's not a bad place. Interesting atmosphere, my favorite part-stage that's just used for seating it's pretty cool. The beer on tap is good, but it's not cheap enough to point it out as a value. It's not as cheap and a bar this divey should be. The music can be loud and annoying. The place is full of hipsters and gets crowded, blah, I don't need you standing that close to me with your tight pants and fashion glasses.
Coming here I was hoping it would be a wee bit more chill but honestly I was pleased after I got over how loud it was. Not just the music they were playing but the people were just obnoxiously loud. That's my number one complaint with certain bars is the noise factor. It's dim, there's a bunch of tables with relatively comfy seats but the best place to chill is up on the little stage like area which is elevated where they have sofas and tables. If you sit there, you're bound to have a good time. The bartender we met was a badass, he was a younger guy with longer hair. Everyone in this joint looks like a hipster by the way.
We were going to take some umbrella that somebody left and he went, "hey man I don't see anything!" which was cute, then when the guy who lost his umbrella came back and we returned it to him we told the bartender later and he ended up joking about ridiculous ways we should have given it back to him. Haha, he was a fun guy and made some sick whiskey sours. Art and décor is cute here. I wish it was more horror and or/smartly decorated though. For a hungry brain bar and all. My brain was still hungry leaving, but that's what late night Mexican food and conversation on the ride home is for I suppose.
The bartenders remember your drink - and, often - your name. Bar and door staff are very friendly. The place rarely gets so crowded that you can't find a seat - even on weekends, even on amateur drinking nights like St. Patrick's Day and NYE. And it's a really good place for mid-week drinking.
The live music is exceptional, the beer and liquor selections generous, the drinks stiff, and the jukebox, well, damn - the jukebox really is the best in the city.
I only recently found this place, which is unfortunate as I moving from Chicago soon and would have liked to spend more time here. It's cash only, which is somewhat inconvenient, but that's a small price to pay for such a cool bar. The jukebox is well stocked, the lighting is just sparse enough to make it cozy without being ridiculous and the couches are older than I am, in a good way.
I went on a Saturday night and was pleased to find that it was not jam packed, but rather sparse. Those that were there were very friendly and seemed to be enjoying themselves. They also have a stage area that has seating so its a great place for people watching.
Added bonus? Lady Pacman.
Letters/X was kick ass last night at the Hungry Brain. Hilarious.
Sure sure, the hungry brain was as crowded as can be, packed to the brim during Letters/X, but no one was pushy.
The beer is so cheap, with plenty of options to choose from. It's comfy, cheerful, and has a great stage. Moreover, the fact that it is called THE HUNGRY BRAIN just about earns it 5 stars on its own. We had a friendly bartender too.
And the Tamales man came, and made us even cheerier.
Bit of a pain in the ass to get to if you don't have a car and don't live near the Western bus... but hey, I'm glad I suffered through the torrential rain and long soggy bus stop interludes.
Sometimes, at some bar in New York full of screaming people, desperate to prove that the $12 they just paid for some variation of a decent whiskey/vodka was totally worth it, I dream of the Hungry Brain. There, if you get there early enough, you can stake out something comfy and warm, it's like the greatest basement in the world, and watch the world go by with some friends, or somebody you like. And you can just talk, and occasionally get up to go to the jukebox - they used to have every Material Issue album there - and that made it feel like home, even if they only get played once in awhile - and I wonder if they still have all the Material Issue albums there.
It's not O'Rourke's, may O'Rourke's rest in peace, but it'll do while we wait for the heaven that has O'Rourke's. You can drink cheap here, cheap and good. And they don't mind if you go down to the burrito place on Damon and Belmont and bring back something tasty. And that burrito place is good.
I had one of the best conversations of my life here. No, I had two of the best conversations of my life here. I've seen friends perform here and when I moved to New York, this was the bar where I said good bye to Chicago from. Unlike some of the other bars in Chicago I used to like a lot, notably the Hopleaf, the Hungry Brain has continued to be pretty great and I'm happy there every time I'm back.
A bar should be comfy. A bar should be a place where you can drink in peace. A bar should have music that doesn't make you feel like an asshole. A bar should only rip you off a little, just enough to make you know the world's not a sucker. A bar should be a place where you can get a bit too passionate about friends, lovers, politics and art. A bar should have bartenders who don't make you feel like you've got a bit of snot hanging from your upper lip. A bar should let you bring in a tasty burrito when you haven't gotten around to eating. On all these things, I've got to say, the Hungry Brain fulfills every hope one can have.
There are some bars, where even when you're drinking alone, you don't feel lonely, you feel pretty good about the world, the Hungry Brain is one of those. God bless it.
Quite the cozy bar. It feels like more of a coffee house with a much more easygoing crowd to match. Music playing off the jukebox and some nice broken-in(or just broken) couches really tie this bar together. Great place to strike up a conversation with some friends over a couple beers.
I'm not sure why it took me so long to write a review at the hangout a block from my house. I hadn't been here for what seems like most of the winter. I popped in last Thursday w/ my roommate and quickly settled in.
All the bartenders are great here. The drinks are cheap. The atmosphere is chill and fun. They have a solid jukebox. You can chill on the vintage couches set-up all over the place. I like to go to town on Ms. Pacman / Galaga from time to time.
Really just a solid neighborhood hangout close to home.
I went for a birthday party.
Just looking up the address for a place called 'Hungry Brain' (two stars)
Went to bar to order and saw scrawled on a small chalk board for specials "Harp $3" (up to three stars)
Free theatre, great attitudes and cash only - which sticks to bar top as you order up (four stars and counting)
I went to order a girlie shot for the birthday girl (chocolate cake to be exact), the bartender looked me in the eye and said, "I don't make that." (that's right, you've just gotten Woohoo! 5 stars)
It feeds my hungry brain.
You're a young hipster in training possibly from the art institute or columbia college set and you want to find a place to on the fringe of wrigleyville where you can prepare an attack or escape the drama.
welcome to the hungry brain, where you can chillax without pretense and sip your old standard while catching your breath as you decide, will it be the diner or a hike to midtown or a cab to wicker park?
LOVE Hungry Brain!!! The drinks are cheap and strong and the bartenders are usually friendly. I really like that they have shows going on, whether it be music or small theater, but it's awesome. I did, however, see a really really bad experimental jazz band once- but other than that it's been great.
The atmosphere is laid back and comfy, but get there early as it's small and fills up fast. I also recommend double fisting if you can, because sometimes there's only one bartender and you can lose your buzz.
Anyway, I always have a good time here!
Oh! and take out cash- they don't take credit cards.
So maybe it's been a hard week. You're feeling low, thinking you're a failure, that you'll never be as successful as you imagined when you were a child. You stand up, go to the bathroom. Splash water on your face, take a look in the mirror and say, "You are a handsome guy. You still got it. You're still YOUNG, dammit."
Now GET out there and hit on the Old-Town-folk-music women that hang out at the Hungry Brain! Lay to waste their precarious recent marriages!!
I love this place. Cheap drinks. Great bartenders. Hip but not too hip People. The music is ALWAYS good and nobody bothers you.
This place is nothing fancy but it is cheap. Good atmosphere and cheap drinks. I'd go there anytime.
Let me set the scene:
A Friday night. Snow lightly falling. A going away/bowling party had just wrapped up. Then the inevitable, dreaded question arose: do we try to relocate the party...and if so, where? It was cold and getting a little late and we don't drive and are too poor to all take cabs...it had to be somewhere awesome and close.
Luckily I have the coolest friends ever and they instantly decreed the Hungry Brain to be a king among bars and the promised land of good beer and people. Oh how right they were.
It's affordable. It's low-key. It wasn't crowded. It has a couch in the window.
We had so much fun talking and laughing we closed the bar and they politely had to remind us of the time. We were still riding the social high as we left and decided it would be fun to walk three miles home.
Go forth and get ye to the Brain! (Maybe if you're lucky you'll end up drunk and at Dunkin Donuts at 3 AM too.)
This is my new favorite bar. For some reason, it reminds me of a place on the UES in New York., with it's hodgepodge furniture, dimmish lighting and unpretentious atomosphere.
Sitting on Belmont in a sort of obscure spot just east of Western, my boyfriend kept saying much he enjoyed it there, but just managed to check it out this past weekend.
Nice, lowkey crowd, friendly bartenders, excellent jukebox, affordable drinks and plenty of seating options (though not always available due to the crowd). I hear there's a back patio, so I think I'll be spending a lot of time here once the weather warms up.
I have a couple friends that will always, no matter what kind of a mood we are in, suggest the Hungry Brain.
I like the fact that the music isn't crazy loud, it's never too crowded, and you can just sit (well, sink) into one of the couches and just catch up with your friends.
*If you are looking for a place where you don't have to sit and have good old fashioned conversation with friends, this place is NOT for you!!*
Me, I like to just sit and chat. I'm good at it. Therefore, the Brain is good for me.
Bring enough cash- there isn't an ATM. No, not that kind, dirty bird.
How come when I throw all sorts of used furniture in my apartment it does not look nearly this interesting? Hey, I have great beer at my place, too. At one point I even commented to the SO that we could be at home sitting there talking to each other drinking Brooklyn Lager on our used sofa. Not that I did not like the place, I guess I am just hating on the fact that my interior design skills with used furniture and chotchkis are not this astute.
So yeah, if you want to throw back a few pints and feel like you are sitting on your own ratty sofa, but actually sitting on a ratty sofa in a bar, look no further than this place. And since you are doing it like you would at home the beers are good, decently priced, and you could probably sit there in your PJs at this place and no one would notice.
So after going back there several times I have realized the trick to this bar is getting a table or a booth and the everything just sort of falls into it's right place. I love the jukebox, I love that the beers are cheap, I love Ms. Pac-Man. This place does indeed rule. The slow service that one night must have been an anomaly.
Why don't I come here more often?!?
Oh, and as an added bonus... last time I was here a slightly drunk, very cute girl was at the end of the bar eating a cake straight out of the box with a fork offering a bite to anyone who walked by. How sweet is THAT?!?
Other than being cheap and having a decent jukebox, this bar is like every other bar of it's type in… Read more »
I'd say this is one of the best bars to hang out at when you want to really hang out with your friends and like talk. It's not one of those obnoxious places where the music is so loud that you can't hear the person right next to you. It's also never so crowded that you can't enjoy yourself.
They have these awesome couches that are so comfy and they have lots of tables and bar space. Basically, you don't have to stand around at this place unless you want to. It's really a place to "hang out". Also, they have one of the best jukeboxes I've seen. I mean really, it's not filled with lame one hit wonders. There's actually music in it. Woo! Did I mention the arcade games. Oh man, I've stood in front of that machine for hours playing with one hand, balancing a beer in the other. That's talent.
They also have really nice bartenders and a really nice crowd. You should really check it out even if it's a little out of the way. It's cute ,kitschy and very chill. Always a good time with friends.
IPA on tap? Check
Brain motif? Check
Awesome bartenders? Check
Good music? Check
Completely great? Check
Five checks, five stars, end of review.
as it is very easy to walk out my door, stroll 50 yards in any direction and be comfortably sitting with hand to beer to mouth... it is nice to escape the 'hood every now and then. and Hungry Brain called to me. I really dig this place, i can feel hip but not 'in the scene'. plenty of room to kick back with friends and booze it up. $4 Bells Amber on tap is a major plus. It hasn't yet wowed me yet but i've heard on high that sundays produce live jazz and that's certainly something i'd return for. see you soon hungry brain.
I thought Rainbo was pretty ok, then I went to Club Foot.
I thought Club Foot was the best ever, then I went to Innertown.
I wanted to marry Innertown, take it in the back room and do bad things to it and then, then, THEN I went to Hungry Brain.
I swear, if there is a better place on this planet, I will have a heart attack on the spot from pure joy. Being quite partial to my life and all, I deem such a happening unlikely.
The jukebox: Best ever. Bowie, Unicorns, Zombies.
The drinks: Tasty and cheap. Good cider, good beer, good mixed things.
The people: Mixed bag. One guy likened me to a desperate housewife and made fun of my dress, some dudes were covered in tatts, others were kind of nerdy but in that "I want to pinch your cheeks" sort of way.
The seating: Awesome. Swively bar stools, couches that were probably saved from a dumpster, and come on, are you really so drunk that you can't even stand?
If I could give this 6 stars, I would. I am tempted to lower my ratings of other bars to 4 just to make up the difference. Holy geez, I would move in here if I could. Hungry Brain, I'm taking you home with me. I don't care if I have to take a cab to get there.
While doing a show at the Viaduct Theatre, this became our after-show place to have a drink. I Loved it! The atmosphere is completely laid back. There is a stage where bands sometimes play and then is filled with couches when there is not a band. I recently bid on a condo right near here and was excited about the prospect of this becoming my local pub (hey, I've got my priorities in order)! Well, that didn't work out but I'll definitely find my way back there every now and then. I do however think that the name doesn't quite work as it sounds more like a health-food restaurant than a nice dive bar.
Hungry brain reminds me of the basement set from That 70s Show: couches, coffee tables, stoned hipsters, etc
While some consider the darkness the essence of this hidden gem, I felt it was a little too dark. Reason being, I could not read the labels on the beer bottles behind the bar. "Excuse me sir, I will have that beer with the red label. I don't know what it says, but I feel confident about a red-labeled beer at this moment in time". I suggest they put up a few more strands of christmas lights. Everybody wins with christmas lights.
The first time I was at hungry brain was new years eve - the night the smoke cleared to be more accurate. In spite of that, there was a wonderful sign fashioned from the corner of a pice of cardboard in the window reading "Smoke 'em if you got 'em - ban starts tomorrow." How glorious it was to have a reprieve for one day on jeopardizing the health of local bar waitstaff.
I returned for a second visit last weekend, as with all the city, puffing indoors is now a ticketable offense. However the laid back environment of Hungry Brain remains. There is likely not a single piece of furniture there less than 20 years old. Aside from the music on the jukebox, all there is to entertain is the company of others. The beer selection is also favorable for you (us) beer snobs.
The dive bar is alive & well and doing exactly what it is supposed to do -- deliver cheap drinks in an eclectic environment.
Went last night for the LettersX show - FAB show and FREE - the improv group was great, spot on, and simply took up a collection afterwards. Totally go see this show - they are doing it for the next few weeks - HIGHlarious.
AGREED with the double-fisting the drinks. Easily 100+ people in there by showtime, so I pretty much just got one drink. Disappointing, as I'm sure they lost a ton of revenue due to only having one bartender.
I barely want to even write this rave review on Hungry Brain, because I don't want it to become overly trendy or packed, etc. etc.
But- it is hands down, my favorite bar in Chicago. I love everything about it. The staff, the regulars, the affordable drink prices, the kitschy ambiance, the furniture, the jukebox...
The perfect place to go after a Beat Kitchen show, or before Underbar.
Be sure to bring your cash with you- no credit cards accepted.
Ah, Hungry Brain xoooox (Translation=I love it here.)
this bar is hidden in plain view without a big flashy sign saying 'Hungry Brain and when you walk inside, the first thing you notice is how dimly lit the interior is. in a good way. the lighting gives off a low-key and cool ambiance, the kind of feel you want when you just wanna sit back and hang with friends and get sloshed. not too expensive either.
hooray!
One of my favorite bars in Chicago, if it wasn't cash only I'd be here all the time! As it is I try to make an appearance every month; their G&T's are just that good. The juke-box is stellar, the seating comfortable and intimate and the decor eclectic. The crowd is young and hip; lots of musicians/actors/artists and the like. The back patio is open until 11 I think and is a great place to sit on a warm night. Service is great and the Tamale Guy stops by every night! Live music on Sundays is fun, too. Highly recommended for anyone seeking a low-key place with great atmosphere.
Love-love-loved this place. Everyone who worked there was extremely cool, the jukebox made me giddy with excitement, there was plenty of seating for all and the beer selection was top notch. Brooklyn Brewery Lager on tap - $4! Stiegl on tap - $4! That's about 2.5 Euro, which I think is less than what I paid in Austria, haha. And since I love beer with widgets, I also went for a can of Boddingtons, which also happened to be...$4.
I think the only bad thing about the experience was that Tamale Guy never came by...I think he might have been there early in the evening instead.
Went here last night with a group and while the jukebox was pretty fab, the seating comfortable and the drinks reasonable....the smell was absolutely disgusting......it smelled like an old ladys basement that has 15 cats living in it......my friend had to order a bourbon just so we could use it as smelling salts......yes really.
PAGE 3 TIME!
Humorous proclamations aside, this definitely lived up to the past hype and praises it's gotten. Cool dark and festive decor(including obviously of brains), douchebag-free, beer garden small enough to make you mistakenly think you were in the backyard of your friend's house, a jukebox perfectly suited for both the taste of hipsters and people into classic rock/oldies. Even saw a Batman-dressed guy(bummer I didn't get to chat w/him before he left), and had a great conversation with one of their bartenders about soccer.
Oh, need I mention the greatness of having quarter Galaga, Ms. Pacman, or Arkanoid? Sure hope to be back sooner rather than later here.
Great little dive with decently priced drinks, nice bartenders and entertaining events here and there. My friend and I came for the Anti-Valentine's Cabaret and laughed our asses off. The actors got the audience in on the fun and the place was completely full for the show.
I refer to the Brain as the Hipster Chuck-E-Cheese because it seems like everyone and their mom has to have a birthday party here. While that can make it crowded on the weekends, it also allows the bartenders and door guys to eat all your leftover cake and pizza, so keep it up.
This is a fantastic bar where you can instantly feel like you belong, whether you know the people who work here (I'm biased) or not. I spent New Year's Eve here a couple of years of ago and did nothing more festive than make myself a stupid party hat out of a Trader Joe's bag (see photo) and it was one of the best NYEs I've ever had.
The jukebox is great, just don't try to play "Tiny Dancer" because Dan will turn it off.
Totally tops.
You know how it is when you've had a really bad day or you got dumped or your job sucks and no matter how old you are, your first instinct is to call your mom?
The Hungry Brain is the sound of your mom picking up the phone and saying, "Hi, sweetie!"
Great beers on tap, great atmosphere.
Bar is a dark, dive-y kind of place with lots of seating and fun art on the walls. There's even Christmas lights, which are always a plus in my book.
Staff is friendly and knowledgeable. ATM across the street in a convenient store. Fun times.
Neighborhood: Roscoe Village
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Logan Square
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Lincoln Park
Category: Jazz & Blues
Neighborhood: Near West Side
Category: Dive Bars
Neighborhood: Humboldt Park
Category: Lounges
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