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? read more

I came here for Two Cookie Minimum's Industry Night. As far as I was concerned, the drinks/venue were ancillary to hearing local writers and publishers expound on their craft, and read their works aloud, but I decided to step outside of my comfort zone and come here, making the train-to-bus transfer necessary to do so. The setup was not daunting at all and I'm pleased that the ambiance read cozy and careworn versus dark and forbidding. The drink selections are reasonable and the bar staff friendly, which is all that I ask out of my establishments. I most likely won't seek out this establishment for its own sake but will definitely make it a point to investigate future industry nights here as they arise. read more

We stopped in on a Sunday night for jazz. It's a pretty laid back vibe and intimate space with a small stage. There was a 'suggested' cover. The bartender was pretty friendly and they have a decent selection of spirits and beers in bottles/ cans, at fair prices. Definitely check it out if you're into some modern jazz. read more

Love this place. Thrift store meets 50s diner -- like a coffeebar that doesn't serve coffee. The place is definitely a hipster spot but it's very welcoming, snug, perfectly lit, perfectly dingy. Like a lot of my favorite spots, it's not 100% easy to find, and the bar layout is interesting. Out front is a impressive art-deco shop facade with a black curtain blocking any chance to peek inside -- it probably feels like twilight in here at 11am. With the smoking ban now in place it should be a LOT easier to spot this place - what with the Mobile Cancer Ward lingering outside the bar. Inside is a mishmash of diner tables, kitschy seats and a functioning stage with arcade games on it. Ca-razy. Drinks are cheap, small-talk is easy, and the place is flippin' cool. Oh, yeah... beset jukebox in the city. read more

Hidden in plain sight is this gem of a bar in Roscoe Village. Dark, seemingly lit only by a few strands of Christmas lights and a lamp here and there, the atmosphere is very calm and inviting. Take your choice of plenty of comfy cozy seating options both on the main floor as well as the stage (note: some nights the stage is occupied by Jazz musicians putting on quite the show). The drinks are cheap, bartenders friendly, and a crowd that tends to be pretty mellow and quiet, perhaps taking a cue from the general atmosphere here. A great place to take a date to, to bring a bunch a friends, or to meet some new people. read more

My favorite bar, hands down. Cheap, delicious beer. Great jukebox. Christmas lights. What more could you ask for? read more

Good crowds, good music. Cash only bar, but the prices are reasonable. The atmosphere is especially good - casual with lots of places to sit. They have weird hours, so make sure they're open before you head over. read more

AMAZING juke box, good vibe, good cheap drinks. one of the best dive bars in the city. read more

I love this place. I recently moved to Roscoe Village and this place is across the street from me. It's a perfect dive bar. The arrangement of mismatch furniture and vintage toys is cozy and whimsical. The jukebox is great. The drinks are the perfect price. Bartenders are really nice too. There was a really bad experience on Sunday where I got scoffed at by a band member because I didn't have any cash on me and he wanted a 'suggested donation' of 5 dollars, even though my friend donated 4. If you wanted a cover, then make there be a cover. I didn't come to see your band play, I just wanted some drinks. read more

The Hungry Brain is a great little gem on Belmont, just east of Western. The bartenders are friendly and fast, the booze is cheap and they simply have the greatest juke box in the city. It has a cool vibe and, with all of the kitsch and couches, it feels like hanging in somebody's basement - someone who is much, much cooler than you. read more

I have to say that this is one of the most unique places I've been to. Tucked away in Roscoe Village on Belmont, it definitely has the feel of a hippie friend's apartment. There's a stage area that didn't have any performances: just couches and rugs. If you can't relax in this place, then there's something wrong with you. I went here for a friend's birthday party and it's definitely a very social venue. Sort-of divey; it is a little creepy to go into late night. It's very dark so don't expect to go in there seeing too many things. Cuz you won't, on account of the darkness. Still, a place to check out with friends. read more

Literally the closest bar to my home, and yes, that was a selling point of the place. Every bartender is a treat. I would live on the back porch in the summer if I had the chance. I love you, Hungry Brain. read more

Is this a bar or someone's loft with a huge selection of booze in it? It might be a little hard to tell at first, which is reason enough to check this joint out. The beer selection is vast, and the prices aren't too bad either. The walls are lined with booths and couches, and the lighting is just perfect for chilling out. This place is perfect if you want to study have an actual conversation (note that there are only about 3 bars in the United States where this is possible). This places selling point is, well, to cater to intellectuals. They even have a book trading shelf (don't get excited about the selection). Unfortunately what they mean by intellectuals is people who ride 10-speeds, hate George W. Bush a LOT, roll their own cigarettes, drink PBR, and think it's acceptable to interrupt your conversation just to try and contradict you. Hopefully once they spray for hipsters it should be back to it's good old self again. read more

Ya know. There have been nights when this joint is far too crowded for me but I still love it. It's artsy and fun. After four drinks I always end up doing my own one women show on the stage. Never fails. I haven't been there in a while but I do remember it being really smokey. With the new law, I'm sure it's no longer that way. Fun times, cheep drinks, well lit little place. read more

I got shushed, and i was just talking to myself! Caveat emptor, during jazz shows, you must respect the musicans at this place, and i am all for it. This place is rad. If you are a jazz fan or a fan of music with an open mind, sundays is a good night to go, known for mostly jazz shows, but i caught a last act, where that genre mos def gets expanded. I peeked at the 'backyard patio', not that great, but suffices for a place to smokem if you gottem. The barkeep was especially friendly and a joy to chat with. Chock full of suggestions for this out-of-towner. My eyes spotted an 80's Kate Bush clock, how cool is that? Bonus point for the comfy sofa in front of the stage for the uber fan of the act. read more

This Hungry Brain is really fun! The atmosphere can't be beat, with campy retro decorations and lots of lights. There are many seating options- couches, tables, chairs, it seems more like a living room than anything. The beer selection isn't bad- the usual cheap swill, but some good mid-range beers like Leinie are usually on special. The bathrooms are nice, and it can get really crowded but still seem open. I do wish it was closer to a train. It's a cab kind of place unless you want to wait for the Belmont or Western bus. Minus a star for cash only and the amount of smoke in the air- ( if my eyes hurt, it's time to get a smoke eater!) read more

I can't say anything that hasn't already been said! Well-chosen drafts, inexpensive, comfy furniture, good jukebox. Only complaints: Service is a smidge slow and jukebox is a bit quiet. These are minor though. read more

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. read more

Each time i've gone to the Hungary Brain- I've had an excellent time. I love that it has a laid back scene, and comfortable ( yet kitschy) couches. They have a huge selection of mirco-brewed beers. The lighting makes it excellent for secret lovers to get together and the old cowboy/stage feel to the place really adds drama to being drunk ! A bit of trvia- A bar of this named in the movie the Matrix. read more

I hesitate to praise this cozy dive publicly, because I'd selfishly like to keep it to myself, but here goes... Good cheap drinks, Friendly bartenders, Never too crowded (usually), Great jukebox, Never too loud, Never pretentious, Arkanoid! Just a great, relaxing place to kick back for a few drinks. read more

Cool bar. Good vibe, nice staff. Neat art on the walls. pacman. most importantly though...$4 Dogfish Head 60 min IPA ON TAP. $4! That stuff is like 10 dollars for a 4 pack in the store. Most bars would charge $7 easily for that beer. Two Thumbs up. read more

If your bar has comfy lived in couches that I can sink into after a long day of traipsing across the cold and rainy city, you're well on your way to getting 5 stars from this lackadaisical lazy little chick.a.dee. What solidifies the 5 stars, you ask? Well, I'll lay it out for ya, folks. Bullet Point Style: - GREAT music selection with tons of stuff you'd never expect to see on a jukebox. - A pretty good beer (not shitty beer, that is) selection, though they were out of my first 2 draft craft beer choices as soon as they opened. - Interesting wall art of rats, music, brains getting an I.V. drip of jager, etc. - Friendly and efficient staff. - Small and low key atmosphere. No need to dress up or nothin'. That ole Tee shirt and some ripped jeans are fancy enough... in fact, you could prob get away without even wearing shoes here, though I wouldn't recommend it. Plus it's dark so you can push your limits on looking a lil' worn out... as I did. - The patrons of the bar are nice and keep to themselves. Sometimes I just don't feel like making new friends and I appreciate that about here. Plus it was the day everyone in the Chi celebrates St. Patty's Day and there was not one green frat boy there. Amen to keeping the doupies out. - Cheap ass drinks. No wallet raping here. - Galaga AND Miss Pac Man... 'nuff said. - And lastly, if you arrange for a little get together at Hungry Brain among friends, you'll likely get some props for finding such a cool, slightly hidden place, that they'd never heard of and/ or had passed a thousand times and never knew it was there. And I love me some props. And so it stands, 5 Sexy Stars. read more

Due to the fact I now live over 2000 miles away, I can no longer walk over to the Brain three or more times a week and I miss it. Dan and the girls could not have been more kind to me. read more

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- the stage that's just used for seating is 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 as 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. read more

This is the best bar I have ever been to. Let me share a tale with you: I originally saw the bar on Yelp while wandering around Belmont on a Friday night, and with the great reviews and single dollar sign and the great name decided to make it the last place I'd go for the night. First, I wandered past the place two or three times, since there's not really a sign or anything to tell you where it is. I finally took a look through the window on the door, and could barely make out the figure of people inside, since (at least in my imagination, I'll have to go back and make sure) the window was too grimy to properly see through. Finally walk in, and the place smells like the cool kid you knew in high school's basement. There is a jukebox the runs LASER DISKS, which I haven't seen in like a decade. There is absolutely insane art on the walls, a lot of which features anthropomorphic brains. I sit down at the bar, and get a pint of 5$ Great Lakes (and they had equally good beers for cheaper I think!). The bartender was a really friendly guy, and fills the glasses up absolutely to the rim and overflowing (none of that bullsh*t where they give you a half full glass and charge full price!). There were like 10 other people in the bar at the time, and it was the perfect volume for having a conversation. Then the guy comes over. This dude just sits down next to me and kind of awkwardly strikes up a conversation. I quickly gather he's heavily intoxicated, but is generally really friendly (although does say a few offensive things that would have made me think twice about him if he wasn't otherwise a merry guy). He proceeds to tell his life story (including his time in prison, coming to Chicago and starting a consulting gig, in true "Fear and Loathing" style his crazy night with his attorney that night, and how he met his girilfriend). He also apparently knows everyone else in the bar, and (once again mildly offensively) calls one over who seems to be a bit less amused with his condition. He buys everyone shots, throws up a bit, and zips back and forth for the rest of the evening. If anyone has seen the Miyazaki movie "Spirited Away" and remembers how that guy was the "River Spirit", this guy right here was the "Dive Bar Spirit". He truely made my evening from kinda meh to absolutely incredible. Anyway, that is the kind of place the Hungry Brain is, and I can't wait to go back. This is fantastic bar, great divey atmosphere/charm, great/cheap beer, and great company. Go here, you won't regret it. read more

Yet another stomping ground for me as I dwelled within Roscoe Village, Hungry Brain was always the 'diamond in the rough." Between Damen and Western, on Belmont, there are only a few bars...and if you even blink, you may regrettably miss this place. With only a small neon sign in the window, you may not even know it is a bar. The Hungry Brain has always been very comfortable with their nostalgic 50's inspired furniture, and super friendly staff. Before the outlawing of smoking in IL, the Brain's bar tops and tables donned very eclectic, thrift-store-esque ashtrays. I have never had a bad experience here while sipping on my Newcastle with an intermittent Jameson shot...or five. read more

Oh, Hungry Brain, I do have feelings for you. Mixed, just like the company and drinks I enjoyed. Many a night I had caroused with people I loved, some of them gone now, within your the confines of your dimly lit warmth. You weren't perfect, but I sure as hell wasn't either, and who is? Now you've decided to leave us too. I hate change, but I know it is inevitable. It's what happens. You're not the first beloved bar I've lost, you won't be the last. I will miss you with a woeful sigh, and without a doubt. read more

I had a great time here. I was worried I was venturing into a "too cool" hipster enclave (I'm not a hipster), but the place was actually very welcoming and relaxed - a really comfortable bar, hipsterish without being excluding. They were hosting a monthly revue (music, spoken word, comedy, etc.) the night I showed up. The house band "Good Evening" was very good - I was impressed (goodeveningmusic.com), a folk/pop sound. Another highlight was a crazy, gusto-filled reading of a sci-fi story by a guy in a pinstripe suit. The jukebox is really good, too. I'd definitely go back again. read more

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. read more

A cute little dive bar that doesn't try to be more than it is.... cheap drinks, cozy seats, and a friendly bartender - win!

I love this bar. Yes it's dark and a little strange at first, but once your eyes adjust you're in the perfect dive bar; weird Tchotchkes, comfy furniture, a great jukebox, cheap drinks and a friendly staff. The patios great for Chicago summers and the tamale guy stops by. Perfection in my book. read more

I can't believe I'd never been here before when I live right down the street. I had a blast and will definitely be going back! It was so cozy and and just a damn good hang out spot. read more

I used to live literally NEXT DOOR to this joint and man, i loved it. They had Three Floyds on tap and Arkanoid in the back. The jukebox is killer and the atmosphere cozy. Love it! read more

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. read more

Very cool spot. Delightfully divey. Good prices and beer selection. Very laid-back vibe. It's very dark, but a great spot for live music and hanging out. read more

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. read more

Best bar in Chicago - hands down. Friendly ambience, cheap beers and a great scene. Kind of in the middle of nowhere but that's part of what makes it great. read more

Hungry brain is a really nice, comfortable bar. Good ey e candy, some great specials, decent beer on tap. Lots of comfortable, unconventional seating arrangements (Bar, tables, little booths, couches, loveseats, raised platforms, lounge chairs!) and fun kitchy decor. Another bar that has lighting down pat! When you go to a well lit bar, it really hits you how meaningful it is to conversation and how much it contributes to the social lubrication. Good atmosphere. Bartenders are fast, but a touch curt. No real complaints, but another one seater bathroom for which I have waited in line quite a few times. read more

This place is the best. They've got a better-than-average beer selection. It's cheaper than most bars and you can actually have a conversation without having to scream. That's not to say the jukebox isn't worth listening to, because they have some kick-ass shit on there. Also, there are no televisions, so if you want to see "the game" you'll have to go somewhere else. Whenever I go to another bar, I wish I had gone to the Hungry Brain instead. read more

i've been working this place into my regular rotation over the last few months, and i'm having a hard time finding anything negative to say about it. okay, i just remembered. i got here early once and had to watch an interactive performance art piece for over an hour. nothing against the performers or anything, but i just wanted to sit at the bar and hang out. other than that one incident (which has more to do with bad timing than anything else), i've had nothing but enjoyable, inexpensive, boozy nights filled with mostly great music from an outstanding jukebox. there are lots of couches and tables and it's usually easy to get a seat. all summer, i kept wondering if the "beer garden open" sign in the back was legit. i never investigated. it haunts me. this really doesn't seem like a beer garden place. i had a feeling the bartender would laugh at me if i asked. read more