Ok very cool atmosphere (dark, candlelit tables), but I came on a Friday night with a few friends and the ratio was terrible. Probably 15 guys and 3 girls. Overrated. read more

I love it here. One of the best bars in the city. Want a bar where you can go with your friends, catch up, and enjoy the jukebox? Check out the Brain. Or maybe you want to watch a man in full clown attire perform his most recent spoken word art project. Check out the Brain. No matter what, you'll find a chair or stool at a cool bar with excellent (and inexpensive!) drinks, fun vibe, and an interesting and mixed crowd. The tamale guy rolls in around 10. There's still a bit of the old Roscoe Village that comes here, artists and musicians mixing with the new moneyed crowd. But the Brain is a sort of neutral ground, a place where all can come and have a great time. read more

With due respect to the newest incarnation of the Velvet Lounge and Elastic (RIP 3030!), the Brain is the best place to hear improvised music in Chicago. read more

if this was just a bar, i would make the trek just for people watching the clientele. keep in mind that this is not a good pre-gaming location or a destination for the height of the night. -- if you come here, you intend to sit and chat and sit and chat. but this is not just a bar! want to hear a real secret ? go on weeknights around 9 pm to listen to a live recording of "you, me, them, everybody." YMTE is a podcast focusing on chicago culture (which just means it's a talk show with comedians and musicians from the chicago area). the show is always funny, the music is usually bizarre, and the drinks are cheap. http://www.youmethemeverybody.com/events/ for the schedule of events. bring cash for beer and the jukebox. read more

Bar had it all. Great drafts, Music, Fiction Readings. Comfy seating. Small outdoor areas. BYOF policy. It is truly sorely missed.

Came here for a joint birthday party and I had a pretty good impression, but everyone hyped this place up way too much for me so I think my expectations were a bit high. Hungry Brain itself feels like a friend's basement hangout spot - cozy, dark, and friendly. Everyone here was cordial, and drink prices are relatively cheap compared to other bars in Chicago. They have a killer jukebox machine, and it was a lot of fun looking through the records they have. However, this place is in a pretty inconvenient spot that isn't around a lot of "foot traffic" so it's hard to get to conveniently if you don't bike or have a car. There is also not a lot around these parts, so if you wanted to get here from another place or go to someplace else from the Brain, you'd have to rely on public transit or catch a cab (if you don't have a bike). The Belmont bus drops you off right in front of the bar, but I'd have to transfer from another bus to the Belmont bus to get to this place. Arg! (Yes, I am complaining about this, but it's my review so I can complain all I want!) With that said, I had a good time and saw many good friends. The crowd that comes here is a bit older, like around late 20s - mid 30s. Just not the kind of atmosphere where you can rage and stuff like that, but definitely a cozy spot for a chill evening with close friends. I think I want to come back on a weekday and see what it's like. read more

I went to Hungry Brain on a Monday for a free comedy show. Nice beer selection, good prices, dark, funky decor. Show was great. I will come back again. read more

A cool bar that doesn't exist. Seriously, you can't find it. Once you do find it, you'll find a great beer selection, an amazingly dark, speakeasy vibe, and a low carpeted stage for jazz bands. But don't worry, you won't find it. Stay away, please. It's mine. read more

This used to be a five-star place but has gotten crowded and definitely smokey. It's pretty cheap, definitely a good place to go on off nights. They have vintage arcade games and do performances -- there's a long-running improvised music festival that happens once a year called the phrenology phest or something. Don't see too many locals in this place, mostly younger folk like me, but it still has a relaxed vibe. read more

Great relaxed bar with relatively cheap booze and pretty much always nice bartenders. Good juke and lots of tables and seats although it seems a bit more packed all the time now than it used to be. The ambiance is nice with a kind of thrown together thrift store aesthetic that manages to not come across corny. The crowd's a pretty interesting mix of ages and backgrounds without too much pretension. read more

This is my favorite bar in Chicago (so far). Relatively inexpensive drinks ($3.50 for a vodka and cranberry)... Fantastic jukebox and witty bartenders. The ambiance is dark and quirky in the way that I believe all bars should be--lots of table space accommodating large groups and just a dang nice place to sit, sip and chat with your buddies. read more

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. read more

One of the best bars in Chicago. Great jukebox and great drinks. The lights are dim but the piano is out of tune. No worries though.

Probably my favorite bar in Chicago- dark, cheap (relatively) and, relaxing. I wonder how bad this place smells now that the smoking ban's in effect.... read more

Very cool but oozing with hipster attitude from kids barely old enough to drink. I hope this bar stays cool...

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. read more

A true gem in Roscoe Village! Ambiance is unique and cozy; drinks are pretty standard. They have a nice little stage for live shows! Definitely a go-to place for a low key chill day read more

Closed at the end of business on December 31st. RIP forever, Hungry Brain. Hopefully the bartenders here end up at other bars, as well!

Been in many a bar for many a year - check my reviews. Was looking forward to this as one of the very few left on my list that I truly wanted to visit. Big disappointment. To me, the interior reeks of "no effort at all", rather than cool basement or whatever. The bar especially sucks for being so short for no real reason. Beer "list" is like 4 or 5, nothing interesting. I am sure the bands are deafening when they play as they are 5 feet away. Hours suck. I could go on but I won't. read more

About as solid as a dive bar can get. Clean enough (for a dive) with solid service and a decent selection. Plenty of seating, lots of options, cash only. read more

One of Chicago's finest dive bars. Great beer selection, and while I haven't experienced it first hand, they have great live music.

First time I went here was years and years ago. I loved it for a hot minute. Went here a few months ago and it looked and felt the same but I must say that weirded me out. I tried to go again when a friend decided we should meet there. It seems whenever we've gone recently they've been closed at random moments. I've decided I'll call first. Can't say I hate the place but I am on the fence about the hours. Over all I'm giving such a great rating solely because it was my favorite place during college. I plan on going in a few weeks to see if my review still holds water after my last visit and they were closed yet again when the hours were clearly marked as open. read more

I come here with my husband, he really likes beer and is very impressed by the beer choices. I just enjoy coming here because the atmosphere is fun. I think if not always most of the time I come out with a new acquaintance. It is an exciting place. read more

I am such a fan of this place. The atmosphere is always so welcoming and fun. The food and background music makes you feel at ease. Definitely will be a returning customer. read more

I am very willing to give this bar another shot, but I wanted to share my experience so other bar goers don't get blind-sided the way my friends and I did. I met a few of the staff of Hungry Brain a while ago when they came into my bar, and they were great folks so I wanted to come and give the bar a try on a Sunday. Ready for a night of drinking after a long weekend at work, I wandered right up to the bar. It was pretty full for a Sunday and a live band was setting up on stage. Sweet. The seating arrangement in the bar was great. There is one long bar with open seating the length of the bar flanked with about a dozen tables and a few worn-in couches in front of the stage. The bartender was quick and polite, and my friends and I grabbed a seat in the back so we could commiserate about the weekend. Just then, a guy stood up in front of the bar to announce the band. He asked us to keep the talking to "none" and said he would be coming around to collect a $7 "donation" from each person for the band. Then the band erupted into loud jazz improv. It sounded more like a hot mess to me, but other people seemed to dig it. It just wasn't our thing and we left pretty quickly. I plan to return to the bar, and probably re-rate it, but not on a Sunday night. read more

I love this bar. I go to this bar more than any other bar in the city of Chicago and intend to continue to do so. You can't beat a bar full of your friends, its rare that I go in and don't see someone I know and its even more rare that I go there and don't have a good time. read more

This place sucked the other night. I felt like I was in the army and stopped by a bar in Iraq. It was dirty and the bartender was mean.

Seriously the chillest goddamned bar I've ever spent time in. Almost completely devoid of both the sadness of an older crowd or the douchebaggery of a younger crowd - just a very happy medium. $4 scotch is always appreciated as well. read more

as mat v has clearly stated, one of the best bars in town...amazing juke box...great prices, perfect atmosphere...perfect for a "dont want to go out but i will meet my friends who give a damn" kind of a place...mis-matched furniture and Luc is a doll! read more

Tight spot. I prefer the slow nights to live acts at this joint, but when I do catch one it's always fascinating : )

i really like it here. very genuine. friendly staff and patrons. comfortable setting. it's never been too crowded. what's not to like i ask? what's not to like? read more

This is my favorite spot in the city to go for a craft cocktail and great music. The atmosphere is very inviting and relaxing!

This place is very much so like being in a friends basement, its a great place to go at the end of an evening , beginning of a night or somewhere in between. The bartenders are very nice, although I must say I did have an experience when they had live music which I mean by no disrespect was pretty much loud noise (experimental shit) and I got shh! The funny part was that I was whispering. read more

Oh how I love the Hungry Brain. Cheap drinks, friendly people, eclectic furnishings, the divey and funky feel, and the GREAT jukebox. It's just flat out awesome. read more

i came here for live theatre tsarovia hosted by citizen's relief which was amazing! i left there refreshed especially considering it was free (please donate if you go) but ended up staying there pretty late. the prices are reasonable and the staff great! i will be back :) read more

Last night was only my second time at the hungry brain. I had a great time although it was a bit confusing. I saw a listing on www.do312.com that stated it was their annual board game night and to bring a game to enter the tournament. So, I did. Not many people showed up. But, I made some new friends. I hope the next one will be more organized. It's a chill place, pretty cheap drinks. I would go back for sure! read more

great jukebox! i dont drink, but had to come here for a friends birthday gathering, and it was perfect for the non-drinkers! there were big couches and chairs to sit in off to the side and we sat around and enjoyed eachothers company. very relaxing - not too loud, and great tunes! read more

This bar has real personality there's nothing like it in the neighborhood the staff are friendly the drinks are strong and you just never know who you might meet there check it out for sure they have live music four to five nights a week it's very dark and cozy with a nice group of regulars read more

I am so glad this place is back, I just found out! This is one of Chicago's #1 dive bars. Very cool atmosphere, calm and laid back for a drink on a weekday. Bartenders are great. I have also seen some very cool live performances here - both music and sketch/visual art performance pieces. I am also told they have jazz on Sundays which I will have to check out. If you are in the neighborhood, check this place out. But' don't tell anyone, it's still a relatively good kept secret. read more

In a city full of bars? This one is my favorite. It is the epitome of the perfect dive bar (in my humble opinion).