TV shows like The Bear and where to stream them
Acclaimed series The Bear has just returned for its third season, with Carmy (Jeremy Allen White), Sydney (Ayo Edebiri), and Richie (Ebon Moss-Bachrach) finally opening their high-end (and high-stress) restaurant. Since Hulu dropped all 10 new episodes at once, you’ve probably already chewed your way through the whole season. Here are six more restaurant-based TV shows to satiate your appetite.
6. Sweetbitter (2018–2019)
Like The Bear, Sweetbitter captures the behind-the-scenes kitchen chaos of a big-city restaurant. Unlike The Bear, the show’s protagonist, Tess (Ella Purnell of Fallout and Yellowjackets), has way more fun—at least at first. She’s just moved to New York City and landed a job at a hotspot restaurant, but the sex and drugs and rock ‘n’ roll lifestyle that comes with it might be too much for her to sustain. A lost gem.
Where to watch Sweetbitter
5. Feed the Beast (2016)
Sommelier Tommy’s (David Schwimmer) dream of opening a restaurant in the Bronx soon becomes a nightmare when his chef and partner Dion’s (Jim Sturgess) Polish mob debts and inner demons catch up with him. Feed the Beast channels the tension and dark humor of Breaking Bad into the restaurant world with the visual flair of Dexter (thanks to producer Clyde Phillips). Warning: It ends on a cliffhanger.
Where to watch Feed the Beast
4. Mildred Pierce (2011)
In the Todd Haynes-directed series adaptation of the 1941 novel and the 1945 Joan Crawford movie, Kate Winslet absolutely owns the title role as a Great Depression divorcee struggling to establish a restaurant. Mildred also struggles to earn the love of her narcissistic daughter Veda (future Westworld star Evan Rachel Wood) in this emotional rollercoaster that went on to win over 20 screen awards.
Where to watch Mildred Pierce
3. Kitchen Confidential (2005)
Trying to retrofit Anthony Bourdain’s memoir Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly into a half-hour broadcast comedy was not a winning idea (FOX canceled the show after airing only four of 13 produced episodes), but it probably could have worked on cable. Just look at Kitchen Confidential’s main cast: Bradley Cooper, John Francis Daley, and Jaime King—how about a Hulu reboot?
Where to watch Kitchen Confidential
2. Party Down (2009–2010; 2023)
Party Down is about a catering company, which makes it kitchen-adjacent—we’ll allow it. The hilarious comedy lasted just two seasons in the late-aughts, but the show’s cult renown was strong enough for STARZ to finally produce a third in 2023. The scathing Hollywood satire is relentlessly deadpan, with stars Adam Scott, Lizzy Caplan, Jane Lynch, Ken Marino, and more turning in some of their funniest work.
Where to watch Party Down
1. Bob’s Burgers (2011–present)
Easily the longest-running kitchen-based series that’s not Top Chef, Bob’s Burgers has charmed its way into the hearts (and stomachs) of America with 14 seasons of burger puns, musical numbers, and small-business grit. Bob makes it work behind the grill, but Carmy could never run his restaurant with the “help” of Linda, Gene, Louise, and Tina. OK, maybe Louise—she could keep Richie in line. Yes, chef!
Where to watch Bob’s Burgers
Our editor, Taylor, made quite a different list of TV shows like The Bear—let us know who wore it best in the comments.
Bill Frost has been a journalist and TV reviewer since the 4:3-aspect-ratio ’90s. His pulse-pounding prose has been featured in The Salt Lake Tribune, Inlander, Coachella Valley Independent, Las Vegas Weekly, and many other dead-tree publications (see BillFrost.tv). In addition to being a Senior Staff Writer at CableTV.com, Bill is a syndicated streaming TV columnist forSalt Lake City Weekly and other alternative weeklies, and host/producer of TV Tan Podcast. By night, Bill cranks a Flying V with his band at the bar.
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