TV Restaurants

Is El Che Bar Still Open? Food Paradise Update (Chicago, IL)

Open verified

As of September 2026, El Che Bar is open — confirmed via the restaurant's current website/social account, accessed September 8, 2026.

Primary source
elchechicago.com ·

Last verified

What the source shows: El Che's own website carries a live OpenTable reservation link and current dinner and wine menus, and Google Places lists the business as operational at the Washington Boulevard address.

  • Season / episode Season 14, Episode 11
  • Address 845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
  • Current name El Che Steakhouse & Bar

Interactive map — loads when you ask for it.

Everything on this map is also in the list below.

© OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO

What happened after Food Paradise?

The episode (S14E11, 'Fire It Up') featured El Che Bar, a steakhouse built around open-hearth, live-fire cooking in Chicago's West Loop. The business operates under the fuller name El Che Steakhouse & Bar, with a menu split between dinner, wines, and a dedicated hearth section, plus a chef's counter for closer views of the fire. According to the restaurant's website (elchechicago.com), checked 2026-09-08, the site lists current dinner and wine menus, a happy-hour section, and a working OpenTable reservation link. Google Places, checked the same day, lists El Che as operational at 845 W Washington Blvd, matching the location tied to the business. No reporting on a closure, sale, or rebrand for El Che turned up in the sources reviewed, and its own site continues to promote reservations and group dining at the West Loop address.

Featured on Food Paradise

Season / episode
Season 14, Episode 11
Original air date
Not confirmed
Episode title
Fire It Up
What was featured
open-hearth steak and live-fire cooking
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
El Che Bar

Frequently asked questions

Is El Che Bar still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, El Che Bar is open — confirmed via the restaurant's current website/social account, accessed September 8, 2026.

What happened to El Che Bar after Food Paradise?

The episode (S14E11, 'Fire It Up') featured El Che Bar, a steakhouse built around open-hearth, live-fire cooking in Chicago's West Loop. As of September 2026, El Che Bar is open — confirmed via the restaurant's current website/social account, accessed September 8, 2026.

What is El Che Bar called now?

Now: El Che Steakhouse & Bar (formerly El Che Bar). As of September 2026, El Che Bar is open — confirmed via the restaurant's current website/social account, accessed September 8, 2026.

Where is El Che Bar located?

845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Food Paradise featured El Che Bar?

Season 14, Episode 11 of Food Paradise. The episode is titled “Fire It Up”.

What do reviews say since Food Paradise?

No reporting on a closure, sale, or rebrand for El Che turned up in the sources reviewed, and its own site continues to promote reservations and group dining at the West Loop address. We summarise what dated sources report; we do not publish our own rating.

Is El Che Bar still using the Food Paradise menu or branding?

The business operates under the fuller name El Che Steakhouse & Bar, with a menu split between dinner, wines, and a dedicated hearth section, plus a chef's counter for closer views of the fire. Anything newer than our last check on September 7, 2026 may not be reflected here.

Every status on this site carries a confidence label and a date, and names the source it rests on. Read the Editorial & Corrections Policy for what each label means and how quickly we act on corrections. The questions above are generated from this record's own published fields — we never publish a question we cannot answer from the data.

More from Food Paradise

Every Food Paradise restaurant we track

Other TV restaurants in Illinois

All Illinois locations

Nearest tracked restaurants

  • Girl & The Goat

    Chicago, IL · 0.1 mi away

    Best Thing I Ever Ate

    Open reported Checked

  • Leña Brava

    Chicago, IL · 0.1 mi away

    Best Thing I Ever Ate

    New owners reported Checked

  • Au Cheval

    Chicago, IL · 0.1 mi away

    Best Thing I Ever Ate

    Open reported Checked

  • Publican

    Chicago, IL · 0.3 mi away

    Best Thing I Ever Ate

    Open reported Checked

  • Publican Quality Meats

    Chicago, IL · 0.3 mi away

    Best Thing I Ever Ate

    Open reported Checked

  • Now: Urbanbelly (formerly Urban Belly)

    Chicago, IL · 0.3 mi away

    Best Thing I Ever Ate · Food Paradise

    Relocated verified Checked

Visit info

Address
845 W Washington Blvd, Chicago, IL 60607
Venue type
restaurant
Official website
elchechicago.com

Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.

Sources

See something wrong?

We work hard to keep every status accurate and dated, but restaurants change fast and our sources aren't perfect. If something here is wrong — a status, a name, an address, anything — tell us what you're seeing and where you saw it, and we'll check it.

See something wrong? Tell us →

Share this page

Record fp-1151 · last verified .