The Coach House

"Founded by Chef Zubair Mohajir, this restaurant offers complex flavors from South and Southeast Asia." - Michael He

"The Coach House is one of America’s most dynamic Indian restaurants. James Beard-nominated chef Zubair Mohajir, who cooks food from a South Indian Muslim perspective, offers a unique (and pricy) tasting menu with variations of aged duck cooked using a centuries-old recipe book, a wonderful expression of the Midwest relish tray that uses Indian flatbreads, and a world-class momo with a stuffing that changes seasonally. Originally, Coach House shared the space with casual restaurant Wazwan, but in fall 2023, Mohajir replaced it with Lilac Tiger, a cocktail bar with food and a collaboration with restaurateur Ty Fujimura (Arami) and chef Won Kim (Kimski). The chicken nuggets are stellar, and so is the duck-fried rice." - Ashok Selvam

"Reboots are cliched in the restaurant world, but Lilac Tiger in Wicker Park isn’t a reboot, it represents a rebirth. The front was the casual space where Zubair Mohaijir found a home for his wandering pop-up Wazwan which specialized in sandwiches and Desi American food (South Asian burgers, fried chicken sandwiches). Mohajir bought his investors out, secured a liquor license, and partnered with a few new folks to relaunch the space as a casual restaurant with mean cocktails. The food is a melange of South Indian Muslim food, something that doesn’t get much recognition in America. You’ll find wonderful bar bites like beef nihari momos, chicken nuggets, and spicy burgers. Take special note of the Chettinad Masala, which comes with a choice of chicken, mushroom, or paneer. The mushroom version is the best rice dish in Chicago — a comforting mouthful of perfectly spiced masala, tender mushroom, and basmati rice. The back area is home to the Coach House, Mohajir’s reservation-only tasting menu restaurant where he shows off his large ambition, whether that’s ancient duck recipes or melding Mexican and Indian flavors." - Ashok Selvam

"Offers a Mirra-inspired tasting menu highlighting Asian and Mexican cultural connections." - Ashok Selvam

"This new 25-seat tasting-menu spot, which, yes, is in a 100-year-old coach house, is hidden in the courtyard behind Lilac Tiger. The Coach House serves an incredible $190 eight-course meal with dishes like momos filled with crab kulambu in a spicy black garlic sauce, chewy fara dumplings swimming in clarified beet butter, and chettinad fish topped with eggplant and crispy shallots. Every dish has a story (like that the duck numidian was inspired from a cookbook titled “Recipes From Medieval Islam” read during quarantine), or that the fara is an homage to the chef’s street-food-loving uncle. And while this place is expensive, it feels relaxed. It’s casual and you’ll be eating to a chill playlist filled with South Asian pop and hip hop. " - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor