The story
The Coach House by Wazwan is a warm, intimate restaurant tucked behind Lilac Tiger on Chicago’s Wicker Park. It is a halal tasting menu experience that changes with the seasons and the chef in residence. The space offers both a chef’s counter, where guests watch every plate take shape, and dining room tables that invite a slower, more communal pace. The restaurant has earned a Michelin Recommended distinction for 2026, a nod to the precision and creativity found in each seven-course menu.
Founded by 23-time James Beard and Jean Banchet Award-nominated Chef Zubair Mohajir, Coach House operates as a chef incubation space. The concept is simple: bring in a talented chef for a seasonal residency, let them build a menu rooted in memory and technique, and give diners a transparent view of the process. The current resident is Chef Junho Lee, whose project Haru Haru explores modern Korean cuisine. Lee draws from the home kitchens of his mother and grandmother, reimagining those flavors through a contemporary lens.
Chef Junho’s February-March 2026 menu is a seven-course journey that balances bold flavor combinations with precise technique. It begins with a trio of bites: an oyster with kimchi mignonette, a stuffed chicken wing jeon with sticky chili sauce, and gujeolpan with nine fillings. Next comes shrimp toast with kimchi and tomato, followed by red snapper in a pollock broth with vegan XO. Hanbok noodles bring beets, soybean, watercress, and ikura, while galbi jjim arrives with jumeokbap and a KBBQ demi. Dessert is a hotteok donut with sesame honey and a butter pineapple cookie with passionfruit sorbet.
The beverage program, overseen by award-winning bartender David Mor, offers wine and cocktail pairings that complement the menu’s layered flavors. The space itself is designed to spark joy and comfort, with a service team that shares the story behind each course. Thursday through Saturday evenings, Coach House offers two seatings, making it an accessible yet destination-worthy experience for those seeking a thoughtful, halal tasting menu in Chicago.
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