Acclaimed Chicago chef Zubair Mohajir will open Muhājir, a wood-fire-driven restaurant inspired by migration, movement and the historic spice route, on July 1 at 2630 N. Clark St. in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood. Developed in partnership with Chef de Cuisine and Partner Jacob Dela Cruz, the restaurant reflects the duo's shared approach to food as a vehicle for storytelling, heritage and connection. One week later, on July 8, the team will debut Bobo, a high-energy sister cocktail bar hidden inside Muhājir that offers a bold contrast through Filipino street market-inspired drinks, late-night bites and an irreverent nightlife experience.
Named after the Arabic and Urdu word for "migrant" or "immigrant," Muhājir is also tied directly to Mohajir's family name. The name was originally suggested by Dela Cruz, who recognized its connection to Mohajir's personal history and the restaurant's larger story of movement, identity and cultural exchange. The concept traces East-to-West culinary connections from Chennai, Tamil Nadu — where Mohajir's family lineage begins — through the Middle East, North Africa, Sicily, Andalusia, Portugal and beyond.
"For me, Muhājir is about using food as a way to tell stories that are both personal and shared," said Chef Zubair Mohajir. "Migration has shaped the way people cook, eat and gather for centuries. This restaurant is about honoring those journeys, breaking bread together and creating space for honest conversation."
A Menu Shaped by the Spice Route
At Muhājir, the menu brings that story to life through live-fire cooking and dishes shaped by the movement of spices, techniques and traditions across regions. Highlights will include Thaali, an assortment of dips, papadums and grilled breads inspired by condiments from across the spice route; Grilled Fish on the Half Shell with black lime tea-infused bouillabaisse inspired by Basra; Bicol-Style Mussels with calamansi vinegar and Spanish roll; and Beef Cheek Nihari with black garlic naan.
One of the restaurant's signature experiences will be a tableside duck presentation inspired by a 927-year-old Numidian recipe. Developed by Mohajir and Dela Cruz, the dish traces back to the African Moors who ruled the Iberian Peninsula and explores the lasting influence of North African culture on the spice route. Presented on an ornate tray inspired by regional geometric patterns, it is designed to be both a culinary and storytelling centerpiece.
The restaurant will also feature a mobile snack tray inspired by street food culture, offering rotating seasonal bites during service, as well as desserts such as Carrot Halo-Halo with carrot ice cream, tapioca, mysore pak and passion fruit. Muhājir's wine program has been curated by Sean Hughes, designed to complement the restaurant's live-fire cooking, spice-driven menu and broader story of migration through a thoughtful, globally inspired selection.
Bobo: A Hidden Filipino-Inspired Cocktail Bar
Behind Muhājir, Bobo will open in July as a cheeky, high-energy sister cocktail bar inspired by the color, movement and late-night spirit of Filipino street markets. Named by Mohajir as a nod to Dela Cruz's grandfather, Bobo reflects the Filipino family traditions, flavors and memories that helped shape the bar's identity.
Led by Richard Beltzer and David Mor, Bobo's beverage program will lean into color, texture, nostalgia and surprise, with cocktails that reflect the bar's bold, playful approach to late-night hospitality.
"Bobo is meant to feel alive," said David Mor. "It is immersive, energetic and mischievous, but still deeply rooted in hospitality. We want the drinks to be thoughtful without ever feeling too serious."
The cocktail menu will highlight Filipino and Southeast Asian ingredients such as calamansi, ube, pandan, coconut, rambutan, banana and lipote. Drinks will include Shibuya Meltdown, built around roasted banana syrup and toasted rice; Primary Colors, a bright, fruit-driven cocktail inspired by calamansi, lipote and rambutan; and Polishing Your Halo, a dessert-style drink featuring pandan, coconut and ube sorbet.
Bobo's food menu will include late-night bites from Dela Cruz, including complimentary late-night lumpia for guests who stay into the evening. The bar will also serve Bobo Skewers, a three-piece dish of marinated dry-aged beef with bonito black garlic tare, truffle, sawsawan chili relish, crispy onions and smoked pepper sauce, inspired by Dela Cruz's family barbecue traditions.
Two Concepts Under One Roof
Together, Muhājir and Bobo will create two distinct but connected experiences under one roof: a thoughtful, fire-driven restaurant rooted in movement and memory, and a bold cocktail bar that celebrates nightlife, Filipino flavor and the joy of not taking things too seriously.
Located at 2630 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood, Muhājir and Bobo will operate Wednesday through Sunday, with Muhājir open from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. and Bobo open from 5 p.m. to 12 a.m. For more information, visit muhajirchicago.com and abarcalledbobo.com.
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