In celebration of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, we continue to recognize the economic, cultural, political, and social contributions of notable immigrants and refugees who’ve helped shape America’s vibrant tapestry. Today, we spotlight award-winning culinarian Chef Zubair Mohajir.
Zubair Mohajir was born in Chennai, India, in 1985 but grew up in Doha, Qatar. At 12, he immigrated to the United States with his family, settling in a suburb of Chicago.
Having studied finance and worked in the banking industry for seven years, the 2008 housing market collapse and subsequent recession led him to fulfill his passion for cooking – he took a job as a prep cook for the Pump Room by two-time Michelin star restaurateur Jean-Georges Vongerichten, eventually getting promoted to sous chef.
Soon after, he took a position as Chef De Partie with multiple Michelin star chef Thomas Keller’s restaurant group venture TKRG in California. Following his tutelage in French and Southeastern cooking techniques, he accepted a six-month apprenticeship with the Gaggan restaurant in Thailand, a well-known eatery ranked the best restaurant in Thailand and as high as 4th in the world.
In 2017, returning to Chicago, he conceptualized and opened the critically acclaimed pop-up called Wazwan, a supper club boasting South Asian cuisine that featured his viral mashups of tandoori honey fried chicken and tandoori brisket. In 2021, Zubair took Wazwan off the street, opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant, which two years later he transitioned into two simultaneous concepts: Lilac Tiger, featuring Asian street food, and the fine-dining Coach House. He then opened Mirra, featuring a hybrid of Indian and Mexican influences.
In 2022, he received the prestigious Jean Banchet Rising Chef of the Year award. He’s also a two-time James Beard semi-finalist under the Best Chef Great Lakes and Emerging Chef of the Year categories. He’s also been featured in major publications, including Plate Magazine, Eater, and the Robb Report.
Currently, you can catch Zubair Mohajir on season 22 of Bravo Network’s Top Chef, a celebrated reality TV cooking competition.
Others we are celebrating in honor of Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Heritage Month:
2025
David Tran, Vietnamese American entrepreneur and inventor
Betty Nguyen, award-winning Vietnamese American news anchor
Mazie Hirono, first Asian American woman elected to the U.S. Senate
