Sarima Cafe Opens In Bucktown
Introduction to Sarima Cafe
A cafe and bakery offering sweet and savory items that blend Filipino and Indian flavors is now open on the Bucktown-Wicker Park border. Sarima Cafe, 1924 W. North Ave., held a grand opening Friday. It’s the latest venture from local chef Zubair Mohajir, who runs Lilac Tiger and Coach House in Wicker Park, as well as Mirra in Bucktown. Mohajir also recently competed on the 22nd season of Bravo TV’s “Top Chef.”
Zubair Mohajir prepares dosa at Sarima Cafe, 1924 W. North Ave., in Wicker Park on July 25, 2025. Credit: Colin Boyle/Block Club Chicago
Menu and Concept
To open Sarima, Mohajir teamed up with Lilac Tiger and Coach House chef de cuisine Jacob Dela Cruz, and the duo brought on Reema Patel, the pastry chef at Mariscos San Pedro in Pilsen. Together, they built a menu that includes doughnuts, cookies and bars — such as the ube crinkle and a chai leche flan doughnut — as well as savory breakfast items, like a breakfast dosa and a breakfast sandwich with chicken bacon tocino and a hashbrown.
Sarima’s opening comes as Filipino bakeries and restaurants in Chicago are having a moment, with hotspots like Kanin and the incredibly popular Del Sur Bakery in Ravenswood. Mohajir said his team hopes to be part of that success and add their own twist — which means incorporating flavors from their collective Indian and Filipino heritage.
Coffee and Expansion
Sarima also has a full coffee menu with traditional espresso drinks as well as masala chai and signature lattes, like the Kaaju latte with cashew milk, dates and chai spice, and the Tropic Tonic with sparking water, espresso and pineapple and soursop syrup. The cafe shares a storefront with SALT Burgers and Fries in a location previously home to Beard Papa’s, a cream puff bakery chain.
Sarima’s hours are 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Wednesday-Sunday, although Mohajir said the cafe will soon stay open later — and will soon serve ice cream, too. The Bucktown location could be the first of many Sarima Cafes to come, as the team eyes an expansion, Mohajir said.
Semicolon Books Reopening With Coffee Shop
New Location and Concept
A Black-owned bookstore that’s had several locations in recent years is reopening permanently in West Town, this time with an attached coffee shop. Semicolon Books, 1355 W. Chicago Ave., will open noon Wednesday — and for good this time, owner Danielle Moore said last week.
Semicolon has become a staple in Chicago’s literary community over the past six years. But it’s also faced challenges as Moore has pivoted multiple times to keep her business going, including closing a short-lived location in the Wrigley Building Downtown.
Semicolon owner Danielle Moore outside of her new location in the Wrigley Building on July 9, 2024. Credit: Quinn Myers/Block Club Chicago
Coffee Shop and Events
The cafe will feature local Black-owned coffee shops on a rotating basis. Muse Coffee Studio, 747 S. Western Ave., will be the first partner. They’ll offer a full coffee menu plus specialty lattes, like a pound cake latte, Moore said. As Semicolon reopens, Moore plans to continue hosting events and pop-ups at the store and elsewhere around the city. Semicolon is also a stop on the Color Factory tour art experience.
Other Food News
Class Act Restaurant
A 16-seat, one-table tasting menu restaurant is now open in Bucktown — and the address won’t be known to diners until they make a reservation. Class Act opened on Damen Avenue earlier this month. It’s the brainchild of executive chef Nicolai Mlodinow, and
