Lilac Tiger
Cocktail bar · Wicker Park ·
South Asian street food & cocktails with Indian, Korean, Japanese flavors
South Asian street food & cocktails with Indian, Korean, Japanese flavors
"Lilac Tiger's dark, narrow interior has the charm of a busy dive. But instead of lukewarm Schlitz and stale pretzels, the tables are full of great cocktails (like the lilac colada with ube and sesame) and South Asian food, like crispy tandoori honey chicken nuggets. Just get there on the earlier side—they don’t take reservations and only have a few tables when it's not patio season." - sam faye, adrian kane, john ringor
"The chef behind two of our favorite Vietnamese spots in the city, Haisous and Ca Phe Da, is opening a new restaurant in River North. Like the marinated beef that inspired its name, you can expect a variety of other Southeast Asian dishes." - john ringor, nick allen
"What Lilac Tiger lacks in size it more than makes up for in bold, vibrant South Asian flavors in both its food and drink offerings. At happy hour, available 5 to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 5 to 10 p.m. Sunday, that means $5 gochujang aioli-topped fries and a $12 rotating Polish sausage from Kimski’s Won Kim. Start with a lychee-forward mini martini before moving on to $10 glasses of wine or specialty cocktails." - Lisa Shames
"When: Tues-Sat 5-6pm, Sunday 5-10pm The Deal: $10 Cocktails, $5-12 Bites This Wicker Park spot is always a good time, whether you’re hanging out in the small, dimly lit space or on their sidewalk patio. And though Lilac Tiger has the loud music and lively energy of a dive bar, their drinks and excellent South Asian food are significantly better than your typical neighborhood bastion of Malört. It’s great for a casual dinner, but if you want to kick off date night earlier or swing by for a post-work hang, their $10 happy hour has tasty snacks and drinks like their tiger fries and spicy marg." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"The chef behind two of our favorite Vietnamese spots in the city, Haisous and Ca Phe Da, is opening a new restaurant in River North. Like the marinated beef that inspired its name, you can expect a variety of other Southeast Asian dishes. We haven’t been here yet, but want you to know this spot exists." - John Ringor
