Berenjak arrives at Soho House Chicago
Our member-favourite British-Persian restaurant has just opened in the Windy City – and this time it’s doing things a little differently
Monday 5 October 2026 By Soho House
Persian restaurant Berenjak has been a favourite among London diners since opening in Soho in 2018. Inspired by Tehran’s neighbourhood kabab houses and the food chef-founder Kian Samyani grew up sharing around his grandmother’s kitchen table, the restaurant offers an elevated – yet authentic – take on Iranian home cooking. Its combination of bold flavours, warm hospitality and attention to detail earned Berenjak Soho a Michelin Bib Gourmand the year after it opened.
The original site quickly built a loyal following, leading to two more London locations and an international expansion. Today, Berenjak can be found at two Soho Houses in the US, and the newest outpost has just opened at Soho House Chicago. It joins Berenjak at Soho Warehouse in Los Angeles, which is also open to both members and the public.
The new restaurant is already drawing diners to its Fulton Market location on the ground floor of Soho House Chicago – and it’s easy to see why. Berenjak’s signature charcoal-grilled kababs – such as the Koobideh (minced lamb shoulder) or Jujeh (boneless chicken breast) Kabab – are at the heart of the menu. The cooking is deceptively simple, centred around quality ingredients, carefully balanced spices, and serious skill over charcoal.
Alongside the kababs, there’s a selection of mazeh – a Middle-Eastern take on meze – to share, such as Kashk e Bademjoon (coal-cooked aubergine, aka eggplant), which can be paired with freshly baked Persian flatbreads, whether that’s the wholewheat, naturally fermented Sangak, baked on hot stones, or the softer Taftoon. Like the best meals, dining here is designed to be shared: none of the conventions around ‘appetisers’ and ‘mains’ apply – instead, guests are encouraged to build their own bites and enjoy the table as a whole.
And while the food may be the main draw, the Chicago opening brings something new to the table: an expanded drinks offering. Alongside a broader wine list, the restaurant is serving cocktails that were previously only available at Berenjak’s UK locations. Highlights include the Olive Leaf Martini, a savoury gin-based cocktail served with a side of torshi pickles, and the Phel Phel Margarita, Berenjak’s take on the classic Picante. Made with a Persian-style chilli infusion and finished with a pickled salt rim, it’s bright, spicy, and likely to become a new House favourite.
Book your table via the app and apply for membership at Soho House Chicago
The new restaurant is already drawing diners to its Fulton Market location on the ground floor of Soho House Chicago – and it’s easy to see why. Berenjak’s signature charcoal-grilled kababs – such as the Koobideh (minced lamb shoulder) or Jujeh (boneless chicken breast) Kabab – are at the heart of the menu. The cooking is deceptively simple, centred around quality ingredients, carefully balanced spices, and serious skill over charcoal.
Alongside the kababs, there’s a selection of mazeh – a Middle-Eastern take on meze – to share, such as Kashk e Bademjoon (coal-cooked aubergine, aka eggplant), which can be paired with freshly baked Persian flatbreads, whether that’s the wholewheat, naturally fermented Sangak, baked on hot stones, or the softer Taftoon. Like the best meals, dining here is designed to be shared: none of the conventions around ‘appetisers’ and ‘mains’ apply – instead, guests are encouraged to build their own bites and enjoy the table as a whole.
And while the food may be the main draw, the Chicago opening brings something new to the table: an expanded drinks offering. Alongside a broader wine list, the restaurant is serving cocktails that were previously only available at Berenjak’s UK locations. Highlights include the Olive Leaf Martini, a savoury gin-based cocktail served with a side of torshi pickles, and the Phel Phel Margarita, Berenjak’s take on the classic Picante. Made with a Persian-style chilli infusion and finished with a pickled salt rim, it’s bright, spicy, and likely to become a new House favourite.
Book your table via the app and apply for membership at Soho House Chicago
