Was super curious about this spot in passing. The alcapurrias were absolutely fuego. Wish we ordered more. The empanadas were okay and the flan definitely hit the spot. Food was fresh and staff very friendly. read more

Borikén Restaurant - Puerto Rican Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

Best and most authentic Puertorican food around! Me and my family try to go at least once a month and it's the best! Lots of options on the menu, great taste and great service! read more

The cashier took my order with a smile. My Jibarrito was pretty good steak was tender for the most part. Could have been seasoned better but the sauce made up for it. Rice was solid, but not great. Maybe it just needed to be fresher. Please skip the chicken empanadas omg so bad-- thin dry and unseasoned. I wouldn't make a trip back but worth a one time stop for someone who hasn't tried it before. read more

PEQUEÑO LOCALE This Puerto Rican restaurant isn't on most people's radar, but it should be. Borikén is one of the most well-hidden places I've been to in recent memory. Tucked behind a shady liquor store and BP gas station on Galena Blvd in downtown Aurora, there's not much to say about this total hole-in-the-wall joint other than the food is terrific. The dining room is small and there isn't much seating to speak of, but you can still eat your meal inside if you feel like it; the last 3-4 times we've opted for carryout and that's suited us just fine. The employees are pretty nice from what I can recall. They have tasty 'frituras' (fried stuff) on the menu, including 'alcapurrias' (stuffed fritters), empanadillas, 'rellenos de papa' (potato croquettes), and 'amarillos' (sweet plantains). They're $2.75 each, I recommend getting a few to try. My wife loves their 'mofongo de churrasco' (mashed plantains w/skirt steak, $14) and our little guy enjoys the 'arroz blanco y habichuelas' (white rice & beans, $5). The beans - which are super flavorful - are more akin to a soup or stew, not that pasty glue-like mush other places serve. I'm a big fan of their 'jibarito de pernil' ($10), a sandwich made with roasted pork, cheese, lettuce, tomato, and mayo-ketchup between two garlic fried plantains. I've had this Puerto Rican specialty at a few places now, though none have been better than Borikén's. Bread = 4.5 Circuses = n/a They don't serve alcohol, so those hoping for a Bacardi cocktail, piña colada, or even a cold can of Medalla will be disappointed. They do have desserts on the menu like flan and 'quesitos' (sweet cheese fritters), but they might not be available 24/7. * TL;DR * Borikén is both small & local, which could be a reason why they've endeared themselves to our family. With the closure of Caribbean Corner in Downers Grove (R.I.P.), there are very few restaurants in the western Chicago suburbs that serve food from my wife's homeland (Jibaritos on Harlem in Oak Park, and Cuisine de Jibarito in Melrose Park are the only places that spring to mind). The location isn't great by any means....you could easily drive by two or three times and not know where the hell to find Borikén, even if you're actively looking for it! The interior is super light on ambiance (aside from a tiny Puerto Rican flag) but they care about food, not vibes. Man, I wish 4-1/2 stars were a viable option. I can't tell you how many times I've found myself stuck on the fence, wondering if I should give a place the benefit of the doubt or accept that some restaurants excel in certain areas (like food quality) while being slightly deficient in others. I'd definitely recommend Borikén, and I'm sure we'll be ordering from them again in the next month or so. I can't kick the 'jibarito' habit, nor do I ever want to. read more

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The food was amazing, the flavors were so good and I had such an amazing experience there. I recommended it to all my family and friends. My roommate and I plan to go there every weekend if we can! read more

Today we visited for our first time, Boriken for Mofongo. My goodness, did not disappoint. The food was made to order, fresh, hot and delicious. The gentleman that took our order and brought it out to us was so kind. I explained to him that we had recently visited Puerto Rico and had Mofongo for our first time there and we were now on the hunt at home for a delicious Puerto Rican dish. They nailed it. I told him we hope to go back and visit Puerto Rico, it's so rich with history and culture, the people kind. I loved it he showed me on map where to visit the next time we go. Thank you so much for a great experience all around. We look forward to coming back. read more

My rice was bland and I ordered the beans which I thought were gonna be pink beans. And no they were kidney beans. And a red sauce.and the rice with grandules no flavor read more

Bussin ass homemade food that taste scrumptious. My first time trying this kind of food and it was freaking amazing. I was scared but let me tell you so good. The service is very good and fast very friendly customer service. The ambience is cute. It's split with a taco place so I can get confusing when you walk in, but it's on the left side. read more

Wow just wow! They are so polite on the phone and the food is AMAZING!!! It's made super fresh, so be prepared to wait. The monfongo de churrasco is perfection! Beef empanadas are great, and ask about the lunch special- that's not just a special at lunch!!! Must try. My friend from Puerto Rico loves this place and so does my Venezuelan bf. Very authentic. It's next to a gas station, but don't let that fool you. Some of the best food is made in a unique location. read more

The shrimp mofongo was really great, though a little salty. The owner was super nice. The sweet plantains were a little under ripe. Next time I want to try the appetizers. Looking forward to it. read more

Originally I thought that this place was a hidden treasure with authentic food from the island. As of late my family has noticed that the Puerto Rican rice has been salty and contains some type of ground meat in it. We have pivoted to the white rice and beans for our meals. read more

Terrible customer service! The guy let a party of 20 all paying separate separately knowing I was in line FIRST! Mind you I'm pregnant. Let 20 people CUT me and then one more person wanting to buy a soda, he let her cut me too. First and LAST time I come here. The food was NOT worth the wait in the 90 degrees restaurant. Save your money and time and go some where else that appreciates your business. read more

Food is okay, but very greasy. Service is okay. The thing I don't like here is not giving you the exact price until you pay. Some restaurants do this and adjust pricing so they make enough for the day. I don't go here anymore, not because of the pricing, but because I value my health. This is not a clean establishment... it's dirty and they had dirty aprons on making our food. One guy went on break with his apron. They need an inspection done at this place. read more

I had high hopes for this place, but sadly, it fell extremely short. I ordered Tostones, Acapurria, and Pork Mofongo and all of it lacked any kind of seasoning. While this is my first true experience with authentic Puerto Rican food, it begs the question, is all Puerto Rican food under seasoned? Beyond that, the Pork chunks were farrrrrr from tender as they were incredibly tough. The Mofongo itself had no flavor of garlic or onion or salt or pepper, it was just all bland food. The Acapurria had a nice texture to it, but again, nobody in the kitchen is seasoning the food. It's all cooked bland. And honestly, I get it, we all have different palates, but this is unmistakable. My mom, who HATES salt, goes "All this food could use salt"...which stunned me because she doesn't like salt with anything!!! This will be a first and last experience for me. The only positive takeaway, the girl at the register was very pleasant. To ownership, please consider seasoning your food and don't serve old, tough pork to guests. This is a very warranted review and is as honest as I can be. read more

Authentic Puerto Rican food! Absolutely delicious! Located in the parking lot of the gas station. Delicious, seasoned to perfection! read more

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Delicious. Best mofungo I've ever had. Ordered pick-up twice and it's always been ready on time.

I was so excited to see a Puerto Rican restaurant while out and about. It was a bit hard to find as it is in attached to a gas station. The restaurant is half PR and half Mexican. I ordered the steak Jibarto, which was excellent. The arroz y gandules was also excellent. However, the Mofongo was saturated with oil and nearly inedible. The empanadas were good but a bit overcooked. The restaurant was clean, small with a few tables and pleasant staff. This is more of a fast food restaurant than a dine in. Overall, I'd return for take-out for the jibarito if it came to a pinch. read more

Food was delicious but it's right next to the gas station and seating is limited. The lady who took our order was nice as well.

Having been to Puerto Rico and loving the food so much, I'm always on a quest to find these joints. I'm usually saddened to find that they usually only serve jabaritos and rarely mofongo. But Boriken did not disappoint. Wanting to try a variety of things to really get a feel for the restaurant, we ordered the Relleno de papa (meat filled balls of mashed potatoes), Tostones with dipping sauce (fried plantain), Jibarito de Steak, Mofongo con Chicharron de Pollo, and Empanadas. I'd order every single one of those again. It was to-go of course. And it's some distance from my house. But even slightly cold, it was all a hit. Order from these "mom and pop" restaurants. They need us to survive. How different the Chicagoland's food culture will be if we don't all do our part to keep them afloat. read more

My wife and I were very surprised when we pulled up to this restaurant. It's actually in a gas station with its own entrance on the side. Once inside my wife had a pork jibarito and I had the mofongo with carne frita. I have to say that the food was delicious.I rate Borikèn 4stars for authenticity,taste and customer service. read more

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Great food in a gas station setting. You'd totally miss this place if you weren't getting gas. Amazing Puerto Rican food.

Was LKING for Puerto Rican restaurant in Aurora Illinois, and was satisfied with what I ordered, pernil (roasted pork ) yellow rice with candoles and ham. Toastones (fried green bananas) alcapurria (stuff groundbeef with mash bananas deepfried) and sweet plantains, for take out , the portion was a good helping and the food was very delicious, will come back again They were a little slow but worth the wait read more

I ordered tostones, empanadas and jibarritos here yesterday. I love their tostones I wish I had ordered more! Their jibarritos was good too. Not a fan of their empanadas so i gave them all to my wife. read more

The staff was all so kind and amazing! The food was fantastic and authentic! Oooo and the donuts!

We had the garlic shrimp with Puerto Rican rice. Delicious! Also had empanadas which were large and fried to perfection. Mashed potato ball was very good! All in all, we definitely will be back to try some other things here. The food is hot and fresh and delicious! read more

The food is spectacular! Highly recommend. We don't have to take the drive to Chicago for some tasty pr food.

Amazing food and great service! The staff really helped step us through the menu. We have tried so many items and they agree ALL delicious! read more

By the looks of things... they're gonna need a bigger kitchen. I don't get the opportunity to have Puerto Rican food very often. I love supporting small family run businesses. They just opened and the menu is limited. They had a restaurant in Puerto Rico and pops has been in the states for a few years and they finally took the plunge. I was planning on a Jibarito and they delivered, steak was very tender and flavorful. The plantain was garlicky and the side of rice was great too. I'll be sure to try again, once they find their grove and offer more menu items. It was really crowded and it took a long time, but was certainly worth the wait. They also offer several authentic PR sodas. The Malta must be an acquired taste and it's not like anything I've ever tasted. Be daring and give the PR sodas a try. read more

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I give this place 10 stars we just loved it 40 min drive and worth it. We will come back again. Great food 100 % read more

Borikén Restaurant - We tried so many things we were in a food coma but worth it. - Puerto Rican Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

Great Puerto Rican food! The staff was very nice & welcoming. I ordered the empanadas & the Jabarito de Steak with arroz con gandules on the side & it delicious! My family loves the food as well. It is attached to the BP gas station but was no trouble at all so don't let that stop you from coming!!! There's parking right next door of it as well. Will definitely be coming back!! read more

Borikén Restaurant - Family enjoying the food - Puerto Rican Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

I drove out of my area to come to try the food at Boriken. I ordered the Boricua favorite Jibarito sandwich. The sandwich also came with a small serving of Arroz Con Gandules. Now I know it's just two items but if you are Puerto Rican, then this is all you need to taste to see if the food is authentic. Well, the sandwich was delicious. The lettuce was fresh and the plaintain was done just right. The rice also tastes like it should so I was very happy as the rice is one of my favorite dishes. I gave four stars for this place because it's not somewhere you can sit and enjoy your meal with atmosphere. The location shares space with a gas station and is small with practically no decor. So if you want to order and take to go then this is place to get authentic Puerto Rican food if you live near Aurora. read more

We know absolutely nothing about Puerto Rican food. We've had a little before, but are by no means experts. The staff there was so helpful and patient with us. They answered all our questions and made suggestions. First off, don't be turned off by the fact that this is connected to the BP station. There is parking on the side/back. We had the Mofongo and the Jibaritos. I liked the Mofongo, but for me the sauce was a little sweet. The Jibaritos were delicious. I want to go back for more. read more

Muy Rico todo!! El mofongo de los mejores que e probado en el área! Los quesitos son ricos también!! En fin todo muy bueno!! read more

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The Mofongo with chicken (mofongo rellena de polls en salsa criollo) was delicious and perfect on a cool winter day. The mofongo (mashed plantains) had a nice chewiness -- a little like good polenta -- and a great flavor. The sauce/broth was rich, the chicken was tender, and the onions and peppers were flavorful and just the right softness for this stew. The place was lively with lots of couples and families coming in while I ate my lunch. The atmosphere is very casual, inexpensive, and friendly. The space is shared with a taqueria, and there are two rows of tables. The restaurant is hidden in a tiny collection of shops shoehorned next to a BP station; you won't see it if you're not looking for it. read more

Borikén Restaurant - Mofongo relleno de pollo en salsa criolla - Puerto Rican Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

Average puerto rican rice and food. The food is quite a bit salty food. I like Chupacabra down the street better.

Been here twice in two weeks and can't wait to go again. Is this place fancy, no - is this food better than any similar restaurant in downtown Aurora, yes. I wasn't sure what Puerto Rican food was before this, but I'm a fan. The plantain sandwiches are amazing. The steak and pork is next level and the sauces on the sandwich are difficult to describe - top notch. Heads up! This is a scratch kitchen, so if you want to be in-and-out in 10 min you should call ahead. However, because it's like this your veggies are fresh and crisp. Lastly- the menu is in Spanish. I don't speak Spanish - so don't let that stop you. The workers are super friendly and will help you sort through the confusion. read more

We were in the area and happened to stumble upon this place. Everything that we ordered was delicious. I had the Jibarito de bistec and my wife had the Jibarito de pernil with some arroz con gandules and tostones. I highly recommend this spot. The owner was really friendly and was telling us about how long he has been in the restaurant business. We will definitely be coming back. read more

I went to pick up the food that I ordered and I saw cockroaches. Told the girl I did not want the food. Este lugar tiene cucarachas. read more

Stopped by here a couple times during the summer and really enjoyed their chicken jibarito and arroz con gandules. It's not hidden per se but you might not notice it if you're driving by. Highly recommend. read more

Borikén Restaurant - Jibarito de pollo! - Puerto Rican Near Me - Aurora, Illinois

Nothing better than a low key, unassuming place that serves fresh authentic food. Love it.