Sinking my teeth into the lechon jibarrito def satisfied my craving!! Just look how perfectly structured this sandwich is nestled against the comforting arroz con gandules! Heavenly! & the flan was incredibly rich! You can tell their food is truly made with warmth and love! Perfect meal for a cold winter's night! Looking forward to visiting again to try their trembleque & cafe con leche! Mike, your hospitality was unmatched! You are too kind! Thank you for everything! read more

Cafe Central - Lechon Jibarrito! - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It's an incredibly authentic, Puerto Rican experience, right in the heart of Westtown. It's got that hole in the wall feel, with no frills or unnecessary extra thanks. They simply focus on the food and the hospitality. My in-laws from the island of Puerto Rico even say that this arrivals much of what they find back home. I always come hungry and leave happy. read more

It looks like an old bar but don't be fooled by the aesthetics because this place has great food. They have a wide range of Puerto Rican food. I would definitely recommend getting things to share. We went here on a Saturday afternoon at 1. There were 5 of us and we were able to be sat upon walking in. There are table and counter options. We got the Alcapurrias, which were sweet and savory, mofongo, and for my main meal Plato Vegetariano. My meal was great. A friend got the steak sandwich, he loved it. This place is kid friendly, we got my child French fries and a Jugo de parcha. Which was passion fruit, and while my kid didn't enjoy it, I did. Highly recommend. read more

Not a fan of Cafe Central. I tried calling in an order for 3 Jibaritos and was asked to be placed on hold for a few minutes. Not a big deal. After I placed my order I was told they needed my credit card since it was a big order. Huh? No big deal. I had to wait a few minutes for my order to be ready. No big deal. But then I was asked for my credit card to they could charge it on the credit card machine. So I probably could have just given them a fake CC number so they could make the order. We ordered three Steak Jibaritos and a side of Arroz con Gandules. The Jibaritos were ok. Other places I have been to put garlic on top and it adds that extra flavor that's needed. They don't do that here and the bottom plantain split down the middle, so it made it difficult to eat. And all three sandwiches ended up splitting. The rice unfortunately was very plant and tasted dry. $50 for three Jibarito and a side a rice definitely felt like it wasn't not worth it. I'll just keep going back to my go to Jibarito spot. Definitely won't be returning here. read more

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Rice was delicious. Lechón was mouthwatering good. Papá Relleno was good but I prefer crispy. The Alcapurria had a beautiful crunch. read more

As always you can never go wrong with probably one of the best Chicaho PR restaurants around. The food as always is on point and always so fresh. I myself go on Fridays so that I can get the cod fish salad wirh root vegetables and green boiled banana. Always a staple growing up for sure. read more

Been going here for years. The papas rellenos are top notch. Great diner type ambiance, perfect for this neighborhood. Good service. All the food is as good as it gets, but the papas rellsnos are addictive. read more

Amazing service great atmosphere Great food the mayo, ketchup sauce is really good overall really good

Such a cute spot with a very solid menu. I got the 1/2 Pollo Asado with yellow rice + pigeon peas and sweet plantains ($14), and also a Pastelillo de Guayaba ($3.50). I also tried a bit of the lechon jibarito. All the food was very tasty and the staff members we interacted with were very friendly. Portions are generous, and I hobbled out of there after finishing my enormous plate of chicken. My only nitpicks are that the smaller pieces of the chicken like the leg were surprisingly dry, but the breast was perfectly cooked. One of the sweet plantains was a tad burnt. I also wish they had decaffeinated cafe con leche, but alas, very tough to find. Definitely will be back if ever in the area and excited to try more of their menu! Love the the diner-style bar and booth seating which welcomes solo diners and groups alike. They also seem to have extensive specials each day that sound intriguing. read more

Overall Thoughts: Cafe Central is a long-standing Puerto Rican establishment in West Town. I ordered takeout, but the interior had a comfortable, homey diner feel. The total price for my 2 items was $30, which was reasonable for the portions and the area. While I wouldn't recommend the cod fish stew mixta plate I ordered, I thought their jibarito was great. I'd either skip the mixta plate altogether or try a different protein choice. For takeout, you need to call them in advance and say your order clearly. They misunderstood my order over the phone, so they had to change the order receipt after I arrived. Including the mix up, the order took ~20 minutes overall to pick up, which is still reasonable. Food I tried: - Mixta Plate with Arroz con Gandules, Beans, and Cod Fish Stew (Friday Special) (3.2/5): I wasn't a fan of the cod stew-- the cod was quite dry and rubbery, didn't taste very fresh, and lacked flavor. The rice was flavorful and tasty though a little too hard. The beans were pretty good, but could've had more flavor. It was a large amount of food for $15, but not fresh enough in my opinion to justify getting again. - Steak Jibarito (4.6/5): This jibarito redeemed the mixta plate for me. It's not the best I've had in Chicago and a lot smaller than most (especially for the $12 price point), but it's still super delicious. It's less garlicky than I like (I wish it came with extra garlic sauce), but everything else about it was perfect. The plantain was thin and crispy and the steak was extraordinarily flavorful and well cooked. The ratio to other ingredients was perfect. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5 Food: 3.9/5 Ambience: N/A Service (takeout): 4/5 Overall Value: 4/5 read more

Cafe Central - mixta plate with arroz con gandules and cod stew - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I stumbled upon this spot while walking through West Town and was pleasantly surprised. It's located in an unassuming space and serves such delicious and authentic Puerto Rican food. Service is excellent. I had the jibaroto de camarones and arroz con pulpo both great pescatarian options. Also be sure to order the passion fruit juice. For dessert the guava and cheese empanada is delicious! read more

Cafe Central - Arroz con pulpo - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Last time i was here was 8 years ago I came whit friends we order,pastelillo, trifongo, papa rellena, goat stew ,fried chicken , rice whit pulpo , steak sandwich and for desert tembleque evrething was good but they don't have hot sauce next time I will bring my bottle of salsa yucateco read more

Cafe Central - Tembleque - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Quite ambiance and relaxing . Very friendly service great menu and the food is excellent. My fav is lomo just have to give it a try. read more

Good, friendly service. Very reasonable prices. Delicious jibaritos, fried plantains/tostones, roasted pig/lechón, rice & beans, alcapurrias. The pastelillos meat was not the best. We all prefer ground beef. Overall, good dinner. read more

My love and I recently enjoyed a casual dinner at Cafe Central. The exterior of this Puerto Rican restaurant is rather nondescript, but the interior has the look of an old-school diner with seating at a counter and within booths. There are interesting framed photos on the walls, and hey there is even a pay phone near the entrance (does it still work??). I imagine their busiest hours are for the brunch and lunch crowds, so it was fairly quiet when we dined here around 6PM on a weekday. We sat in a booth and were treated to kind service by the hardworking staff. My love liked her shrimp with yellow rice. I really liked my "mixtas" plate, where you pick a protein along with rice and beans. I loved my cabrito (goat stew) and the arroz con gandules. The goat meat was tasty, saucy, bony, fatty, and did I say tasty? read more

Amazing homemade food and welcoming atmosphere. We came here at 620 not knowing they close at 7 but we were warmly welcomed in to have a seat anyways. We ordered the Papa Rellena and an Empanada to start with their homemade version of pique to dip eeeverything in. Very yummy and fresh - we had to wait for the empanada so they could make it fresh which was very kind due to the proximity to closing time. For mains my partner got the Steak Jibarito, which he has never had living in Chicago all his life! He loved it but decided he would prefer the sandwich on classic bread next time as it was very delicious, and a fun experience to try swapping the bread! I ordered the roasted chicken with sides of amazing homemade beans and my all time favorite, maduros! I actually suggested we come here because I had been craving maduros with rice and beans for so long now! Washed it all down with a Coco Rico which I loved because i'm crazy for all things coconut. What a joy it was to have dinner here! So clean and cozy and the family running is very sweet to us. I'm excited to come back and work through some more menu items! They have a lot of amazing options and i'm excited to get some mofongo next time! Support your local businesses, especially this one if you're in West Town! P.s. sorry for the no photos- we devoured everything as soon as it came out so that we would be in and out in a respectful amount of time, and no phones on dinner dates! read more

I don't even know where to start. Do I start with raving about the outstanding authentic Puerto Rican cuisine or the excellent service or any other number of things I can rave about. Listen, I know the neighborhood and I know some pretty good Puerto Rican restaurants but I've been coming here so long why stop now? I mean theres a reason they've been here 70 years! Not many can say that, especially in a hood that's gone through so many changes as this one has. It's simple, that's what makes it so great. It's neighborhood, cafe style authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. That's what makes it feel like home. Family recipe comfort food. That's what makes it so legit. They treat you like family. That's what makes it so Chicago. You walk in off the street and immediately see an old school Chicago cafe diner counter to sit at. Everything is clean, so clean. Or, you can take sit in the basic real old school booths. Maybe you have a group. They have plenty of seating at several large long or round tables in their dining room. The walls are adorned with old photos of PR that make t even more charming. One wonders how a 70 years old cafe can still be so charming and real, well they do it. Did I mention clean and spotless? It can get hard to keep old bones clean but not here, they more than manage. The service is extremely friendly with the neighborhood feel. Mike our server who I believe is the son, or maybe grandson? Is on point. He addresses every guest with a 'I've known you all my life' attitude. He even asked why he hasn't seen me in a while as unfortunately, it's been over a year since I was last in. I guess he returned home from his professional life out of country to take over the family business. I am assuming this but either way he knows his business and he's made for this one. It's not an easy business I know. Now let's get down to brass tacks. We started with the beef noodle soup. Great! Filled with the tastiest formidable broth and huge chunks of tender beefsteak and noodles. We did a cup but I'm sure the bowl is a meal as our cups were not small. Next up, I convinced my Russian buddy to try a Jibarito Lechon a true Chicago creation and neighborhood favorite. Tender roasted pork laid onto fried green plantains that replace the bread atop a bed of lettuce, tomato, mayo and cheese. Now, it used to be you couldn't find these anywhere outside certain neighborhoods. Now a creation that jumped off in the mid 90's id everywhere, even far flung suburbs. But, most still can't stand up to Cafe Central's Jibarito. You can do Lechon (roast pork), Bistec (loin steak), Camarones (shrimp), or Vegetariano ( vegetarian) for the non-meat folks. I'm partial to Lechon but you can't go wrong with any choice. Top it off with a little green Puerto Rican Sofrito and some Mojo de Ajo (Puerto Rican garlic sauce), and you're now you go some street cred. This sandwich is insane! Even the Russian guy was like '"oh yeah"! and they can be hard to please. LOL. We complimented our Jibarito's with an order of Platanos Maduros (fried sweet plantains), just the right combo of sweet and savory. Tender and great with a little garlic sauce they beat the tired old fries I too often get elsewhere. Last but certainly not least we split a dessert, Tembleque (coconut custard with cinnamon). Unbelievably lightly sweet and flavorful. My favorite dining experience is always authentic neighborhood homemade, comfort foods with a taste of Chicago history. If you're visiting Chicago get to Cafe Central for a real taste of the neighborhood. read more

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Café Central has been there for many years. They have good food good service. I love their oxtails delicious.

The best Puerto Rican food I've had. Festive atmosphere and flavorful food. I hate to say too much. Give Cafe Central a shot! read more

Cafe Central - Pork special - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

love the food & friendly staff. their is always delicious & fresh. The servers always ready to provide recommendations.

The food is consistently great! What really sets this place apart is the warm, welcoming atmosphere. It's a true family restaurant where the staff knows everone who walks through the door - by name, by story, or by favorite dish, even hot sauce. If you're looking for authentic PR food and a place that feels like home or your abuelita's cocina, look no further. This place is a treasure, I've been coming here since the 80's! read more

During a recent day out, we stopped here for a quick dinner and left pleased with the great food we had. I did the shrimp and yellow rice. It was very good, but perhaps a tad small for a dinner portion. My husband's goat stew was top-notch. The interior of the place is charming, and we thoroughly appreciated the cheerful servers who treated us so well. I plan to drag my husband back here so I can get some goat stew of my own! read more

Cafe Central - Yellow rice and shrimp - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food is authentic PR food. Always great service. More of a diner ambience. This place has been here for years. read more

Cafe Central - Morcilla, Jibarito con lechón, Arroz con gondules - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came with my wife and newborn And I ordered the ropa vieja as I started to eat it I was eating a long f**** hair, and the waitress saw the hair and did not apologize.I will never come back here EVER!!!! read more

Good mofongo. Service was really kind too! Food came out quickly and tasted delicious!

Cafe Central, I love you!! Today was my first time here!! My uber driver recommended it! The atmosphere is homey! Lots of things to look at!! The good came in a timely manner and the staff was very attentive, sweet, and very attentive. I ordered the Asopao de Camaron(shrimp stew with rice), fried plantains and avocado. I was it down with a cold Kola Champagne!! Everything was so flavorful, nice to look at and definitely had large portions. The bill was affordable and definitely worth the price!! You must try this place, read more

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Absolutely a must. This is a classic Latin place. Old school vibes with only necessary updates. It is clean and welcoming. Food is always delicious. The servers are the same for years, so they are wonderful. The cafe is perfect. read more

I had a taste for mofongo, and I'm glad that I picked this place to satisfy it. I chose this place based on online recommendations and the location to where we were at the time. There seemed to be street parking around (we arrived via rideshare), the restaurant looked to be spacious the further you went back, and the bathroom was clean. Our server was a very sweet lady who was able to recommend based on what we were looking to eat. I had creole shrimp with mofongo, and my boyfriend had fried chicken with plantains. Both dishes were filling and flavored very well! The menu was a bit confusing - for the second side that comes with entrees - not just the mofongo - is an extra $3.50, and some of the dishes had increased in price by $1, like my shrimp soup dish. It's not enough to deter us from revisiting, but just a heads up for anyone who visits initially. read more

Great Service!Great Foods!Great atmosphere!!! Fast!Clean!Chip! Great Place for Breakfast,Lunch and Dinner!Great PeurtoRican Food!Chicken stew !Beef Stew !Jibaritos!Mixtas!Soups! ...and my favorite breakfast:Ham ,Eggs and Sweet Plantains!Perfect Sweet Plantains!:D ...with Flan & coffee !!!Highly Recommended! Definitely I always back!‼ Simply The Best!My favorite PeurtoRican Place!:D read more

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I am obsessed with this place! It also holds a special place in my heart because it was mine and my fiancé's first date spot. My first Puerto Rican food experience back then and it did not disappoint! Go to thing to order: guisado de res, arroz con gandules, abichuelas, papa rellena, and maduros. So so soooo good! There's so much flavor in their food, you can taste the love! Easily in the top 5 of my favorite restaurants in the city! read more

Love the food and service everytime in that side of town I must stop here and grab some food wish the had cooking lessons

I really wanted to give this place a chance, 3 separate occasions - the absolute slowest service. I'm right at the counter and it takes them 15 mins to even acknowledge I am there. Then when I get the food, it's not even worthwhile, especially after they raised their prices. Not worth the wait. read more

Authentic Puerto Rican food with great flavor. Thier arroz con pollo, lechon and pollo guisado are fantastic just to name a few entrées. Service is welcoming and professional. read more

The food is delicious. Not only is the food delicious, but the ladies that work there are super sweet and professional. They food is fresh not old. You feel like you are in Puerto Rico at a Cafe. Definitely try it. read more

Nice cafe downtown. Food was fresh and made just right. We had some apps and the morcilla was delicious! The shrimp asopao was very generous. Jibarito was good and the ribs were so tender. Also during these odd times following protocals just right. read more

Absolutely Delucious Food!! Very authentic!! Reminds me of my family dinners in Puerto RicoI can't say enough great things about this restaurant. I will definitely return with my family next time. Excellent!!!! read more

This is as authentic as it get. The Puerto Rican food here is delicious and consistent. The decor takes you back to old school cafeteria style which you can still find back in Puerto Rico. The staff here are dedicated and been around for a very long time. You will always get fresh French bread and butter to the table with a little bowl of pique. When your food is ready you will always hear the whistle blow from the kitchen letting the waitress know the food is ready for pick up. One thing you must be prepared for is to patiently wait... all foods are prepared fresh and it will be worth the wait read more

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Great puerto rican comfort food. Went back after many years - same as it ever was - had the mixta (beef stew), mofongo, and empanada this time. read more

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This place was pretty cool. Used Yelp to find it. Looking for Cuban food but this came up in the list. Food was close, but I believe this is Puerto Rican food. I ordered the rotisserie chicken with rice / beans / sweet plantains and my husband ordered the mofongo (meat stew). I also got a cappuccino, which was strong and awesome. This is a totally low key, cute place that looks like your typical old school American breakfast place. Don't let the ambiance fool you - the food is all Latin American and delicious. Everyone in there seemed like local, neighborhood folks, all looking for a hot, home cooked food! I would return, this food was so good, I just ate my leftovers about an hour ago! read more

Cafe Central - I really liked my food here! Great portions! - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been coming to this place since I was young with my family so I figure why not let's keep the money in the neighborhood I went there two weeks ago about a half a pound of fried pork and when I open the box I pay $12 for eight pieces of meats. And then today I go on it is rice and it was $15 for the little container of rice not worth it highway robbery I'll never be going there again I guess I have to drive an extra five more miles to get the real food where is worth every penny This is what you get for trying to keep it in the neighborhood read more

Cafe Central - Rice and calamares - Puerto Rican Near Me - Chicago, Illinois