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    The Jibarito Stop

    4.3 (475 reviews)
    ModeratePuerto Rican
    Closed 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order The Jibarito Stop Takeout or Delivery

    The Jibarito Stop Caribbean Restaurant Photos

    Business Info

    THE JIBARITO STOP ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups
    Good for kids

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    Fritter Sampler
    Alyanna C.

    Ever heard of a jibarito, much less had one? I had never heard of them and was unfamiliar with Puerto Rican food until the Chicago Redditors suggested tourists try it out. Boy, did the hype not disappoint at The Jibarito Stop. LOGISTICS As a tourist staying downtown near Millennium Park, this was easy to get to via the Pink Loop CTA line. The shop is super close to the stop and they have a good amount of seating indoors, though larger groups may struggle with getting seats together. You order at the front, but they will bring your food to the table. Drinking water is available for free. FOOD True to its name... they have Jibaritos here, which are Puerto Rican sandwiches where fried plantain are used instead of bread with a protein choice. The name also seems specific to Chicago as they are not part of typical Puerto Rican cuisine, but nonetheless they are DELICIOUS. All Jibarito options come with the choice of rice (red beans and rice or yellow rice). They also come in a "full" and "half size"... if I'm being honest the "full size" is really just two separate "half size" sandwiches. A half sandwich is plenty with a lot of protein. If you can share with someone else and order a "full" jibarito, it should still come as 2 separate sandwiches and then you have room to try another time in the menu. Steak Jibarito (Full Portion) w/ Yellow Rice: This was my favorite thing I ate during my Chicago visit, it was a good balance of sweet and savory. The steak is thinly sliced, not too chewy, and goes well with the creamy garlic sauce they put on it. The greens also made it refreshing. The plantains are also thin with a little crisp and chew and add a little bit of sweetness. However you need to really grab onto the sandwich with both hands to ensure it doesn't fall apart. Yellow rice was also really good with some beans in it for extra protein. I think it's cooked with a broth since it was flavorful on its own. Fritter Sampler: This was a great mix of fried goodies to taste. First the dough on the empanadas was light and crisp in texture. Fillings were generous on all of them - very flavorful with a variety of spices. My favorite was the shrimp one that had a bit of kick, and I think it was filled with either pumpkin/squash or a potato? Although it came with one of each, every fritter was really big and easily shareable between 2 people. I struggled to finish my half, especially with that large potato ball filled ground beef. Fritters also came with 2 sauces... an orange-ish spicy sauce and cilanto cirtus salsa that was delicious. Be sure to pour them onto the fritters as you eat them! OVERALL Great food for the price and portions! My partner and I were stuffed between the fritter sampler and full size portion of Jibarito. I am really happy I ventured out of the main downtown area to check this place out. As a tourist and first timer when it came to Puerto Rican food... this place was amazing! Jibaritos have become my new food obsession and I will be planning on coming back for more next time I'm in Chicago. Skip the hot dogs and pizzas, do not sleep on Puerto Rican food and The Jibarito Stop delivers on flavor!

    Steve B.

    Oh wow, The Jibarito Stop is one stop I would make on a weekly basis! The food her on par with any Puerto Rican shop in the city! Quality is definitely what TJS is known for in my book! The service on the other hand was pretty slow but, the quality of the food made up for that. The atmosphere made me think about being in an island space. If you wanna make that stop make it to The Jibarito Stop!

    Vanity H.

    Very disappointed by this because I was so excited to eat it! My coworkers and I ordered a bunch of food for pickup to eat for lunch as it was recommended. The arroz con gandules were solid, but unfortunately my jibarrito was soggy and missing cheese so pretty tasteless. The meat itself was good, but they didn't drain it so it sat in the container being soaked up by the bottom plantain. Again, they missed my cheese so it just wasn't enjoyable.

    Jibarito Shop
    Ernie H.

    4.5 stars. This space has tons of character that a taco bell does not even contemplate on a wet dream(see pics). Let's start with the great tasting rice infused with the broth it was boiled in - excellent! The guava drink is both sweet and not sour with the guava flavor coming out just right. As for the Jibarito, it's like a premium burger because it's steak vs ground beef but I've had better(thus the 4.5 stars). The plantain(as opposed to bread) means you can eat without feeling guilty. Portions here are large with a real chill staff. Overall a great value proposition.

    Shrimp empanda
    Sabrina C.

    This has been one of my FAVORITE Puerto Rican restaurants for YEARS, but recently they added a VEGAN MENU!!!! Yes - VEGAN PUERTO RICAN FOOD and it's SO GOOD!!! Since I don't eat pork or beef, I tend to miss out on some of my Puerto Rican foods that I used to love but what they offer?!? I forgot that I wasn't eating meat! The STK Mofongo was heavenly! Those plantain mash with all the flavors and seasonings, all the garlic - my goodness!!!! The vegan appetizers were super good too!!! The empanada was my favorite- cheese, sweet plantains and "beef." I could eat a whole basket of them! And of course I had to get a chicken jibarito bc it's one of my favorite foods! Their chicken is so well seasoned and moist! If you want AUTHENTIC Puerto Rican food with some CRAZY GOOD VEGAN PUERTO RICAN FOOD options - get here and tell em that Bri from Planes and Plates sent you!

    Elgin B.

    I have passed Jibarito Stop many times, but thanks to Yelp, I was suggested to try it out. It was a nice day so we decided to eat outside and sit in the umbrella-seated area. The waitstaff checked on us frequently and was accommodating. I would say the person taking the order was a bit dry in his attitude and kinda reminded us throughout the entire experience. The food was okay. I got the steak Jibarito with beef and chicken empanadas which were okay. My sister got an empanadas basket with beans, white rice, and a side of plantains. I washed it down with coffee, which was okay. Overall, it was okay. Not the best but also not bad at all. If you're in the area and looking for empanadas, it's not a bad choice. Rating: 3 out of 5

    Steal jibarito rice papa relleno
    Angelo G.

    First time here and won't be my last. Jibarito 5/5 Parcha drink 5/5 Papá relleno 4/5 rice 4/5 Overall 4.5 out of 5 only bc I found a female hair in my food other than that it was delicious .

    Steak Jibarito (half) with Arroz con Gandules (sm) * contains ham and Sweet Plantains
    Abigail A.

    Everything I tried (steak jibarito with arroz con gandules and plantains) was so delicious and flavorful! Cooked to perfection! The tostones were crispy and fresh! Would highly recommend, definitely will be back!!

    The roast pork platter...yummy
    Erica N.

    The food here seems to always be good. Short line, place order and grab a table number. Super efficient. I'm honest I have limited my options of trying here only because the roast pork was my first love. So I think outside of that I've only tried the empanadas. Good good good. Give 'em a try.

    The beans "I forgot"
    Louie N.

    Food always tastes great. Wish they would redo their entrance steps...that top stair is kinda hard for someone with leg issues. Also after receiving my order, leaving the spot and 1/2 way down the block the order taker/preparer told me I forgot something...hmm I got my keys, wallet, jewelry...what did I forget??? They forgot to give me my beans for the rice. I forgot that....shows u service is in the decline plus I was asked if I wanted silverware...after paying $53 and tipping u guys I better...may have to relax on coming here for a bit.

    Beef Empanada Relleno Fritter (not it looking happy to see me) lol
    Christina D.

    Hi friends! Happy 2025! I was craving something different and I've been seeing this place pop up. It's super close to me. However, it was snowing and I don't do the cold so DoorDash it was. I see you giving me side eye, don't judge me lol. I really do enjoy Puerto Rican food I just don't eat it very often, so I was very excited for this meal . I ordered a beef empanada, a relleno fritter and the pork chop plate. Oh, with lemonade(fresh squeezed of course) First things first, my food arrived VERY hot and fresh. I could tell that it had just been made. The beef empanada was very flavorful and I really appreciated that the pastry was tasty and didn't taste like the oil that it had been cooked in. It also wasn't greasy AT ALL. I was very impressed . The relleno fritter(it's essentially mashed potato that's fried and stuffed with cheesy beef) also, not super greasy. I'm funny about pork so I was skeptical about the chops. Oh! The plate comes with two chops, and two sides. I chose the rice and the sweet plantains. The pork chops were well cooked and seasoned nicely. A little on the salty side for me BUT if you made a perfect bite with that delicious garlicky rice (my fav thing tbh) and some of that plantain, each flavor complimented the other PERFECTLY! Let's not forget about the lemonade, it was absolutely hand squeezed ! You guys know how I feel about my beverages lol. It was perfectly balanced between tart and sweet without one or the other being overpowering. I found myself wishing for a larger size though . All in all, a delicious meal and I would absolutely order again! This was a lovely first ordered out meal of the year! I will be spinning the block again and trying something else soon! My total was 32.08 without tip and after 44.75. Thank you so much for a beautiful and well made meal! I appreciated it very much! Keep up the great work!

    Vegan Steak Mofongo
    Mona T.

    This is a solid counter-order spot on Pilsen's 18th St. serving flavorful, garlicky jibaritos, plates, etc. It wasn't too crowded for a Saturday lunch, but most of the tables were full. The inside ambience is chill and relaxed. I ordered the Vegan Steak Mofongo Plate and Full Chicken Jibarito to share with one other person, and it was a hefty amount of food that left us both quite full and satisfied. Both tasted flavorful, but overly salty, as we were both extremely thirsty afterwards. And although I'm normally a huge fan of garlic, I must say that the garlic flavor in both dishes was a bit overpowering. I personally liked the Vegan Steak Mofongo Plate better, as it had a more eclectic mix of textures and flavors, from the delicious beans mixed in rice to the vegan steak and soft, garlicky mash exterior. The jibarito was similarly flavorful but difficult to consume cohesively in one piece. The prices are pretty fair, especially for the portion sizes. Although I didn't love how salty and overly garlicky the food was, it did hit the spot overall and I would love come back to try the other items on the menu. -- Price (relative to peers): 4.5/5 Food: 4/5 Ambience: 4.5/5 Service: 4.5/5 (quick and friendly ordering and service) Overall Value: 4/5

    Steak Jibarito (Full) Alcapurria Fritter

    So good I almost forgot to take a pic I can eats these everyday Service just a little bit slow but it's worth the wait

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    4 months ago

    I miss y'all so much I could use a platter of arroz con gandules, a lechon jibarito and a sampler for the Benito Bowl tonight.

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    11 months ago

    My favorite restaurant in the entire city! Excellent food, friendly staff, don't hesitate to try this place!

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    Page 1 of 12

    The Jibarito Stop Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Jibarito Stop

    Is this authentic Puerto Rican or like Americanized fusion Puerto Rican?

    Real just like the food I grew up on at home.

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    4.2(1k reviews)
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    After a day shopping on Magnificent Mile north of the river in Chicago, we stopped at nearby…read moreCafecito on Chestnut. It was early Sunday afternoon, and we were too large a group to arrive without calling ahead. You walk up a lovely old half-flight of stairs under an ornate ceiling. After a short wait, half of our party went elsewhere, and the remaining four of us were quickly seated. The front area is mainly a café, with maybe 10 seats at tables for two. Farther back is a hallway and a larger room with seating in booths and at high-tops for maybe 40, and maybe 6 more at a small bar. The staff is quick and friendly. The food is delicious and fresh and hot! And the music is loud and festive :-) We had the thin-cut savory palomillo steak, a generous serving, pounded to tenderness, served with classic wet black-beans and white rice, sweet soft platanos maduros plantain pieces, and some greens and tomato. We had a lovely colorful medium-sized Mojo Shrimp in tart garlic citrus mojo sauce, with sateed red onion crescents, tomato chunks, and parsley. And we had the huge slow-cooked tender shredded-beef Ropa Vieja pressed sandwich, sauced lightly with slightly-tangy creole sauce, served with platanos maduros and black beans. All of their food delightfully authentic. We liked it so much, a few days later we ate at their South Loop location, too!

    Cafecito had my favorite sandwiches in the city - all time favorite is the ropa vieja. It's meaty…read morefrom the steak and slightly sweet from the plantains - so delicious. Their shrimp and guava-q sandwiches are also other go-to sandwiches for me. The one on wells is perfect for a lunch in the loop. If you want sit down service, the gol coast location is decent. The location on Fullerton kinda sucks - service is just really slow there so if I get sandwiches from there, I exclusively go the take out route. But all in all, the sandwiches are amazing!! And the yucca fries are good too. Oo and the guava cheese pastry is nice if you want a sweet treat after.

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    Cafecito - Steak Chimichurri sandwich

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    I'd never had Cuban food before until I came here. I got a fried tilapia platter which came with…read morerice and a spinach salad. I genuinely cleaned this plate off. The spinach had a kind of sauce with it that when mixed with the rice and fish tasted absolutely divine. The plantains were perfectly fried. My friend got the pork sandwich which she also enjoyed. We also got two vanilla lattes which were very good. This place has both indoor and outdoor seating. We opted for outdoor because the weather was nice but the vibes were good inside as well. They have a pastry counter indoors that looked good. I would highly recommend making a reservation because the place was packed on a Thursday morning! In the future I would bring friends and family here.

    I saw this place was close to my hotel, so I decided to give it a shot. I noticed they had a lot of…read moregood options, but I decided to stick with the pollo chimichurri. My food was ready within minutes and while I was hoping for a mouthful of flavors, I got anything but. The chicken wasn't really seasoned. In fact, it was lukewarm and bland. The plate could have gone without the tomato's as it made the maduros mushy. The plate itself was rather meh and I was pretty disappointed. Also, I was expecting the chimichurri to already be on the chicken and not for me to have to add it myself, especially considering I didn't get very much. Maybe they had an off day or I just chose the wrong dish.

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    I've been to Dope Drip Cafe in the past and had just an okay experience with the lechon rice bowl…read more However today was much better as I had the Jibarito steak sliders with a side of rice and a side salad. My order did not take long. I was told 10 minutes and I had it within 6 minutes. Everything was hot and well seasoned. I would come back again but would like try other items besides the jibaritos and rice bowls. Price wise it is a bit pricey coming out to ~$24 with a soda - but this feels like the going rate for non-fast food restaurants in the city.

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