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    Cafe Central

    4.2 (288 reviews)
    InexpensivePuerto Rican
    Open 11:00 am - 7:00 pm
    Updated 1 month ago

    Cafe Central Photos

    Business Info

    CAFE CENTRAL ATMOSPHERE

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

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    Arroz con gandules
    Jose C.

    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.

    mixta plate with arroz con gandules and cod stew
    Mona T.

    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

    Arroz con pulpo
    Latifah A.

    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!

    Tembleque
    Araceli C.

    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

    tables, chairs, and pictures on the wall
    Stephen C.

    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.

    Pork special
    Tim H.

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

    Morcilla, Jibarito con lechón, Arroz con gondules

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    1 month ago

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

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    8 months ago

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

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    4 years ago

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    11 months ago

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

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    2 years ago

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

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    3 years ago

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

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    Page 1 of 8

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    Carnivale Chicago

    Carnivale Chicago

    (2.7k reviews)

    $$$

    West Loop, Near West Side

    I went here for with my best friend and my hubby to celebrate my birthday with a great birthday…read moredinner. We were in the Chi already visiting Atlas Stationary as a self-proclaimed station and fountain pen freak so we figured why not?!? I had heard great things about Carnivale prior to so please note that prior reservations were already made but regardless, it was all our first times there and we were stoked to finally try this place out. When we first got there, the outside was very unassuming. Some awesome graffiti on the wall (yes, angel wings included) and lots of color which made me so happy! As we entered, we were greeted by lots of colored flora on the walls and the floor. It led to a beautiful lounge where we checked in. The hostess was quite kind and they escorted us to another room that had multiple floors, two I believe. We were sitting in the main dining area where dining tables were set up and the ceiling lights and decorations were super-duper colorful. It was brightly lit and festive. Seriously, the colors alone could make anyone happy and do a serious dopamine overload which was fine with me. We sat down, was introduced to our server, Oscar and then given menu's. I genuinely thought that this place was pretty small initially because it looked small from the outside but boy was I wrong! This place was MASSIVE. But! I digress, now that we had our menu's-- Let the party begin!! We started with the ceviche tasting which included four types of ceviche; shrimp, Yucatan style hamachi, salmon and tuna. All were really good with their own really distinct flavors but our top favorites were the salmon and the tuna. The salmon had a kick while the tuna had a great balance of heat and sweetness. Great way to start of this dinner! My bestie ordered coconut shrimp and smoked mushroom croquettes for her main meal. My hubs ordered the carne asado while I ordered the lechon asada. I also want to add that we ordered Mexican street corn on the side alongside mashed potatoes and Peruvian Jalea. Ah and before I forget, we also ordered our drinks which consisted of a: sangria, margarita, Cotton Candy Cosmo and Salva Honduran Pilsner. All were spectacular and made the night that more enjoyable as well! When we received our food. We were all really enjoyed it as we all shared our bites amongst one another. The coconut shrimp was well breaded and you tasted the coconut as well. The shrimps were large and juicy. The smoked mushroom croquettes were good with a smokey flavor and good breading, however, the breading may have a been a little thick because you couldn't really taste the mushroom,m unfortunately. The carne asado was the star of the show. Well seasoned steak, cooked medium rare which was juicy and succulent. The lechon asado was good. Although I'm not used to eating lechon asado that is covered in sauce, the sauce was super tasty so I didn't mind the tender, juicy pork that was covered in it. I really enjoyed it. I think the only thing that I wish was different with regards to my lechon asado is that I wish it were hotter because it was luke warm when I received it. Other than that, it was....*chef's kiss*. The Mexican street corn was alright, it honestly just tasted like regular corn with mayonaise in it with some cheese. Didn't add anything significant to the meal. The mashed potatoes were soft but not too soft and buttery. They were really good and then the Purvian Jalea was another favorite, super good! The calamari, fish and shrimp with the Purvian Jalea were absolutely delicious; fresh, tasty and well breaded. It was absolutely yummalicious. To top the night off, they gave me a little birthday treat of cotton candy and carmel popcorn. We also had some tres leches which was so yummy because the fruit was fresh and you could taste the milk in the tender cake and then we had the chocolate cigar. The chocolate cigar was also really good, everything except the label was edible, It was smokey, chocolately and delectable. It's presentation was also so creative. We all loved it. Overall, this restaurant is SUPER PRICY but SUPER WORTH IT. I am so glad that I was able to go there to celebrate a special occasion because it would not be a place that I could go to on a regular basis but as much as I wish I was, ya girl ain't rich like that. The service was superb, the employees were kind, the food was fire and drinks were scrumptious. If you're looking for a fun, Latin cuisine inspired, creative, yummy way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary or other special occasion with a fun Latin twist--look no further, that is it! Check it out and you won't be disappointed. Now, I'm sorry for my novel and you may now go back to your normal programming schedule. If you do end up coming here and loving it -- i told ya so ;)

    I'm not sure how long it was when I first visited Cranivale but it was definitely before yelp…read morereviews and it definitely wasn't this big so fast forward to maybe 20 years it's definitely more beautiful. Very nice and what a great entrance it has. The rooms and the different feeling each one gives is pretty awesome. The upstairs is where we were invited to attend the party bc of the invite and it was very lounging and nice. There's a Latin room where we wanted to go but next time we will. Then there a bigger room with lots of dinner tables and another upstairs.

    The Jibarito Stop - Steak jibarito and yellow rice!  mmmmm

    The Jibarito Stop

    (473 reviews)

    $$

    Pilsen

    Let me tell you. THIS WAS THE BEST THING I ATE when I was in Chicago…read more I knew I had to visit Pilsen while visiting Chicago for the first time. Coming from the West Coast, we mainly have Mexican, Guatemalan, or El Salvadorean food. Muy rico, tried and true. But Puerto Rican is more rare. So when I saw those bright and beautiful PR flags out by the front entrance, and an almost full-house at 2pm in the afternoon, I knew I had to check Jibarito Shop out. I knew I had to get a jibarito because of the namesake. I love that there's a half and a full sandwich option. I was here solo, so I happily ordered the half option...but could've easily given into eating a full order. A jibarito is scrumptious, fried plantains as the "buns" or "bread" with the meat of your choice, and side of flavorful yellow rice and beans. I went with bistec. You're handed a number and wait for your food to be delivered to your table. The first bite blew my friggin' mind. Flavor, fat, and WOW. As someone who loves all fries, having that crunch and oil from the crispy plantains was gluttonous. Rice was so good, I was licking the paper bowl. Atmosphere feels homey and open, and there's lots of table options but they fill up quick because of how popular they are. Good for families but smaller groups. Restrooms are clean and single-stall. Service is so friendly and efficient. Shoutout to the magic hands who blessed us with delicious meals. I am still dreaming of what I ate at Jibarito Shop. Please come to California!

    Ever heard of a jibarito, much less had one? I had never heard of them and was unfamiliar with…read morePuerto 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!

    Tanta - Tres Leches Lucuma

    Tanta

    (1.8k reviews)

    $$$

    River North, Near North Side

    We were late for our reservation, but they were able to accommodate us anyways at the bar. We came…read morefor happy hour appetizers and drinks. All of the appetizers we had were absolute dynamite. Both of the cebiches were fresh, well balanced, and offered different experiences than each other. The bao was straight up delicious, sometimes baos can be a miss and this is something I'd definitely order again and recommend. The pork belly wasn't all fat either which was my favorite!! Anticucho de Pollo was also very yummy. Cocktail I had a Chicha Punch which wasn't exactly my favorite but it's because it's a red wine and tequila mix, the red wine didn't do it for me. I tried my husbands pisco cocktail though and that had something to offer! The bathroom is down some stairs, so keep that in mind. The ambience is very cool, you could do upscale or casual here for sure.

    Came in here, a few weeks back for dinner with some friends. Unfortunately, the weather did not…read morecooperate, so we could not take advantage of their really cool looking balcony. From the beginning, our server was very attentive and walked us through the menu. She gave us several suggestions on dishes to order that would complement each other. Also strongly recommend or during the chips; everyone's food will come out as it is made, so it's nice to have something for everyone to share to begin with. Interior was really neat, and the music was not too loud or too quiet either which I always appreciate. We had several appetizer dishes, as well as the arroz Mariscos. The only thing I did not like about this place was that the food all came out a different times. The other couple that we were with had several of their dishes before we had anything. We did order chips to split at the table, so it's not like we had nothing to eat, but I feel like when restaurants bring things out as they are made, it lends to a weird dynamic between two different couples if you were ordering together. That being said, our food came out not too terribly long after the other couple's. Overall, great time here, and delicious food. Would happily come back!

    Jerk Yard

    Jerk Yard

    (1 review)

    Near Southside

    If flavor had a headquarters, Jerk Yard would be running the show…read more I've been a fan of Caribbean food for years, and let me tell you--Jerk Yard gets it right. Their new spot inside Picnic, the digital food court in South Loop, is a total game-changer. From the moment I placed my order to the very last bite, it was nothing short of . What's even better? This is Jerk Yard's second location, following the success of their beloved original in Hyde Park--and yes, it brings the same delicious taste and chill island vibes that made the first one such a favorite. Consistency is everything, and they've nailed it again. Let's talk food: the jerk chicken is juicy, smoky, and seasoned to perfection with just the right amount of heat. You know how some places say "jerk" but really mean "barely spiced"? Not here. This is the real deal. I paired it with their coconut rice and sweet plantains--absolutely chef's kiss. The plantains were golden, soft, and caramelized just right. Portions are generous, the packaging is on point (perfect for takeout), and the flavors? Unmatched. The team clearly puts love into every plate. And while the new location is in a digital food hall, it still feels like Jerk Yard--welcoming, flavorful, and full of good energy. Whether you've been rocking with them since Hyde Park or you're new to the brand, this South Loop spot is a must-visit. Pro tip: if the oxtail is on the menu, do yourself a favor and get it. Thank me later.

    Cafe Central - puertorican - Updated May 2026

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