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

Jibarito was small but had plenty of chicken inside. Plantain was unseasoned. White rice with beans…read morewas very good and seasoned well. Would've received another star if they would've asked if I wanted garlic on the Jibarito and it was bigger. Good deal for the price regardless $15.

$50 for fake Puerto Rican food the community deserves better"…read moreI need to write this review because people in Elgin deserve to know the truth, especially those who may not be familiar with authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. Let me start with the Papas Rellenas potato balls that are supposed to be made with real mashed potatoes, seasoned properly, and filled with well-seasoned meat. What I got was clearly made with INSTANT mashed potatoes. You can taste the difference immediately. It was bland, gummy, and honestly embarrassing to call Puerto Rican food. Then the Alcapurrias which should be packed with flavorful, well-seasoned meat filling. Instead, mine were stuffed almost entirely with green banana (guineo) and barely any meat at all. The only thing that had any flavor WAS the little bit of meat in there, which tells you the issue the base itself had zero seasoning. Eating an alcapurria that tastes like a plain pound of banana is not it. I spent $50 on this meal. FIFTY DOLLARS. As a Puerto Rican, this is a disgrace. This is one of only two Puerto Rican restaurants in Elgin, which means people are counting on places like this to represent our food and culture and this is what they're getting? Authentic Puerto Rican food is rich, flavorful, and made with love and the RIGHT ingredients. This was none of that. Do better. The community deserves authentic food, not a watered-down imitation at premium prices. Not recommended.

I recently tried a Puerto Rican spot out in Elgin and had really high hopes going in…read more I ordered a jibarito with a side of rice, plus an alcapurria and a pastel to try a little bit of everything. Starting with the jibarito, it was honestly a bit of a letdown. The meat was a little chewy and the overall sandwich felt dry, which took away from what should've been a really flavorful dish. The rice also missed the mark for me. It lacked flavor and had a bit of an odd aftertaste, which made it hard to enjoy. For the pricing, I was a little surprised $15 for a small jibarito and $5 for a small side of rice didn't quite match the quality or portion size. That said, not everything was a miss. The alcapurria was definitely the highlight fresh, well-made, and full of flavor. I'd absolutely order that again. The pastel was just okay in my opinion there were a lot of potatoes and not as much meat as I would've liked, so the balance felt a bit off. Overall, it was a mixed experience. There are some strong items on the menu, but between the inconsistency and the pricing, I'm not sure I'd rush back.

Tried their bowls today. Should have ordered them before!!! This is what chipotle wants to be when…read morethey grow old. Flavor wise, outstanding. Then much bigger. Note. Their jalapeños are not from a can. These are grilled and spicy. I've been coming to this place for a while and to be honest this place one of the best kept secrets of the area. Check the pics.

I loved everything about this place. It was nice and open and very clean. The service was patient…read moreand very nice. The food had so much flavor. I ordered the steak jabrito with beans and white rice. I also had their coquito cupcake which hit the spot. Those beans were fantastic. I could eat a large bowl of the jabrito had a good flavor and everything was balanced. I had my hands full and they helped me get everything to my car. I also ordered the pistachio cheesecake which was a bit fence for me but the subtle flavor is what I like.

Been here a few times, it's my new favorite compared to other big name PR spots on Fullerton…read more Small, authentic, genuine.. will be going back soon

I like this lil spot.. I was just driving pass hungry one day and decided to stop in. Kinda small…read morelocation but they make the best of it.. i ordered tostones which are fried plantains and fried pork belly...which is exactly what it sounds like. I was a huge fan of the tostones, it was crispy and crunchy and fried to perfection. They put tooo much garlic oil on mines but still edible. I was not a huge fan of the fried pork belly.. it was like I liked it bc I was hungry but I didn't like it enough to come back and order it again.. I think it was the seasoning and it was overly salty for me... besides that it was cooked to perfection. Maybe I need to come back and try something else on the menu but for now it's not a place I would rush back to and eat at.. I'm sorry I hate being mean but I have to be honest.

Everything went well came from Capital city of Michigan to try their chuleta can can and I'm…read moretelling you it was .com , I tried hubby jibarito ‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍‍forget about it anyone that gives this place less than 5 stars Is telling stories.. this was first place ( other than my kitchen ) were the flavor was on point , our server did awesome ( forgot his name ) but he was awesome. Very clean ( even with heavy traffic) bathroom clean ... loved it ..

I would say that this place is a tasty secret to a lot of people who never make it over herre to…read moreDivision or Puerto Rico... We parked in the neighborhood and walked around a bit and I like how the people really celebrate their culture here, with all of the flags, decorations, huge murals, etc... There is an exodus of the younger generation leaving the island to go elsewhere, mainly the US mainland...So, when you find a place like Papa's, which is very authentic, come back here, again and again...I think the mainly Puerto Rican clientele shows how legit their flavors are. We started off with the following: - chicken salad, which was full Of flavor and very meaty - the steak Jibarito with garlic butter sauce was incredibly great, this was an awesome sandwich and I'll probably order double meat next time - Maduros - very sweet plantains and could be a dessert - pollo chon (chicken lechon), flavored just right, juicy, tasty and pretty huge The service was inviting and thank you Pana, who was talking with us as we were waiting for them to open their doors for lunch.... Hope to make it to Puerto Rico one day!!

This is going on our list for our favorite spots! I am a garlic lover and they know how to season…read moretheir food, amazingly! Portions are large and food is delicious. This is the best seasoned steak in Elgin. We had the jumbo jabarito sliders and más lokas, great portions! The boyfriend and I were very happy and full!

Sup King! The food…read morelooked interesting so I had to stop by. Since it was our first time - went with the Mix Platter w/rice - just so we can try a bit of everything. Meats were good, the rice was ok. Just a hodge podge of flavors. Nothing stood out as exceptional, but hey if you are looking for heap of meat, this could be a good option. Great dish to share. Also had the Mofongo's Carne de Frita which I didn't really like, but I am sure there will be many who like it. Just wasn't my cup of tea. I know you have a lot of other items and they all look worthwhile to try out at some point. So maybe next time!

This place doesn't scream CLEAN but the service is super sweet and the food is so much better than…read moreokay. We ordered an horchata which was AhMazing. The Pastelillo which was okay and the Colombian Arepa. This arepa was super delicious. Like. Really good. Makes me drool to think of it now. My husband got the Lechon Jibarito Dinner. He enjoyed it. And I got the Asopado de Camaron. Also delicious. It was served with fried plantains. Omgoodness. Slap yo mama so good. I hope I spelled everything correctly. I really did try my best. There's street parking.

The food was delicious and the service was excellent! Small restaurant but the food speaks for…read moreitself! Please stop by and have a taste of some of the best Latin cuisine in East Chicago.

Tuesday nights are Taco Tuesday night the tacos are outstanding the people that work here are…read moreawesome Friday nights and Saturday nights it could be a little crowded it's a hit or a miss you won't go wrong with the service or the food

Rubi Agave was recommended to us by family. As someone who recently moved down to the area from…read morecloser to the city, it's been a struggle to find a place like this! The service was quick and attentive, and although the place was busy we didn't have to wait on a Friday night. We were fairly unfamiliar with the menu options but came with a big appetite, our waiter recommended the empanadas for an appetizer and they were great! Perfectly fried and super crispy, and you could tell the oil they were using was clean which is always a great sign for the rest of the experience for me. The decorations were SUPER cool. They went over the top for the holidays. Even if it's almost February... Both my lady and I ordered margaritas, and they were the best we've had since we moved down. They were STRONG, but not overly so. 1 was enough, 2nd was for fun. As we were leaving the table next to us ordered a pour of tequila and they did it tableside. I had the Colombian flank steak plate. While I can say I came with a big appetite and I can eat, this was about the first time I can say I left a restaurant still hungry. I knew what I was getting into since the menu did state the size of the steak, and I guess it's not a huge minus I left wanting more! The margaritas probably played a part too. The plate was phenomenal. I ordered the steak medium rare, but it was a little on the rare side which I don't mind at all. Everything molded perfectly and no flavor overpowered the other. One of the tastiest meals I've had in a long time. The only thing holding back this place from a 5 is the portions and prices. $4 for two shrimp seemed insane, and adding options to the margaritas makes each one almost $16. It certainly doesn't deserve the low 3 star rating on this app. Can't wait to come back!

Small little Puerto Rican restaurant with a couple of tables. Walk up counter to order. I was…read morereally excited to try this place, but the execution was completely off. The steak inside my jibarito was tough, chewy, and probably the most disappointing part was the super thin steak! How so chewy?? On top of that make matters worse, the fried plantains were cut way too thick and undercooked, making them dense and hard to bite through rather than light and crispy. For the price they charge, getting a super thin chewy sandwich just sucks. The high school girl at the front counter was slow with now sense of urgency at all sucks when you're on a lunch break.

We live in Des Plaines and drive by here constantly. We've been a few times and ALL the food was a…read morelittle rough around the edges but DELICIOUS. Everything. Even the sauces. Tip-top. The service was also fantastic, friendly, quick, and helpful. They walked us through the menu and did a great job recommending things. That said... their hours have prevented us from returning. At some point they changed their hours and they're only open when I'm working. They know their business better than I do... I'm just sad they're never open when I can visit.

It's not abuelita's but it is pretty darn close! Ordered mofongo with pork and with arroz con…read moregandules--it was served with a simple lettuce and tomato salad and avocado slices, just like my abuelita serves it! When I saw the plate with those small extra touches I knew it was going to be good. And I was not disappointed. I could smell the garlic when the food arrived and it tasted delicious! Alcapurrias were yummy, too!! The place was very sweetly decorated with some beautiful photos from La Isla and an awesome mural map of PR. It is casual dining but felt homey and you can tell a lot of thought, feeling, and pride went into the space, just like the

So exciting to have The Jibarito Stop located in the Loop! I believe it's the only Puerto Rican…read morerestaurant in the Loop and it's soooooooooo good. The vibe is so warm and welcoming. I love all the colorful art and decor. Comfortable seating and nice wooden tables. They sell fun merchandise too. Mofongo is my boyfriend's favorite and he loves it here. The chopped cheese sandwich is fantastic and my personal favorite. The Alcapurria fritters are a great appetizer to share. They have fabulous cocktails too. We enjoy the mojito and piña colada. I also really like the non alcoholic Parcha, which is passion fruit juice. Friendly and attentive service. Great value and high quality food. I look forward to trying the entire menu and beverage list!