Great Food! Tasty! you will not regret it on trying this restaurant! Love the JIBARITO

We visited this restaurant based on its high reviews, but unfortunately, our experience was very disappointing. I ordered the jibarito steak sandwich, but it lacked flavor. Both the beef and the empanadas were extremely dry and tasteless. I love to cook so I wanted a break of cooking! To make matters worse, the customer service was awful. She did not even give us a fork to eat our rice. When we asked for one, the staff member literally rolled her eyes at us. Sorry to bother you hun! The restaurant is also tiny, with only three tables available. We will definitely not be back. Good luck. read more

My wife is Latin and she loves good Puerto Rican and Cuban food. She has seen this place a number of times and we finally decided to take a ride in to try it. It exceeded our expectations. The owner, Cesar , happened to be in there and we had a chance to chat with him for quite a while. What a great story. The passion that this man and his family has for this restaurant shows in the food. It was delicious, authentic, and definitely worth visiting. Everything we tried was amazing. We will definitely be coming back. read more

Love this place!!! Sandwiches always on point and cafe con leche is delicious! The girlies in front are always so sweet too!

Hands down the best Cuban coffee and empanadas I've had! The coffee was rich, smooth, and perfectly bold with just the right touch of sweetness. The empanadas were fresh, flaky, and packed with flavorful filling in every bite. Everything tasted homemade, and the quality really stood out. The friendly service and welcoming atmosphere made the experience even better. This is definitely a spot I'll keep coming back to whenever I'm craving authentic Cuban flavors. Highly recommended! read more

Cubanito Express - Empanadas - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

Food is great!!! We always grab and go so I can't speak to the dine in experience but the breakfast sandwiches are great! Service is very good too. Can't wait to try their sister location down the block. read more

overpriced . the food keeps getting more and more expensive . not worth 20$ for a sanwhich . should be $11

Visited my parents in Riverside for Thanksgiving and was surprised to learn if this Cuban restaurant and the Argentinian empanada place in downtown Riverside. After going g to the other place, I came here to compare empanadas. Neither is better, just different. Cheaper and deep fried here, but less options for empanadas. But of course they have other interesting things on the menu at reasonable prices. read more

Great food excellent service, we tried a little bit of everything and it did not disappoint. Owner's daughter was a very sweet and friendly person. Thank you for a great visit read more

This place is a hidden gem. The food here is delicious *chef's kiss*. The atmosphere is wonderful, and the people that work here are amazing. It really shows how much they care about their food through their cooking. The sauces, fire. The sandwiches, to die for. I would eat here every single day if I could. Five stars all around . Will probably be returning here so often that they'll have a seat reserved for me next to the window. read more

Cubanito Express - Our Guava Q - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

I always drive by this place wanting to give it a try and yesterday I did... it did not disappoint. Tasted and felt pretty authentic, makes up for the price of what you pay for. You'll definitely be full after having a meal from here. There was not one bad part of my first time being at Cubanito Express. Friendly staff, felt like a family vibe and they had authentic Cuban/PR drinks on hand. Loved that because it's hard to find some of these drinks. I ordered the Cubanito Express with tostones on the side and I will order that next time I go in as well. I live nearby so I plan on being back soon! Thank you Cubanito for the great experience! Personal Review: 9.1/10 read more

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Recently found myself in Chicago for work and was in the mood for Cuban food. I'm originally from Miami so am usually extremely picky when it comes to Cuban. What an awesome surprise! Great sandwich shop that also has a few main dishes. The media noche was perfect and the got the bread right (those who know...know). The yuca was perfect and served with ajo. They even had the materva soda I grew up drinking. Can't wait to be back!! read more

Cubanito Express - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

Came across Cubanito Express while browsing on the local picks on Yelp. So happy that I found this hidden gem close to home. Located on the busy streets of Harlem Avenue on the outskirts of Riverside, this family own restaurant is a must to stop at. Street parking is available, but it can get congested since it's a main street and a train frequents nearby. But don't let it deter you. We went just after lunch on a Sunday, so parking wasn't bad at all. It looks like most orders are to go but they do have a small dining area too. The restaurant is clean, but small. So not a good idea for huge parties. Alissa took my order and she was a delight. Very sweet and friendly. I order the lechon sandwich and 3 empanadas. Wow was that lechon so, so good! Perfectly roasted, shredded, and seasoned with so much flavor. Sandwiched between lightly toasted bread and accompanied with tomato and homemade mayo. This was the sandwich I was searching for! The empanadas were a delight too. The ham and cheese were filled with cubes of ham and lots of cheese surrounded by a crisp crunchy shell. The guava and cheese was my favorite for dessert! It can't get any better than sweet guava with creamy cream cheese. We weren't a fan of the ground beef though. It had a weird after taste. My sister ordered a steak jibarito that came with Puerto Rican Rice, and an order of tostones. The steak was tender, juicy and delicious! The rice was well seasoned and the tostones could use a little less of the salty seasoning. Although the garlic mayo that came with the appetizer made up for it. Customer service was great and food is hot and made to order. Will definitely be back to try many more items on the menu. read more

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Great neighborhood Cuban spot! Their Cuban sandwich, empanadas, and fried plátanos were all excellent. There isn't much seating inside, so takeout is ideal. Counter service is also very friendly. read more

First time trying this spot seen the reviews figure why not give it a shot? I had the Cubanito Express cost $12.99 and a side order of sm Puerto Rican rice for $5.00. I thought it be much more tasteful, the bread was kind of soggy but the Puerto Can rice was the most appealing to me. So that is why I was only able to give 3 stars read more

Cubanito Express - Keep in mind the sandwich did not look this way when served I only did it for the picture $12.99 - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

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Love the cubano sandwich here. I stop in every time I'm in the neighborhood. They're always quick, so don't let the limited seating discourage you. They also have about 6 sauce options. read more

Cubanito Express - Cubano sandwich - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

I've had CE on my list for IL restaurants near my MIL's house for a long time, and I was FINALLY able to go (twice) this past trip! My only question is why did I wait so long? Cafe con leche? All day. Sign me up. Caffeinate me all day with this cafe con leche. Simple, not too sweet, rich coffee taste. Loved it. Yuca Fries: I could eat these also all day. Drizzled with garlic oil happiness but still light. I loved the added garlic flavor and the crunch of the fries. Nice size portion and not too thick. So delicious. Bistec Jibarito Sandwich: Tender steak with American Cheese, crunchy plantain bun, and even better with the chimichurri sauce. Steak seasoned perfectly. Nicely balanced with lettuce and tomato and onions. Not overly greasy or heavy. Side of Rice and Beans: Honestly some of the best rice and beans I've ever had at a restaurant. Lots of flavor. Not too salty. Filling without being too rich. I would have preferred fries or yuca fries with the sandwich, but I'll also take that rice any day. Pork Jibarito Sandwich: BY FAR MY FAVORITE. FAVORITE. I will consistently get this every time I come back in the future after trying the remaining Jibarito sandwiches. Pork had so much flavor and add the caramelized onions and garlic sauce? LIGHTS. OUT. SO GOOD. Oh my goodness I'm dreaming of it again right now. Ropa Viejo Sandwich, Ham/Cheese Croquettes, Cubanisimo Breakfast Sandwich, Steak Sandwich and honestly everything else has received the two thumbs up approval from the hubby. He's gone so many times he's lost count. Nothing has been less than great. On top of it, add great service and a cute little dining area inside and outside, and you've got yourself some good eats! We honestly can't wait to go back again and are very excited it is within walking distance to my MILs house! Go now! read more

First time trying the food and will definitely be back! Jackie took our order and was the sweetest. I had the Pollo Encebollado which was excellent and our group split a plantain sample platter- could not rave more about how everything tasted. The food was great and it came in big portions for a reasonable price. Looking forward to eating here again! read more

Cubanito Express - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

We were grabbing late dinners and decided to stop by Cubanito Express very close to their closing time. The staff were super friendly and even gave us a bunch of free empanadas and plantains to try. I ordered the Cubanito Express sandwich, which is steak, ham, fried egg, mozzarella cheese with veggies. I wasn't expecting it to be this good! I would recommend trying Cubanito Express. I'll definitely be back to try more things off their menu! read more

Cubanito Express - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

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Delicious!!! Always so good. Never a bad experience. Love to brag about coming here. Good spot to try if you haven't read more

Cubanito Express - Omg so good My favorite place I like to show off to friends when In The area - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

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This has been on my "to try" list for a while. I don't know what took me so long, but you've gotta run to this place, everything was delicious! I got the Cubano which has been hard finding a good one in the suburbs, but this spot has it down! I got the yucca fries with garlic sauce, soo good and my partner got the jibarito that he said was really good too! I tried some of his Puerto Rican rice too and that was really good too. After I was done eating, I wanted to get a cafe con leche to go and they ended up giving it to me on the house! I was shocked, that was really nice of them! Great customer service and very friendly. The cafe con leche was bomb too! The only con is there isn't much indoor seating, but it was nice out and they have outdoor seating on the side. Will definitely be going back and spreading the word about them. read more

Cubanito Express - Cafe con leche - iced - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

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I had no idea I had such an authentic Cuban restaurant in the area, I'm so happy I found it. The only thing I didn't like was the ropa vieja empanada, it was super dry and not what I was expecting. I did however love the cubanito express , it was so flavorful and rich. I added the green hot sauce and it paired so well with it. I also ordered the cafe con leche iced and it was the best iced coffee, it actually tastes like coffee but wasn't bitter. The servers were very kind and welcoming. The place is small and difficult to find parking, and the seats are not comfortable the tables are too tall for the seats. Next time I will order out. Over all, I will definitely be coming back! read more

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Cute spot close to the train in Riverside. We ordered a Cuban Sandwich, plantain chips with garlic dipping sauce, ropa vieja empanadas and a mango shake. Everything was authentic and very good. The sandwich was quite large with a lot of great quality meats served really fresh & hot. The bread was nice and toasted, but not too hard. The restaurant was very clean. read more

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First time there and the service was great! Recommend sauces and they were great choices. The food is just so delicious with so much flavor. Definitely a must try. I will be back! read more

I loveee this spot & will always come back to it. The food is amazing & so is the staff! I usually get the caprese chicken sandwich if you're looking for something to try. Would recommend this spot!! read more

Cubanito Express - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

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Let me premise this by saying the only time prior to this time having a Cubano sandwich was from the canteen at work. I thought it would be better and it was. But not what I was expecting. The Fries that I got with the order were not up to my standards. Kind of soggy, oily? The plantains that I ordered were good, but I never had them before, they came with a spicy ranch dipping sauce? Tasty!.... Can't speak to ambiance because I ordered off Yelp delivery. Again I'm new to this genre of food and will have to try it again. read more

One of my favorite lunch places in Berwy. Consistent flavors and Delicious food. Sweet staff. Tostones are a must.

I ordered a Cuban sandwich and a jibarito with rice. The rice was different not the typical Puerto Rican rice I'm use to. I also ordered yuca fries and they weren't cooked all the way. It was super hard in the middle. I would rate the food a 7/10. The prices were pretty expensive ... The service is good and the place was very clean read more

7.5/10 on the steak jibarito. The cost was too high for that quality. Rice was decent I had a tripleta about a month ago and it was 7/10. Too expensive and just average food. read more

Nice little spot with sandwiches that hit the spot. Cuban coffee was great and the sandwiches had a good flavor, but be sure to get some of the salsa options as they really make the meal. Street parking was fairly easy and the woman working the counter was friendly. We'll be back! read more

Cubanito Express - Huevo con Chorizo Y Queso - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

Great food and good service. The breakfast sandwich and coffee are top tier. I've also had the jibaritos with rice which are also delicious. Not a large spot so don't expect to sit down and eat but definitely grab and go read more

Delicious coffee and sandwiches! Amazing customer service. Will definitely come back to try other menu items. read more

Cubanito Express - Cubanito express - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

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They have consistently good Cuban food, I like to go there with friends visiting the area.

Deliciousness 100% all the way! Their café con leche was on point! The spinach empanadas, ropa vieja empanadas (my favorite) and their Cubanito express sandwich chefs kiss! Being Mexican I need a little burn in my mouth that being said, their salsas (guajillo and their mango) were amazing! Friendly and attentive staff. Let's not forget their music makes you want to dance! Coming back tomorrow after the gym! read more

Cubanito Express - Cubanito Express - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

Food was grt, cust service is on point and ambience is comfy. Luv the ice coffee or cafe con leche & empanadas de guava con queso. Delicious!!!! read more

Happy Saturday! The first time I had their coffee was at the Riverside Fair and I brought an iced coffee home with me later that evening (to soothe the inevitable morning headache!) I am so glad I made the decision because this place is a true gem and a great discovery and I have been returning ever since. I learned today that the flan is made in-house and it is really flavorful. One of our go to empanadas are the Ropa Vieja A nice weekend treat for me and my family. I hope this place sticks around for many years to come so please get out and give them a shot! Make it an expresso!! Oh! Make sure to try some of Brenda's flan! It's made by her and it's muy delicioso! read more

Cubanito Express - Enjoying another day! - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

I was craving empanadas and came here because I was in the area. So good found my way back to the area two days later to get more. I had the empanada la. They were hot and tray. Nice size too. One of the owners gave me a sample of a papas rellenos and Omg... mouth explosion. The placebos small but they are expanding so I hope to come more and actually sit and eat. So good. Reasonable prices. Also had the best cafe con leche I had in a while. Perfect read more

Cubanito Express - Display of goodies !!! - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

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I've ordered from here before when it first opened and the food was pretty good. So I decided to order again. I ordered through uber eats and that didn't go well, the driver left my food somewhere else, luckily I was watching and had to flag her down. Now to the sandwich, this time it didn't seem as fresh, it was oily, the bread wasn't as sweet as some if the media noches I've had. The pork had a lot of fatty pieces. I only ended up eating half. Not sure if it was just an off day, however I don't think I'll be ordering from here again. Paid too much for the lack of quality. read more

Cubanito Express - Media Noche - Cuban Near Me - Riverside, Illinois

Had the Cuban sandwich and it was dry and meat overcooked / chewed and bland. I love Cuban sandwiches but this was hands down the worst I've ever had. So sad... read more

Yum...must try this location food had that home taste with quality . Will be back to try more of their menu