If you are looking for an authentic Puerto Rican spot this is a great spot. It is a smaller spot…read moreand fills up quick. We got takeout and it is a great takeout place. They were fast and efficient. They offer everything authentic jibaritos, chicken, and different types of plates as well. The staff is friendly and it is family owned. A great and cheap spot to grab dinner.

Vsited Papa Cache Sabroso hoping for a memorable meal, and while the experience was perfectly…read moreadequate, it didn't quite reach the level of "must-try." ​The menu offers a nice selection of classic Latin dishes. We got that the Papa's Medio Pollo Chon to share for a family of 3. The Medio Pollo Chon is the signature half-rotisserie chicken at Papa Cache Sabroso, and while it's certainly edible, I found it to be just okay. My husband compared it to a Costco rotisserie chicken. Don't expect a gourmet experience, but you'll get a decent plate of food for a fair price. It's an okay 3-star experience--nothing to complain about, but nothing I'll be rushing back for next week, either.

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.

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

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

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!

Delicious food delicious drink drinks. Everything was good. The service was good. I love flow. You…read morehave to go there

Hate to the bearer of bad news, but I didn't think the food here came close to five stars. All the…read moremimosas tasted like straight up champagne and we also weren't told what all the flavors were. I feel like when you get flights at other places, it's presented a bit better. I got the huevos verde and even though everything was cooked well, it lacked so much seasoning and flavor. The breakfast potatoes could've been a bit crispier too. They have a trio of hot sauces on the table and none of them were spicy and that says a lot from someone who cannot handle spice. I thought it was interesting that there were hot sauces on the table but no salt and pepper, but they have it if you ask. Service was great and the staff were nice but I don't see myself coming back.

Hidden gem indeed. So hidden where sometimes we pass by & they aren't open. Got lucky this time…read more After letting our daughter play at the park, we decided last minute to grab dinner and to our luck, they were open! It's like a hole in the wall, mom & pop shop kinda vibe. Literally made fresh to order cause it took a hot minute to be ready. But I promise you the worth is worth it. Got the bistec Jabarito and it was massive like more than enough to feed 2 people and a child. We got 2 entrees and some empanadas and my husband loved those. Really wanna come back for lunch and we hope they are open & stay open.

I can't say enough good things! The food was legit (it was lunchtime-ish, so my spouse and I were…read morein the mood for jibaritos; he had the bistec and I had the cubano) - the yuca was just like my Abuela's; it brought a tear to my eye! - and everyone was so friendly. I rarely leave Yelp reviews (sorry), but this was so good that I had to!

This place was amazing!…read more Came in a few weeks ago to grab dinner with friends, and was easily able to get a reservation same day on a Saturday night at 7 PM. From the very beginning, we were taken care of very well. We were quickly seated when we got in, and our server was very attentive. The restaurant was jampacked too, I'm surprised we were able to get in so quickly! The food was delicious; for dinner I had the pollo a la cubana which was so good. Our server had mentioned to me that this was his favorite item on the menu, and I could not agree more. The chicken was perfectly cooked, and very juicy. Great vibes in the restaurant too, very upbeat feeling here. Everyone was very friendly, and the music added a very tropical feeling. Overall great time and would happily come back.

Delicious, a highlight of our stay in Chicago. Chimichangas and roja vieja are both very good…read more Server offered for us to use their private room to change our son's diaper (no changing table), itemized the receipt for us, and refilled our water as needed.

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!

Came here with a party of 4. Our server was so knowledgeable about the food and the background of…read morethe food. She explained every dish we asked about and every dish was delicious. We had the Pork Loin and it was super flavorful and tender. We also had the oxtail, which was unique and so good. Between the piononos and the Pollo Yucateco, and all the other dishes, it was hard to stop eating. Everything more flavorful than the next, including the Mole y Leon. The Mole was delicious and so complex, I was literally going to lick the plate! We finished our meal by sharing the Pastel de Elote and the Chocolate Tres Leches. Both were so delicious. What impressed most was the variety of dishes and the extreme complexity of each one. Each wrapping themselves around my tastebuds and comforting them like an old friend. I forgot o mention the drinks. We each had a separate one and all were mixed well and complimentary to our meal. I will be going back soon to enjoy the delicious food and drink. Special thanks to our server who was amazing!

Everything was great! Food, service, ambiance…read more Took my son and his girlfriend there for his birthday. We all loved it and definitely coming back. Don't miss this gem!!

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.