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I was in Chicago recently and saw that people recommended getting a Jibarito sandwich while in town. I was pretty excited to try one so I stopped by Jibarito Stop right when it opened on a weekday for an early lunch. The place is pretty fast casual status and has a couple of tables inside for seating. I ordered a full order of a chicken jibarito sandwich. It came with a side of rice and was $19.91 total, including tax. It looked pretty good when I got it; the plaintain had pretty good color to it and the chicken looked pretty moist and well seasoned. I asked them to put the mayo on the side though, and they didn't. I started off by trying the rice, which was very flavorful. It was a bit overly salty but that's usually how I feel about arroz con gandules whenever I have it. I bit into the jibarito next and I was unfortunately pretty disappointed. The plaintain was very dry and tasted like cardboard. Felt like having the plaintain as the 'bread' of the sandwich didn't really work as it doesn't hold the contents of the sandwich together. It fell apart as soon as I took my first bite. Also, there was way too much mayo in there, to the point where it felt like a mayo sandwich. Totally destroyed the balance. The chicken was very good though; juicy and had a lot of flavor. So I was disappointed that the jibarito here just didn't do it for me. I will say that getting the full order of the sandwich is a substantial amount of food, which I always appreciate. Overall, I'd rate this experience 2 stars. I think it was pretty expensive at almost $20 without a drink and don't think my meal was very good. But glad that a lot of people seem to enjoy this spot.
Their guava pastries and cheese flan are DELICIOUS. As a Puerto Rican, I am so glad they opened close by. Most of everything I have tried has been good. Their fried foods, sandwiches, and desserts are must tries. I do have to remove a star because of two things: 1. They are very very slow. Plan ahead. Not a place to stop by if you are on a time crunch. 2. Their quesitos are not the authentic Puerto Rican quesitos. This was a bit of a let down. BUT all other pastries I tried were good! It is an "order at the counter" type place and not a full service restaurant. The staff are nice and the place seemed very clean.
First time ever trying a jibarito. Wasn't sure what to expect but it sounded delicious! Walked in and you order on the kiosk. A sandwich made with plantain as the buns! I fell in love! It was soft but had a thick outer layer. Slightly crispy but chewy. The filling itself was great the garlic sauce inside really shined. Put everything together and it was delicious and magnificent! The plate came with rice mixture. The sandwich was really filling. Inside there was a few tables to sit, you grab a number when you order and staff brings it out to you. 100% recommend coming here to try it out. Wish there was more Puerto Rican food around me.
I was so excited to finally try Puerto Rican food in Chicago. Let me tell you. The food here was fantastic! Jibaritos are simple to make, as it's basically a sandwich made with tostones (plantains). But it's FAR from "simple". I ordered half of a steak Jibarito with a side of arroz con gandules and a cola champagne. Everything was flavorful and filling. it was a decent portion size. When I'm in town, I'll definitely return.
Fastfood style. Greasy but well flavored food. Order on ipad and get a table number. Empanadas looked good too. Fastfood takeout style. Kids friendly. Nice staff.
Usually people traveling to Chicago are told to try a Chicago dog, Chicago deep dish pizza, and Italian beef, but for some reason nobody says to try a jibarito. I was told that jibaritos are Puerto Rican inspired but originated in Chicago, though I could be wrong. That being said, I wanted to try a jibarito while in town. This location is decently sized with ordering done on a kiosk by the entrance or at the register and food is brought to the table. The ambiance reminds me of a casual fast food restaurant. I ordered a full jibarito sandwich with chicken (no American cheese). The jibarito is said to include plantains, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and garlic oil. My order was brought in about ten minutes. The full sandwich looked like two mini sandwiches and I probably should've just ordered a half since I just wanted to try it out; it was very filling. The plantains were like a bread replacement for the sandwich; the plantains appeared to be smashed into a dense, flat and slightly crunchy "bread" if that makes sense. It also came with yellow rice with peas which made the plate look like a complete entree. I enjoyed the sandwich as a whole and especially liked trying the plantain portion; the chicken was flavorful and moist as well. However, as I continued eating it and after I left I had a lingering taste in my mouth from the mayonnaise and I had to eat something else to get the taste out. I'm glad I didn't include American cheese since it probably would've enhanced the aftertaste. For the most part, I was pleasantly surprised with my first jibarito from The Jibarito Stop, although I would remove the mayonnaise the next time I have a jibarito. I do wish I was able to try the other items on the menu since they looked very good while others were eating them.
This review is for their new location on Wabash...it was different going to this location. It was missing a community vibe but I do understand and respect them for moving on. As u know parking is non-existent so I had a friend double park while I go in. They have an order kiosk that accepts credit and debit cards. They only take cash at the cashiers. I placed my order with a helpful rep. They had a crowd there, didn't wait long for food. Left and checked bag for all items ordered and the beans were missing so I had to drive around the block again which is horrible due to construction. Decor is decent, not really feeling a home vibe. Will I be back? Hmmmm maybe if I had a concert/event nearby but the parking will be a deal breaker plus forgetting items u ordered.
After sitting on the Riverwalk watching some people eat some interesting looking sandwiches we inquired. So by accident we stumbled into this place. A few days later we went to try our own. The chicken and steak Jibarito we so good, perhaps a little dry. But what they were not was oily. Some great flavors. Oh and almost forgot, the beef and cheese empanada so good. Great crust without being too thick, good helping of beef in the middle and perfect for hand eating while people watching. We also ordered take away and went back to the riverwalk. Service was fast and courteous.
I have never had Puerto Rican food before and I could kick myself. Came here with coworkers for lunch. The line moved pretty quick for orders being placed. I ordered a plate with steak/onions, white rice, potato salad and beans. Every single bite of every dish was absolutely delicious! So flavorful and just damn good. I can hardly wait to go back.
Food was excellent!!! Rice portions were on the smaller side but the taste was definitely authentic and reminded me of my island. Will definitely come back!
The place is a bit small and not that well organized, didn't like the ordering approach, the food was okay tbh nothing to brag about. Definitely won't go back.
10 days ago
It's not abuelita's but it is pretty darn close! Ordered mofongo with pork and with arroz con gandules--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 read more
So exciting to have The Jibarito Stop located in the Loop! I believe it's the only Puerto Rican restaurant 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! read more
I was in Chicago recently and saw that people recommended getting a Jibarito sandwich while in town. I was pretty excited to try one so I stopped by Jibarito Stop right when it opened on a weekday for an early lunch. The place is pretty fast casual status and has a couple of tables inside for seating. I ordered a full order of a chicken jibarito sandwich. It came with a side of rice and was $19.91 total, including tax. It looked pretty good when I got it; the plaintain had pretty good color to it and the chicken looked pretty moist and well seasoned. I asked them to put the mayo on the side though, and they didn't. I started off by trying the rice, which was very flavorful. It was a bit overly salty but that's usually how I feel about arroz con gandules whenever I have it. I bit into the jibarito next and I was unfortunately pretty disappointed. The plaintain was very dry and tasted like cardboard. Felt like having the plaintain as the 'bread' of the sandwich didn't really work as it doesn't hold the contents of the sandwich together. It fell apart as soon as I took my first bite. Also, there was way too much mayo in there, to the point where it felt like a mayo sandwich. Totally destroyed the balance. The chicken was very good though; juicy and had a lot of flavor. So I was disappointed that the jibarito here just didn't do it for me. I will say that getting the full order of the sandwich is a substantial amount of food, which I always appreciate. Overall, I'd rate this experience 2 stars. I think it was pretty expensive at almost $20 without a drink and don't think my meal was very good. But glad that a lot of people seem to enjoy this spot. read more
3 months ago
Their guava pastries and cheese flan are DELICIOUS. As a Puerto Rican, I am so glad they opened close by. Most of everything I have tried has been good. Their fried foods, sandwiches, and desserts are must tries. I do have to remove a star because of two things: 1. They are very very slow. Plan ahead. Not a place to stop by if you are on a time crunch. 2. Their quesitos are not the authentic Puerto Rican quesitos. This was a bit of a let down. BUT all other pastries I tried were good! It is an "order at the counter" type place and not a full service restaurant. The staff are nice and the place seemed very clean. read more
First time ever trying a jibarito. Wasn't sure what to expect but it sounded delicious! Walked in and you order on the kiosk. A sandwich made with plantain as the buns! I fell in love! It was soft but had a thick outer layer. Slightly crispy but chewy. The filling itself was great the garlic sauce inside really shined. Put everything together and it was delicious and magnificent! The plate came with rice mixture. The sandwich was really filling. Inside there was a few tables to sit, you grab a number when you order and staff brings it out to you. 100% recommend coming here to try it out. Wish there was more Puerto Rican food around me. read more
2 months ago
I was so excited to finally try Puerto Rican food in Chicago. Let me tell you. The food here was fantastic! Jibaritos are simple to make, as it's basically a sandwich made with tostones (plantains). But it's FAR from "simple". I ordered half of a steak Jibarito with a side of arroz con gandules and a cola champagne. Everything was flavorful and filling. it was a decent portion size. When I'm in town, I'll definitely return. read more
2 months ago
Usually people traveling to Chicago are told to try a Chicago dog, Chicago deep dish pizza, and Italian beef, but for some reason nobody says to try a jibarito. I was told that jibaritos are Puerto Rican inspired but originated in Chicago, though I could be wrong. That being said, I wanted to try a jibarito while in town. This location is decently sized with ordering done on a kiosk by the entrance or at the register and food is brought to the table. The ambiance reminds me of a casual fast food restaurant. I ordered a full jibarito sandwich with chicken (no American cheese). The jibarito is said to include plantains, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomato, and garlic oil. My order was brought in about ten minutes. The full sandwich looked like two mini sandwiches and I probably should've just ordered a half since I just wanted to try it out; it was very filling. The plantains were like a bread replacement for the sandwich; the plantains appeared to be smashed into a dense, flat and slightly crunchy "bread" if that makes sense. It also came with yellow rice with peas which made the plate look like a complete entree. I enjoyed the sandwich as a whole and especially liked trying the plantain portion; the chicken was flavorful and moist as well. However, as I continued eating it and after I left I had a lingering taste in my mouth from the mayonnaise and I had to eat something else to get the taste out. I'm glad I didn't include American cheese since it probably would've enhanced the aftertaste. For the most part, I was pleasantly surprised with my first jibarito from The Jibarito Stop, although I would remove the mayonnaise the next time I have a jibarito. I do wish I was able to try the other items on the menu since they looked very good while others were eating them. read more
This review is for their new location on Wabash...it was different going to this location. It was missing a community vibe but I do understand and respect them for moving on. As u know parking is non-existent so I had a friend double park while I go in. They have an order kiosk that accepts credit and debit cards. They only take cash at the cashiers. I placed my order with a helpful rep. They had a crowd there, didn't wait long for food. Left and checked bag for all items ordered and the beans were missing so I had to drive around the block again which is horrible due to construction. Decor is decent, not really feeling a home vibe. Will I be back? Hmmmm maybe if I had a concert/event nearby but the parking will be a deal breaker plus forgetting items u ordered. read more
3 months ago
After sitting on the Riverwalk watching some people eat some interesting looking sandwiches we inquired. So by accident we stumbled into this place. A few days later we went to try our own. The chicken and steak Jibarito we so good, perhaps a little dry. But what they were not was oily. Some great flavors. Oh and almost forgot, the beef and cheese empanada so good. Great crust without being too thick, good helping of beef in the middle and perfect for hand eating while people watching. We also ordered take away and went back to the riverwalk. Service was fast and courteous. read more
I have never had Puerto Rican food before and I could kick myself. Came here with coworkers for lunch. The line moved pretty quick for orders being placed. I ordered a plate with steak/onions, white rice, potato salad and beans. Every single bite of every dish was absolutely delicious! So flavorful and just damn good. I can hardly wait to go back. read more
7 days ago
2 months ago
Food was excellent!!! Rice portions were on the smaller side but the taste was definitely authentic and reminded me of my island. Will definitely come back! read more
3 months ago
3 months ago
3 months ago
The place is a bit small and not that well organized, didn't like the ordering approach, the food was okay tbh nothing to brag about. Definitely won't go back. read more
Let me tell you. THIS WAS THE BEST THING I ATE when I was in Chicago. 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! read more
2 months ago
3 months ago
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2 years ago
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! read more
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! read more
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. read more
2 months ago
3 months ago
2 years ago
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! read more
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 read more
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. read more
3 months ago
This is not the original Jibarito stop from 18th Pilsen . This is imitation. I don't know if moving downtown changed the quality and the authentic food but this is not it. I was not satisfied with the empanadas beef or chicken. They have changed the dough. It does not taste good at all the potato ball does not taste good either. They have a funny after taste The potato ball taste like it's soaked in too much water or cooked too long mushy very weird though 18th and Pilson was known for the authentic Puerto Rican food, this location has imitation Puerto Rican food the chicken jibarito sandwich was still tasty. Everything else very disappointed. Please do not portray to be 18th Pilson if you are not them I did not enjoy this food last night. You're making me think you're portraying to be someone you're not I usually don't leave reviews, but I was very dissatisfied with this food. Do not change how you cook if this is the same location if it's not the same location do not portray to be jibarito stop on 18th please if you are them go back to the way things were if it's not broke do not change it! I need to investigate and see if they are same ppl. Bc clearly it's not as of now! I ate there a lot and my first time here so i know it's definitely different read more
3 months ago
2 years ago
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 . read more
4 months ago
4 months ago
2 years ago
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. read more
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 read more
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More info about The Jibarito Stop
174 N Wabash Ave
Chicago, IL 60601
The Loop
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(312) 988-0585
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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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