The jibarito’s origin story dates back to the 1990s, making it a much newer arrival to the Chicago scene than say Italian beef or hotdogs. But, this savory creation with Puerto Rican roots is no less beloved. Learn what makes this sandwich, how one Chicago restaurant owner created it, and where you can get a jibarito today.

A close-up of a jibarito sandwich on a plate
The jibarito is a Puerto Rican staple of Chicago cuisine.

What is a Jibarito?

Plantains are a staple in Latin American cooking, and they serve as the “bread” of the jibarito. Between the two flattened and fried plantains, you’ll find a thin but juicy cut of steak, lettuce, and tomatoes slathered in garlic mayo. Like pretty much any other classic dish, the jibarito is subject to a number of variations. Sometimes the sandwich will have onions or cheese. Plus, some restaurants allow you to customize the sandwich, swapping out steak for chicken or another kind of meat or vegetables.

The sandwich is typically served with a side of rice. Puerto Rican rice (arroz con gandules) blends rice, pigeon peas, and pork. But, you’ll find variations at different restaurants, with some offering white rice or rice and beans as a side.

The history of the jibarito in Chicago has been definitively traced back to Juan Figueroa. The owner of the Borinquen Restaurant in Humboldt Park, which has since moved, decided to make the sandwich for his father. His father’s appetite for the sandwich led to it being added to the restaurant’s menu around 1996. Figueroa’s brother suggested he patent the sandwich, but Juan declined.

Today, you can order a jibarito in a wide variety of neighborhood eateries, many of which are Puerto Rican, but Cuban and Dominican restaurants have also added the sandwich to their menus. But where does the name of the sandwich come from? The name traces back to Puerto Rican culture. The word “jíbaro” refers to people living in rural Puerto Rico, either serving as an insult or an affectionate term depending on the context.

Where to Find a Jibarito

Armed with a solid background in jibarito history, it’s time to find one to eat.

North Center

Borinquen Restaurant in Humboldt Park is now closed, but its legacy lives on at Borinquen Lounge in the North Center neighborhood. This restaurant, which has ties to the Figueroa family, serves several variations on the jibarito. Diners can go for the classic, or they can swap out the steak for pollo (fried or grilled chicken), lechon (pork), camaron (shrimp), or go vegetarian. If you like things on the sweeter side, Borinquen Lounge can prepare the jibarito with a ripe plantain giving the sandwich a sweeter, softer taste and texture.

Dunning

In the quiet northwest neighborhood of Dunning, you’ll find Jibaritos on Harlem. This restaurant, a sister to Jibaritos Y Mas in Logan Square, offers quite a few different takes on the jibarito. Opt for the more traditional proteins of steak, pork, or chicken; or order your sandwich with pulpo (octopus) or morcilla (blood sausage). Beyond jibaritos, the casual restaurant has an extensive menu with other kinds of sandwiches, entrees, and soups.

Humboldt Park

Two eye-catching sculptures of the Puerto Rican flag mark a stretch of Division Street in Humboldt Park, 25-year-old icons that signify how important Puerto Rican culture is to the neighborhood. As the birthplace of the original Chicago jibarito, the sandwich naturally has a home on more than one Humboldt Park restaurant menu.

La Plena Restaurant and Nellie’s Restaurant on Division both serve jibaritos. La Plena keeps things simple with three options: steak, chicken, or fish. Nellie’s offers the traditional sandwich (and variations) as well as the jibarito bowl.

Diana’s, close to the neighborhood’s sprawling park, serves up jibaritos with your choice of meat, garlic sauce, mayo, onion, lettuce, tomato, and American cheese. The restaurant also doubles as a small grocery store.

Papa’s Cache Sabroso has been open in Humboldt Park since 2002. The family-owned restaurant promises authentic Puerto Rican food and a famous secret sauce. Papa’s Cache Sabroso serves steak, chicken, and vegetarian jibaritos.

Logan Square

Logan Square is home to Jibaritos Y Mas, the sister location of the jibaritos spot on Harlem in Dunning. Located on Fullerton Avenue at the intersection of Kimball, this restaurant claims the best jibaritos in Chicago, although that's naturally up for spirited debate. You can dine inside at one of the small tables (BYOB) or opt for delivery or take-out. This small chain, owned by Jesus Arrieta, has also added a location in Lincoln Park. Unlike the other locations, the Lincoln Park restaurant serves alcohol.

Practically next door on Fullerton, Casa Yari is a Latin American restaurant that serves dishes from a blend of different cultures, including Puerto Rican and Honduran. This restaurant’s jibarito comes with different meat options as well as your choice of garlic aioli or chimichurri.

Just on the edge of Logan Square, practically Bucktown, Cocina Boricua serves steak, pork, ham and cheese, chicken, and avocado jibaritos with your choice of Puerto Rican rice or white rice and beans.