Cafe Central

Cafe Central is an absolute gem nestled in the heart of Chicago, offering some of the best and most authentic Puerto Rican cuisine you'll find outside of the island itself. From the moment you step through the door, you're greeted with warm hospitality that makes you feel right at home.One of my favorite starters is the papa rellenas paired with their house hot sauce, a tantalizing combination of flavors that never disappoints. Meanwhile, my kids are always delighted with their pastelitos, which are perfectly crispy and flavorful.But the real magic happens when you delve into their main dishes. Whether you're craving the iconic Jibaritos de bistec, the succulent Camarones, or the comforting Arroz con Gandules, each dish is expertly prepared and bursting with traditional Puerto Rican flavors. And for those who love a hearty meal, their fried pork chops are a must-try, crispy on the outside and tender on the inside.Save room for dessert, because Cafe Central offers a selection of sweet treats that are sure to satisfy your cravings. The Tembleque, also known as rice coconut pudding, is a creamy delight that transports you to the shores of Puerto Rico with every bite. And of course, you can't leave without trying their famous flan, a rich and velvety custard that melts in your mouth.What truly sets Cafe Central apart, however, is the exceptional service and sense of community you'll experience with each visit. It's the kind of place where you'll find yourself returning time and time again, joining a community of loyal patrons who share your love for incredible food and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're craving a taste of Puerto Rico in the heart of Chicago, look no further than Cafe Central.

Such a cute spot with a very solid menu. I got the 1/2 Pollo Asado with yellow rice + pigeon peas and sweet plantains ($14), and also a Pastelillo de Guayaba ($3.50). I also tried a bit of the lechon jibarito. All the food was very tasty and the staff members we interacted with were very friendly. Portions are generous, and I hobbled out of there after finishing my enormous plate of chicken.My only nitpicks are that the smaller pieces of the chicken like the leg were surprisingly dry, but the breast was perfectly cooked. One of the sweet plantains was a tad burnt. I also wish they had decaffeinated cafe con leche, but alas, very tough to find.Definitely will be back if ever in the area and excited to try more of their menu! Love the the diner-style bar and booth seating which welcomes solo diners and groups alike. They also seem to have extensive specials each day that sound intriguing.

Overall Thoughts: Cafe Central is a long-standing Puerto Rican establishment in West Town. I ordered takeout, but the interior had a comfortable, homey diner feel. The total price for my 2 items was $30, which was reasonable for the portions and the area. While I wouldn't recommend the cod fish stew mixta plate I ordered, I thought their jibarito was great. I'd either skip the mixta plate altogether or try a different protein choice. For takeout, you need to call them in advance and say your order clearly. They misunderstood my order over the phone, so they had to change the order receipt after I arrived. Including the mix up, the order took ~20 minutes overall to pick up, which is still reasonable.Food I tried:- Mixta Plate with Arroz con Gandules, Beans, and Cod Fish Stew (Friday Special) (3.2/5): I wasn't a fan of the cod stew-- the cod was quite dry and rubbery, didn't taste very fresh, and lacked flavor. The rice was flavorful and tasty though a little too hard. The beans were pretty good, but could've had more flavor. It was a large amount of food for $15, but not fresh enough in my opinion to justify getting again.- Steak Jibarito (4.6/5): This jibarito redeemed the mixta plate for me. It's not the best I've had in Chicago and a lot smaller than most (especially for the $12 price point), but it's still super delicious. It's less garlicky than I like (I wish it came with extra garlic sauce), but everything else about it was perfect. The plantain was thin and crispy and the steak was extraordinarily flavorful and well cooked. The ratio to other ingredients was perfect.-- Price (relative to peers): 4.3/5Food: 3.9/5Ambience: N/AService (takeout): 4/5Overall Value: 4/5

Amazing homemade food and welcoming atmosphere. We came here at 620 not knowing they close at 7 but we were warmly welcomed in to have a seat anyways. We ordered the Papa Rellena and an Empanada to start with their homemade version of pique to dip eeeverything in. Very yummy and fresh - we had to wait for the empanada so they could make it fresh which was very kind due to the proximity to closing time. For mains my partner got the Steak Jibarito, which he has never had living in Chicago all his life! He loved it but decided he would prefer the sandwich on classic bread next time as it was very delicious, and a fun experience to try swapping the bread! I ordered the roasted chicken with sides of amazing homemade beans and my all time favorite, maduros! I actually suggested we come here because I had been craving maduros with rice and beans for so long now! Washed it all down with a Coco Rico which I loved because i'm crazy for all things coconut. What a joy it was to have dinner here! So clean and cozy and the family running is very sweet to us. I'm excited to come back and work through some more menu items! They have a lot of amazing options and i'm excited to get some mofongo next time! Support your local businesses, especially this one if you're in West Town! P.s. sorry for the no photos- we devoured everything as soon as it came out so that we would be in and out in a respectful amount of time, and no phones on dinner dates!

The best Puerto Rican food I've had. Festive atmosphere and flavorful food. I hate to say too much. Give Cafe Central a shot!

Good mofongo. Service was really kind too! Food came out quickly and tasted delicious!

My love and I recently enjoyed a casual dinner at Cafe Central. The exterior of this Puerto Rican restaurant is rather nondescript, but the interior has the look of an old-school diner with seating at a counter and within booths. There are interesting framed photos on the walls, and hey there is even a pay phone near the entrance (does it still work??).I imagine their busiest hours are for the brunch and lunch crowds, so it was fairly quiet when we dined here around 6PM on a weekday. We sat in a booth and were treated to kind service by the hardworking staff. My love liked her shrimp with yellow rice. I really liked my "mixtas" plate, where you pick a protein along with rice and beans. I loved my cabrito (goat stew) and the arroz con gandules. The goat meat was tasty, saucy, bony, fatty, and did I say tasty?

I don't even know where to start. Do I start with raving about the outstanding authentic Puerto Rican cuisine or the excellent service or any other number of things I can rave about.Listen, I know the neighborhood and I know some pretty good Puerto Rican restaurants but I've been coming here so long why stop now? I mean theres a reason they've been here 70 years! Not many can say that, especially in a hood that's gone through so many changes as this one has. It's simple, that's what makes it so great. It's neighborhood, cafe style authentic Puerto Rican cuisine. That's what makes it feel like home. Family recipe comfort food. That's what makes it so legit. They treat you like family. That's what makes it so Chicago.You walk in off the street and immediately see an old school Chicago cafe diner counter to sit at. Everything is clean, so clean. Or, you can take sit in the basic real old school booths. Maybe you have a group. They have plenty of seating at several large long or round tables in their dining room. The walls are adorned with old photos of PR that make t even more charming. One wonders how a 70 years old cafe can still be so charming and real, well they do it. Did I mention clean and spotless? It can get hard to keep old bones clean but not here, they more than manage. The service is extremely friendly with the neighborhood feel. Mike our server who I believe is the son, or maybe grandson? Is on point. He addresses every guest with a 'I've known you all my life' attitude. He even asked why he hasn't seen me in a while as unfortunately, it's been over a year since I was last in. I guess he returned home from his professional life out of country to take over the family business. I am assuming this but either way he knows his business and he's made for this one. It's not an easy business I know.Now let's get down to brass tacks. We started with the beef noodle soup. Great! Filled with the tastiest formidable broth and huge chunks of tender beefsteak and noodles. We did a cup but I'm sure the bowl is a meal as our cups were not small. Next up, I convinced my Russian buddy to try a Jibarito Lechon a true Chicago creation and neighborhood favorite. Tender roasted pork laid onto fried green plantains that replace the bread atop a bed of lettuce, tomato, mayo and cheese. Now, it used to be you couldn't find these anywhere outside certain neighborhoods. Now a creation that jumped off in the mid 90's id everywhere, even far flung suburbs. But, most still can't stand up to Cafe Central's Jibarito. You can do Lechon (roast pork), Bistec (loin steak), Camarones (shrimp), or Vegetariano ( vegetarian) for the non-meat folks. I'm partial to Lechon but you can't go wrong with any choice. Top it off with a little green Puerto Rican Sofrito and some Mojo de Ajo (Puerto Rican garlic sauce), and you're now you go some street cred. This sandwich is insane! Even the Russian guy was like '"oh yeah"! and they can be hard to please. LOL. We complimented our Jibarito's with an order of Platanos Maduros (fried sweet plantains), just the right combo of sweet and savory. Tender and great with a little garlic sauce they beat the tired old fries I too often get elsewhere.Last but certainly not least we split a dessert, Tembleque (coconut custard with cinnamon). Unbelievably lightly sweet and flavorful. My favorite dining experience is always authentic neighborhood homemade, comfort foods with a taste of Chicago history. If you're visiting Chicago get to Cafe Central for a real taste of the neighborhood.

Absolutely a must. This is a classic Latin place. Old school vibes with only necessary updates. It is clean and welcoming. Food is always delicious. The servers are the same for years, so they are wonderful. The cafe is perfect.

The food is authentic PR food. Always great service. More of a diner ambience. This place has been here for years.