Jibaritos y Más
Relleno – Potato Ball, Beef
Bacalaito – Cod Fish Fritter
Bistec Jibarito – Steak, Fried Plantain, Cheese, Mayonnaise, Lettuce, Tomato, Onion, Garlic
Although Puerto Rican Cuisine has a long and storied history the Jibarito is a relatively new idea, its first sighting somewhere around 1996 at Restaurant Borinquen in Chicago’s Humboldt Par neighborhood where brothers Juan and Angel Figueroa trademarked the Sandwich translated as “little hillbilly” in Spanish.
Now served across America, and popularized locally by Jesus Arrieta’s growing chain entitled Jibaritos y Más, it is to the 3400 West Fullerton Avenue that many flock for a Sandwich comprised of Steak, Cheese, Veggies and Mayo between two flattened-fried Plantains.
Venezuelan by background, Jesus and his wife now managing three stores with the first launched by his mother in 2016, it is under pandemic precautions that Jibaritos y Más currently operates as take-out and delivery only, hours from 10:00am until 7:45pm daily still busy with foot service plus drivers from DoorDash and UberEats.
The only American city with an officially designated Puerto Rican neighborhood, and home to one of the island’s largest mainland populations, Jibaritos y Más additionally offers a wide range of items native to Puerto Rico, the $1.25 Beef-stuffed Potato Ball large enough to share but delicious enough that one probably won’t want to.
Not the sort of place that cuts corners, Octopus and Morcilla finding themselves alongside Tostones and Pastele, it was while waiting for a made-to-order Jibarito that Salt Cod was enjoyed flattened and fried, every bite gone before delving into Jibaritos y Más’ eponymous dish that is not only a bargain at $6.95, but a textural masterpiece with some bites crunchy, others more creamy and a lingering air of Garlic.
www.orderjibaritosymas.com
