Taste the best
Discover Menu
Alcapurria
Jibarita ALONE- NO RICE
8oz. Arroz con Gandules
Pechuga
About the Place
Borinquen
Located in the heart of Chicago’s vibrant 60618 neighborhood, Borinquen offers an authentic taste of Puerto Rico that feels like a warm family reunion. From the moment you step inside this charming mom-and-pop restaurant, the atmosphere hums with the rich rhythms of salsa music, setting a relaxed yet lively tone. The staff’s genuine friendliness and attentive service create a welcoming space where comfort meets culture.
Borinquen’s menu is a celebration of Puerto Rican culinary tradition, skillfully balancing bold, hearty flavors with fresh, vibrant ingredients. Signature dishes like the tostones rellenos—a crispy, stuffed plantain delight—stand out as must-tries, showcasing the kitchen’s deep respect for classic recipes. The jibarito sandwiches, offered in both steak and chicken, deliver a savory punch wrapped in perfectly fried green plantains, a true homage to Borinquen’s roots.
The a la carte options invite diners to craft personalized plates, allowing for a tailored experience where favorites like carne frita come alive with sautéed onions and just-right portions. Accompanying sides such as white rice with beans, gandules, and sweet maduros enrich each meal with authentic island flavors. Refreshing beverages like the parcha (passion fruit juice) provide a bright, fruity counterpoint that refreshes the palate and complements the food's richness.
What truly elevates Borinquen above other neighborhood spots is its blend of homestyle cooking and thoughtful presentation. It’s clear that this family-owned gem pours care into every dish, making each bite a comforting reminder of Puerto Rico’s vibrant food heritage. Whether revisiting after years or discovering it for the first time, Borinquen leaves a lasting impression of warmth, flavor, and community spirit.
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“ Absolutely loved this place. It gave family home vibes. Food was very good. Staff very friendly. Good amount of space. Plenty of street parking I look forward to going again. ”
“ Nice little neighborhood spot. Service was great, food was delicious. The Tostones rellenos are a must try, and their parcha was nice and refreshing. Will be coming back. ”
“ I believe this is a family owned business. Definitely some hard working staff and very flavorful dishes. We had the pastelitos for appetizers and one steak jibarito and a chicken jibarito. Overall a great place to stop for some good Puerto Rican food. ”
“ A big sized and beautiful mom and pop puerto restaurant with lots of good salsa music that is not blasting and loud. I love the a la carte option bc you can make your own personalized plate of your favorite dishes. Carne frita (fried pork) was good w onions and just right for the portion size at $6.24. If you get the platter it’s $16 that includes one side of white rice and beans, gandules, maduros, tostones, or mofongo. So I would say that’s a bit pricey. The jibarito vegetariano was $12 for green and red peppers, onions and tomato and lettuce sandwich in between with tostones. The tostones were a but dry and hard and barely any garlic sauce and some salt. There werent much veggies but there was a lot of rice bc it comes on the side. Rice was good and fresh. The dessert was tembleque which is coconut jelly w cinnamon powder. It was good $3.64. It is vegan and daily free bc it’s And the flan was good but not too smooth $3.64. The owner and staff were very nice and chill and it was a relaxing environment. The prices in the menu were slightly less as it was marked up 4% maybe bc we paid by credit card. This is a place that definitely has the feel for a mom and pop place where you are eating the food your aunt and uncle cook. Home made. Not great but good enough. Another nice thing about the staff? The waitress warned me when i tried to order the beans on the side that it was cooked in pork bc she noticed i ordered the vegetarian jibarito. I really appreciated that! Plus Free Street parking. ”
“ The food was amazing! Just as I remember. This stop was on my list to revisit for the past 10 years. Thank you so much! ”