Borinquen

Borinquen is a Puerto Rican restaurant at 3811 N Western Ave in North Center known for the jibarito, the Chicago sandwich that uses flattened, fried green plantains in place of bread. Latino Reporter wrote in July 2025 that the restaurant claims to have invented the sandwich and that the North Center location is the last Borinquen still standing. The classic version is a thin strip of marinated steak between two plantain buns, with lettuce, tomato, mayonnaise and American cheese.

What to know

• Co-owner Gabriela Figueroa runs the restaurant with her father, according to Latino Reporter.
• Her uncle, Juan Luis Figueroa, made an early version of the plantain sandwich at his father’s restaurant, the same story reported.
• WGN’s Daytime Chicago featured Borinquen in October 2025 as the home of the original jibarito.
• The plantain sandwiches come with steak, American cheese, tomato, lettuce, mayonnaise and garlic oil, WGN reported.