The Jibarito Stop Opens Restaurant To Give Pilsen Puerto Rican Plantain Power

In another story of turning food truck success into a brick and mortar shop, The Jibarito Stop opened for business this week in Pilsen. And so far the demand's been great for those Chicago-invented, Puerto Rican-style sandwiches on fried plantains.

DNAinfo reported how the owners, Cely Rodríguez and Moraima Fuentes, struggled with the city's restrictive food truck laws, which prevented them from making hot and fresh jibaritos for their customers. Even when the laws were supposedly loosened, it was too expensive for the two to prepare the jibaritos in the manner they wanted. That fueled the need for their new restaurant.

But since their soft opening on Wednesday, they've been pounded with customers. They have limited hours so far, but want to expand soon. Menu items include steak, chicken or veggie jibaritos for $7.99. There's also platters that come in steak and onion, sautéed chicken and slow-roasted pork for $9.99. They come with rice and sweet plantains. Empanada baskets come in shrimp, veggie, chicken or beef for $6.50.

The Jibarito Stop, 1646 W. 18th St., (312) 451-5534, open 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Tuesday through Saturday.