Opening hours
Closed · opens tomorrow 11:00 AM
| Monday | Closed |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM |
| Thursday | Closed |
| Friday | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM |
Local time in Chicago: 4:35 PM (CST). Holiday hours may differ – call (312) 243-6776 to confirm.
Location & directions
1437 W Chicago Ave #1Chicago, IL 60642
About Cafe Central Chicago
Cafe Central Chicago is a Puerto Rican restaurant you'll find at 1437 W Chicago Ave #1 in Chicago, Illinois. Our Chicago guide covers 5,398 food and drink spots, and this is one of them. It sits in the affordable price range ($10–20 per person).
Cafe Central Chicago is open 5 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed Monday and Thursday).
Guests can choose from 77 menu items across 15 sections, including Appetizers, Soups, Mixtas, House Specialites, and Friday Specials. Listed prices range from $2.00 to $24.85, with a typical item around $7.85. Dishes worth a look include Alcapurrias, Sopa del Dia. Chico $6.75 Grande $10.75, and Mixta.
Available service options are takeaway, dine-in, and delivery. Visitors describe the atmosphere as casual, cosy, historic, and trendy, and it is a good fit for groups and tourists. The place is family friendly, LGBTQ+ friendly, and a transgender safe space. It is especially popular for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Offerings include coffee, comfort food, quick bite, small plates, and vegan options.
Accessibility features: wheelchair-accessible seating and wheelchair-accessible entrance. Payment methods accepted: credit cards, debit cards, and NFC mobile payments. Parking: free of charge street parking and paid street parking. Reservations are accepted; call (312) 243-6776 to book a table.
Quick facts
- Category
- Puerto Rican Restaurant
- Address
- 1437 W Chicago Ave #1, Chicago, IL 60642
- Phone
- (312) 243-6776
- Price range
- $10–20 per person
- Hours
- Open 5 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed Monday and Thursday)
- Menu
- 77 items · $2.00–$24.85
- Listing updated
- · Suggest an edit
Popular times
Usually busiest around 6 PM on Saturdays; one of the quieter times is around 3 PM on weekdays.
Based on typical visit patterns for Puerto Rican restaurants and this venue’s opening hours.
Typical prices for Puerto Rican restaurants across the US
Based on 38 menus with 1,812 priced items from Puerto Rican restaurants across the US, the median menu item costs $10.99, and half of all items are priced between $5.00 and $17.74.
At Cafe Central Chicago the median listed price is $7.85, lower than the typical $10.99 for Puerto Rican restaurants across the US.
| Item | On menus | Typical price |
|---|---|---|
| Tostones | 37% | $6.00 |
| Mofongo | 32% | $7.90 |
| Flan | 32% | $5.85 |
| Churrasco | 24% | $27.45 |
| Alcapurrias | 24% | $4.12 |
| Pernil | 24% | $16.38 |
| Arroz con Gandules | 21% | $7.41 |
| Bistec Encebollado | 18% | $20.60 |
Calculated from 38 menus in our guide. Prices vary by location and change over time.
Photos
All photos (5)
Features & amenities
Service options
- Takeaway
- Dine-in
- Delivery
Highlights
- Fast service
- Great coffee
- Serves local specialty
Popular for
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Solo dining
Accessibility
- Wheelchair-accessible seating
- Wheelchair-accessible entrance
Offerings
- Coffee
- Comfort food
- Quick bite
- Small plates
- Vegan options
- Vegetarian options
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Catering
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Seating
- Table service
Amenities
- Toilet
Atmosphere
- Casual
- Cosy
- Historic
- Trendy
Crowd
- Family friendly
- Groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Tourists
- Transgender safe space
Planning
- Accepts reservations
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- Has changing table(s)
- High chairs
Parking
- Free of charge street parking
- Paid street parking
The neighborhood
Within a 10-minute walk (half a mile) of Cafe Central Chicago there are 90 other places to eat and drink in our guide, and 365 within one mile. By type, the places within a mile include Bars & Pubs (66), Cafes & Coffee (48), Bakeries & Desserts (27), and Mexican & Tex-Mex (23).
124 places within a mile stay open until 10 PM or later on at least one night a week, so this is a good area for a late meal.
Nearest places of other kinds
- Mexican & Tex-MexZócalo< 0.1 mi
- Mediterranean & Middle EasternMarrakech< 0.1 mi
- EuropeanGilda< 0.1 mi
- Bars & PubsBeauty Bar Chicago< 0.1 mi
- ItalianOggi Trattoria< 0.1 mi
What to expect at a Puerto Rican restaurant
Latin American and Caribbean restaurants bring together dozens of national cuisines: Cuban sandwiches and ropa vieja, Puerto Rican mofongo, Peruvian ceviche and lomo saltado, Colombian and Venezuelan arepas, Salvadoran pupusas, Brazilian churrasco, Jamaican jerk and Haitian griot. Many are family-run and closely tied to the community around them.
What to order
- Pupusas, arepas or empanadas – inexpensive, handheld and a good introduction
- Ceviche – fresh citrus-cured fish, the signature of Peruvian kitchens
- Jerk chicken – smoky and spicy, a Jamaican staple
- Cuban sandwich or ropa vieja – classics of Cuban-American cooking
Good to know
- Many places do brisk takeout at lunch; dinner is more relaxed.
- Weekend menus may include special dishes such as sancocho or feijoada.
- Ask for the house hot sauce or pikliz – it is often made on site.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
What are Cafe Central Chicago's opening hours?
Open 5 days a week, usually 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM (closed Monday and Thursday). Monday: Closed; Tuesday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Wednesday: 11:00 AM – 3:30 PM; Thursday: Closed; Friday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Saturday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM; Sunday: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Is Cafe Central Chicago open on Sunday?
Yes, Cafe Central Chicago is open on Sundays: 11:00 AM – 7:00 PM.
Where is Cafe Central Chicago located?
Cafe Central Chicago is located at 1437 W Chicago Ave #1, Chicago, IL 60642.
What is the phone number of Cafe Central Chicago?
You can call Cafe Central Chicago at (312) 243-6776.
Does Cafe Central Chicago offer delivery or takeout?
Yes, Cafe Central Chicago offers delivery, and takeout is available. Listed service options: takeaway, dine-in, and delivery.
How much does it cost to eat at Cafe Central Chicago?
The typical price range at Cafe Central Chicago is $10–20 per person. Menu prices range from $2.00 to $24.85.
Does Cafe Central Chicago take reservations?
Yes, Cafe Central Chicago accepts reservations.
Is Cafe Central Chicago wheelchair accessible?
Listed accessibility features: wheelchair-accessible seating and wheelchair-accessible entrance.
Is Cafe Central Chicago open late?
No, Cafe Central Chicago usually closes before 10 PM.
What else is near Cafe Central Chicago?
There are 365 other places to eat and drink within a mile of Cafe Central Chicago. Nearby options include Zócalo (< 0.1 mi), Marrakech (< 0.1 mi), and Gilda (< 0.1 mi).
How much do Puerto Rican restaurants across the US cost?
Based on 38 menus with 1,812 priced items from Puerto Rican restaurants across the US, the median menu item costs $10.99, and half of all items are priced between $5.00 and $17.74.
