Cafe Central Chicago Menu
77 items in 15 sections · $2.00 – $24.85 · Puerto Rican Restaurant in Chicago, IL
Cafe Central Chicago’s menu lists 77 dishes and drinks, grouped into Appetizers, Soups, Mixtas, House Specialites, Friday Specials, and Jibaritos and more. Prices range from $2.00 to $24.85, and a typical item costs about $7.85. Popular choices include Alcapurrias, Sopa del Dia. Chico $6.75 Grande $10.75, Mixta, Bistec Encebollado, and Ensalada de Bacalao con Vianda.
Appetizers 11
- Alcapurrias$3.00
Ground green plantains stuffed with ground beef and fried to a crispy exterior
- Pastelillo$3.00
Puerto Rican empanada, lightly fried and stuffed with your choice of: ground beef, chicken, cheese, pizza, or guava
- Tostones$5.25
Twice-fried crispy plantains
- Platanos Maduros$5.25
Fried sweet plantains
- Mofongo$6.35
A ball of mashed green plantains with pork rinds and garlic
- Trifongo$6.35
A sweet version of Mofongo; combination of mashed green plantains, sweet plantains, yucca, pork rinds and garlic
- Morcilla$9.00
Spicy blood sausage. 1/2 lb 9.00 1 lb $13.00 accompanied with French bread
- Papas Fritas$5.50
French Fries
- Arañitas$7.00
Crispy shredded green plantain fritters
- Cano de Plátano$7.85
A sweet fried plantain stuffed with savory ground beef and topped with shredded cheese
- French Bread with Butter$3.50
Soups 3
- Sopa del Dia. Chico $6.75 Grande $10.75$7.75
Soup of the day. Small $6.75 Large $11.75
- Sancocho (solamente martes) Chico $8.75 Grande $11.75$8.75
Hearty chicken and root vegetable based soup (Tuesdays only) Small $8.75 Large $11.75
- Mondongo (sabado y domingo) Chico $8.00 Grande $14.00$8.00
Tripe soup with root vegetables (Saturdays & Sundays) Small $8.00 Large $14.00
Mixtas 1
- Mixta$16.35
Combination plate includes choice of rice, stewed beans, and one daily special (beef stew, chicken stew, goat stew, or slow roasted pork)
House Specialites 6
- Bistec Encebollado$20.60
Loin steak prepared on the griddle and topped with sautéed onions. Comes with two sides ($4.50 extra for Mofongo or Trifongo)
- Chuletas Fritas$19.60
Two fried pork chops. Comes with two sides ($4.50 extra for Mofongo or Trifongo)
- Chicharrón de Pollo$18.60
Crispy fried chicken bites. Comes with two sides ($4.50 extra for Mofongo or Trifongo)
- Pollo Frito$17.60
Fried chicken. Comes with two sides ($4.50 extra for Mofongo or Trifongo)
- Carne Frita$19.60
Fried pork cubes topped with sautéed onions. Comes with two sides ($4.50 extra for Mofongo or Trifongo)
- Pollo Asado$17.25
Half roasted chicken. Comes with two sides ($4.50 extra for Mofongo or Trifongo)
Friday Specials 2
- Ensalada de Bacalao con Vianda$16.85
Cod fish salad with root vegetables
- Bacalao Guisado con Vianda$16.85
Cod fish stew with root vegetables
Jibaritos 5
- Jibarito de Bistec (Steak)$13.35
Fried green plantains take the place of bread; served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
- Jibarito de Lechón (Roasted Pork)$13.35
Fried green plantains take the place of bread; served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
- Jibarito de Pollo (Chicken)$12.35
Fried green plantains take the place of bread; served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
- Jibarito de Camarones$15.35
Fried green plantains take the place of bread; served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
- Jibarito Vegetariano$11.85
Fried green plantains take the place of bread; served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
Sandwiches 4
- Sandwich de Bistec (Steak)$12.00
Sandwich on French bread served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
- Sandwich de Lechón (Roasted Pork)$12.35
Sandwich on French bread; served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
- Sandwich de Jamon y Queso$11.35
Sandwich on French bread; served with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, and American cheese
- Tripleta$16.35
Sandwich stacked with ham, steak, roasted pork, lettuce, cheese, potato sticks, and mayoketchup.
Caribbean Style Soups 4
- Asopao de Camarones$19.35
Rice based Caribbean shrimp soup made to order, served with plantains or Mofongo ($4.00)
- Asopao de Pulpo$18.35
Rice based Caribbean octopus soup made to order, served with plantains or Mofongo ($4.00)
- Asopao de Pollo$16.85
Rice based Caribbean chicken soup made to order served with plantains, or Mofongo ($4.00)
- Asopao de Salchichon y Gandules$16.35
Rice based Caribbean soup with farmers sausage and pigeon peas made to order, served with plantains or Mofongo ($4.00)
Traditional Caribbean Rice Dishes 4
- Arroz con Camarones$17.85
Yellow rice mixed with shrimp garnished with a tomato slice
- Arroz con Pulpo$15.00
Yellow rice mixed with octopus garnished with a tomato slice
- Arroz con Pollo$14.85
Yellow rice mixed with chicken garnished with a tomato slice
- Arroz con Dos Mariscos$24.85
Yellow rice mixed with pulled chicken and shrimp, garnished with a tomato slice
Vegetarian Dishes 4
- Jibarito Vegetariano$11.00
Jibarito sandwich served on green plantains with lettuce, tomato, sautéed onions, mayo, American cheese, and avocado mash
- Tostones Relleno con Camarones$14.50
Fried green plantain cups topped with shrimp and creole sauce
- Plato Vegetariano$15.00
Your choice of rice, stewed beans, both ripe and sweet plantains, and a side salad
- Arañitas Arroz y Aguacate$12.50
Crispy plantains, your choice of rice, and a side of avocado
Side Dishes 8
- Arroz Blanco$5.00
White Rice
- Arroz Amarillo$5.00
Yellow Rice
- Arroz con Gandules$5.50
Yellow Rice with Pigeon Peas
- Habichuelas Guisadas$4.00
Stewed Pinto Beans
- Ensalada$4.00
Side Salad
- Aguacate$3.75
Avocado $3.75
- Carne Frita$8.50
Fried Pork Chunks $8.50 1/2 lb $13.50 lb
- Lechón$7.50
Roasted Pork $12.50 lb
Beverages 9
- Jugo De Parcha$6.00
Passion Fruit Juice 32 oz
- Kola Champagne$2.50
Puerto Rican Dr. Pepper
- Coco Rico$2.50
Coconut Soda
- Pepsi$2.00
- Diet Pepsi$2.00
- Starry$2.00
- Starry Zero Sugar$2.00
- Bottled Water$2.25
- Malta India$4.00
Coffee & Tea 5
- Coffee$2.75
- Hot Tea$3.00
- Espresso$3.00
- Cafe Con Leche$4.00
- Cappuccino$4.00
Desserts 3
- Flan$6.85
Vanilla flan with caramelized sugar
- Tembleque$6.85
Coconut custard dusted with cinnamon
- Pastelillo de Guayaba$6.50
Fried empanada filled with warm guava and cream cheese, dusted with powdered sugar
Rice & Beans To Go 8
- Arroz Blanco 12 oz$5.00
White Rice 12 oz
- Arroz Blanco 32 oz$10.00
White Rice 32 oz
- Arroz Guisado 12 oz$5.00
Yellow Rice 12 oz
- Arroz Guisado 32 oz$11.00
Yellow Rice 32 oz
- Arroz Con Gandules 12 oz$6.00
Yellow rice with pigeon peas (contains pork sausage) 12 oz
- Arroz Con Gandules 32 oz$12.75
Yellow rice with pigeon peas (contains pork sausage) 32 oz
- Habichuelas Guisadas 12 oz$5.50
Stewed Pinto Beans 12 oz
- Habichuleas Guisadas 32 oz$11.50
Stewed Pinto Beans 32 oz
How these prices compare
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 | Here | Typical |
|---|---|---|
| Alcapurrias | $3.00 | $4.12 |
| Tostones | $5.25 | $6.00 |
| Mofongo | $6.35 | $7.90 |
| Bistec Encebollado | $20.60 | $20.60 |
| Arroz con Gandules | $5.50 | $7.41 |
| Flan | $6.85 | $5.85 |
Typical prices are calculated from 38 menus in our guide.
Menu items and prices are provided for information and may have changed (last updated May 2026). Allergen information is not included – please ask the restaurant.