4 ethnic sandwiches that aren’t actually ethnic

The Jibarito

Perhaps the single most used food item in all of the Caribbean Islands is the plantain. Islands such as Puerto Rico, Cuba, The Dominican Republic and even Jamaica have created some of the most iconic dishes in the world with this particular fruit.

But perhaps the greatest creation comes from Chicago, IL in the form of a sandwich know as, “El Jibarito.”

The Jibarito is widely recognized as a Puerto Rican dish among the Hispanic community. But, its origin dates back to 1996, when creator Juan “Peter” Figueroa introduced this iconic sandwich at his restaurant, “Borinquen,” located in the Humboldt Park neighborhood of Chicago’s Northside.

This sandwich is essentially a steak sandwich, but instead of bread, the meat is held together by two smashed, deep-fried plantains. The original creation includes mayonnaise, tomato, lettuce and American cheese, along with a garlic spread on top of the plantain. However, you can order anyway you’d like, as there have been different variations made with pork instead of steak, as well as breakfast versions of this sandwich.

The fried plantain smothered in garlic sauce and topped with your choice of protein, is typically paired with American cheese, onions, lettuce and tomato. But again, this is America, so feel free to structure this however you’d like.

I enjoy Jibaritos in their original form with steak, and it’s definitely a top choice for me, if not the top choice on this list. It really just depends on what I’m in the mood for.

Where to enjoy: Papa Cache – Chicago, IL

This small mom and pop shop is the only spot in Chicago to use Ribeye steak in their sandwich rather than the typical sandwich steak used in all of the others.

Where it’s overhyped: Borinquen – Chicago, IL

As the birthplace of the Jibarito, the quality of it’s prized creation has diminished, and is now being outdone by the copy cats.