Kapeekoo

I was here a couple weeks ago with a few co-​workers. We ordered ahead because we were unsure about the service after reading some of the reviews. I myself, ordered the Jibarita and thought it was delish! However, I feel the rice was a bit on the greasy side and Im not one to complain about grease from anywhere.
The place is small and the service was good. We were seated right away and she took our drink orders and our food was brought out correctly and quickly. She thanked us all for coming and even split the tab for us (where other places frown upon doing so).
I will DEFINATELY be back!

I must have some Puerto Rican in me because there is a good sized space in my heart reserved specifically for jibaritos. Having sampled jibaritos from several PR joints around the city, this one is vying for my favorite.
It’s got the best prices (one jibarito and your choice of TWO sides for about $ 9), the best ambiance (it’s clean, maintains a decent temperature, and has stable tables and chairs), and the best service. The employees act like they value your patronage.
I even think that the ingredients are the freshest and best quality. The only issue I have is with the garlic sauce. I like it when my jibarito comes with garlic sauce spread on the interior of the sandwich. Kapeekoo serves it on the side. It also tastes like straight up crushed garlic. It’s better when it’s creamy (possibly mixed with mayo?).
Considering all the variables of places I’ve had jibaritos (price, quality, service, and ambiance), I would say that this is the best place. FIVE STARS!

Came by here a few weeks ago and tried the steak jibarito which was pretty good. The yuca tamal side was delicious but the rice was just okay. If the service was better I’d definitely have given them an another star. Prices are also a little steep for the area but the establishment’s a welcome change to the cuisine in the neighborhood.

The food was pretty good but I would not call the Puerto Rican. They did have your typical tostones, arroz con gandules, alcapurrias, chuletas, mofongo ect however the taste wasn’t right.
I ordered La Jibarita de Pollo with a side of arroz con gandules and tostones. The rice was yummy I liked it but that in no way was Puerto Rican rice. It tasted more like Mexican rice trying to be Puerto Rican. My tostones came out late and weren’t salted. There actually wasn’t even salt at the table. I grew up with a Puerto Rican family and whenever I was served tostones they came with a little garlic salt on top. The chicken in my «sandwich» was bland as well. :/​
The server REALLY needs IMPROVING. The waitress was also the hostess tablebusser and cashier, I had a clear view to the back of house from my seat and I saw at least 3 others back there but never did they step out.
I went here in the first place because I bought a Groupon $ 7 for $ 15+$ 3 towards dessert. I was actually jipped on my meal. I went back to get the rest of my money and she clearly didn’t understand how the groupon worked.
Needless to say I’ll return maybe one day…

first of all, i’d not call them Caribbean, yes i’m aware puerto rico is located in west Indies, but … it’s more latin if anything
the food is delicious though. lived in New York for 18 years and this joint brings memories of a good corner spot, somewhere in harlem:
mofongo, steak, chicken — anything you try there will most likely be as good, as if your abuela cooked it :)
only minor issue is pricing … the bill did not come itemized, so just be aware what you’re ordering
ps: they are byob & have limited selection of drinks, but the pharmacy across the street sells wine

The food is great but the service is always slow. Still one has to love the freshness of the food which isn’t premade.

have been here several times. Good food, but I will agree with the service and food time.
I usually get the Chicken Jibarito with arroz con gandules and and the empanada de guava. The food is always good and fresh every time I order it. Sandwich very good especially when you ask for the salsa. Rice at times may be bland or oily, but usually good, but I always save the empanada for last… Good too.
Décor has somewhat improved, but still a bit lost between casual and somewhat fast food.
The only downside to the place is waiting for the food. It can take up to 25 minutes for your food to arrive. At times we choose not to stop in to dine due to this reason
But I would say stop in and take a chance. Personally i am not going to dirve up north if I am hungry already.

This place is a solid 4! Ordered takeout on a Sunday. I ordered the veggie jiberita, while my man friend ordered the Cuban. For those not-​so-​familiar with the fare (I wasn’t, had to look it up), a jiberito and jiberita differ by the ripeness of the plantain used to make the sandwich — the jiberito is more green, while the jiberita is more ripe. More ripe=more messy=more tasty (in my opinion). The jiberita was def a sandwich you had to keep wrapped in foil as you ate so it didn’t fall apart, but OH MY. Lots of flavor, and the cream cheese that they use in the sandwich really brings the whole thing together! For sides, we had the guava empanadas (very good, a little more of the good stuff in the filling next time, eh?) and plantains. Meant to order plantain chips, I messed up somewhere along the way, I’ll try again next time.
Very refreshing to have a place in West Lawn other than Mexican and pizza! We will be back.

I ordered from here for lunch today and I have been here a few times.
The place is small the food is OK but the service could really use a lot of help.
I have had jibarito sandwiches, cubano and Jerk chicken. Sides are decent. Arroz con gandules can be too greasy sometimes, but OK overall. Alcapurrias good some times. tostones and amarillos (plantain chips) are good.
Uh Uh what is really good in this place all the time is the empanadas con guayaba y queso (guava and cheese empanada), now this is what I am talking about.
Kapeekoo is not the best Puertorican restaurant in the city but is the only one in the neighbor hood.
OK food, so so service

Went there once and never again. Bland rice, bland everything really & they didn’t have several things that were on the menu. This is not what puerto rican food has to offer this puerto rican food SUCKS!!! don’t waste your time or money, just do your wallet and taste buds the favor and go north.

This was a real dissappointment, I was really looking forward to trying this place. I’m shocked to see the high rating!
The food is way overpriced considering the quality… Unilocal is the reason why we tried it, and I am sorry to say it was a mistake. The service left little to desire too, when we arrived we were ignored for 15min’s before we finally got our waitresses attention. If you want authentic Puerto Rican food go to La Bomba on Armitage & Kedzie… that’s REAL Puerto Rican food at a decent price

When it first opened up a few years ago I was all excited. I went and ordered my pastelles and arroz con gandules (Puerto Rican version of tamale and rice with pigeon peas), not so good.
So I came back a few years later (now) and it was not as bad as I once said. I mean, I am Puerto Rican so there are times when I don’t want to cook it up and this place is right around the corner. I wouldn’t say they are «Borinquen» worthy, they are OK and yeah I think I can be a fan, but since its near its okay and I love the fact that its walking distance. Not my regular spot since I do work North but if you want a bite that’s different from Mexican Food in the area, this spot it good for that.

i went here recently with my sister she found out about and I merrily went with her since she way paying. The décor inside is really average, but very nice and had a island feel to it man. Our server was nice but it took forever for the food I had to the jerk chicken with 2 empadanadas. They were good, but i really didnt like the whole guava and cheese one it was more guava then anything. My jerk chicken came on a plate and it looked like it was swimming in grease which was off putting. The chicken itself was pretty good I guess. My sister plantain sandwich was pretty good I sneaked a bite. Over its okay but service is really slow. I probably wont go back again.

I am giving this place 5 stars because the service is WAY better than Borinquen. I ordered the jibarito. Meat was juicy and tender. The rice was just like titi’s…lol
Authentic food and a refreshing change of pace from the typica south side restaurants which include: hot dog joints, taquerias, ma & pa pizzerias, and Chinese buffets.
I hope this place is here to stay!

Disappointing. Not consistent.
Initially I was excited to finally have a Puerto Rican restaurant in the area –since almost every restaurant is American or Mexican — it was nice for a change of pace. I have ordered and dined in the restaurant a combination of at least 10 times. I am happy however to have a Puerto Rican restaurant around and for nostalgic reasons I will continue to go there in hopes that there will be improvement in the food and services. The restaurant is pretty clean. I wish they played only Puerto Rican nostalgic music — some of the music makes me want to run out of there.
About the food:
Initially it was pretty good — as time has progressed, the roasted portk dinner has become greasy and the worst fatty pieces are given out. You don’t know if you’re getting wood one day — or fat and tasteless.
The Bistec Encebollado — somedays it is very tasty other times — it’s like rubber. Sometimes it is in a dark sauce, others more clear.
Beware — the mofongo is not normal mofongo –it is dry. Crispy. And they don’t warn you that it may come in tiny litte pieces. Good if you need a good tooth scrub.
Alcapurrias — meat is tasteless dry and greasy — they are always cold too!
Empanadas — pretty good!
Tamales de Yuca — Dry, Dry, Dry.
Pasteles — Excellent!
Flan — Terrible — depends on who makes it I guess. The consistency is that of condenced milk.

Arroz blanco y habichuelas (or frijoles): Very good
Arroz con guandules: The portions are skewed — but otherwise very good.
Tostones/​Platanos Maduro — very good.
Prices —
Can get pricey if it’s a meal for two or more.
Service — It’s pretty OK — but they need to do a few things:
1 — bring water w/​meals
2– bring plates when giving people appetizers, so they have someplace to eat it
3– automatically provide napkins
4 — provide glasses with ice when giving sodas — not just cans
5 — Wipe down the tables
Otherwise — the staff is polite and friendly and that is a big plus.
Okay — this is weird — but still — I fail to comprehend why they didn’t finish painting? They painted one wall in one side of the room and half the other wall but left it unfinished. Would look much better if they did. Understood that they moved the tables and wall — but still — it looks unfinished.
Recommended — yes, for nostalgic reasons
Is the food spectacular? No.
Would I go there Again? Yes.

I placed an order for a half tray of Puerto Rican rice over the weekend for a BBQ I had.
It was an easy and fast transaction which I love! I called Kapeekoo and the women how answered the phone was so pleasant. I placed the order for the tray of rice and it was ready 30 min later!
Awesome and reliable, speedy service is always the best! Will definitely order catering from them again.
P. S. The half tray of rice was $ 25 bucks… cant beat that on the Southside of Chicago.

When this place first open the food had me going back twice a week. HOWEVER the food isn’t the same anymore at all! Now I drive up to my regular spot called borinquen located up noth.
The last time i order the «wepa» the meat was so hard and fatty that I just gave it to my dog. Prices have jacked up as well. not worth it.

Having recently moved to the Marquette Park area am just finding stuff around us. Looking for a not too crowded place for an early Saturday night we spotted Kapeekoo with it’s advertised Puerto Rican fare.
With easy street parking we were at a table in moments. The place was cute and clean. The bathroom, though devoid of decoration, was spotless.
A server came to us immediately. The menu is simple but when everything is good that’s just fine.
I had the steak jibarito with rice and pigeon peas and alcadurrias. All was perfect. The jibarito plantains seemed freshly prepared, the steak was tender, the rice was delicious and the alcadurria was light and flaky and flavorful.
My boyfriend had the jerk chicken which could have used a bit more spice but was tender and juicy.
They have a hot sauce on the table that we could have eaten with a spoon.
I had the brazo de banana (it’s usually pumpkin) for dessert and my bf had the cheesecake. Both were generous in size. The cheesecake looked like real cheese and had a coconut flavored crust. Delicious. My braza was moist and the heavy cream filling just right.
The only bad thing i could say is that they did not fill my boyfriend’s water. Ever. But i got the feeling our server might be doing some of the cooking too, as they had a help wanted sign on the door. The food was great and she was very friendly. We still left her 20% and we will definitely return.

There is something so wonderful and skillful about a cook who can make even simple white rice taste like the best thing ever, and whoever makes the food here is one of those kind of cooks.
I have to say that when I read on their menu that their namesake «Kapeekoo» dish was a chicken guisado with figs, I almost wet myself. However, sadly, I was then told that they are in the process of changing their menu and that the guisado no longer has the figs… However again however, that sadness was replaced with wanting to wet myself again once they told me that their upcoming menu will not only also have mofongo, but shrimp empanadas and — AND — SHRIMP JIBARITOS. That info alone first earned them my return trip. Once I ate the food though, that earned them all of the many return trips in my future.
So I still got the guisado. It was different that my favorite beef guisada at La Bruquena, but it was still very good. It was basically two good-​sized pieces of dark meat stewed chicken with carrots. But the juice from the guisado mixed with the rice? That was like… the essence of all that is food eating pleasure. I want maybe a bathtub of it, which I guess sounds kinda gross, but I’m okay with that. And I still want that bathtub of it…
Their fried dumplings, tamales and turnovers (empanadillas) were mostly excellent. Their alcapurrias (meat filled, deep fried, plantain dough thingies) are sooo goood — better than the ones I’ve had many times at Borinquen (ooh, yes I did just call them out like that! oooh). The banana leaf wrapped, chicken mixture filled, yucca and plantain masa tamales were nice. Their main empanadillas were good, but a bit dry — I’d still certainly try them again. Everything was even better with their kinda chunky, kinda oily, really delicious hot sauce.
Even though this is a small place with booths, it is really cute — date night cute — with terra cottaish walls and brightly colored trim — not fancy, but nice. The young guys who work here (also the owners I think) are really nice — one even ran out of the restaurant to move his car from the front space as we drove up so that we didn’t have to walk even one space farther in the snow — that is hospitality. We ate at about 4:30 (dining with kids early bird special is the new old people early bird special) but they were getting a steady flow of business. And thank god, because I will be jonesing for that rice a lot. And the can of Coco Rico was the perfect compliment. Dinner for three who eat like five was about $ 30 and there were leftovers.
I’ll be back in true Chicago fashion — early and often. And maybe next time I’ll find out what the name means…
(PS — Seriously Unilocal?No Puerto Rican food category still? BOOOO! I’m sending Unilocal HQ a tupperware container filled with pigeon peas to change that junk up pronto…)

Warm island getaway on a winter’s day.
…In your mouth, kid.
Steak jibarito very, very good… though not the best in the city.
What I can’t comprehend is why their amarillos (sweet fried plantain), alcapurrias and arroz blanco (white rice — yeah, white rice) taste so good. But that’s OK. Mystery is the spice of life.
Approaching their first year since opening last April, Kapeeko seems to be developing into quite a find for delicious Puerto Rican dishes among many greasy spoons, pizza joints and taquerias.
And that deliciousness probably only get better as their chef add several new selections, including mufungo to the menu.
Enjoyed the Caliente sounds on the satellite radio
This comfy restaurant with the personal touch along Pulaski gets one star alone for proximity.
Wanna get love? Come down (South Side) on me.