Havana Banana Review The Plantain Stand That Literally Made Us Turn Around
Havana Banana Review The Plantain Stand That Literally Made Us Turn Around
Sometimes the best food at a festival isn’t the one you planned to eat.
It’s the one that talks you into coming back.
That was Havana Banana.
We were walking through Fiesta Del Sol doing what we always do, looking for interesting food, talking to vendors, and trying not to spend all our money before reaching the end of the festival.
Then we met Bryan’s.
Now, every festival has someone who believes their food is good.
Bryana believed it so much that Mike actually turned around and walked back after already leaving the booth.
That almost never happens.
Turns out…
Bryana wasn’t exaggerating.
A Pleasant Surprise
After taking our first bite, we found out Havana Banana wasn’t just another random festival stand.
It’s co-owned by Jenni Cohen aka Ms. Progressive Pinup, someone whose food we’ve been enjoying around Chicago for well over a decade.
Suddenly everything made sense.
Quality usually isn’t an accident.
Neither is consistency.
So… What Is Havana Banana?
Havana Banana is a Chicago-based festival concept inspired by Cuban and Honduran flavors, centered around one of the Caribbean’s greatest ingredients:
The humble plantain.
Instead of treating plantains as just a side dish, Havana Banana makes them the star of the menu.
Their offerings include crispy mariquitas (thin fried plantain chips) served with gourmet dipping sauces and loaded plantain nachos topped with creative fusion ingredients. It’s comfort food with Caribbean roots and festival-sized personality. (Havana Banana)
The Food
The first thing you notice is the crunch.
These aren’t soggy chips trying to impersonate nachos.
They’re crisp.
Fresh.
Light.
Then come the toppings.
The balance between salty, savory, creamy, and fresh works surprisingly well.
Plantains naturally have a slightly sweet flavor, which creates a completely different experience than traditional tortilla chips.
It’s familiar enough that anyone can enjoy it…
…but different enough that you’ll remember where you had it.
And that’s probably the biggest compliment we can give.
Festival food usually falls into one of two categories:
“I’m hungry.”
or
“I have to tell somebody about this.”
Havana Banana lands in the second category.
More Than Just Festival Food
One thing we appreciated is that Havana Banana isn’t trying to reinvent Caribbean cuisine.
It’s celebrating it.
Taking traditional ingredients and presenting them in a fun, approachable way that works perfectly for Chicago’s festival scene.
The result feels authentic without being intimidating.
Whether you’ve eaten plantains your entire life or have never tried one before, this is a fantastic introduction.
Where to Find Them
Unlike a traditional restaurant, Havana Banana travels throughout Chicago-area festivals and pop-up events, so where you find them changes throughout the year. The best way to keep up with their schedule is through their website and social media. (Havana Banana)
You can also catch them at events like Fiesta Del Sol, one of Chicago’s largest free Latino festivals, held annually in the Pilsen neighborhood and featuring dozens of local food vendors, live entertainment, art, and community programming. (Fiesta Del Sol)
Final Thoughts
Sometimes the best review isn’t the food.
It’s the fact that someone can convince Mike to stop walking and voluntarily spend more money.
Bryana’s enthusiasm got us back to the booth.
The food justified every word.
Then discovering it was another creation from Ms. Progressive Pinup just confirmed what our taste buds had already figured out.
Some people don’t just make food.
They build a reputation one bite at a time.
F’nAround Verdict
Worth walking back for.
A unique alternative to typical festival food.
Crispy, flavorful, and genuinely memorable.
Put it on your “must try” list the next time you see them at a Chicago festival.
Website: Havana Banana
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