PARMA, Ohio — Ponce, Puerto Rico is located on the southern border of the Caribbean island, but one local man is bringing the island’s culture right here to Northeast Ohio.
In honor of Hispanic heritage month, 3News reporter Kierra Cotton visited Jibaro Latin Restaurant in Parma where they let the food and customers do the talking.
"I had tasted different places and nothing compares to it, so like, it's great," said Yoli Martirado, a customer visiting the restaurant.
The newly opened restaurant in Parma serves up authentic Puerto Rican cuisine, with influences from Pone—the owner, Jean Garcia’s hometown.
"It's important. Like, my culture from Ponce, I try to bring out the seasons from Ponce, here," said Garcia.
Jean and his mom moved to Northeast Ohio almost a decade ago and while their restaurant in new to the area, they aren’t new to the business.
"Oh, [my] whole life. Everything, we have restaurant before in Puerto Rico. All my family," Garcia explained of his restaurant experience.
And Garcia and his family aren't afraid of hard work. Jibaro is open 6- days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
But for his customers, Garcia says it’s worth it.
"I just love the taste of the food," said Martirado. "It is like super, like, like the real Puerto Rican flavor," she explained.
Flavor that Jean is confident can’t be recreated anywhere else.
All in all, Garcia's goal is for everyone to experience a little piece of Ponce in Parma.
For more information on Jibaro Latin Restaurant or to place and order, click here.
*Editor's Note: The video in the player above is from a previous, unrelated report.