You can get Portillo’s for lunch and dinner. If you’re lucky, you can get it just after they open late in the morning too.
Portillo’s was started in 1963 by founder Dick Portillo in Villa Park, Illinois. Dick Portillo used his personal savings plus investment from his brother Frank Portillo to start the business by buying a 12-foot trailer, which they named “The Dog House”.
The name was changed from “The Dog House” to “Portillo’s” in 1967 when they upgraded their 12-foot trailer to a bigger one, and their first drive-thru came not much longer after that in 1983.
If you want to find out more about Portillo’s, visit their website here. You can also read more about their story on their Our Story page.
Which Countries Have a Portillo’s Restaurant?
Portillo’s is currently only available in the United States. They have over 70 locations, and most of them are in the Chicago area, but they’re also available in other areas like California, Arizona, and Florida.
They also had restaurants in Japan during the 80s and 90s, but they all closed down.
What is Different About Portillo’s?
Authenticity and tradition are the first things setting Portillo’s apart. Not many companies can claim to be selling authentic Chicago-style food for over six decades. It’s no wonder they’ve become such an icon in the city. Any good Chicagoan will tell you that you haven’t truly visited Chicago if you haven’t had a piece of Portillo’s.
The other unique attractor of Portillo’s is the Portillo’s Birthday Club. This free subscription provides you with a free chocolate cake on your birthday. Who wouldn’t like some free cake?
Is Portillo’s Spicy?
Most of Portillo’s items are not spicy, but they do have a few items for heat lovers, like the Classic Beef Bowl which can come with your choice of sweet pepper or hot peppers, and the Italian Beef & Sausage Combo where you can choose to come with hot giardiniera peppers, and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich that comes with a spicy sauce on the bun using hot giardiniera peppers.
Portillo’s offers Hot Dogs, Sandwiches, Burgers, Salads, Pasta meals, different sides, and Shakes.
And when it comes to hot dogs, they don’t offer just their famous Chicago-Style Hot Dogs. Some of their other popular hot dogs include the Char-Grilled Maxwell Street Polish Sausage, the Jumbo Hot Dog, and the Chili Cheese Dog.
If you want a good sandwich, Portillo’s got you covered too. Their sandwiches come with Turano French Bread and mostly come with beef or sausage as the filling (unless you’re feeling spicy enough to get their Italian Beef & Sausage Combo that comes with both).
They also have a very unusual, but delicious, sandwich – the Beef-n-Cheddar Croissant, which swaps the bread for a toasted croissant.
Portillo’s also have traditional hamburgers and cheeseburgers, as well as chicken sandwiches, deep-fried whitefish sandwich, and char-broiled burgers.
And perhaps a bit unexpectedly, they also have a great selection of different pasta on their menu, like Fettucine Alfredo, Penne Diavolo, and Spaghetti with marinara or meat sauce.
As for their sides, you can get cheese fries, onion rings, garlic bread, tamales, jumbo cheese sauce, chicken tenders, and more.
They also offer a few desserts – milkshakes, cakes, and more. But the item on their dessert menu that truly stands out is the Chocolate Éclair Cake, a dessert not often seen at fast food and fast-casual restaurants. This multi-layered, mouth-watering, dessert topped with chocolate is not available at every location, however.
How Do I Order Food at Portillo’s?
You can inside one of their restaurants or by using their drive-thru at one of their locations that has it.
You can also order delivery online through their website or app
Does Portillo’s Cater to Vegetarians?
Yes! But only barely. Their only vegetarian sandwich is the Garden Dog which comes with plant-based protein.
Outside of sandwiches, you have their pasta, many of which are meat-free, the Garden Side Salad, or other desserts and sides.
No.
But they're still very kid-friendly despite this. After all, why would you need a children’s menu when you have hot dogs, fries, and milkshakes on your menu? What kid doesn't love these items?
What Are the Opening Hours of Portillo’s?
Portillo’s typically opens up at 10:30 am and closes at 10:30 pm and opens every day of the week. But this timing can change a bit based on location, and some locations will close down at 11 pm during the weekends. Some of their drive-throughs will also keep on working even past midnight.
Is Portillo’s Healthy?
Honestly, not much. At least not their famous hot dogs and sandwiches, since they’re packed with fat and calories.
However, not all items are the same, and they do have some healthy options like their Greek Salad, Chicken Noodle Soup, and some of their chicken-based sandwiches like the Broiled Chicken Sandwich.
Can I Cook Portillo’s at Home?
Yes!
Both the Portillo’s Shop and their Take and Make catering service offer products to cook their meals from the leisure of your own home.
They typically come in packs that give you everything required to cook a certain number of a specific item, like the Italian Beef - 20 Sandwiches and the Chicago Style Hot Dogs - 10/50 Pack. You can also buy their Chocolate Cake package, Tamales package, and others. As for the items they don’t have a package for, you can always try to replicate them by yourself with a little creativity!
They also have a special 365 Subscription that gives you a different package of cook-at-home items every month, for instance giving you the Italian Beef Sandwich Deluxe package in January and their Heart Shaped Chocolate Cake in February.
And although it says 365, you don’t have to subscribe for the full 12 months since you can also subscribe for 6 months and test if you like the service.