Last Updated: November 10, 2026
Portillo’s is a Chicago-area restaurant chain that has grown well beyond its home region while keeping a menu rooted in Chicago street food. Hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, char-grilled burgers, salads and a famous chocolate cake dessert make up the core. If you are planning a first visit, or if you want to understand what makes Chicago-style food unique, this guide breaks down the menu and offers ordering tips.
Menus, availability and limited-time items vary by location and change often. Confirm current offerings on the official Portillo’s menu or app before you go.
What Portillo’s Is Known For
The restaurant is known for the Chicago-style hot dog, an all-beef frank served on a poppy seed bun with a specific set of toppings, and for the Italian beef sandwich, thin-sliced seasoned roast beef served in a long roll and simmered in jus. Both are staples of Chicago dining. The chain also became famous for its Chocolate Cake Shake, a milkshake blended with a slice of chocolate cake, and for large, themed dining rooms with lively drive-thru operations.
The company started as a small hot dog stand in the Chicago suburbs and expanded over the decades. Many restaurants feature distinctive decor, and the drive-thru lines are known for being organized and efficient.
Main Menu Categories
Hot Dogs and Sausages
The Chicago-style hot dog is the headliner. It is traditionally topped with yellow mustard, relish, chopped onion, tomato slices, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt, notably without ketchup. Other options include a char-dog, which is grilled for a smoky flavor, and the Maxwell Street Polish, a grilled Polish sausage topped with grilled onions and mustard. Italian sausage sandwiches are also common.
Italian Beef
The Italian beef sandwich features thinly sliced beef on a roll with giardiniera (a pickled vegetable relish, hot) or sweet peppers. It can be ordered dry, dipped or soaked in jus. Some versions pair the beef with Italian sausage as a combo.
Burgers and Chicken
Char-grilled burgers and cheeseburgers are available, along with chicken sandwiches and grilled chicken options. These offer a familiar choice for groups with varied tastes.
Salads
Salads, including the Chopped Salad with chicken and the Garden Salad, offer lighter fare. The Chopped Salad is a larger composed salad with a mix of vegetables and toppings.
Sides
Crinkle-cut fries, cheese fries, onion rings and coleslaw are typical sides. Cheese fries come with a warm cheese sauce.
Desserts and Shakes
The chocolate cake is a house specialty, and the shake made with it is one of the best-known desserts. Other shake flavors and Italian ices or ice cream desserts may be available. Seasonal desserts rotate.
Breakfast
Some locations serve breakfast items, including breakfast sandwiches and skillets, though this varies by restaurant.
What First-Timers Might Try
- A Chicago-style hot dog: the clearest introduction to the regional style.
- An Italian beef, dipped, with sweet or hot peppers: a messy but memorable sandwich.
- A combo of beef and sausage: if you want to try two Chicago staples in one sandwich.
- Cheese fries: a shareable side.
- The Chocolate Cake Shake: the signature dessert for many visitors.
Customization and Ordering Tips
Ordering an Italian beef involves some regional vocabulary. Dry means the beef is drained of extra jus, dipped means the whole sandwich is dunked briefly, and soaked means it is fully submerged. Peppers come in two styles: sweet (roasted bell peppers) or hot (giardiniera). Ask for what you prefer, or request a mix.
The Chicago hot dog is traditionally ordered with everything, which refers to the standard topping set. If you do not like a topping, you can remove it. Ketchup is not part of the traditional style, though it is available if you request it. If you want a less traditional route, ask for a plain hot dog or a char-dog with simple toppings.
Portillo’s has strong drive-thru and takeout operations. Many restaurants use multiple ordering lanes and staff members with tablets who take orders from cars to reduce waiting times. The mobile app and website support ordering ahead for pickup. Because Italian beef sandwiches can be messy, consider asking for extra napkins if you are eating in the car. For shipping items such as beef or dessert to other states, check the official website for current offerings and policies.
- Learn the beef terms: dry, dipped, soaked.
- Choose sweet or hot peppers, or a combination.
- Order the hot dog with everything to try the traditional style.
- Ask for extra napkins with beef sandwiches.
- Use the app for ahead-of-time ordering to skip lines.
Planning Your Visit
Portillo’s restaurants tend to be large, with themed dining rooms, multiple ordering stations and long drive-thru lines that are managed by staff taking orders outside. Visiting during off-peak hours can make the experience calmer, but the lines usually move briskly even at lunch and dinner. If you are visiting from out of the region, ordering a hot dog and an Italian beef to split gives you a quick tour of the two core Chicago items. Dessert is worth planning for, since the cake-based options are a big part of the brand.
Quick-Reference Table
| Category | Typical Items | Good For |
|---|---|---|
| Hot Dogs | Chicago-style hot dog, char-dog, Maxwell Street Polish | Regional specialties |
| Italian Beef | Italian beef, beef and sausage combo | Signature sandwiches |
| Burgers and Chicken | Char-grilled burger, cheeseburger, chicken sandwich | Familiar options |
| Salads | Chopped Salad, Garden Salad | Lighter meals |
| Sides | Crinkle-cut fries, cheese fries, onion rings | Sharing |
| Desserts | Chocolate cake, Chocolate Cake Shake, ices | Sweet finish |
| Breakfast | Breakfast sandwiches (select locations) | Mornings |
Menu Variation by Location
Menus, availability and limited-time items vary by location and change often. Breakfast, regional items and dessert flavors may differ between restaurants, and newer locations outside the Chicago area may have a slightly different range. Check the official Portillo’s menu or app for the restaurant you plan to visit.
FAQ
What is a Chicago-style hot dog?
It is an all-beef hot dog on a poppy seed bun with mustard, relish, onion, tomato, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. Ketchup is not part of the traditional style.
What does dipped mean for Italian beef?
Dipped means the sandwich is briefly dunked in the beef jus so the bread absorbs some liquid. Dry means less jus, and soaked means more.
What is giardiniera?
Giardiniera is a pickled vegetable mix, often spicy, that is a typical topping for Italian beef sandwiches in Chicago.
What is the Chocolate Cake Shake?
It is a milkshake blended with a piece of chocolate cake, a signature dessert at Portillo’s.
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