Chicago chain famous for Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago dogs, and chocolate cake shakes. Retro 1960s atmosphere.
Portillo's was founded in 1963 by Dick Portillo in Villa Park, Illinois, initially operating as a hot dog stand out of a small trailer. The business grew into one of the most recognized regional chains in the Chicago metropolitan area, known for Italian beef sandwiches, Chicago-style hot dogs, char-grilled burgers, and a famous chocolate cake shake. The brand's aesthetic is built around a deliberately theatrical nostalgia — each location is designed around a different historical theme (a 1930s depression-era scene, a 1940s police station, a 1950s diner) creating interiors dense with antiques, vintage signage, and artifacts. The Italian beef sandwich — thinly sliced seasoned beef packed into French bread and dipped in the braising jus, with optional giardiniera pepper relish — is the flagship item and a Chicago street food tradition with deep Italian-American immigrant roots on the city's Near North Side. The sandwich is ordered either dry (bread untouched by juice), wet (bread lightly dipped), or drenched (thoroughly soaked). The Chicago hot dog — all-beef Vienna Beef frank on a poppy seed bun, topped with yellow mustard, neon relish, sport peppers, tomatoes, onions, celery salt, and a dill pickle spear but never ketchup — is equally emblematic. The chocolate cake shake, a Chicago original, blends chocolate shake with a full piece of chocolate layer cake, producing a thick, sweet, wildly caloric beverage that has cult status. The chain now operates in multiple states but remains most concentrated in Illinois.
Signature dishes
- Italian Beef Sandwich — $8
- Chicago Hot Dog — $5
Good to know
- Hours
- 10:30 AM - 10:30 PM
- Reservations
- Walk-in only
Location
Multiple Chicago area locations
41.8781, -87.6298 View on map
Highlights
- Italian beef sandwich — thinly sliced seasoned beef on French bread, dipped in jus; a foundational Chicago street food
- Chicago hot dog with all requisite toppings: neon relish, sport peppers, tomatoes, celery salt, and absolutely no ketchup
- Chocolate cake shake — chocolate shake blended with actual chocolate cake; one of the most indulgent items in regional fast food
- Theatrical themed interiors drawing on 1930s–1950s nostalgia, heavy with antiques and vintage Americana
- Founded 1963 in Villa Park, Illinois — a genuine Chicago-area institution with decades of loyal devotees
Tips for visiting
- Order the Italian beef 'wet and spicy' — wet means the bread is dipped in jus, spicy means a generous spoonful of giardiniera hot pepper relish
- Drive-through and walk-in lines move quickly during peak hours despite appearances; the kitchen is efficiently organized
- The chocolate cake shake requires advanced notice at some locations during busy periods — order it at the same time as the meal
- Combo orders that include both the Italian beef and a Chicago hot dog give a full picture of the classic Chicago street food tradition
- Locations in Illinois offer the most authentic environment; the original Villa Park area stores retain the strongest sense of the brand's origin
Accessibility
Portillo's locations are designed for high-volume, accessible service with step-free entrances, wide aisles, and standard dining room seating. Drive-through lanes are available at most locations. ADA-compliant restrooms are standard. Individual location accessibility details are available on the Portillo's website.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Chicago-style Italian beef sandwich?
An Italian beef sandwich consists of thin-sliced, slow-roasted seasoned beef packed into Italian bread and served wet (dipped in the braising jus) or drenched (soaked through). It can be ordered with sweet peppers, giardiniera (spicy pickled relish), or both. The tradition developed in Chicago's Italian-American community.
Why is ketchup banned from a Chicago hot dog?
Putting ketchup on a Chicago hot dog violates the regional tradition. The seven specific toppings — yellow mustard, neon relish, diced onion, tomato wedges, sport peppers, dill pickle spear, and celery salt — are considered the complete and correct preparation. Adding ketchup is viewed as masking the flavor.
What is in the chocolate cake shake at Portillo's?
The chocolate cake shake blends a chocolate milkshake with an actual slice of Portillo's chocolate layer cake. The result is an extremely thick, intensely sweet, high-calorie beverage that is one of the restaurant's most beloved and distinctive offerings.
Are there Portillo's locations outside Illinois?
Yes. Portillo's has expanded to Arizona, California, Florida, Indiana, Wisconsin, and other states. The full location list is available on the Portillo's website.
Is Portillo's a sit-down or fast-food restaurant?
Portillo's is a fast-casual restaurant with counter ordering and large dining rooms. Guests order at a counter and are called when food is ready. Despite the size and volume of many locations, the food is made to order and the quality is substantially above conventional fast food.