Here’s Everything Keith Lee’s Eaten in Chicago So Far - Eater Chicago
"For his fifth local restaurant review, posted Sunday, July 28, Lee shakes things up with a head-to-head battle between famous Chicago-area chain Portillo’s and Al’s Beef, a legendary spot since 1938 with branches all over the city. Both are hailed for their Italian beef sandwiches, which inspired the meaty exercise. First up is Portillo’s, where Lee ordered a double-dipped sandwich with hot peppers and a side of cheese sauce for $8.20. There’s some confusion about the brand’s history — Lee says he visited the “OG location,” but the video shows a large outpost in River North, a location swarming with tourists. That location, the first to open in Chicago proper, opened in 1994. The chain was originally founded in 1963 in West Suburban Villa Park. Initially, it appears someone made a critical mistake and omitted hot peppers from Lee’s sandwich. Fortunately, for Portillo’s, they are retrieved in short order and end up making a notable difference, upgrading Lee’s pepper-free 3 out of 10 ranking to a slightly spicier 5 out of 10." - Naomi Waxman
