A M.
Yelp
After a long flight into Chicago, my brother's very first stop had to be Portillo's. He'd heard so much about it and was beyond excited to finally try it--honestly, I don't see him light up like that very often, and I'm glad we went.
The food wasn't exactly what I expected, but it was really great. Everything is made fresh, and there are tons of options. I'm not usually a hotdog person, so I went for a sandwich--and wow. The bread was fresh, the meat was thinly sliced, and the gravy was perfectly seasoned. It came out quickly, hot, and delicious.
The atmosphere is casual and fun, with Chicago history and memorabilia decorating the walls, which made it especially enjoyable as someone visiting from out of town. Ordering is easy either at the counter or from one of the kiosks, and the staff worked hard to keep things moving. The dining area was busy but well-kept, with staff constantly cleaning tables.
I really wanted to try the famous chocolate cake, but after finishing my sandwich there was just no room. My niece, however, ordered the chocolate cake shake--and oh my goodness. It was rich, thick, and absolutely decadent. Worth the hype!
We actually ended up going to a couple of different Portillo's locations during our 5-day trip (at least three times!), which says a lot. Prices are a little on the higher side, but not unreasonable for the quality and portion sizes.
If you're in Chicago--whether it's your first time or your tenth--Portillo's is absolutely worth a stop.