Portillo's Kennesaw

Just had an incredible first visit to the brand-new Portillo’s in Kennesaw, GA, and I’m already planning my next trip back! This place is massive and beautifully designed—you can tell they put a lot of thought into the layout. Ordering options galore: traditional counter, self-service kiosks, or the drive-thru, so no matter how you roll, it’s quick and easy. Even with a packed house and a long line ahead of us, the staff was lightning-fast and super professional. Food was out in under 10 minutes—insane for a grand-opening-level crowd! We went with chili cheese dogs and a classic Chicago dog, and everything was spot-on perfect. The buns held up beautifully (zero sogginess even with all that chili), the dogs were snappy, and the toppings were generous and fresh. We devoured the chili dogs so fast we totally forgot to dip the fries in the cheese sauce… guess we’ll just have to come back sooner! 😄 They did miss one small item on our order, but the team fixed it instantly with a smile—no fuss, no wait. That kind of quick, friendly recovery is exactly why Portillo’s has the reputation it does. Bonus: they’ve got a great merchandise section with super-cute magnets, t-shirts, and even pet collars (my dog is getting one next time)! They also sell their famous Italian beef kits pre-packaged to take home and make whenever the craving hits—genius for us Georgia folks who now have real Chicago beef on demand. If you’re anywhere near Kennesaw, do yourself a favor and go. This location is already running like a well-oiled machine. Absolute 5-star experience—welcome to Georgia, Portillo’s! Can’t wait to become a regular. 🚗🌭

The restaurant handled a very busy rush with exceptional service and atmosphere. While the sandwich was well-cooked and the fries were perfectly crisp, the unique flavor profile of the Italian Beef was great, for those ordering the Italian Beef, I strongly recommend dining in, as the gravy made the bread really soggy on my commute home.

The grand opening may not be until this coming week, but they are OPEN. The food is awesome, the service is awesome, I’m sitting here and this place is packed to the rafters!

Portillo's Sneak Peek: The Italian Beef Hype is Absolutely Real! ​I was incredibly lucky this week to get a sneak peek inside the new Portillo's location, and let me tell you, if you've heard great things about this Chicago institution, believe every word. My anticipation was high, but the food and the experience absolutely blew me away. ​The Combo That Changed Everything ​You can't go to Portillo's for the first time without trying their signature dish, so I went straight for the Italian Beef and Sausage Combo. I ordered it dipped, naturally, and, crucially, decided to add the cheese sauce—a decision that instantly proved to be pure genius. ​From the first bite, it was just amazing. The Italian Beef was incredibly tender and flavorful, complemented perfectly by the robust, spicy kick of the sausage. The bread, soaked in that savory au jus (the "dip"), held everything together just long enough to deliver a perfect, messy bite. The addition of the creamy, rich cheese sauce was the true game-changer, transforming an already iconic sandwich into a next-level indulgence. It's the kind of sandwich that makes you forget your manners and just focus on the flavor. ​Ready for the Grand Opening ​Every element, from the speed of service to the quality of the ingredients, was top-notch. It's clear that the new Portillo's is ready to bring that legendary experience to our area. ​Having heard so much about this place over the years, I am genuinely glad I got to experience it firsthand. The Italian Beef is certainly the star, and I'm already planning my next visit (and what cheese-covered item I'll be trying next). Get ready, everyone, because the grand opening can't come soon enough! This place is going to be packed.

My family is Italian, and from Chicago! Always loved this place, when visiting my family. My dad got a job down here in GA, and you can't find any good food like this down here. I was so happy when they built this one, in Kennesaw! 10 minutes from where I live, and they invited all their rewards members to try the test run today. It was amazing!!! 😋🤤❤️ It doesn't fully open to everything until next week. But, I will definitely be coming back again and again!! It's soooooo fantastic!

Today was special music played outside got to spin a wheel and get a small token. It was the grand opening must have been 1000 people there today! Friendly employees, new and Spotless even Michael Portillo was outside speaking with us and thanking people for coming out 😃

I've been to Portillo in IL and FL. With the most recent being in Orlando while on vacation. Our table was full of burgers and fries, and of course a milkshake. I was pleased to visit, but wanted the Kennesaw location to be the 1 I visited this year. So get my Italian beef sandwich and Chocolate cake ready.

Portillo‘s was my first job when I turned 15. My sisters and I all worked there in high school. We built a lot of friendships there and if you went to our school Portillo’s was the place to go with your friends, after a game, or before homecoming. Over the years, Portillo‘s menu has changed, and there were a lot of great items that are no longer offered like the vegetarian burger, which had Roasted squash, red pepper and a huge portobello mushroom on a tomato bread (first version) and lastly altered into a multigrain bread. I would always add a chicken “nudie” Which is just simply a grilled chicken breast, and it was deliciously paired with the chipotle dressing from the salad bar. The salad bar options have also conformed to standard salad options that other restaurants offer. I will say, though that the Chopped salad is their signature salad, which is really good. But I recall they used to have a southwest salad and a poppyseed salad with fruit mandarin strawberries the sweet tangy flavor and came with a poppyseed muffin. I can’t believe they got rid of all these amazing menu items. Barnellis by Portillo’s, also used to have this green pesto pasta, which was so creamy and delicious. I believe after Mr. Patillo’s passed his son’s sold the restaurant and is now become more of a franchise. Although they don’t offer my favorite things on the menu anymore, they still hold a good name for Chicago style hot dogs, Polish dogs, and Italian beef and let’s not forget cheese fries and chocolate cake. I know the secret ingredient! Please note that everything is sold separately so your drink your fries your burger. There is no combo unless that has changed, then I stand corrected. It’s nostalgic and comforting to know that Portillos has made its way to Georgia and I will gladly make the drive to Kennesaw to see if they can still hold Portillo's true value.