Intended audience : K college students.
Tired of the K College "bubble"? During your weekend gateway, take a train or drive to the Chicago area and stop at Portillo's Hot Dogs.
Started in 1963, by native Chicagoan Dick Portillo, the original restaurant has expanded to several locations in the Chicago area. More recently, Portillo’s Hot Dogs has opened new locations outside Chicago; Portillo’s Hot Dogs is now a chain restaurant that can be found in states such as Indiana and California. Though the expansion into other areas has made Portillo’s a little less unique, it speaks to the success and popularity of Portillo’s.
Portillo's indeed offers a wider variety of food than most fast food places, and the quality is known to be better than places like McDonald's or Burger King. The food, however, is still just as affordable as the fast food places one is familiar with. According to their official website, Portillo's has won so many Silver Platter Awards that the company has retired from competition for five years in order to give the competing food places a chance for the award. Portillo's is definitely all but an average fast food place.
Hungry? Go to a counter to order your meal. However, this may take a little while, especially for people who have difficulty making decisions. The number of choices seem endless. Hot-dogs, burgers, chicken, beef, and sausage sandwiches are among the options. The double burger is undoubtedly better and bigger than any hamburger that the cafeteria serves although it may be too spicy for some people. The beef meat is average but the taste is quite good overall and cooked according to the client's wish. For vegetarians, they serve grilled tuna, halibut filet or grilled vegetable sandwiches. Additionally, five sides are offered, ranging from the small French-fries to chicken tenders. The large French fries are a little too salty, but nevertheless edible since they are still hot.
Portillo's also has a dozen varieties of salads and different options for soups. The classic Caesar salad is well prepared with thin slices of chicken nicely disposed on the green leaves. The ingredients are undoubtedly fresher and better than the Kalamazoo cafeteria and the dressing seems healthier. However, taken without any sides, the salad would only satisfy the appetite of someone with a small stomach.
As a dessert, Portillo's Chocolate cake is perfect for the chocoholic, although splitting it is a good idea. Its size is average but the chocolate is dense and has two different textures. The thin smooth creamy layer in the middle separates the compact dark chocolate parts. Three bites are enough to fill a stomach.
Once the question of what food to order is decided upon,there is the beverage question. Shakes, smoothies or soft drinks are available for less than $3.00. For people over twenty-one, Portillo's has a wide range of beer and wine, which is atypical for fast food places.
For small appetites, options are still available. The regular hot-dog with mustard, relish, freshly chopped onions, sliced red pipe tomatoes, kosher pickle and sport peppers is better than the ones found in Times Square in NYC. This settles the Chicago and NYC rivalry once and for all. One hot-dog is enough, as it’s advised to save room for the wonderful small $2.65 chocolate cake shake listed on the drinks menu. Its consistence is quite thick but each spoonful is a delight. Whoever thought that simple chocolate cake bits mixed with shake could be paradise? Don't bother with the large one, finishing it would be a challenge. Be prepared to crave the chocolate cake shake once returned back home.
Portillo's is an effective choice if one seeks to break the monotony. Upon entering the restaurant, one gets the feeling of being transported into another decade. At the Elmhurst location, the restaurant has a ‘50's theme. Items from the past such as a authentic giant coca-cola bottle or original advertisements, an American flag, a life size bicycle, and posters from the 1950’s hang on the walls or the ceiling. Additionally, clothes from a high school class of 1957 are framed on the walls, strengthening Portillo’s old-school atmosphere.
The music from the era and perhaps some music from later years, (some ‘60's or ‘70's musics played during the night I was there anyway) will make parents remember memories that students will wish they could have experienced as well.
Colorful, lively, casual, warm, friendly and clean: this is the atmosphere of Portillo’s. The place is typically packed with families with their children, couples on dates, teenagers, and even older generations who are trying to recapture the past. Sometimes, because the place is so busy, it does tend to get a little loud. All ages can enjoy Portillo's. It is a nice place for students who are looking for something different while keeping their expenses low - nothing is above $7.00 on the menu and it is definitely better than anything served in the cafeteria.
Portillo's is unlike other fast food places since the place gives patrons the opportunity to tell the person taking the order how tender or cooked the meat should be. Another unique characteristic is that a man or woman then yells through a microphone the order to the cooks, but not without adding a few jokes at the end. The staff is friendly and will answer questions. Once food and beverage are decided and ordered, a receipt is handed to the client who needs to walk to the register on the other side of the counter in order to pay for the meal. Clients stand still there and wait for a short period of time for their meals. Portillo’s is known for their quick service. The orders usually arrive in about five minutes. Since there is no waitress to assist patrons, whatever table is available can be picked. Once this is done, open the boxes of food, start eating, and enjoy the meal. For people on the go, Portillo's also provides a convenient drive-through. In any case, the food is good and ridiculously cheap.
ADDRESS Elmhurst IL 60126 , 155 S.Rte 83, (630)-530-8451
PRICE RANGE Under $10
HOURS Sun - Thurs: 10:30am – 10:30pm , Fri - Sat: 10:30am - 11:00pm
CREDIT CARDS All major credit cards accepted.
