We were tired of convention/event food and one of my coworkers wanted to go to Portillo’s to get a Chicago style hot dog since we were here. I was definitely game to try, so we went.

Sateesh and I split the hot dogs in the Famous Meal #2 (two hot dogs, fries, drink), Tola ordered a jumbo hot dog plain, and I added an Italian beef sandwich with peppers and extra gravy (aka Portillo’s style).

Kitchen seemed like fast food production. On the plus side, food came out quickly. We all thought the “jumbo” hot dog looked the same as the regular one and Tola went to double check to make sure he got the right one, which they confirmed (looking back at the second picture where they are making them, the jumbo was significantly larger, so I think we did get short-dogged). Either way, all the dogs were a bit sad looking with their mushed up squishy buns with the only redeeming factor being the addition of the peppers. It tasted ok, nothing particularly notable and not terrible for fast food (granted, I don’t eat fast food or hot dogs often).

I cut the Italian beef sandwich so Tola and I could split it. Similar situation…a bit sad looking and the single pepper in this case didn’t do much to redeem it. Taste was, again, not terrible but not anything special. Only much later did I realize that there wasn’t any gravy, much less extra gravy like I had ordered (either that or it was so minimal I didn’t notice).

The food did, however, serve its purpose (I.e. gave an alternative to eating again at the conference buffet), but I am guessing this is not the best renditions of these classic Chicago foods. It seems like there is a sense of history at this location and just as we left, a school bus disgorged its high school occupants to dine here. I read that Portillo’s became a chain at some point with many lamenting the subsequent decline in quality. It’s a shame I won’t have a chance to try better versions of these Chicago staples on this trip.