Cultural Foods: Portillo’s Hot Dogs Chicago

I love Chicago. I love the sites, I love the setting and I love the food. When I arrived at Chicago’s Midway Airport I looked at my Blackberry and had a message from my colleagues who were picking me up from the airport. It said, “we are going to Portillo’s don’t eat anything.” I had never heard of Portillo’s. It sounded intriguing. Little did I know, they had tasted this drug the day before and in order to get their hit they have now got me addicted.

Portillo’s is a Chicago restaurant that has been serving hot dogs since 1963. This isn’t your ordinary hot dog however, it’s Chicago style. What does that mean you might ask?  A Portillo’s Beef Hot Dog includes…

“mustard, relish, freshly chopped onions, red ripe tomatoes, kosher pickle spear, & sport peppers piled into a perfectly steamed poppy seed bun”

I asked the cashier what I should have and that’s what she suggested. It’s what they are known for. I should have ordered two, they were that good. Portillo’s is a fast food restaurant, but a good fast food restaurant. All their food is made fresh to order. It’s a dynamic fun place. During the lunchtime rush there was a crowd of people ordering food. The line moved fast thanks to their handy ordering system. Check it out on YouTube.

There are no surprises at this place. Food is made right in front of your eyes.

The staff at Portillo’s is incredibly friendly. Despite how busy they were, the staff was patient as I asked lots of questions about the menu. They were helpful in directing a first-timer where to place my order bag and they even put on a show for the camera. Here’s the counter staff singing and dancing for the camera.

That’s right ladies, move your body.

The best part was the hot dog. Chicago rules state you’re not supposed to eat a hot dog with ketchup. And that’s okay. It tastes great without it.

Portillo’s has everything: great staff, a great location and great food. It is THE place to eat in Chicago. Bustling with energy, Chicago memorabilia on the wall, jazz music in the background to get you to swing; it’s the complete package. I wish I had eaten more meals here – and not just because they aren’t exotic. Well… perhaps that’s one reason why I liked the food. It wasn’t like the alligator I had in Louisiana. Sure it’s comforting and an American Staple, it’s yummy too.

Next time I’m in Chicago I’m finding my way back to Portillo’s and you should too. How can you go wrong with a hot dog? Simply put, you can’t!