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Portillo's Hot Dogs 23
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Very Loud
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
29 reviews for Portillo's Hot Dogs 23
Review Highlights
"I love the Italian Beef with sweet peppers."
(in 7 reviews)
"don't forget the chocolate cake."
(in 7 reviews)
"1 So now, I'm in love love love with the chopped salad."
(in 5 reviews)
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29 reviews in English
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Review from Ryan A.
Cary, IL
8/18/2011
This is the only place that can handle a crowd. I have never seen a drive thru run so efficiently. The food is great, I can pretty much go for Portillo's anytime.
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Review from George N.
Barrington, IL
2/1/2012 1 Check-in Here
Always good stuff whichever portillo's you go to. The consistency in high quality of food and great service is amazing.
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Review from Erin D.
6/8/2011 4 Check-ins Here
I honestly can't say anything bad about this place. I've been here a million times and have always had crazy fast service and they've never messed up my order. Everyone is friendly. The drive thru could be jammed packed and you can be thru there in 5 min.
They have their customer service down to a T. +1
And now for the food....
My normal fare would be cheeseburger, cheese fry and diet coke....but I've had to make some lifestyle changes ( shocking, I know based on the above). However, this location has a barnellis' too. +1 So now, I'm in love love love with the chopped salad.
In love period. -
Review from John Z.
Vernon Hills, IL
Updated - 8/12/2011
Have had drive thru twice since arriving last night. Once a hamburger meal, the other a cheeseburger meal. After living in Italy for a year, a burger is just what an American needs.
Better than I remembered, and I can't WAIT to have a dog and a beef!!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/30/2008
This is the Portillo's that we go to every day when we are visiting family. We love the Italian beef… Read more »
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Review from Jim T.
Marengo, IL
10/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
1st time I have tried there ribs, they were good. I would order them again. The only shame is that if you want something from the Portillo's line you have to start over again. You then end up with cold fries or warm coleslaw.
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Review from Brad E.
Milwaukee, WI
9/23/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Then hot dogs are really good, but surprisingly, I am a fan of the fish sandwich. The portion is out of this world and I savored every bite of the fried fish goodness. The polish sausage is nothing like what we get in Wisconsin, it was smoked polish, but it was pretty good. The atmosphere is crazy, everyone is so foodcentric here.
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Review from Laura M.
Lake in the Hills, IL
8/17/2010 4 Check-ins Here
My husband and I love this place. Not expensive and the hot dogs (what we go for) are great. Every location is consistent too. We go out of our way to get Portillos sometimes. Always. Our Vegetarian daughter can go to the pasta shop. I had a salad from the pasta shop. It was really done well... don't forget the chocolate cake... to die for!
Something for everyone in a casual family environment. One thing though... if you go, especially with kids, pick up after yourselves. YOu get your food on a tray and seat your self. Pack it in, pack it out. I saw a few adults with a bunch of kids after soccer just walked away with their mess everywhere. While there is staff, be courteous at this place. It's kind of a self serve deal.Listed in: Lake in the Hills Vicinity
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Review from MICHELLE C.
Miami, FL
7/15/2010 1 Check-in Here
What is the first thing ya do when you go to Chicago......I can tell you the first place we drive to. This place makes my mouth water. When I left Chicago many years ago, other than deep dish pizza, this place made me miss Chi-Town so much. Something about this place, they know how to make Italian Beef sandwiches. Yes, they are the very BEST!! No one compares.
Italian Beef dipped, of course with Mozzarella cheese and hot peppers, oh my it gives you a huge foodgasm!!! Greasy, excellent fresh bread, awesome juice, thinly sliced beef to perfection. Fries are crinkled cut and always fresh and hot. Then another must is their tamale....oh so good, a bit spicy and delish.
Now the hot dog's do not do it for me. I still prefer "Jimmy's hot dog's in the city. All of their locations are clean, great service, fast with plenty room to dine in. The drive-thru's are quick and professional. This place is fast food at it's best.
Seriously glad we do not have one here in Miami because I would weigh 300 pounds. I could never get tired of eating here.
Disclaimer: Be prepared, you will use a million paper napkins and feel like a grease pit after eating one. But oh so worth it.....
I love you Portillo's! -
Review from Stef M.
8/13/2010
Very good fast food but pricey. A Portillo's hot dog with small fries and a drink costs like $7.50, and you don't get refills on the drink. Lots of kids in dining room.
I didn't see any mention of Barnelli's Pasta Bowl in the reviews I skimmed - it is adjoining this location. You get a good "value" if you get the homemade minestrone soup that is served with a half loaf of fresh bread, or the kids spaghetti/meatball (not plural on the meatball, lol). . Also, you cannot order Barnelli's items at the drive thru.
I'm rating this a 4 star because of the food quality, however I feel its really a 3 star for me because its expensive for fast food hot dogs and because I have to park to get Barnelli's. -
Review from Sarah W.
Algonquin, IL
1/30/2010
I know I'm prolly one of very many to review Portillos but I looove this place so much! Their hotdogs are awesome and stay true to chicago style which I like. I have to also rave about their Chocolate cake. It has to be my all time favorite cake ever and I swear they put some kind of drug in it because its that addicting! If I could eat this cake everyday without gaining an ounce of weight I would do so.
Their menu is gigantic and I have liked everything that I have had at this place. This Portillos is a Barnelli's as well which has just as equally good food. I'm a creature of habit and I tend to always get the Rigatoni All Vodka, Chopped Salad, or the Baked Mostacolli when I go to the Barnelli's side. All three are great and the portions are definitely good. The only thing I have ever noticed are that they are giving out less bread with the dishes. It doesn't bother me because I usually don't eat that much of it but I guess people are noticing because I see them go up and ask for more. But who goes for the bread??
This place is always crowded and I think it will stay that way until forever. One of the best chain's in Illinois!! -
Review from Lia L.
Woodstock, IL
1/15/2011
I love love their Chicago style hot dogs and I they have the best onion rings that I've ever had. I also am a big fan of the chopped salad on the Barnelli's side. However, I will never again try to have both the salad and the hot dog in the same sitting to satisfy two cravings at once, though luckily enough they have to-go boxes readily available. I'm subtracting a star because of the no refills deal and it can get rather loud in the dining room. The place is always busy which is a good thing and there are some interesting staff - one particular woman who gave out the orders had creative sayings when calling the numbers.
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Review from Jesus H.
Chicago, IL
4/13/2010
Tasty as hell, but overpriced. The Italian beef is easily the best in town though.
Unfortunately, dining in kind of sucks, it's always crowded with ugly yuppie families with screaming brats running everywhere. -
Review from Joe K.
Rockford, IL
9/19/2008
I usually hate any place that is part of a chain, but Portillo's is by-and-far the best fast food chain in Illinois. They focus on quality and customer service, which results in high volume and a comparatively high price-point - but they deserve it.
The Italian (Bg) Beef and Chili Dog are better than anyone's. -
Review from Jason G.
Crystal Lake, IL
4/28/2010
I haven't eaten anything here that I haven't loved! They have some really good greasy fattening food! They also have drive-thru science perfected!
My personal favs are: Italian beef w/ hot peppers, Chili Cheese dogs, grilled chicken sandwich, Halibut sandwich, cheese fries & their chocolate cake! All very good!
I have eaten at probably 6-7 of their locations & they all are the same quality.. If you've never been, then you must try. If you have been, keep trying different menu items because I am sure that eveything is good! -
Review from Heidi F.
Crystal Lake, IL
5/20/2008
Wonderful! Love the hot dogs, beef, best fries ever! Having Barnelli's there means that everyone can find something if they are not in a hot dog and fries kinda mood.
Love the fact that they seem to have figured out how to make the drive thru flow at busy times. -
Review from Justin B.
Crystal Lake, IL
5/2/2011
Well priced quick food if you want something that is a huge step up from fast food quality but don't want to spend the time it would take to go to a sit down restaurant. The drive-thru process where you don't even have the menu in front of you while you order is a little difficult at times and it can be pretty loud if you eat inside, but the food is really very good for the price and if you have not had a "works" Portillos hot dog, you are missing out.
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Review from Chad L.
Woodstock, IL
3/24/2011 19 Check-ins Here
Always reliable and always delicious. The Chopped salad is big enough to share and their dressing is to die for.
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Review from Franklin D.
Arlington Heights, IL
4/11/2007
Yummy. All kinds of dogs/polish, burgers, and beef type sandwiches. I love the Italian Beef with sweet peppers.
This place gets very busy at the peak times. The parking lots around will be full. Not so bad really, unless it's really cold or bad weather.
There is also a Pasta restaurant in the same building so you can get pasta, bread, salad etc. It's got a separate kitchen and line and everything. The prices are kind of high though so be prepared for a little sticker shock on that side. -
Review from Doug M.
2/3/2010 15 Check-ins Here
I've liked Portillo's for a long time but haven't reviewed them. This one is good, always prompt, courteous service and not many mistakes in the drive-thru.
I love the cheesy-beef croissant! -
Review from larry b.
Woodstock, IL
9/23/2010
good dogs and Polish. Just a bit too noisy for me.
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Review from Kelly O.
8/20/2009
Portillo's just rocks. Period. Their food is AMAZING. Always fresh. Always awesome. That chocolate cake? To die for and a great easy dessert to order for a big party you're having- also hello, check out their catering menu: I get their Italian Beef whenever I have a party and I have to beg people to leave my house it's sooo amazing. (and reasonable IMO). The staff is attentive and friendly. Sometimes the drive-through can be a wait...but that is a testament to how much the food will blow your mind. I simply cannot have a fast food burger after having Portillo's. And the meatballs- YUMMTASTIC.
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Review from Kevin H.
Dundee Township, IL
6/25/2011
If I every leave Chicago or have one last request for a last meal I want it to be from Portillo's.
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Review from Marc B.
Chicago, IL
6/4/2009
Sure it's big. But their food is unbeatable. It *is* classic Chicago food. And their just-in-time manufacturing system should be studied in universities everywhere for it's model efficiency. From their burgers to their soups to their beef to their authentic Chicago style hot dogs, Portillo's does just about everything right.
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Review from Michael S.
Woodstock, IL
7/21/2011
I know this place is called Portillo's Hot Dogs, but I have never had them. I heard they are perhaps the greatest hot dogs ever, but personally I'm not much of a fan of hot dogs. Once in awhile they are ok, but when I come here I'm not really willing to try one because I want their amazing delicious out of this world Italian Beef sandwich. (Personally I usually go for the Big Beef, which is a larger version of their normal Beef sandwich) The bread is excellent for beef sandwiches, nice and tough and and chewy, which is key to beef sandwichs. The au jus helps soften the bread and the bread in return soaks up the wonderful flavour from it. I've had some beef sandwichs that just taste like standard buns you get at the grocery store. Or maybe the bread is slightly chilled, as if it's been in the fridge for a bit, which is also no good. The beef itself is a good mix between tough and tender, and it also soaks up the flavour of the au jus to make one magical sandwich. To me Portillo's has the greatest beef sandwich in all of Chicago. I should also mention their delicious crinkle cut french fries which make a perfect side dish for either a hot dog or a beef. I also suggest maybe getting them with a cup of hot cheese on the side as well. It's a pretty good sized cup so you should have enough for even a large fry. I also recommend putting a little on the beef sandwich as it's pretty good too. The atmosphere here is really nice too, which is based around a roarin' 20's speakeasy. Expect to see picture of Al Capone and other gangsters and to hear old swing music from the era over the loud speakers. There is usually plenty of seating, though around lunch and dinner it can get pretty crowded, and for a very good reason. This review pretty much applies to their locations, so you can go to one thats's closest to you and expect to get a very good meal for a decent price.
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Review from nicole h.
3/3/2010
I understand that my pescetarianism makes me semi-unqualified to review Portillo's. After all, they're famous for their hot dogs and beef, right? Whatever. They have other stuff...Barnelli's, etc. But it's just not that great if you don't want to eat what they're famous for. The ONE noteworthy menu item that I seriously dream about--the CHOCOLATE CAKE. AMG (ahhhh mahhhh gaddddd) it is SIIIIIICK (in a good way). Rumor has it that they bake it with mayo...and mayo makes pretty much everything better so that makes sense, right?
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Review from Kevin M.
Lake in the Hills, IL
9/12/2009
Had a great experience on our first visit. Of course we had no idea what to order but they guy taking our order on a bag while we waited in line suggested the beef sandwich and fries with cheese. Had hot peppers and my kids had other things that they devoured. The atmosphere was fast-paced and "heartburn waiting to happen". The lady at the end of the production line who served up our order was very nice and fun. They forgot my piece of cake, but gladly gave it to me with the receipt. The cake was very moist, but basically it was just plain old chocolate cake. Overall I would say a 4.5 star experience.
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Review from Chuck A.
Crystal Lake, IL
2/21/2011
It is a good hot dog place. the food all tastes good, it is just a little bit pricey and I don't think worth it. It is always pretty busy when I have been in there, which not only says its popular, but gives an atmosphere like a cafeteria.
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Review from Heather M.
Crystal Lake, IL
11/14/2007
This is a good standby, either to drive through or eat in. Great salad selections and pastas and the menu is super family-friendly. Parking can be annoying. You can come with a big group and everyone will be happy with what they ordered.
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Review from Deb O.
Denver, CO
7/30/2010
The Italian beef sandwiches are the best. I try making them at home, but can't come close. A close second is the chopped salad. Dessert: CHOCOLATE CAKE! A great place to eat when I visit family.
