Portillo’s invites Chicagoans to celebrate its 60th anniversary with good food and big wins, as the popular hotdog chain is bringing back the original Dog House trailer in the Windy City. Find out more!
Chicago’s food scene, one of the best in the world
Chicago is one of the best cities for culinary experiences, offering a wide variety of dreamy and mouth watering Chicagoan dishes, as well as international foods and a myriad of restaurants.
Chicago food culture is in its own culinary league. The city boasts many signature dishes, well known both nationally and internationally. Nobody can say no to a hot slice of the gooey, cheesy, and heavenly-tasting deep-dish pizza. How about an Italian beef sandwich, Chicago-style popcorn, hot dog, or a mile-high ice cream cone?
Portillo’s has been a Chicago staple since 1963, when Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small trailer to open the first Portillo’s hot dog stand in Villa Park, IL, which he called “The Dog House.” Years later, Portillo’s has become a brand synonymous with Chicago.
In fact, according to the chain’s website, they are kind of a big dill– people say it’s not a real trip to Chicago unless you eat at Portillo’s. Fortunately, die-hard fans and first-timers alike have their choice of Portillo’s restaurants, as they have beefed up to more than 70 locations across several states.
Portillo’s is known for its famous Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, chopped salad, cheese fries, homemade chocolate cake, and chocolate cake shake. Their Italian beef is slow-roasted for four hours, thinly sliced, and served on freshly baked French bread. Then, it’s dipped in hot gravy made with their homemade blend of seasonings perfected for 50 years. Haven’t tried Portillo’s yet? Order an Italian beef, dipped with sweet or hot peppers (add mozzarella if you’re feeling cheesy), or a Chicago-style hot dog “dragged through the garden” and you’ll see what all the hype is about.
How to feast in style. Italian Chicago style!
As the popular hotdog chain brings in its 60th anniversary in the Windy City, Portillo’s is bringing back the original Dog House trailer. Yes, it’s the one that Dick Portillo first opened on April 5, 1963! Wednesday, April 5, is Portillo’s Day, as declared by outgoing Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, who issued an official decree naming the day in honor of the beloved restaurant chain.
The celebration falls on Portillo’s 60th anniversary. So, on April 5th Portillo’s fans can enter the restaurant’s birthday sweepstakes for the chance to win free Portillo’s for a year.
The next day, Portillo’s is taking the show on the road and back to its roots.
The restaurant chain plans to take the Dog House, its original stand opened in 1963, on a 10-stop tour across Chicago and its suburbs where fans will have a chance to win free merch and tasty treats.
Starting this Thursday, April 6, and going to June 8, every Thursday the Dog House trailer will be parked outside different Portillo’s locations filled with a spinning wheel of prizes, limited edition birthday-themed merchandise, including T-shirts, Dog House hats, magnets, a tour poster and more, and a chance to win big. The first 10 people to visit the Dog House (at each stop) can also get a slice of chocolate cake!
The Dog House will be open every Thursday from April 6 through June 8, from 4-7pm (CT), in our parking lots at the following restaurants:
- April 6 – Canal & Taylor (520 W. Taylor Street)
- April 13 – Oak Lawn (4020 W. 95th Street)
- April 20 – Bolingbrook (134 E Boughton Rd.)
- April 27 – Downers Grove (1500 Butterfield Rd.)
- May 4 – Naperville (1992 W. Jefferson)
- May 11 – Glendale Heights (235 North Ave.)
- May 18 – Elgin (1020 S. Randall Rd.)
- May 25 – Crystal Lake (855 Cog Circle)
- June 1 – Rockford (6090 State Street)
- June 8 – Villa Park (635 1/2 North Ave.)
Some sweet spots to water down all that Portillo food
And, in case your food experience at Portillo’s has been enough, you might want to wash down all that good food with some equally amazing drinks. Since warmer weather is slowly returning, it might be time to find again or maybe for the first time one of the best places to have a drink in the Windy City.
The Chicago beer scene has experienced explosive growth in the last two decades, thanks partly to the rising popularity of craft beer. If you are a fan, Chicago’s brewing community has it all, from the biggest names in the country to tiny experimental upstarts.
Whether you want to explore the downtown beer scene or venture out to the suburbs, you’re sure to find a wide range of Chicago breweries. With more than 200 breweries in The Windy City and its diverse neighborhoods, we hand-picked the best Chicago breweries to visit.
If you are not beer crazed, but you enjoy a drink with a view, whether you are coming to Chicago for a business trip or a vacation, to have a local hangout stop that’s conveniently located close to your hotel or maybe even on top of it would be pretty nice. So, whether you’re here for business or pleasure or you are a local trying to find new exciting places in the city you have never been to, check out this local guide to Chicago hotels with rooftop bars, which include some of the best rooftop bars in the city.
