Where to Eat in Chicago / Portillo’s: the Epitome of the “American Dream”
It’s the place to enjoy the famous Chicago-style hot dog.
By Alejandro Pohlenz
There are fascinating stories around food, and I love hearing and sharing them. Which two cities claim to be the birthplace of the frankfurter sausage? Obviously, Frankfurt, Germany. And the other? Vienna, which invented the “Viennese” or Wiener sausage. (In Chihuahua, they call it a “winnie.”) In any case, sausages arrived in the United States in the 19th century, brought by the Germans. They added the bun so that the sausage could be eaten by hand. Hence the design of the “long buns”: elongated to fit the wiener. There’s even an urban legend that a New York newspaper cartoonist, unable to write “dachshund sausage” (curiously, the dachshund is the “sausage dog”), called it a hot dog. Who knows if that’s true.
Mr. Dick Portillo
Now, let’s talk about Mr. Dick Portillo, the son of a Mexican father and a Greek mother, born in Chicago. (What was his real first name?) Dick’s family was so poor that they sold his tricycle to pay off a debt! In 1963, he opened a small stand called “The Dog House” with an investment of just over $1,000. It was a trailer with no running water, let alone a bathroom.
The Chicago-Style Hot Dog
Today, Portillo’s is the go-to place in Chicago for hot dogs. There are three locations. The one I visited, like Exchequer, had décor inspired by the Prohibition era. There are machines (like at McDonald’s) where you can order your hot dog, though you can also ask a friendly human employee. With your number, you wait a moment and—bam!—a Chicago-style hot dog: poppy seed bun, mustard, onions, pickles, sliced tomato, peppers, celery salt, and ketchup. Although it’s monstrous, I ate two! They’re exceptional. If you go to Chicago, you have to go to Portillo’s.
They also offer sliced roast beef sandwiches with the bread dipped in its own juice. And, not to be missed, grilled burgers, salads, ribs, and an indulgent chocolate cake.
- What we love and you must try: Chicago-style hot dog
- Address: 520 W. Taylor St., Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Opening days & hours: daily, 6:30 a.m. – 1:00 a.m.
- Ideal for: breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Payment: cash and cards
- Accessibility: yes
- Phone: +1 (312) 667-4560
- Reservations: not required
- Pet Friendly: no
- Suitable for children: yes
