Portillo’s Hot Dog
Portillo’s was the first stop on my quest to find the ultimate Chicago-style hot dog. Being my first, I had high expectations and Portillo’s could have had one of two effects on me—make me giddy and attached forever or leave me utterly unimpressed. Unfortunately, Portillo’s had the latter effect.
The food is what I would describe as overrated. The hot dog lacked the girth and crunchiness one would expect from a truly delicious hot dog and, although the menu boasts all the toppings of a Chicago-style hot dog, they were sparing. The hot dog did not have nearly enough chopped onions and I couldn’t even taste the relish or the deli-style mustard. To add fuel to the fire, when I asked for extra toppings, I was asked to pay .40 cents for any additional peppers or onions (call me cheap, but c’mon!). I hate to say it, but my beef (no pun intended) with Portillo’s dog didn’t stop there. The “perfectly steamed” poppy seed bun flirted with soggy. The French fries were neither here nor there, but the chocolate cake shake did add an element of excitement to the meal. It was a novel idea that was executed quite well—a thick and hearty shake!
The restaurant itself reminded me of a ride at Disney World. I’ll let you decide for yourself if thats a good thing or a bad thing. To it’s credit, though, the décor is festive and highlights Chicago’s rich history with local memorabilia hanging, well, pretty much everywhere.
In hindsight, Portillo’s location across from the Rock n’ Roll McDonalds and The Rainforest Café should have clued me in. Quite frankly, Portillo’s seems more like a tourist staple rather than the authentic Chicago hot dog joint I was looking for, but like many firsts, I just might be tempted to go back for more.
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Tags: american, chicago, Food, hot dog, inexpensive, river north
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