hot dog! since 1963, portillo’s has been serving fresh, homemade food in nostalgic themed restaurants. get your buns ready for some delicious food! will it be our classic chicago-style hot dog or our legendary italian beef sandwich with home-cooked sweet peppers? perhaps you’re in the mood for one of our char-grilled burgers or a chopped salad. no matter what you order, finish your meal with a slice of our fresh-baked chocolate cake or a chocolate cake shake. there’s something for everyone at portillo’s! in 1963, dick portillo and his wife sharon invested their life savings of $1,100 into a hot dog stand called “the dog house” in villa park, il. the dog house didn’t have running water or a bathroom. dick had to run garden hoses from a local business to get the water he needed. the menu was simple – hot dogs, tamales, fries and a coke, all for under 35 cents. through dick’s hard work and determination, the dog house evolved into portillo’s and has become what it is today. come and enjoy