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How many Portillos are in Illinois

Author

David Jones

Published Apr 21, 2026

Today, The Portillo Restaurant Group calls itself the Midwest’s largest privately-held restaurant company. It has roughly 4,400 employees across four states: Illinois, Indiana, California and Arizona. Its 38 Portillo’s locations serve such fare as hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches.

How many states is Portillo's in?

Nationwide Shipping Portillo’s begins shipping food to all 50 states. Residents in states outside of Illinois finally have a way to enjoy Portillo’s food without taking a long road trip.

Who bought Portillo's chain?

In 2014, the then-38-unit brand was purchased by private equity firm Berkshire Partners for nearly $1 billion. Six months after that transaction, Portillo bought back some of the chain’s real estate, acquiring 18 of his namesake restaurants and two food commissaries under 20-year leases.

Is Portillo's nationwide?

Today the company has 67 restaurants across nine states, up from 40 locations in 2015, one year after Portillo sold the chain to private equity firm Berkshire Partners.

How much does Portillo's make a year?

Portillo’s revenue per store is unheard of in fast-food or fast-casual restaurants. An average McDonald’s in the United States, for example, brings in nearly $2.5 million in annual revenue. The average newer Portillo’s brings in $7 to $8 million.

Is Portillo's franchise?

Portillo’s does not franchise any of its locations, this includes its food truck(s).

Are Portillo's Hot Dogs All Beef?

A Portillo’s Chicago style hot dog is a natural skin on all beef hot dog served in a steamed poppy seed bun loaded with mustard, relish, onions, tomatoes, kosher pickle spear, sport peppers and Portillo’s own seasoning salt.

What is Portillo's net worth?

The Berkshire Partners LLC private-equity firm acquired Portillo’s in 2014 for a reported $1 billion.

What is the best thing at Portillos?

  • Hot Dog. Make sure to order it Chicago Style. …
  • The Char-Grilled Maxwell Street Polish. This sausage is grilled to perfection with mustard and grilled onions. …
  • The Italian Beef Sandwich. …
  • Combo Sandwich (Italian Beef with Italian Sausage) …
  • Burgers. …
  • Salads. …
  • Side Items. …
  • Bonus Item: Dessert.
How much did Berkshire Hathaway pay for Portillo's?

Best known for its Chicago-style fare, Portillo’s grew from a Villa Park hot dog stand in 1963 to a 38-restaurant chain with locations in California and Arizona. Boston-based private-equity firm Berkshire Partners took over the Oak Brook-based chain and its real estate this summer in a deal reportedly near $1 billion.

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How much does it cost to build a Portillo's?

Portillo’s is known for its large restaurants, with current stores averaging more than 8,000 square feet and costing about $5 million to build. Stores are currently serving an average of 825,000 guests per year, the company said, with each one spending about $9.60.

Does California have Portillo's?

Portillo’s first California location opened on October 11, 2005, at the Buena Park Downtown shopping center in Buena Park. The second California location opened in 2008 in the Inland Empire city of Moreno Valley.

What is Portillos chocolate cake made of?

An Easy Mayonnaise Cake The Portillo’s chocolate cake copycat is a ridiculously easy mayonnaise cake. It calls for Betty Crocker cake mix, eggs, water, and mayo and is frosted with canned Betty Crocker frosting.

Are Portillo's Hot Dogs pork?

Portillo’s is a fast-casual restaurant that’s located throughout Illinois and serves a classic Chicago-style hot dog. Chicago is famous for its hot dog, which is an all-beef Vienna dog topped with mustard, neon-green relish, tomatoes, white onions, a pickle spear, sport peppers, and a shake of celery salt.

Why is Portillo's cake not refrigerated?

How to Store Portillo’s Chocolate Cake. … Let the cake sit at room temperature at the counter. There’s no need to refrigerate it since the frosting seals in the cake, helping it keep its moisture. Chocolate cake will last up to two days at room temperature.

What is a wet Italian Beef?

For all of you first time Italian Beef eaters- here’s what you need to know: Dipped– beef is pulled from the juice, put in the roll and then the entire sandwich is dipped into the beef juice. This is the soggy version folks! Wet– means the beef is pulled from the juice and placed into the roll.

Does Portillo's put mayo in their shakes?

Portillo’s Chocolate Cake Milkshake One of the main ingredients in this glorious milkshake is mayonnaise. Yes, I said that correctly, mayonnaise in a milkshake. Mixed in with the ice cream and tiny chunks of blended cake and frosting, this milkshake will be sure to be your jeans’ button breaker.

Why are Portillo's hot dogs so good?

Chicago-style hot dogs are a thing that you can pretty much get anywhere in the city, but Portillo’s does it in a way that is perfection. The pickles, like, these small little peppers, and even that celery salt seasoning really shines through in every bite.

Does Warren Buffett Own Portillo's Hot Dogs?

Warren Buffett did not buy the Portillos Hot Dog chain. Contrary to the Chicago area Daily Herald initial news report. Berkshire Partners, a Boston Private Equity Group, was the buyer. Unrelated to Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway investment group.

Who makes Portillo's Hot Dogs?

Vienna Beef is proud to have maintained a relationship with the Portillo’s Restaurant Group during this legendary climb. From the beginning in 1963 Portillo’s has been serving Vienna Beef products.