Portillo's Tomball — Restaurant in Tomball

We decided to try this new Portillo's location after eating at the one on 1960 several times because this one (off 99 and 249) is a tad closer.

It was busy but we were able to find a seat no problem after placing our order.

The staff was welcoming, and everything ran smoothly, the mark of a well-managed restaurant.

I prefer the décor here to the décor at the 1960 location. This place has a higher blue to red ratio, which makes it feel a bit nicer and more nostalgic.

The Chicago dog was everything it should be with a snappy casing, sport peppers, pickle, diced tomatoes and celery salt on a sesame seed bun.

The beef sandwich was a miss, though, unfortunately. The beef leaned toward the dry side, and that was a surprise because every time I've had the beef sandwich at the 1960 location (an almost embarrassing amount of times by now), it has always been ridiculously tender. I mean tender to a point that I could cut my sandwich in half with a plastic fork. That just wasn't the case at this location.

Similarly, the au jus (gravy) fell flat, too. At the 1960 location, their au jus has been packed full of deep, herby goodness to the point that it's nearly a religious experience. Again, that just wasn't the case at this location.

I also asked for extra hot peppers, and, again, they failed to deliver.

The crinkle-cut fries were absolutely amazing, though: hot, fresh and perfectly salted. The accompanying cheese sauce is also not to be missed.

I was hoping for a slice of their limited-time offer lemon cake, which is at the 1960 location this summer, but they didn't have it. I don't know if they ran out or aren't offering it, but I did get a slice of their famous chocolate cake, and ooh-WEE, was that rich and dense and delicious and not a bit dry, so nothing lost there.

They have plenty of parking and a great drive-thru set up just like the 1960 location.

All in all, it was a solid meal; I just wish that the beef sandwich was up to par. However, this is a brand-new restaurant, so they're probably still finding their footing.

We will definitely be back over the...

I recently had a very frustrating experience with the takeout process at this Portillo’s. I placed an online order, and the app clearly states that to-go orders will be placed in the red pickup area. When I arrived, I stood by the designated area for several minutes, but no one acknowledged me. An employee was walking around the kitchen, but no one asked if I was waiting for a pickup or offered to check on my order.

After waiting about 15 minutes by the pickup zone, I finally sat down for another 10 minutes, still clearly visible to staff, and still no one checked in. Eventually, I went up and asked about my order (which was just onion rings and a slice of cake). At that point, they located it—turns out it had been sitting on a counter across from the red pickup area the whole time. When I mentioned what the app says about pickup, I was told that’s “not how it works,” which makes no sense—because if customers are relying on the app instructions, how are we supposed to know otherwise without communication?

To make matters worse, when I finally left, I discovered the cake wasn’t even in the bag. I had to go back inside, and when I mentioned it, instead of apologizing, the employee grabbed the bag and checked it as if I was making it up, then handed me the missing item with no acknowledgment of the mistake.

The entire experience showed a serious lack of communication and customer service in the takeout area. Orders should be placed where the app tells customers to pick them up, or staff should at least acknowledge people waiting and ask if they’re picking up. A simple “Can I help you?” would have solved everything. Instead, I spent nearly 30 minutes for a very simple order and had to double back just to get what I paid for.

Hopefully, management addresses this, because as it stands, the takeout process is disorganized and frustrating. Especially with cold...

We decided to visit this place out of curiosity and see what it was all about. I initially thought it was going to be a traditional à la carte Mexican or Tex-Mex restaurant, but it turned out to be more of a fast-casual concept. They offer a mix of items, including hot dogs, subs, chicken tenders, salads, bowls, desserts like chocolate cake, and even branded merchandise.

I came with my family (a group of five), and we all enjoyed the experience. The atmosphere is definitely a highlight—it has a nostalgic vibe that makes you feel like you’ve stepped back into the 60s or 70s, even the music. It was really fun and visually appealing.

We ordered the hot dogs and the 4-piece chicken tenders. The tenders were a good size and had great flavor. The hot dogs were standard in size, but what stood out was the pepper bread and the option to add caramelized onions and fresh vegetables—definitely a nice touch that elevated the meal.

One thing I didn’t particularly enjoy was that the food came pre-wrapped. I assume it’s for efficiency, especially for the drive-thru orders, which makes sense, but it did take away slightly from the dine-in presentation.

Overall, it was a pleasant visit, and I appreciate the unique concept and retro ambiance. It's worth checking out if you're in the area and looking for something different and casual. Please hearts or thumbs up to...