Portillo's Chicago – Canal and Taylor — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

I placed my order over the phone, so I could pick it up when I arrived at portillos. When I called and talked to an agent (you are no longer are able to call the portillos directly anymore). I ordered a large cheese fry, she got that part of the order down no problem. Then I ordered a cheeseburger no tomato, no onion. The agent couldn't wrap her head around no tomato, no onion. She changes the order around and asks, so you want a cheeseburger, with only mayo, ketchup, lettuce, and tomato. I responded that she forgot the pickle and that it was no tomato and no onion. She finally got that part of the order correct. Then I order a double cheeseburger with only ketchup and sport peppers. She responds with, that is not an option. She can give order me only ketchup, but sport peppers is not an option. I told her I can walk into any portillos and order my double cheeseburger with only ketchup and sport peppers. She apologized and informed me she is a third party vendor she is limited in what she can do. I told her no problem that I will just get my sport peppers at the restaurant when I get arrive. When I arrive at portillos to get my food. I walk up to the cashier and give her my name for the order, and explained what happen on the phone, and if she could get me a cup of sport peppers and the number for corporate, because ordering on the phone is a joke. She stood there with a black look. I again asked for my order, and she'd if she could get me a cup of sport peppers. She finally grabbed my order, and grabbed the sport peppers. I again asked her for the number for corporate. She asked if she did something wrong. I smiled and told her no, that I needed it because of the phone ordering. She doesn't say anything, and walks away around the corner for about 30 seconds. She comes back and says that she wants to make sure that she gets the correct phone number for corporate. She wants away again comes back 30 seconds later and grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil walks up to a wall and writes down there number for corporate. She hands me the paper and I go home with my food. I open the cup of sport peppers to put them on my burger, and there are five tiny little peppers in the cup. Usually if you get a cup it is full (tiny little chops though, usually about 15 sport peppers). Not a huge deal, but not as many as I would have liked in my burger. Then the final straw is when I opened my burger top to put the peppers on, I only have a small smear of ketchup, and a small...

I visited at 12:50am Friday night and ordered through the drive-thru ‘cus they closed the front at 12am, and drive-thru kept on ‘til 1:30am.

First, The Shake: Honestly, if you put a good chocolate cake inside a shake, this is what you’re drinking. The consistency is perfect, the cool thing is the actual cake bits, it’s amazing. Wow.

The Cheese Fries: Mmm, the cheese, it’s hot, I like that. Alright, so think of your standard cheese dip sauce, but like it’s better. Imagine the same experience but it feels like real cheese. Huh, wow, I was actually impressed. Remember Mr. Fogel’s nacho cheese? It’s like that but 10% better. Oh man, they give you a lot of fries too, that’s good. I wouldn’t put these fries as one of the best, but the CHEESE though.

The Chili Cheese Dog: Oh it looks nasty, the chili cheese, and the bun is weird, like mushy. Hmm, oh WOW, now THAT’s a hot dog, the sausage hot dog link is quality meat. It has flavor and the toppings are good, the onions are well diced, and the chili; it’s not like most chili, the tomatoes and beef were smooth, but still let the hot dog take the show. I like the beans flavor in the chili too, I think it’s the onions, they bring a nice kick. The bun, it’s soft, it’s freshly baked and it works well. You ever have one of those Chinese steamed pork buns? It’s cool, it just wraps around the hot dog. The bread retains moisture but it doesn’t taste wet.

The Chicago Style Hot Dog: Uh, it’s hard to focus, there’s a lot going on. The hot dog sausage was the last thing I tasted in the bite. Yellow banana pepper is spicy. The chili cheese dog was better. It’s kind of cool though. I don’t even know how to start this. I don’t think I’m going to finish this. Like why is there a tomato in here, you know? I wouldn’t take anything away from this, which is weird. If it had a bigger bun everything would be able to stay together. I like that it’s a strong bun, it’s able to hold all the condiments. Better than other...

I used to love coming here. I even recommended it to my family and friends . But I wouldn’t want to come anymore.

I came through drive through to redeem my birthday cake. I put my cake in the car and parked in Portillo’s parking lot. Went across the street for an hour at most and came back finding my car being towed. I didn’t have to park here, just because I wanted their food first. They told me that they saw the camera that I walked out and not into the building. Then why can’t they see me going through drive through and getting their cake? I felt like being treated as a thief instead of their costumer. After telling this story to my friends, they also told me their food is not as well as before. And I can see why. Since they invest more on seeing the costumer to take advantage of them instead of treating the costumer with the best experience. My friend’s wouldn’t want to go there anymore as well. I could have parked across the street, since I’m buying stuff and get validated anyway and walk over to get their cake but I choose to be there first. Both are me having business with the company but one makes me felt like I’m committing crime and have to be punished. I was super late for my birthday party with my friends after that.

If you want the best experience of that shopping area, never choose to park there even if you want their food. I’m willing to pay the parking fee if they offer, but being treated as a thief is a terrible experience. Especially on a birthday. $240? Not worth it. A lot of time I go to a restaurant because it’s next to a shopping mall or I can walk around. Since I’ll get hungry before or after I shop. But this way of doing is preventing me to explore its neighborhood. Either shop and eat at shopping mall. Or eat at their place and do not walk to shop or explore the neighborhood. It is very...