Portillo's

If you're hungry, and you're anywhere around Chicago, say "Portillo's," and you'll immediately get a smile with someone offering to go with you. This is a chain that has grown from literally from a trailer stand back in 1963 by Dick Portillo to 43 locations that are pseudo-diners all around including a large location smack dab downtown. Like many restaurants, when they grow like this, the quality is not as good as it used to be. But, it's still a good place to go. If there was a Portillo's in the Washington, DC area, that would be the best hot dog joint for a hundred miles around. Portillo's is a hot dog joint that is a level above the grease pits. There are the different types of hot dogs, like chili dogs, jumbo dog, Chicago hot dog, etc., beef/combo sandwiches, burgers, salads, desserts, and more. Many locations are also paired with another restaurant. This particular location I went to in Schaumburg, IL two months ago is a Portillo's/Barnelli's Pasta Bowl to get your Italian on in addition to getting some other good eats.

It's hard to choose what to get when you're there, since the food is pretty decent. They're also known for the beef sandwiches. During this particular visit, I had a classic Chicago hot dog (a.k.a. "salad on a bun"), which includes a quality hot dog, relish, mustard (no ketchup!), chopped onion, sport peppers, and a snappy pickle on a poppy seed bun. I also had a Maxwell St. style Polish sausage (with cheese), cheese fries, and a strawberry milkshake. Price for everything was $13.03, though there was a special on the Polish that comes with a drink at that juncture. All very good. Writing this makes me wish I had them now, all over again.