Portillo’s Hot Dogs & Barnelli’s Salad Bowl

Very interesting place. There is a drive through, there is and an ordering counter inside. So it is kind of like a fast food place, but almost like a huge food truck type kitchen that you can see.
When you enter, it is not clear on where to go to place your order. I went up and was waiting in like at the entrance, only to find out that was the phone order pick-​up line. It turns out you need to go all the way to the other side from where the entrance is to place you order. Once you order, you are given a number, then slide down the line and wait for your number to be called.
The numbers they call seem pretty random and none called appeared to be any in sort of numerical order. So don’t get worried when your number is 42 and they call 17, because you could be the next order up.
I tried the Italian Beef sandwich, which is basically like a Philly Cheesesteak but replace the cheese with peppers. Meat was tender and seasoned, but it is a messy sandwich, so grab some napkins.
Since I don’t come to the Chicago area much I opted to try a hot dog too. The dog was good and a bit spicy. I always find it disconcerting that the relish is a nuclear radiation color green. Nonetheless, I ate it. And I got the bonus of tasting that dog for the rest of the day as it keep repeating on me LOL.
The onion rings were the winner. These were perfectly breaded and cooked to be super crispy with no soggy oil.
Probably a good place for a lunch rotation, but not someplace I would be coming for a Chicago style dinner.

Tsk Tsk Tsk…
They changed the chicken in the salads to save money. It’s appearance, texture and flavor are unappetizing and inedible. It’s overly proccessed, it’s what I would expect to see in a school, a jail, some sort of institution where they have to feed people for very little money.
AND, they also changed the salad dressing.
It’s not the Portillos it used to be, it’s a shame.
We no longer have any reason to go there, you can get a great hot dog/​Italian Beef anywhere in Chicago.

Loving coming here to get a salad. The ribs are a great choice as well and the cake is so tasty. This location is not small like other ones inside.

Asked for extra extra cheese on salad and not sure they get it. Had it happen last time as well and then they skipped the cheese altogether! Pay attention please, especially to carry out orders!

This Portillo’s location is good. I usually use the drive-​through and it moves pretty fast. Almost everything at Portillo’s and barnellis is very good. The only reason I gave it four stars instead of five stars is because in the drive-​through I usually talk to the first person to give my order the second person who I pay repeats my order which is correct but when I get to the window to get my food not everything is correct. However, they are very good at correcting the order and keeping the customer happy. I don’t think I will ever get sick of their hotdogs but the doctor says I need to make healthier choices. Chopped salad here I come.

I love Portillo’s. I have lots of love for P’s and fond memories. After the birth of my first child, we stopped by the downtown one for chicken cheddar croissants, onion rings, and chocolate cake shakes. After the birth of my second kid, friends brought us Portillo’s to our hospital room. There’s my memorable history with Portillo’s downtown.
Now as suburban residents, we were thrilled to see Portillo’s near our house and next to Super Target. Talk about a win win! Soon after we moved, we made frequent trips. This location is always busy especially during lunch hour and on weekends. As with other Portillo’s locations, it’s run like a well oiled machine from ordering to getting your goodies.
Our personal favorites are the burgers, chicken sandwiches, onion rings, and chopped salad. Oh, I could sing songs about the awesomeness that is the chopped salad. I know it’s far from healthy, but oh so delicious. I take to ordering it in addition to my regular order to have one of the next day.
What can I say? I love Portillo’s. It’s fantastic to have one so close.

This place is fine, food is plentiful and even the long line moves fast. Tastes ok.

DOES THIS ESTABLISHMENT NOT KNOW THE MEANING OF THE WORD «CUSTOMER SERVICE»??? They gave me a piece of chocolate cake instead of my chopped salad RUFKM?!? Don’t they know beach season is upon us? And then on top of that they had the AUDACITY to charge me the $ 3 difference between the cake and the salad after I had been waiting for upwards of 20 minutes. Unacceptable, unprofessional and quite frankly incompetent.

some swear to these hot dogs and beefs and pizzas, but they’re pretty average i guess. i mean better than average. it’s a nice staple of vernon hills and the aesthetic is sorta goofy and old but i guess memorable. i like the beef cheddar croissant. everything here is pretty good. i suggest the polish sausage and the spicy pasta which is not that spicy. the chocolate cake shake is good and could use a smaller size. it’s near target so you can shop at target and walk here, or drive here — probably drive because everything in vernon hills is literally 100 miles apart.

I hate waiting in line. If you go during a meal time, you will have to wait in line. However, waiting in line here is worth it. I’m not a huge burger fan, but when I want a burger this is where I’m going to go. I have never had anything here that I did not enjoy eating. It’s just like every other Portillo’s, which is important for a chain restaurant.

Went inside the building for lunch after seeing the drive thru line. Ordered the broiled chicken croissant and onion rings. Really loved the crispness and taste of the onion rings ($ 2.19), but wow so much residual oil. The chicken croissant ($ 5.19) tasted good, but the chicken was tough to bite.

This place serves the best Italian beef & sausage combos that we could find in the Chicagoland area. We drove around and tried half a dozen highly rated places that all are reputed to have the best of these and we were surprised that Portllos clearly surpassed them all.

Amazing.
Chicago Hot Dog — ⁵⁄₅
Italian Beef — ⁵⁄₅
Parking — ⁵⁄₅
Service — ⁴⁄₅

Portillo’s is so freakin’ annoying! I swear, everything time I go through their drive thru they muck it up. ALWAYS CHECK YOUR ORDER BEFORE PULLING AWAY! They tried to send me along today without my chopped salad. How is it Portillo’s is going to have the most staffed and strategic drive thru of all times, yet they always get it wrong? You don’t see Burger King with a hundred employees freezing their butts off outside and BK always gets your order right.
Food was good, but their poor attention to detail within a highly detailed process called DRIVE THRU makes them lose stars. Also, their kids size portion of pasta (a kids meal) is SO SMALL. Over it, Portillo’s, flippin’ over it.

For the love of all that’s holy, their Italian beef is the bomb!
I pour cheesy sauce over mine and sprinkle giardiniera like snowflakes because I’m freaky like that, and also because I love it best that way.
It’s always crowded, but they do what they can to make the line move along quickly. And the food is worth the wait.

Today the service was awful. The cashier had us wait well he and a total of 3 employees tried to figure out their employee discount. I have to feed my son and get him to sleep.
The chicken pannani was not very good no basil dried chicken hard bread and no flavor. Hope it’s not corporate America taking over.

My all-​time favorite place in high school. The food here is inexpensive, fresh, and most importantly, YUMMY! I came here this weekend while I was back home, and it haven’t changed a bit. Portillo’s is a place that sells delicious and comforting traditional Italian/​American food. They have choices that range from chilli cheese hot dogs, italian beef sandwich to good old pasta and chopped salad (which is absolutely a must). I ordered the italian beef sandwich because you could never go wrong with this. The thin slices of beef are so juicy and soft, and it pairs well with the soft white bread. The hot peppers bring out the excitement and the sweet peppers bring out the flavor. Overall if you come here the first time, you have to get the italian beef! And their fries are phenomenal too. Can’t complain a bit!
It’s always crowded here, so the wait might be longer than you expected. There are two types of order lines: one for fast food, and one for gourmet food. If you want hot dogs or italian beef sandwich, go to the fast food line. If you want to order the salads/​pasta, go to the gourmet. They’re equally good!
They also provide catering service, which is a plus too!

Chili cheese dogs were my lifeblood. I’ve moved onto Maxwell St. Polishes. Haven’t looked back. Only Portillo’s does it right. Also, if you’ve ever looked at a slice of cake and wondered, «But will it blend?» It does and Portillo’s proves it with their chocolate cake shake. They’re not messing. You have to suck chunks of cake up your straw. Doesn’t that sound idyllic? Must try.
I thought the strawberry shortcake was going to be a one serving slice judging from the price… Nope. Holy cannoli. It is HUGE. It was not what I expected at all.

One of the fastest Portillo’s that I have ever been to! It’s a Portillos, everything is good! My faves are the Maxwell, Cheeseburger, Broiled Chicken Sandwich, Beef’n’Cheddar Croissant, fries and Italian Beef!
The chocolate cake is amazing, nothing like mayo to keep it moist!

After my last break up letter to the four cheese veggie pizza at Barnelli’s, I’m not kidding when I tell you I might be breaking up with the cheeseburger too!
I don’t eat much red meat anymore. But, if I do I typically aim for higher quality beef — unless I desperately crave it and grab the greasiest burger around. Lately I’ve been sticking with the salad side of life for the most part. But, I admit to recently ordering up a cheeseburger at a locally owned restaurant elsewhere, and I ordered one here the other night. Let’s just say the other burger beat the Portillo’s burger by far in the quality department. Still from a fast food counter type joint, but I think I figured out why my kiddos and I just didn’t feel good after the fact when we left here. I tell you, it’s the sodium — I’m convinced!
Though I love Portillo’s and think so many items on their menu are the bomb, like the Italian beef and chocolate shake cake, I just won’t be ordering a burger the next time I come. I will miss that juicy greasy patty, but it looks like my heart is now partial to the other quick stop — when the urge comes up.
The good news? This will force me to try the many other menu items they have from the Barnelli’s side of life, and I might event try a chicken sandwich sometime. Oh, and the fries are still those wavy crispy kind, and they are just so goooooood.