Even if you have never been to Chicago, you have probably heard of Portillo’s. It is a Chicago institution serving up classic Chicago dogs, beef sandwiches, burgers and more! Of course I had to check this place out and grab a true Chicago dish – the Chicago dog… Now I love me a good hot dog, but the combinations they put on a Chicago dog have me a bit skeptical…plus it is like a sin to use ketchup. A Chicago dog has the following on it: mustard, relish, celery salt, chopped onions, sliced tomatoes, a whole pickle, and sport peppers in a poppyseed bun. If you’re telling yourself right now that it sounds like a lot…it absolutely is. The actual sausage itself was delicious – it snapped when you bit it and had a delicious flavor. The toppings though, I am personally not a fan of…there is too much going on and the flavors just don’t really work well together. Maybe it is the relish or the celery salt, but something is just no bueno. And I am very sorry to anyone who is from Chicago and loves this combination, but a hot dog deserves to have ketchup on it and I stand by that. Overall though Portillo’s lived up to the hype – it was quick, inexpensive, and despite the toppings, the food was delicious. No frills, nothing fancy, just simple and quick! Definitely give them a try if you are in the area and make sure to grab a Chocolate Cake Shake to go along with your dog!
Aly Eats Food 