Introduction to Portillo’s Breakfast
Fans of Chicago’s iconic Portillo’s will now be able to get their fix bright and early. The hot dog and Italian beef chain launched a test program of breakfast items at five Chicago-area locations Tuesday. New menu items include three breakfast sandwiches, chocolate cake iced coffee and a chocolate cake donut. And yes, they’ll serve Italian beef in the morning.
Background and Motivation
Customers have been asking for morning hours and breakfast items for a long time, according to Sara Wirth, Portillo’s director of public relations and communications. The chain began testing the new menu items about a year ago, and now have morning hours at these five locations in the Chicago area:
- Niles: 8832 W. Dempster St.
- South Loop: 520 W. Taylor St.
- Shorewood: 1155 Brook Forest Ave.
- Elmhurst: 155 S. Route 83
- Tinley Park: 15900 Harlem Ave.
Breakfast Menu and Hours
Breakfast is available from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at each location. A combo meal including a breakfast sandwich, coffee and hash browns will cost $7.99.
Customer Feedback and Experience
Monica Ortiz and her son, Gabriel Ortiz, eat breakfast at Portillo’s in the West Loop.
Gabriel Ortiz, who came from the Midway area after seeing breakfast advertised on Facebook, arrived at the restaurant early. He ordered “everything on the menu,” but said he was especially impressed with the Polish sausage breakfast sandwich and the chocolate cake iced coffee. “It’s so ‘flavor-y’” Ortiz said about the sandwich. And the chocolate cake iced coffee? “It’s so good, it tastes just like the cake.” Mary Harris, a nurse, said she’s a been a longtime fan of Portillo’s and most of their menu items. She saw on the news that the chain would be adding breakfast, so she had to check it out.
Future Plans and Expansion
Customer feedback will determine whether breakfast will be expanded to include more menu items, Wirth said. Panels of guests tried experimental menu items and concluded which breakfast sandwiches would be the best. Feedback will continue to guide where the chain’s breakfast goes from here, she said.
Conclusion
Portillo’s introduction of breakfast items at select locations marks a significant expansion of their services, catering to the long-standing requests of their loyal customer base. With a range of new menu items and competitive pricing, Portillo’s is set to make a mark in the breakfast sector, potentially paving the way for further expansion based on customer feedback.
FAQs
- Q: Which Portillo’s locations are serving breakfast?
A: Currently, five Chicago-area locations are participating in the breakfast test program: Niles, South Loop, Shorewood, Elmhurst, and Tinley Park. - Q: What are the breakfast hours at these locations?
A: Breakfast is available from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. - Q: What new menu items are being offered for breakfast?
A: New items include three breakfast sandwiches, chocolate cake iced coffee, and a chocolate cake donut, along with the option to have Italian beef in the morning. - Q: How will customer feedback influence the breakfast menu?
A: Customer feedback will be used to determine whether to expand the breakfast menu with additional items and to guide the direction of the breakfast program.
