Portillo's (River North)

Portillo's & Barnelli's Chicago (100 W Ontario St)

Chicago dogs, Italian beef and cake shakes under one roof

Hours

Daily 10am–1am (Sept 2026; check on site)

Budget

$10–20 per person

Address

100 W Ontario St, River North

Portillo's began as a hot dog trailer in 1963 and grew into the city's signature chain. A proper Chicago dog skips ketchup and gets seven toppings: yellow mustard, neon-green relish, raw onion, tomato, a pickle spear, sport peppers and celery salt. Here you can load one tray with a dog, an Italian beef and a chocolate cake shake, which is why it gets filed under 'do this once in Chicago'. The River North branch is two floors of retro Chicago kitsch.