Portillo's expanding to SoCal

I just got back from out of town but found some newspaper articles from last week touting that Portillo's is planning on opening its first non-Chicago-area place next summer, somewhere in southern California. Big talk about maybe more Portillo's having more SoCal outlets than Chicago...doubtful, but if it catches on, you never know.

For those who are not aware, Portillo's is a Chicago-area chain of about 40 family style restaurants with Chicago style hot dogs, italian beef and sausage, burgers, salads and more. Some locations also feature ribs, pasta and more. The restaurants are very large and usually feature drive-through windows as well. According to industry estimates, each location grosses about $8M a year (a typical McD's does about 1.5M/yr for comparison).

There are articles from the Daily Herald, Chicago Trib and Sun-Times websites for more info.[/url]

I heard an interview with Mr. Portillo on WGN, yesterday. Apparently, they intend to begin with one store in the Knott's Berry Farm area. With any success, the plan is to then "blitz the entire SoCal area."

May God show my people some mercy.

Erik M.

Perhaps the people of SoCal would be willing to trade a few In-N-Out Burgers for our meager offering of Portillo's.

In-N-Out is a SoCal institution, and is good at what they do...but POrtillo's has more choices and better food. Yes, I'll take a Portillo's burger over In-N-Out. Blaspemy now that I've lived in SoCal 20 of my 43 years, but my native CA girl wife agrees as well.

Perhaps they could convert all the White Castles to In-N-Out...late night drunken binge food eating aside, that would be a great trade.

Hear, hear. Potillo's isn't half bad, a begrudging but consistent conclusion among the regulars here, I'd say. Yeah, it's a chain, but it's a local chain with humble roots. And no less a chain than In n Out.

Giardiniera will be the next salsa.

And the new commercials aren't half bad, what with the Chicago proto-regular guy with Ditka shades and a Milwaukee Avenue Adidias jacket.

Triva question: the Portillos are A. Italian B. Cuban or C. Other. I've heard all of the above. I think they leave it ambiguous because it "helps" that the name sounds Italian (at least the way they pronounce it).

Yeah, Portillo's does make a mean burger. The best of the Chicago-area fast-food burgers, IMO. And here's hoping they expand to Arizona; any place with that many transplants could use authentic Chicago-style food.

On the subject of In-N-Out, I've had so-so In-N-Out (the Westwood location in Los Angeles) and outstanding In-N-Out (the Chandler, Arizona location on Ray Rd) In-N-Out is actually doing a fair bit of expansion these days, heading slowly east (more locations in Phoenix, and two about to open in Tucson). So they may be in Chicago before we know it... maybe 2015?

I, too, found the westwood location of in-n-out astoundingly mediocre.

It was my first, and only time having in and out. Knowing that that location is not the norm makes me more likely to give it a shot when I'm back on the west coast.

JeffB wrote:Hear, hear. Potillo's isn't half bad, a begrudging but consistent conclusion among the regulars here, I'd say. Yeah, it's a chain, but it's a local chain with humble roots. And no less a chain than In n Out.

Well, that is where we likely differ, JeffB. As much as I adore In n Out, I don't care to see them, here, in Chicago.

Erik M.

I am not a Portillo's fan. They screwed up the last catering function I hired them for (did not have the food prepared or ready to serve when my people got there). When I sent a complaint letter, they blamed all the problems on the fact that I dealt with the store's general manager instead of calling the catering department.)

My experiences with In-n-Out have been pretty good throughout SoCal and Nevada.

What does bother me a bit is that in the "old days" regional foods were regional. Now, there are few local places that you cannot also experience close to home.

No more bags of groceries to bring home from vacation.

Well, that is where we likely differ, JeffB. As much as I adore In n Out, I don't care to see them, here, in Chicago.

I completely agree. When I go home to Long Island, I almost invariably make sure to eat three things before I leave. A slice of pizza from a local pizza place, a bagel and small vanilla cone with multi-colored sprinkles from Carvel. They wouldn't be as special if I could get them here on a regular basis.

One pet peeve on the subject of sprinkles, why is it that no one can put them on as consistently as Carvel. I've given up on asking for them at Scooters as they're applied so haphazardly.

Finally, I'm sure you, Erik, saw the Steingarten article on soft serve ice cream in this month's Vogue.

Carvel? Melissa, Tampa had Carvel to cater to all those LI transplants. I understand nostalgia for the Five Towns and all, but I knew that Carvel wasn't great when I didn't know much.

I did like Cookie Puss, the subject of a fine Beastie Boys track, however.

It's, as you correctly note, nostalgia, pure nostalgia. Plus the damn sprinkles, they know how to place sprinkles on a soft serve ice cream cone.

MAG wrote:It's, as you correctly note, nostalgia, pure nostalgia

There is certainly nothing wrong with that. The chow life that does not admit for idiosyncrasy, like the pleasures borne sheerly of nostalgia, is not a very interesting life, in my opinion.

Regards,
Erik M.

You're all invited to Wichita for a Nu-Way, for the very reason Erik states. Then you can stare at me and wonder, what did we just eat that for?

jlawrence wrote: What does bother me a bit is that in the "old days" regional foods were regional. Now, there are few local places that you cannot also experience close to home.

I totally disagree. These days I search out local food producers wherever I go and bring bck a cooler of stuff (which reminds me that I still need to do my Vermont cheese posting). Sure, some of it can be found here at times, but not most of it.

The loss of regional fast food chains is sad from a nostalgia point of view, but there still are lots of regional specialties served as fast food that do not travel (Mickey D's does serve lobster rolls in Maine, though I have not tried one).

I heard, many years ago, that Portillo the senior went to Japan for a few months on a consulting contract to set up a place. I do not know if it was named Portillos, but the story was that he got paid 7 figures for his expertise.

The Socal menu will be modified to local tastes, of course. Italian Beef will be there, but IMO, that is their weakest offering. I assume they will include burgers, but the dogs and Maxwell Street Polish (grilled with grilled onions) are my faves these days when I hit Portillos, which is rarely. And let us not forget their respectable chopped salad, and excellent chocolate cake.

They do well, though I do not like their theme restaurants, Luigis and Key Wester, out here in N'ville. They always make me think of Rainforest Cafe, which is not totally awful food as chains go, but I avoid it if I can.