I once loved Portillo's. A friend and I recently ate lunch there eating Italian Beef sandwiches. I had food poisoning and when I recieved a text from my friend asking if I was sick too, I knew Portillos was to blame. I understand that things can go wrong when preparing food or storing food and the effects are disastrous. What I can not understand is when I called to tell the manager that I was sick she apologized but said "because I had not been to the doctor and I was the first complaint that she was not planning to dispose of the food." To me that is gross, when it comes to food born illness I would prefer to think any restaurant I eat at errors in the way of caution. My advice is plan two to three free days next time you eat at Portillos.
(1)
Keith W.
Service is terrible they regularly get the orders wrong and what is with the child's speaker in the drive thru would be better off with two tin cans connected to a string
(1)
Jo S.
I have a very large family and weve all been here several times,The foods pretty good but yes they get the orders wrong alot.The problem istheir walkers taking orders get confused sometimes the girls dont want to take the time to put order numbers on windshield so you hold them and the walkers get confuswed,They need mature disciplined systematic people,We stopped going there because the errors werent worth the prices.The staff was best in the beginning and deteriorated quickly since
(2)
Haguegal A.
Very busy, but the lines moved quickly and there was plenty of seating. The vanilla malt was superb.
(4)
Amy M.
While the food is good, they had too many people working. After i ordered my salad i stood at the counter waiting for a good 15 minutes for someone to make them, I get them home and one was completely wrong. I called and spoke with Barry who was very nice and he told me to come back and he would have the correct salad plus two desserts for my having to drive all the way back. I get back there half hour later went to the counter he said to go to and the staff didn't know what I was talking about. It was close to 9pm and there was barely anyone in there. It took the 4th person to come up to me to understand I was picking up a salad that was wrong, they said they would go make it. An employee found my order on the counter and said she couldn't give it to me. So I waited another 15-20 minutes, while the place was empty,for them to make one salad even though there was already one made for me. And I did not receive any free dessert, I received nothing for having to drive all the way back for a corrected salad, not even an apology. I know they are new here but I have heard many people say they have had the same issue. I love Portillos and was exited they were coming to Elgin but there are plenty of other great places in town that have great food as well as great customer service.
(2)
Joe R.
Choc cake shake was amazing!!!! Cheese frys delicious !! Chicago dogs are always great
(5)
Short K.
I know suburbanites love this place for some crazy reason. The food is very overpriced and under value. Personally I think beef shack has a much better beef sandwich. I would also prefer to go to Superdawg or Gene and Jude for a hot dog too.
(1)
Julian J.
Ordered the chili cheese dog, fries, and chocolate cake shake and my my was it good. Service was quick and the lady announcing the pick ups had some style and life on the mic, not just your typical order number 85 is ready. The only thing to mention was my fry container was not fully filled, maybe trying to conserve for the lunch crowd? Overall great visit.
(5)
Brian S.
Portillo's food is always good...unfortunately folks can't follow the instructions that's written on the bag. How do you mess up four cheeseburgers on one order? Plus they always seem to forget the side of bacon that's ordered every time we order through the drive-thru. They're lucky even though their services are piss poor the food always brings folks back. Imagine if they actually cared!
(1)
A R.
I don't understand how this place is always busy. Every time I go to their drive thru my order is always wrong! The fist time I went to the drive thru I ordered a hamburger. I thought something smelled funny in the car. When I came home I opened the box and the hamburger smelled like stinky fish! The last time I went to the drive thru I asked for a large cheese fries...seems simple right? I went home and opened the container of cheese and found coleslaw instead! If they could keep an eye on their young workers you could see they mess around a lot and don't pay attention.
(2)
Noomi J.
We dined in on a Saturday night, didn't want to do the drive-thru line. Busy, but it made for great peoplewatching. Italian beef ($5.10, sweet or hot peppers $0.50) - 4.5 stars. Had more meat than the wimpy beef at the St. Charles location. The sweet peppers added a salty taste that the meat lacked. Less greasy beef than the Northlake Portillo's. Chicago-style hotdog ($2.65) - 5 stars. Ecstacyyy.
(4)
Jared W.
This is either the newest Portillo's location, or at least among the newest. It's in a great spot along Randall Road that's not too congested (yet), so it's fairly easy to get into. That said, the parking lot/drive thru situation is a little unusual, so be careful when you go there for the first time. That said, they do all of the right things here that makes Portillo's a great place to eat, no matter which location. I'm personally a fan of the beef with hot peppers, but last night I had a fantastic bacon burger, so you're not likely to go wrong here. If you like Portillo's, or any place like it, you'll be perfectly happy here. Oh, and outdoor seating!
(4)
Lonnie R.
It's Portillos what else needs to be said. I go here often for a great beef or a big salad. Yes they have salads and they are just as good as the beef.
(5)
Kristen V.
Always good food and service is always good! Drive through is always crazy! Very easy to pass up tho, is coming from north turn at light before. From the south turn at the light before Walmart. Very easy to miss! Will be back again! Love there beef!
(5)
Meg R.
Love Portillo's and love that we have one in Elgin now. I'm never disappointed and drive-thru is very quick and efficient.
(5)
Jim M.
Love Portillos but South Elgin location is average at best. Only drive through Portillos I know that will have my order wrong 50% of the time! Inside dining is typical Portillos but service slow!
(3)
Laura B.
Super friendly and most importantly DELICIOUS! sign up for their birthday club and get free chocolate cake on your bday!
(5)
Steven J.
NOT happy. went to portillos to buy a chocolate cake for my birthday. my mom drove so i ran in the restaraunt by myself to pick up the cake because my mom has cancer and gets winded too easily walking. my mom gave me her credit card so i could buy the birthday cake for myself. the employees WOULDNT LET ME BUY THE CAKE because i didnt have an ID to match the credit card! i explained that my mom is too sick to walk into the reataraunt and also told them it was my birthday. they said "sorry" i was SO upset and let down.
(1)
Jen D.
My all-time-favoritest-americana place to get a Chicago dog. I can't not go home and visit... happy they have opened a few new ones to frequent than the old-school ones I grew up going to. And the chocolate cake is our family tradition after dinner...stupid good.
(5)
Aj M.
The food has been consistent over the years and is what brings me back. Revenue, they haven't handled long lines and busier times as well as they had in the past. Overall a solid experience and consistently good food.
(4)
Lucas W.
How this location only has 3.5 star rating is beyond me. I wish I could give this place more stars, the food is outstanding and it's reasonably priced. The ultimate in fast food value. I recommend the anything on the menu.
(5)
Juicy L.
So I was very excited to try this place and I don't know if I expected too much or order the wrong stuff but I felt like I've had better. Their jumbo hot dog was okay, and their Italian beef was very blend. I felt like it lacked a lot of flavor. But over all it was a cute place and a great experience.
(3)
Lindsay B.
I absolutely love Portillos, and this location is no exception. This is of course one of the newer locations, and the place is always incredibly busy at lunch and peak dinner hours. That being said the driver through and counter service is very efficient. You will not have to wait that long to order or get your food, so even if the line looks long, don't give up. I pretty much love everything at Portillo's to eat, but some of my favorites are the jumbo hot dog (Chicago style of course), Italian Beef dipped, burgers, chopped salad, fries, onion rings, etc. I absolutely love their chocolate cake shakes and strawberry short cake- so if you want dessert definitely give those a try. Several people have commented on here about incorrect orders- I've never had that happen to me- and I've even gone in large groups. So, while that might be accurate for some, it is not accurate for me. I'd definitely give this place a try- especially since it has now been open long enough to get some of the kinks out.
(4)
Alexander M.
Good food but don't expect them to accommodate you if you have allergies. If you specifically ask them to omit an item from your food to prevent your sensitivity be it cheese, bread, or sauces then prepare to still have that item still in your food. Otherwise if I didn't have an allergy it would be a great place to eat; however, for many it is a struggle to ever eat out due to the inconsideration from employees. For us we can't eat the food once we go home due to the contamination depending on the severity. I know many people suffer from dairy products as well as bread (gluten) and even the slightest bit will give them severe symptoms. So, when this happens people like myself are out of time, gas, and money spent on the food. Highly, Highly, Highly do not recommend. (if you have allergies) I rate them low mostly for their service and inability to cater to those who have allergies. Is it their duty to provide menu items for people with allergies? No, but if a customer requests something without cheese, buns or even a certain sauce they better get it their way. I mean if you want them to continue coming back! Would I still go back despite my review? Yes! As previously mentioned their food is great. Service like most places unfortunately is garbage. My personal experience: Lady was rude when I ordered my food and that's a big deal for me. I asked for my burger today to be lettuce wrapped (instead of having buns) but the lady would not do that although I have had it done many times there. She refused to allow me to order it that way, so I said okay well at the very least give me the burger without buns. When I got home boom buns, the cheese which had then became stuck to the bun like glue and of course upon taking the bun away from the cheese you get bun particles all throughout the cheese and burger. Mistakes happen I get it but it was not a busy hour it was a very lax time. She never conveyed to whoever prepared the burger that I did not want the buns. I believe this was intentional even though I was nothing but nice to this lady. I still recommend people go here although I would warn you that some of the employees are very rude. I will also recognize there are really respectful and nice employees there too. I'd be more sympathetic had it been a busy lunch hour or rush hour etc. Also if I was not given attitude by this person. It's a shame this employee has changed my perspective on the business entirely. I only gave them stars because they have some good employees and their food is great compared to most places.
(2)
Sarah H.
Finally went to the new location closest to our house. We've always been Portillo's fans, and were excited to get one so close by. However, we waited to let some of the novelty wear off first because it can tend to get a little crazy with the amounts of people. We got our order quickly, everything was correct (and we had 6 people, so it was a big order) and everything was fresh & tasty. During our dine-in, I felt bad for the girl calling the order numbers. She said #10 and #15 at least twenty times each. I think they should consider a "wall of shame" to go alongside their celebrity photos. But on this wall would be the people that don't pick up their order after the number is called 3 times. The first ones on the wall would be those with orders #10 and #15 because seriously --- the poor girl probably lost her voice by the end of her shift.
(5)
Kai R.
The same standard as the other Portillo's. The drive thru speed is fast and the onion rings are always pipping hot! Also, try the salads for a healthy option!
(5)
Dominic H.
Portillos as a franchise is amazing but Elgin location is just lacking in everything that the other portillos had. My wife and I love portillos and decided what the hell stop and eat. It was 7:41 when we ordered our food and that took 22 mins for a cheesy beef and order half slab of ribs with fries, the lady taking our order was a angel but towards the pick up area it was a mad house! There were only 4 cars in the drive thru and maybe only 5 tables taken on the inside and with 11 persons behind the glass making food I kinda was hoping for fast service. The cheesy beef was o.k and ribs have been better at other locations. Onion rings were HORRIBLE just fried batter with a hint of onion. Fries well you cant mess up fries. If you have people in from out of town and want to take them to portillos stay away from Elgin!!
(3)
Keith P.
This would be a solid five stars but over the 4 times I've been here the service has been consistently lax. Not bad. Having gone to other locations a fair number of times, this one is definitely not the best service. BUT...the food is always great! The Combo is my favorite, and I always get the Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Cake Shake.
(4)
Chris B.
Outstanding food and service, never disappoints!
(5)
Jen R.
Love portillos! Hands down, the best Chicago style dog we've had, even from city vendors. The fries & cheese sauce, chocolate cake are DELISH! Italian beef is just ok, chicken sandwiches & burgers good. The wait is a little longer than some of the other locations, but it's close to home.
(4)
Lizz R.
I give them two stars. I LOVE the food here but the service is terrible. I've heard this alot from different people. Even people who work in this store and from other stores!! Something must be wrong here then. They mess up orders all the time. Their drive thru is a joke! And they're rude. I have met a few good workers here that are kind and funny. Seriously if there is a problem with your food keep going. The managers don't care the employees grunt and give attitude when it is brought to their attention. I'd rather drive to the Batavia or Streamwood portillos
(2)
Curtis S.
We planned our sons baptism with 40 family members and friends to be catered by Portillos. Of course all were quite excited to enjoying the ever favorite beef sandwiches and great salads. But that is where it ended. We wanted to included cheese sauce in our large order. In place of cheese sauce we were given containers of shredded cheese that could have easily been purchased at Jewel for far less. They insisted that all they did was melt the shredded cheese for the sauce and said that's what we should do. The shredded American cheese is not what portillos uses for cheese sauce and it does not simply melt... As frustrating as that was, it was not all. They messed up our orders of mostacholli, which was to be baked (something we paid extra for) it was not. Then the beef they gave us was still partly frozen. Keeping our 40 guests' waiting while we tried to prepare what should have been a simple warm up. All of this could have been understandable and even acknowledgment would have been appreciated when we contacted both the location and Porttillos corporate. However, neither seemed to care that there was an obvious problem occurring with the catering portion of their business. After speaking with several representatives from both the store and the corporate catering office we were promised many calls back. We were never called back until well after we were sent a $10 gift card with no explanation or apology. Now $10 you might say, not bad... Except our order was for well over $300 and over $75 of the food we ordered was just flat wrong. We will no longer be going to Portillos restaurants and advise you look elsewhere for your catering needs.
(1)
Freddy W.
Very good shakes and beef sandwich!
(4)
Michelle M.
Love the food here! Don't ever think I've had a bad meal, or ordered something I didn't like. And yes it may take a little while to get your order, but come on people it's made hot and fresh and for the car loads of people they service everyday the line moves pretty fast!!!
(5)
A A.
Finally they put a location by my house. I grew up eating Portillos. They have the best fries of any food chain!!! Get the onion rings well done. They are so good that way. They need to STOP asking me if I want peppers on my beef after I ordered it and told them the way I want it. "Give me a combo dipped with mozzarella, a large fry and a large coke that's all". Did I ask for peppers?? No I didn't!!!!
(5)
Nichole W.
The parking lot is a joke. Be prepared to wait for a spot or walk a long distance. We have been to this location three times since it has opened. Every single time our food has been wrong. We love Portillo's (who doesn't?!) so we keep going back. I am hoping that this past experience's mistakes are just due to continued growing pains.
(2)
Vinh N.
Never disappointed! Ordered Italian beef (dipped) cheese fries and a slice of chocolate cake. I miss eating the Italian beef and must have every time I'm back in Chicago.
(5)
Lisa B.
Someone else ordered for me and I got some poppyseed salad. The chicken was unimpressive. Like clinically rubbery slices of fake deli chicken. Even Wendy's (which I don't eat at but can account for) uses a grilled chicken breast. It makes a word of difference. Why use iceberg? Why not some spinach? Unimpressive salad, unsure of what my friend paid for it, but I feel bad they did because I hardly ate it. I am willing to bet the italian beef sandwiches are amazing though. They look fantastic. If I am ever in this area again, I will certainly try it!
(3)
Michael R.
I once loved Portillo's. A friend and I recently ate lunch there eating Italian Beef sandwiches. I had food poisoning and when I recieved a text from my friend asking if I was sick too, I knew Portillos was to blame. I understand that things can go wrong when preparing food or storing food and the effects are disastrous. What I can not understand is when I called to tell the manager that I was sick she apologized but said "because I had not been to the doctor and I was the first complaint that she was not planning to dispose of the food." To me that is gross, when it comes to food born illness I would prefer to think any restaurant I eat at errors in the way of caution. My advice is plan two to three free days next time you eat at Portillos.
(1)
Keith W.
Service is terrible they regularly get the orders wrong and what is with the child's speaker in the drive thru would be better off with two tin cans connected to a string
(1)
Jo S.
I have a very large family and weve all been here several times,The foods pretty good but yes they get the orders wrong alot.The problem istheir walkers taking orders get confused sometimes the girls dont want to take the time to put order numbers on windshield so you hold them and the walkers get confuswed,They need mature disciplined systematic people,We stopped going there because the errors werent worth the prices.The staff was best in the beginning and deteriorated quickly since
(2)
Haguegal A.
Very busy, but the lines moved quickly and there was plenty of seating. The vanilla malt was superb.
(4)
Amy M.
While the food is good, they had too many people working. After i ordered my salad i stood at the counter waiting for a good 15 minutes for someone to make them, I get them home and one was completely wrong. I called and spoke with Barry who was very nice and he told me to come back and he would have the correct salad plus two desserts for my having to drive all the way back. I get back there half hour later went to the counter he said to go to and the staff didn't know what I was talking about. It was close to 9pm and there was barely anyone in there. It took the 4th person to come up to me to understand I was picking up a salad that was wrong, they said they would go make it. An employee found my order on the counter and said she couldn't give it to me. So I waited another 15-20 minutes, while the place was empty,for them to make one salad even though there was already one made for me. And I did not receive any free dessert, I received nothing for having to drive all the way back for a corrected salad, not even an apology. I know they are new here but I have heard many people say they have had the same issue. I love Portillos and was exited they were coming to Elgin but there are plenty of other great places in town that have great food as well as great customer service.
(2)
Short K.
I know suburbanites love this place for some crazy reason. The food is very overpriced and under value. Personally I think beef shack has a much better beef sandwich. I would also prefer to go to Superdawg or Gene and Jude for a hot dog too.
(1)
Julian J.
Ordered the chili cheese dog, fries, and chocolate cake shake and my my was it good. Service was quick and the lady announcing the pick ups had some style and life on the mic, not just your typical order number 85 is ready. The only thing to mention was my fry container was not fully filled, maybe trying to conserve for the lunch crowd? Overall great visit.
(5)
Joe R.
Choc cake shake was amazing!!!! Cheese frys delicious !! Chicago dogs are always great
(5)
Curtis S.
We planned our sons baptism with 40 family members and friends to be catered by Portillos. Of course all were quite excited to enjoying the ever favorite beef sandwiches and great salads. But that is where it ended. We wanted to included cheese sauce in our large order. In place of cheese sauce we were given containers of shredded cheese that could have easily been purchased at Jewel for far less. They insisted that all they did was melt the shredded cheese for the sauce and said that's what we should do. The shredded American cheese is not what portillos uses for cheese sauce and it does not simply melt... As frustrating as that was, it was not all. They messed up our orders of mostacholli, which was to be baked (something we paid extra for) it was not. Then the beef they gave us was still partly frozen. Keeping our 40 guests' waiting while we tried to prepare what should have been a simple warm up. All of this could have been understandable and even acknowledgment would have been appreciated when we contacted both the location and Porttillos corporate. However, neither seemed to care that there was an obvious problem occurring with the catering portion of their business. After speaking with several representatives from both the store and the corporate catering office we were promised many calls back. We were never called back until well after we were sent a $10 gift card with no explanation or apology. Now $10 you might say, not bad... Except our order was for well over $300 and over $75 of the food we ordered was just flat wrong. We will no longer be going to Portillos restaurants and advise you look elsewhere for your catering needs.
(1)
Freddy W.
Very good shakes and beef sandwich!
(4)
Michelle M.
Love the food here! Don't ever think I've had a bad meal, or ordered something I didn't like. And yes it may take a little while to get your order, but come on people it's made hot and fresh and for the car loads of people they service everyday the line moves pretty fast!!!
(5)
A A.
Finally they put a location by my house. I grew up eating Portillos. They have the best fries of any food chain!!! Get the onion rings well done. They are so good that way. They need to STOP asking me if I want peppers on my beef after I ordered it and told them the way I want it. "Give me a combo dipped with mozzarella, a large fry and a large coke that's all". Did I ask for peppers?? No I didn't!!!!
(5)
Nichole W.
The parking lot is a joke. Be prepared to wait for a spot or walk a long distance. We have been to this location three times since it has opened. Every single time our food has been wrong. We love Portillo's (who doesn't?!) so we keep going back. I am hoping that this past experience's mistakes are just due to continued growing pains.
(2)
Vinh N.
Never disappointed! Ordered Italian beef (dipped) cheese fries and a slice of chocolate cake. I miss eating the Italian beef and must have every time I'm back in Chicago.
(5)
Lisa B.
Someone else ordered for me and I got some poppyseed salad. The chicken was unimpressive. Like clinically rubbery slices of fake deli chicken. Even Wendy's (which I don't eat at but can account for) uses a grilled chicken breast. It makes a word of difference. Why use iceberg? Why not some spinach? Unimpressive salad, unsure of what my friend paid for it, but I feel bad they did because I hardly ate it. I am willing to bet the italian beef sandwiches are amazing though. They look fantastic. If I am ever in this area again, I will certainly try it!
(3)
Brian S.
Portillo's food is always good...unfortunately folks can't follow the instructions that's written on the bag. How do you mess up four cheeseburgers on one order? Plus they always seem to forget the side of bacon that's ordered every time we order through the drive-thru. They're lucky even though their services are piss poor the food always brings folks back. Imagine if they actually cared!
(1)
A R.
I don't understand how this place is always busy. Every time I go to their drive thru my order is always wrong! The fist time I went to the drive thru I ordered a hamburger. I thought something smelled funny in the car. When I came home I opened the box and the hamburger smelled like stinky fish! The last time I went to the drive thru I asked for a large cheese fries...seems simple right? I went home and opened the container of cheese and found coleslaw instead! If they could keep an eye on their young workers you could see they mess around a lot and don't pay attention.
(2)
Noomi J.
We dined in on a Saturday night, didn't want to do the drive-thru line. Busy, but it made for great peoplewatching. Italian beef ($5.10, sweet or hot peppers $0.50) - 4.5 stars. Had more meat than the wimpy beef at the St. Charles location. The sweet peppers added a salty taste that the meat lacked. Less greasy beef than the Northlake Portillo's. Chicago-style hotdog ($2.65) - 5 stars. Ecstacyyy.
(4)
Jared W.
This is either the newest Portillo's location, or at least among the newest. It's in a great spot along Randall Road that's not too congested (yet), so it's fairly easy to get into. That said, the parking lot/drive thru situation is a little unusual, so be careful when you go there for the first time. That said, they do all of the right things here that makes Portillo's a great place to eat, no matter which location. I'm personally a fan of the beef with hot peppers, but last night I had a fantastic bacon burger, so you're not likely to go wrong here. If you like Portillo's, or any place like it, you'll be perfectly happy here. Oh, and outdoor seating!
(4)
Lonnie R.
It's Portillos what else needs to be said. I go here often for a great beef or a big salad. Yes they have salads and they are just as good as the beef.
(5)
Kristen V.
Always good food and service is always good! Drive through is always crazy! Very easy to pass up tho, is coming from north turn at light before. From the south turn at the light before Walmart. Very easy to miss! Will be back again! Love there beef!
(5)
Meg R.
Love Portillo's and love that we have one in Elgin now. I'm never disappointed and drive-thru is very quick and efficient.
(5)
Jim M.
Love Portillos but South Elgin location is average at best. Only drive through Portillos I know that will have my order wrong 50% of the time! Inside dining is typical Portillos but service slow!
(3)
Laura B.
Super friendly and most importantly DELICIOUS! sign up for their birthday club and get free chocolate cake on your bday!
(5)
Steven J.
NOT happy. went to portillos to buy a chocolate cake for my birthday. my mom drove so i ran in the restaraunt by myself to pick up the cake because my mom has cancer and gets winded too easily walking. my mom gave me her credit card so i could buy the birthday cake for myself. the employees WOULDNT LET ME BUY THE CAKE because i didnt have an ID to match the credit card! i explained that my mom is too sick to walk into the reataraunt and also told them it was my birthday. they said "sorry" i was SO upset and let down.
(1)
Jen D.
My all-time-favoritest-americana place to get a Chicago dog. I can't not go home and visit... happy they have opened a few new ones to frequent than the old-school ones I grew up going to. And the chocolate cake is our family tradition after dinner...stupid good.
(5)
Aj M.
The food has been consistent over the years and is what brings me back. Revenue, they haven't handled long lines and busier times as well as they had in the past. Overall a solid experience and consistently good food.
(4)
Lucas W.
How this location only has 3.5 star rating is beyond me. I wish I could give this place more stars, the food is outstanding and it's reasonably priced. The ultimate in fast food value. I recommend the anything on the menu.
(5)
Juicy L.
So I was very excited to try this place and I don't know if I expected too much or order the wrong stuff but I felt like I've had better. Their jumbo hot dog was okay, and their Italian beef was very blend. I felt like it lacked a lot of flavor. But over all it was a cute place and a great experience.
(3)
Lindsay B.
I absolutely love Portillos, and this location is no exception. This is of course one of the newer locations, and the place is always incredibly busy at lunch and peak dinner hours. That being said the driver through and counter service is very efficient. You will not have to wait that long to order or get your food, so even if the line looks long, don't give up. I pretty much love everything at Portillo's to eat, but some of my favorites are the jumbo hot dog (Chicago style of course), Italian Beef dipped, burgers, chopped salad, fries, onion rings, etc. I absolutely love their chocolate cake shakes and strawberry short cake- so if you want dessert definitely give those a try. Several people have commented on here about incorrect orders- I've never had that happen to me- and I've even gone in large groups. So, while that might be accurate for some, it is not accurate for me. I'd definitely give this place a try- especially since it has now been open long enough to get some of the kinks out.
(4)
Alexander M.
Good food but don't expect them to accommodate you if you have allergies. If you specifically ask them to omit an item from your food to prevent your sensitivity be it cheese, bread, or sauces then prepare to still have that item still in your food. Otherwise if I didn't have an allergy it would be a great place to eat; however, for many it is a struggle to ever eat out due to the inconsideration from employees. For us we can't eat the food once we go home due to the contamination depending on the severity. I know many people suffer from dairy products as well as bread (gluten) and even the slightest bit will give them severe symptoms. So, when this happens people like myself are out of time, gas, and money spent on the food. Highly, Highly, Highly do not recommend. (if you have allergies) I rate them low mostly for their service and inability to cater to those who have allergies. Is it their duty to provide menu items for people with allergies? No, but if a customer requests something without cheese, buns or even a certain sauce they better get it their way. I mean if you want them to continue coming back! Would I still go back despite my review? Yes! As previously mentioned their food is great. Service like most places unfortunately is garbage. My personal experience: Lady was rude when I ordered my food and that's a big deal for me. I asked for my burger today to be lettuce wrapped (instead of having buns) but the lady would not do that although I have had it done many times there. She refused to allow me to order it that way, so I said okay well at the very least give me the burger without buns. When I got home boom buns, the cheese which had then became stuck to the bun like glue and of course upon taking the bun away from the cheese you get bun particles all throughout the cheese and burger. Mistakes happen I get it but it was not a busy hour it was a very lax time. She never conveyed to whoever prepared the burger that I did not want the buns. I believe this was intentional even though I was nothing but nice to this lady. I still recommend people go here although I would warn you that some of the employees are very rude. I will also recognize there are really respectful and nice employees there too. I'd be more sympathetic had it been a busy lunch hour or rush hour etc. Also if I was not given attitude by this person. It's a shame this employee has changed my perspective on the business entirely. I only gave them stars because they have some good employees and their food is great compared to most places.
(2)
Sarah H.
Finally went to the new location closest to our house. We've always been Portillo's fans, and were excited to get one so close by. However, we waited to let some of the novelty wear off first because it can tend to get a little crazy with the amounts of people. We got our order quickly, everything was correct (and we had 6 people, so it was a big order) and everything was fresh & tasty. During our dine-in, I felt bad for the girl calling the order numbers. She said #10 and #15 at least twenty times each. I think they should consider a "wall of shame" to go alongside their celebrity photos. But on this wall would be the people that don't pick up their order after the number is called 3 times. The first ones on the wall would be those with orders #10 and #15 because seriously --- the poor girl probably lost her voice by the end of her shift.
(5)
Kai R.
The same standard as the other Portillo's. The drive thru speed is fast and the onion rings are always pipping hot! Also, try the salads for a healthy option!
(5)
Dominic H.
Portillos as a franchise is amazing but Elgin location is just lacking in everything that the other portillos had. My wife and I love portillos and decided what the hell stop and eat. It was 7:41 when we ordered our food and that took 22 mins for a cheesy beef and order half slab of ribs with fries, the lady taking our order was a angel but towards the pick up area it was a mad house! There were only 4 cars in the drive thru and maybe only 5 tables taken on the inside and with 11 persons behind the glass making food I kinda was hoping for fast service. The cheesy beef was o.k and ribs have been better at other locations. Onion rings were HORRIBLE just fried batter with a hint of onion. Fries well you cant mess up fries. If you have people in from out of town and want to take them to portillos stay away from Elgin!!
(3)
Keith P.
This would be a solid five stars but over the 4 times I've been here the service has been consistently lax. Not bad. Having gone to other locations a fair number of times, this one is definitely not the best service. BUT...the food is always great! The Combo is my favorite, and I always get the Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Cake Shake.
(4)
Chris B.
Outstanding food and service, never disappoints!
(5)
Jen R.
Love portillos! Hands down, the best Chicago style dog we've had, even from city vendors. The fries & cheese sauce, chocolate cake are DELISH! Italian beef is just ok, chicken sandwiches & burgers good. The wait is a little longer than some of the other locations, but it's close to home.
(4)
Lizz R.
I give them two stars. I LOVE the food here but the service is terrible. I've heard this alot from different people. Even people who work in this store and from other stores!! Something must be wrong here then. They mess up orders all the time. Their drive thru is a joke! And they're rude. I have met a few good workers here that are kind and funny. Seriously if there is a problem with your food keep going. The managers don't care the employees grunt and give attitude when it is brought to their attention. I'd rather drive to the Batavia or Streamwood portillos
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Specialities
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dessert Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : Yes Caters : Yes
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Michael R.
I once loved Portillo's. A friend and I recently ate lunch there eating Italian Beef sandwiches. I had food poisoning and when I recieved a text from my friend asking if I was sick too, I knew Portillos was to blame. I understand that things can go wrong when preparing food or storing food and the effects are disastrous. What I can not understand is when I called to tell the manager that I was sick she apologized but said "because I had not been to the doctor and I was the first complaint that she was not planning to dispose of the food." To me that is gross, when it comes to food born illness I would prefer to think any restaurant I eat at errors in the way of caution. My advice is plan two to three free days next time you eat at Portillos.
(1)Keith W.
Service is terrible they regularly get the orders wrong and what is with the child's speaker in the drive thru would be better off with two tin cans connected to a string
(1)Jo S.
I have a very large family and weve all been here several times,The foods pretty good but yes they get the orders wrong alot.The problem istheir walkers taking orders get confused sometimes the girls dont want to take the time to put order numbers on windshield so you hold them and the walkers get confuswed,They need mature disciplined systematic people,We stopped going there because the errors werent worth the prices.The staff was best in the beginning and deteriorated quickly since
(2)Haguegal A.
Very busy, but the lines moved quickly and there was plenty of seating. The vanilla malt was superb.
(4)Amy M.
While the food is good, they had too many people working. After i ordered my salad i stood at the counter waiting for a good 15 minutes for someone to make them, I get them home and one was completely wrong. I called and spoke with Barry who was very nice and he told me to come back and he would have the correct salad plus two desserts for my having to drive all the way back. I get back there half hour later went to the counter he said to go to and the staff didn't know what I was talking about. It was close to 9pm and there was barely anyone in there. It took the 4th person to come up to me to understand I was picking up a salad that was wrong, they said they would go make it. An employee found my order on the counter and said she couldn't give it to me. So I waited another 15-20 minutes, while the place was empty,for them to make one salad even though there was already one made for me. And I did not receive any free dessert, I received nothing for having to drive all the way back for a corrected salad, not even an apology. I know they are new here but I have heard many people say they have had the same issue. I love Portillos and was exited they were coming to Elgin but there are plenty of other great places in town that have great food as well as great customer service.
(2)Joe R.
Choc cake shake was amazing!!!! Cheese frys delicious !! Chicago dogs are always great
(5)Short K.
I know suburbanites love this place for some crazy reason. The food is very overpriced and under value. Personally I think beef shack has a much better beef sandwich. I would also prefer to go to Superdawg or Gene and Jude for a hot dog too.
(1)Julian J.
Ordered the chili cheese dog, fries, and chocolate cake shake and my my was it good. Service was quick and the lady announcing the pick ups had some style and life on the mic, not just your typical order number 85 is ready. The only thing to mention was my fry container was not fully filled, maybe trying to conserve for the lunch crowd? Overall great visit.
(5)Brian S.
Portillo's food is always good...unfortunately folks can't follow the instructions that's written on the bag. How do you mess up four cheeseburgers on one order? Plus they always seem to forget the side of bacon that's ordered every time we order through the drive-thru. They're lucky even though their services are piss poor the food always brings folks back. Imagine if they actually cared!
(1)A R.
I don't understand how this place is always busy. Every time I go to their drive thru my order is always wrong! The fist time I went to the drive thru I ordered a hamburger. I thought something smelled funny in the car. When I came home I opened the box and the hamburger smelled like stinky fish! The last time I went to the drive thru I asked for a large cheese fries...seems simple right? I went home and opened the container of cheese and found coleslaw instead! If they could keep an eye on their young workers you could see they mess around a lot and don't pay attention.
(2)Noomi J.
We dined in on a Saturday night, didn't want to do the drive-thru line. Busy, but it made for great peoplewatching. Italian beef ($5.10, sweet or hot peppers $0.50) - 4.5 stars. Had more meat than the wimpy beef at the St. Charles location. The sweet peppers added a salty taste that the meat lacked. Less greasy beef than the Northlake Portillo's. Chicago-style hotdog ($2.65) - 5 stars. Ecstacyyy.
(4)Jared W.
This is either the newest Portillo's location, or at least among the newest. It's in a great spot along Randall Road that's not too congested (yet), so it's fairly easy to get into. That said, the parking lot/drive thru situation is a little unusual, so be careful when you go there for the first time. That said, they do all of the right things here that makes Portillo's a great place to eat, no matter which location. I'm personally a fan of the beef with hot peppers, but last night I had a fantastic bacon burger, so you're not likely to go wrong here. If you like Portillo's, or any place like it, you'll be perfectly happy here. Oh, and outdoor seating!
(4)Lonnie R.
It's Portillos what else needs to be said. I go here often for a great beef or a big salad. Yes they have salads and they are just as good as the beef.
(5)Kristen V.
Always good food and service is always good! Drive through is always crazy! Very easy to pass up tho, is coming from north turn at light before. From the south turn at the light before Walmart. Very easy to miss! Will be back again! Love there beef!
(5)Meg R.
Love Portillo's and love that we have one in Elgin now. I'm never disappointed and drive-thru is very quick and efficient.
(5)Jim M.
Love Portillos but South Elgin location is average at best. Only drive through Portillos I know that will have my order wrong 50% of the time! Inside dining is typical Portillos but service slow!
(3)Laura B.
Super friendly and most importantly DELICIOUS! sign up for their birthday club and get free chocolate cake on your bday!
(5)Steven J.
NOT happy. went to portillos to buy a chocolate cake for my birthday. my mom drove so i ran in the restaraunt by myself to pick up the cake because my mom has cancer and gets winded too easily walking. my mom gave me her credit card so i could buy the birthday cake for myself. the employees WOULDNT LET ME BUY THE CAKE because i didnt have an ID to match the credit card! i explained that my mom is too sick to walk into the reataraunt and also told them it was my birthday. they said "sorry" i was SO upset and let down.
(1)Jen D.
My all-time-favoritest-americana place to get a Chicago dog. I can't not go home and visit... happy they have opened a few new ones to frequent than the old-school ones I grew up going to. And the chocolate cake is our family tradition after dinner...stupid good.
(5)Aj M.
The food has been consistent over the years and is what brings me back. Revenue, they haven't handled long lines and busier times as well as they had in the past. Overall a solid experience and consistently good food.
(4)Lucas W.
How this location only has 3.5 star rating is beyond me. I wish I could give this place more stars, the food is outstanding and it's reasonably priced. The ultimate in fast food value. I recommend the anything on the menu.
(5)Juicy L.
So I was very excited to try this place and I don't know if I expected too much or order the wrong stuff but I felt like I've had better. Their jumbo hot dog was okay, and their Italian beef was very blend. I felt like it lacked a lot of flavor. But over all it was a cute place and a great experience.
(3)Lindsay B.
I absolutely love Portillos, and this location is no exception. This is of course one of the newer locations, and the place is always incredibly busy at lunch and peak dinner hours. That being said the driver through and counter service is very efficient. You will not have to wait that long to order or get your food, so even if the line looks long, don't give up. I pretty much love everything at Portillo's to eat, but some of my favorites are the jumbo hot dog (Chicago style of course), Italian Beef dipped, burgers, chopped salad, fries, onion rings, etc. I absolutely love their chocolate cake shakes and strawberry short cake- so if you want dessert definitely give those a try. Several people have commented on here about incorrect orders- I've never had that happen to me- and I've even gone in large groups. So, while that might be accurate for some, it is not accurate for me. I'd definitely give this place a try- especially since it has now been open long enough to get some of the kinks out.
(4)Alexander M.
Good food but don't expect them to accommodate you if you have allergies. If you specifically ask them to omit an item from your food to prevent your sensitivity be it cheese, bread, or sauces then prepare to still have that item still in your food. Otherwise if I didn't have an allergy it would be a great place to eat; however, for many it is a struggle to ever eat out due to the inconsideration from employees. For us we can't eat the food once we go home due to the contamination depending on the severity. I know many people suffer from dairy products as well as bread (gluten) and even the slightest bit will give them severe symptoms. So, when this happens people like myself are out of time, gas, and money spent on the food. Highly, Highly, Highly do not recommend. (if you have allergies) I rate them low mostly for their service and inability to cater to those who have allergies. Is it their duty to provide menu items for people with allergies? No, but if a customer requests something without cheese, buns or even a certain sauce they better get it their way. I mean if you want them to continue coming back! Would I still go back despite my review? Yes! As previously mentioned their food is great. Service like most places unfortunately is garbage. My personal experience: Lady was rude when I ordered my food and that's a big deal for me. I asked for my burger today to be lettuce wrapped (instead of having buns) but the lady would not do that although I have had it done many times there. She refused to allow me to order it that way, so I said okay well at the very least give me the burger without buns. When I got home boom buns, the cheese which had then became stuck to the bun like glue and of course upon taking the bun away from the cheese you get bun particles all throughout the cheese and burger. Mistakes happen I get it but it was not a busy hour it was a very lax time. She never conveyed to whoever prepared the burger that I did not want the buns. I believe this was intentional even though I was nothing but nice to this lady. I still recommend people go here although I would warn you that some of the employees are very rude. I will also recognize there are really respectful and nice employees there too. I'd be more sympathetic had it been a busy lunch hour or rush hour etc. Also if I was not given attitude by this person. It's a shame this employee has changed my perspective on the business entirely. I only gave them stars because they have some good employees and their food is great compared to most places.
(2)Sarah H.
Finally went to the new location closest to our house. We've always been Portillo's fans, and were excited to get one so close by. However, we waited to let some of the novelty wear off first because it can tend to get a little crazy with the amounts of people. We got our order quickly, everything was correct (and we had 6 people, so it was a big order) and everything was fresh & tasty. During our dine-in, I felt bad for the girl calling the order numbers. She said #10 and #15 at least twenty times each. I think they should consider a "wall of shame" to go alongside their celebrity photos. But on this wall would be the people that don't pick up their order after the number is called 3 times. The first ones on the wall would be those with orders #10 and #15 because seriously --- the poor girl probably lost her voice by the end of her shift.
(5)Kai R.
The same standard as the other Portillo's. The drive thru speed is fast and the onion rings are always pipping hot! Also, try the salads for a healthy option!
(5)Dominic H.
Portillos as a franchise is amazing but Elgin location is just lacking in everything that the other portillos had. My wife and I love portillos and decided what the hell stop and eat. It was 7:41 when we ordered our food and that took 22 mins for a cheesy beef and order half slab of ribs with fries, the lady taking our order was a angel but towards the pick up area it was a mad house! There were only 4 cars in the drive thru and maybe only 5 tables taken on the inside and with 11 persons behind the glass making food I kinda was hoping for fast service. The cheesy beef was o.k and ribs have been better at other locations. Onion rings were HORRIBLE just fried batter with a hint of onion. Fries well you cant mess up fries. If you have people in from out of town and want to take them to portillos stay away from Elgin!!
(3)Keith P.
This would be a solid five stars but over the 4 times I've been here the service has been consistently lax. Not bad. Having gone to other locations a fair number of times, this one is definitely not the best service. BUT...the food is always great! The Combo is my favorite, and I always get the Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Cake Shake.
(4)Chris B.
Outstanding food and service, never disappoints!
(5)Jen R.
Love portillos! Hands down, the best Chicago style dog we've had, even from city vendors. The fries & cheese sauce, chocolate cake are DELISH! Italian beef is just ok, chicken sandwiches & burgers good. The wait is a little longer than some of the other locations, but it's close to home.
(4)Lizz R.
I give them two stars. I LOVE the food here but the service is terrible. I've heard this alot from different people. Even people who work in this store and from other stores!! Something must be wrong here then. They mess up orders all the time. Their drive thru is a joke! And they're rude. I have met a few good workers here that are kind and funny. Seriously if there is a problem with your food keep going. The managers don't care the employees grunt and give attitude when it is brought to their attention. I'd rather drive to the Batavia or Streamwood portillos
(2)Curtis S.
We planned our sons baptism with 40 family members and friends to be catered by Portillos. Of course all were quite excited to enjoying the ever favorite beef sandwiches and great salads. But that is where it ended. We wanted to included cheese sauce in our large order. In place of cheese sauce we were given containers of shredded cheese that could have easily been purchased at Jewel for far less. They insisted that all they did was melt the shredded cheese for the sauce and said that's what we should do. The shredded American cheese is not what portillos uses for cheese sauce and it does not simply melt... As frustrating as that was, it was not all. They messed up our orders of mostacholli, which was to be baked (something we paid extra for) it was not. Then the beef they gave us was still partly frozen. Keeping our 40 guests' waiting while we tried to prepare what should have been a simple warm up. All of this could have been understandable and even acknowledgment would have been appreciated when we contacted both the location and Porttillos corporate. However, neither seemed to care that there was an obvious problem occurring with the catering portion of their business. After speaking with several representatives from both the store and the corporate catering office we were promised many calls back. We were never called back until well after we were sent a $10 gift card with no explanation or apology. Now $10 you might say, not bad... Except our order was for well over $300 and over $75 of the food we ordered was just flat wrong. We will no longer be going to Portillos restaurants and advise you look elsewhere for your catering needs.
(1)Freddy W.
Very good shakes and beef sandwich!
(4)Michelle M.
Love the food here! Don't ever think I've had a bad meal, or ordered something I didn't like. And yes it may take a little while to get your order, but come on people it's made hot and fresh and for the car loads of people they service everyday the line moves pretty fast!!!
(5)A A.
Finally they put a location by my house. I grew up eating Portillos. They have the best fries of any food chain!!! Get the onion rings well done. They are so good that way. They need to STOP asking me if I want peppers on my beef after I ordered it and told them the way I want it. "Give me a combo dipped with mozzarella, a large fry and a large coke that's all". Did I ask for peppers?? No I didn't!!!!
(5)Nichole W.
The parking lot is a joke. Be prepared to wait for a spot or walk a long distance. We have been to this location three times since it has opened. Every single time our food has been wrong. We love Portillo's (who doesn't?!) so we keep going back. I am hoping that this past experience's mistakes are just due to continued growing pains.
(2)Vinh N.
Never disappointed! Ordered Italian beef (dipped) cheese fries and a slice of chocolate cake. I miss eating the Italian beef and must have every time I'm back in Chicago.
(5)Lisa B.
Someone else ordered for me and I got some poppyseed salad. The chicken was unimpressive. Like clinically rubbery slices of fake deli chicken. Even Wendy's (which I don't eat at but can account for) uses a grilled chicken breast. It makes a word of difference. Why use iceberg? Why not some spinach? Unimpressive salad, unsure of what my friend paid for it, but I feel bad they did because I hardly ate it. I am willing to bet the italian beef sandwiches are amazing though. They look fantastic. If I am ever in this area again, I will certainly try it!
(3)Michael R.
I once loved Portillo's. A friend and I recently ate lunch there eating Italian Beef sandwiches. I had food poisoning and when I recieved a text from my friend asking if I was sick too, I knew Portillos was to blame. I understand that things can go wrong when preparing food or storing food and the effects are disastrous. What I can not understand is when I called to tell the manager that I was sick she apologized but said "because I had not been to the doctor and I was the first complaint that she was not planning to dispose of the food." To me that is gross, when it comes to food born illness I would prefer to think any restaurant I eat at errors in the way of caution. My advice is plan two to three free days next time you eat at Portillos.
(1)Keith W.
Service is terrible they regularly get the orders wrong and what is with the child's speaker in the drive thru would be better off with two tin cans connected to a string
(1)Jo S.
I have a very large family and weve all been here several times,The foods pretty good but yes they get the orders wrong alot.The problem istheir walkers taking orders get confused sometimes the girls dont want to take the time to put order numbers on windshield so you hold them and the walkers get confuswed,They need mature disciplined systematic people,We stopped going there because the errors werent worth the prices.The staff was best in the beginning and deteriorated quickly since
(2)Haguegal A.
Very busy, but the lines moved quickly and there was plenty of seating. The vanilla malt was superb.
(4)Amy M.
While the food is good, they had too many people working. After i ordered my salad i stood at the counter waiting for a good 15 minutes for someone to make them, I get them home and one was completely wrong. I called and spoke with Barry who was very nice and he told me to come back and he would have the correct salad plus two desserts for my having to drive all the way back. I get back there half hour later went to the counter he said to go to and the staff didn't know what I was talking about. It was close to 9pm and there was barely anyone in there. It took the 4th person to come up to me to understand I was picking up a salad that was wrong, they said they would go make it. An employee found my order on the counter and said she couldn't give it to me. So I waited another 15-20 minutes, while the place was empty,for them to make one salad even though there was already one made for me. And I did not receive any free dessert, I received nothing for having to drive all the way back for a corrected salad, not even an apology. I know they are new here but I have heard many people say they have had the same issue. I love Portillos and was exited they were coming to Elgin but there are plenty of other great places in town that have great food as well as great customer service.
(2)Short K.
I know suburbanites love this place for some crazy reason. The food is very overpriced and under value. Personally I think beef shack has a much better beef sandwich. I would also prefer to go to Superdawg or Gene and Jude for a hot dog too.
(1)Julian J.
Ordered the chili cheese dog, fries, and chocolate cake shake and my my was it good. Service was quick and the lady announcing the pick ups had some style and life on the mic, not just your typical order number 85 is ready. The only thing to mention was my fry container was not fully filled, maybe trying to conserve for the lunch crowd? Overall great visit.
(5)Joe R.
Choc cake shake was amazing!!!! Cheese frys delicious !! Chicago dogs are always great
(5)Curtis S.
We planned our sons baptism with 40 family members and friends to be catered by Portillos. Of course all were quite excited to enjoying the ever favorite beef sandwiches and great salads. But that is where it ended. We wanted to included cheese sauce in our large order. In place of cheese sauce we were given containers of shredded cheese that could have easily been purchased at Jewel for far less. They insisted that all they did was melt the shredded cheese for the sauce and said that's what we should do. The shredded American cheese is not what portillos uses for cheese sauce and it does not simply melt... As frustrating as that was, it was not all. They messed up our orders of mostacholli, which was to be baked (something we paid extra for) it was not. Then the beef they gave us was still partly frozen. Keeping our 40 guests' waiting while we tried to prepare what should have been a simple warm up. All of this could have been understandable and even acknowledgment would have been appreciated when we contacted both the location and Porttillos corporate. However, neither seemed to care that there was an obvious problem occurring with the catering portion of their business. After speaking with several representatives from both the store and the corporate catering office we were promised many calls back. We were never called back until well after we were sent a $10 gift card with no explanation or apology. Now $10 you might say, not bad... Except our order was for well over $300 and over $75 of the food we ordered was just flat wrong. We will no longer be going to Portillos restaurants and advise you look elsewhere for your catering needs.
(1)Freddy W.
Very good shakes and beef sandwich!
(4)Michelle M.
Love the food here! Don't ever think I've had a bad meal, or ordered something I didn't like. And yes it may take a little while to get your order, but come on people it's made hot and fresh and for the car loads of people they service everyday the line moves pretty fast!!!
(5)A A.
Finally they put a location by my house. I grew up eating Portillos. They have the best fries of any food chain!!! Get the onion rings well done. They are so good that way. They need to STOP asking me if I want peppers on my beef after I ordered it and told them the way I want it. "Give me a combo dipped with mozzarella, a large fry and a large coke that's all". Did I ask for peppers?? No I didn't!!!!
(5)Nichole W.
The parking lot is a joke. Be prepared to wait for a spot or walk a long distance. We have been to this location three times since it has opened. Every single time our food has been wrong. We love Portillo's (who doesn't?!) so we keep going back. I am hoping that this past experience's mistakes are just due to continued growing pains.
(2)Vinh N.
Never disappointed! Ordered Italian beef (dipped) cheese fries and a slice of chocolate cake. I miss eating the Italian beef and must have every time I'm back in Chicago.
(5)Lisa B.
Someone else ordered for me and I got some poppyseed salad. The chicken was unimpressive. Like clinically rubbery slices of fake deli chicken. Even Wendy's (which I don't eat at but can account for) uses a grilled chicken breast. It makes a word of difference. Why use iceberg? Why not some spinach? Unimpressive salad, unsure of what my friend paid for it, but I feel bad they did because I hardly ate it. I am willing to bet the italian beef sandwiches are amazing though. They look fantastic. If I am ever in this area again, I will certainly try it!
(3)Brian S.
Portillo's food is always good...unfortunately folks can't follow the instructions that's written on the bag. How do you mess up four cheeseburgers on one order? Plus they always seem to forget the side of bacon that's ordered every time we order through the drive-thru. They're lucky even though their services are piss poor the food always brings folks back. Imagine if they actually cared!
(1)A R.
I don't understand how this place is always busy. Every time I go to their drive thru my order is always wrong! The fist time I went to the drive thru I ordered a hamburger. I thought something smelled funny in the car. When I came home I opened the box and the hamburger smelled like stinky fish! The last time I went to the drive thru I asked for a large cheese fries...seems simple right? I went home and opened the container of cheese and found coleslaw instead! If they could keep an eye on their young workers you could see they mess around a lot and don't pay attention.
(2)Noomi J.
We dined in on a Saturday night, didn't want to do the drive-thru line. Busy, but it made for great peoplewatching. Italian beef ($5.10, sweet or hot peppers $0.50) - 4.5 stars. Had more meat than the wimpy beef at the St. Charles location. The sweet peppers added a salty taste that the meat lacked. Less greasy beef than the Northlake Portillo's. Chicago-style hotdog ($2.65) - 5 stars. Ecstacyyy.
(4)Jared W.
This is either the newest Portillo's location, or at least among the newest. It's in a great spot along Randall Road that's not too congested (yet), so it's fairly easy to get into. That said, the parking lot/drive thru situation is a little unusual, so be careful when you go there for the first time. That said, they do all of the right things here that makes Portillo's a great place to eat, no matter which location. I'm personally a fan of the beef with hot peppers, but last night I had a fantastic bacon burger, so you're not likely to go wrong here. If you like Portillo's, or any place like it, you'll be perfectly happy here. Oh, and outdoor seating!
(4)Lonnie R.
It's Portillos what else needs to be said. I go here often for a great beef or a big salad. Yes they have salads and they are just as good as the beef.
(5)Kristen V.
Always good food and service is always good! Drive through is always crazy! Very easy to pass up tho, is coming from north turn at light before. From the south turn at the light before Walmart. Very easy to miss! Will be back again! Love there beef!
(5)Meg R.
Love Portillo's and love that we have one in Elgin now. I'm never disappointed and drive-thru is very quick and efficient.
(5)Jim M.
Love Portillos but South Elgin location is average at best. Only drive through Portillos I know that will have my order wrong 50% of the time! Inside dining is typical Portillos but service slow!
(3)Laura B.
Super friendly and most importantly DELICIOUS! sign up for their birthday club and get free chocolate cake on your bday!
(5)Steven J.
NOT happy. went to portillos to buy a chocolate cake for my birthday. my mom drove so i ran in the restaraunt by myself to pick up the cake because my mom has cancer and gets winded too easily walking. my mom gave me her credit card so i could buy the birthday cake for myself. the employees WOULDNT LET ME BUY THE CAKE because i didnt have an ID to match the credit card! i explained that my mom is too sick to walk into the reataraunt and also told them it was my birthday. they said "sorry" i was SO upset and let down.
(1)Jen D.
My all-time-favoritest-americana place to get a Chicago dog. I can't not go home and visit... happy they have opened a few new ones to frequent than the old-school ones I grew up going to. And the chocolate cake is our family tradition after dinner...stupid good.
(5)Aj M.
The food has been consistent over the years and is what brings me back. Revenue, they haven't handled long lines and busier times as well as they had in the past. Overall a solid experience and consistently good food.
(4)Lucas W.
How this location only has 3.5 star rating is beyond me. I wish I could give this place more stars, the food is outstanding and it's reasonably priced. The ultimate in fast food value. I recommend the anything on the menu.
(5)Juicy L.
So I was very excited to try this place and I don't know if I expected too much or order the wrong stuff but I felt like I've had better. Their jumbo hot dog was okay, and their Italian beef was very blend. I felt like it lacked a lot of flavor. But over all it was a cute place and a great experience.
(3)Lindsay B.
I absolutely love Portillos, and this location is no exception. This is of course one of the newer locations, and the place is always incredibly busy at lunch and peak dinner hours. That being said the driver through and counter service is very efficient. You will not have to wait that long to order or get your food, so even if the line looks long, don't give up. I pretty much love everything at Portillo's to eat, but some of my favorites are the jumbo hot dog (Chicago style of course), Italian Beef dipped, burgers, chopped salad, fries, onion rings, etc. I absolutely love their chocolate cake shakes and strawberry short cake- so if you want dessert definitely give those a try. Several people have commented on here about incorrect orders- I've never had that happen to me- and I've even gone in large groups. So, while that might be accurate for some, it is not accurate for me. I'd definitely give this place a try- especially since it has now been open long enough to get some of the kinks out.
(4)Alexander M.
Good food but don't expect them to accommodate you if you have allergies. If you specifically ask them to omit an item from your food to prevent your sensitivity be it cheese, bread, or sauces then prepare to still have that item still in your food. Otherwise if I didn't have an allergy it would be a great place to eat; however, for many it is a struggle to ever eat out due to the inconsideration from employees. For us we can't eat the food once we go home due to the contamination depending on the severity. I know many people suffer from dairy products as well as bread (gluten) and even the slightest bit will give them severe symptoms. So, when this happens people like myself are out of time, gas, and money spent on the food. Highly, Highly, Highly do not recommend. (if you have allergies) I rate them low mostly for their service and inability to cater to those who have allergies. Is it their duty to provide menu items for people with allergies? No, but if a customer requests something without cheese, buns or even a certain sauce they better get it their way. I mean if you want them to continue coming back! Would I still go back despite my review? Yes! As previously mentioned their food is great. Service like most places unfortunately is garbage. My personal experience: Lady was rude when I ordered my food and that's a big deal for me. I asked for my burger today to be lettuce wrapped (instead of having buns) but the lady would not do that although I have had it done many times there. She refused to allow me to order it that way, so I said okay well at the very least give me the burger without buns. When I got home boom buns, the cheese which had then became stuck to the bun like glue and of course upon taking the bun away from the cheese you get bun particles all throughout the cheese and burger. Mistakes happen I get it but it was not a busy hour it was a very lax time. She never conveyed to whoever prepared the burger that I did not want the buns. I believe this was intentional even though I was nothing but nice to this lady. I still recommend people go here although I would warn you that some of the employees are very rude. I will also recognize there are really respectful and nice employees there too. I'd be more sympathetic had it been a busy lunch hour or rush hour etc. Also if I was not given attitude by this person. It's a shame this employee has changed my perspective on the business entirely. I only gave them stars because they have some good employees and their food is great compared to most places.
(2)Sarah H.
Finally went to the new location closest to our house. We've always been Portillo's fans, and were excited to get one so close by. However, we waited to let some of the novelty wear off first because it can tend to get a little crazy with the amounts of people. We got our order quickly, everything was correct (and we had 6 people, so it was a big order) and everything was fresh & tasty. During our dine-in, I felt bad for the girl calling the order numbers. She said #10 and #15 at least twenty times each. I think they should consider a "wall of shame" to go alongside their celebrity photos. But on this wall would be the people that don't pick up their order after the number is called 3 times. The first ones on the wall would be those with orders #10 and #15 because seriously --- the poor girl probably lost her voice by the end of her shift.
(5)Kai R.
The same standard as the other Portillo's. The drive thru speed is fast and the onion rings are always pipping hot! Also, try the salads for a healthy option!
(5)Dominic H.
Portillos as a franchise is amazing but Elgin location is just lacking in everything that the other portillos had. My wife and I love portillos and decided what the hell stop and eat. It was 7:41 when we ordered our food and that took 22 mins for a cheesy beef and order half slab of ribs with fries, the lady taking our order was a angel but towards the pick up area it was a mad house! There were only 4 cars in the drive thru and maybe only 5 tables taken on the inside and with 11 persons behind the glass making food I kinda was hoping for fast service. The cheesy beef was o.k and ribs have been better at other locations. Onion rings were HORRIBLE just fried batter with a hint of onion. Fries well you cant mess up fries. If you have people in from out of town and want to take them to portillos stay away from Elgin!!
(3)Keith P.
This would be a solid five stars but over the 4 times I've been here the service has been consistently lax. Not bad. Having gone to other locations a fair number of times, this one is definitely not the best service. BUT...the food is always great! The Combo is my favorite, and I always get the Chocolate Cake or Chocolate Cake Shake.
(4)Chris B.
Outstanding food and service, never disappoints!
(5)Jen R.
Love portillos! Hands down, the best Chicago style dog we've had, even from city vendors. The fries & cheese sauce, chocolate cake are DELISH! Italian beef is just ok, chicken sandwiches & burgers good. The wait is a little longer than some of the other locations, but it's close to home.
(4)Lizz R.
I give them two stars. I LOVE the food here but the service is terrible. I've heard this alot from different people. Even people who work in this store and from other stores!! Something must be wrong here then. They mess up orders all the time. Their drive thru is a joke! And they're rude. I have met a few good workers here that are kind and funny. Seriously if there is a problem with your food keep going. The managers don't care the employees grunt and give attitude when it is brought to their attention. I'd rather drive to the Batavia or Streamwood portillos
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