Popular chain famous for its hot dogs breaks 62-year tradition as it offers breakfast for the first time
A beloved Chicago chain has finally delivered on something fans have been craving for years: breakfast.
Five of its restaurants across Illinois quietly debuted a full morning menu this week, offering classic items with a local twist — including collaborations with two iconic Windy City brands, Stan's Donuts and Metropolis Coffee.
Served daily from 6.30 to 10.30am all summer long, the breakfast rollout includes items like polish sausage, egg & cheese sandwiches, loaded scrambles, and even a chocolate cake donut.
The move marks a major shift for Portillo's, the fast-casual favorite known for its Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches, and signature chocolate cake.
It's the first breakfast menu in the company's 62-year history.
'Chicago has been asking for Portillo's breakfast for years, and we're thrilled to deliver our unique take on morning classics,' Garrett Kern, vice president of strategy and culinary, told DailyMail.com.
Portillo's has under 100 locations, but experts say it consistently delivers better value compared to much larger rivals like McDonald's and Chipotle.
If the breakfast test performs well, Portillo's plans to expand it to more locations—and potentially make it permanent.
The pilot breakfast menu is available now at Portillo's locations in Chicago, Elmhurst, Tinley Park, Shorewood, and Niles.
Customers can grab a $7.99 meal deal that includes a breakfast sandwich, small coffee, and hash brown bites.
Bosses say some of the standout items include the Chocolate Cake Iced Coffee and scrambles topped with cheese sauce, eggs, hash browns, and bacon.
The chain's popular Italian Beef Sandwich will also be available during breakfast hours.
Portillo's new menu has already received praise from customers who lined up to place a breakfast order today.
'While still in its first few weeks, early feedback has been positive,' CEO Michael Osanloo told DailyMail.com.
'Guests are excited about freshly scrambled eggs, made-to-order breakfast sandwiches, and our rich chocolate cake doughnut – inspired, of course, by our famous chocolate cake.'
Portillo's will continue to keep an eye on customer responses for the entire summer.
An employee prepares a hot dog at a Portillo's restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, US, on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2022
Portillo's is not the only restaurant chain to be rolling out new tests at select locations.
McDonald's made headlines after testing its McVeggie burgers select locations in Canada this year.
The test ended in April and there are no plans for the plant-based item to be tested in the US.
Chipotle completed a test run of its honey chicken, which was available at select locations in California and Tennessee last year.
Unlike McDonald's, Chipotle's honey chicken was a smashing success and it has since become a limited time offering nationwide.
Dutch Bros. is currently testing food items with the hopes of helping attract more visitors during breakfast hours.
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