09-05-2025
Iconic Chicago hotdog joint launches 'The Leo' named after new Pope Robert Prevost
Iconic Chicago hotdog join Portillo's is celebrating the election of Pope Leo XIV with an all new sandwich called 'The Leo' in honor of the Windy City native.
The chain's sandwich marks its way of 'paying tribute to Chicago 's newest claim to fame.'
The limited-time item includes signature Italian beef dipped in gravy and covered in 'holy trinity of peppers.'
'It's our original sacred sandwich, bold, unapologetically flavorful, and made in honor of a moment that's historic for Portillo's hometown,' a spokesperson said.
Its 'heavenly creation' will be available all month long, coinciding with National Italian Beef Month.
The sandwich is one of several new items available at Portillo's, which recently launched its first breakfast menu.
Portillo's is famous for its Chicago-style hot dogs and was recently crowned the restaurant chain with the ' best value in the business ' over Chipotle and McDonald's.
Founded in 1963, Portillo's opened for business after Dick Portillo invested $1,000 on a trailer he called 'The Dog House.'
The restaurant's popularity rose over time and is continuing to grow despite the company having less than 100 locations.
Five of those restaurants are currently offering the limited-time breakfast menu, the first in its 62 years of business.
The menu includes three sandwiches: Polish, egg, & cheese, pepper, egg & cheese, and bacon, egg, & cheese.
Customers can also try its new Hash Brown Bites and Load Breakfast Scramble bowls.
Along with sandwiches and breakfast sides, Portillo's is offering a new chocolate cake donut and chocolate cake coffee created in collaboration with popular Chicago brands Stan's Donuts and Metropolis Coffee.
The restaurant chain revealed that customers have responded positively to the new menu since its launch.
Social media users have also reacted well to the offerings and have made requests for the menu to be available at other restaurants.
Customers have been rushing to Portillo's restaurants to try items off its new breakfast menu
Portillo's CEO Michael Osanloo revealed the foods customers have craved the most off its breakfast menu are scrambled eggs, sandwiches, and the chocolate cake donut.
Portillo's will be keeping an eye on other customer responses for the rest of the summer.
If guests continue giving positive reviews to the breakfast menu, Portillo's will consider expanding it to other restaurants.
Prior to its new offerings, Portillo's earned $176.4 million in first quarter revenue, a 6.4 percent increase compared to last year's total.
Its also experienced slight increases in its same-restaurant sales and operating income.
'We're proud of how our team performed through challenging macro conditions in Q1, driven by the launch of Portillo's Perks and our marketing efforts,' Osanloo said.
The restaurant chain plans to open 12 new locations this year, including some in Texas and Georgia.
