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Daily Mail
09-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
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.
Daily Mail
08-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Popular chain offers breakfast for the first time
By Published: Updated: 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 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. Portillo's will continue to keep an eye on customer responses for the entire summer. 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. Want more stories like this from the Daily Mail? Visit our profile page and hit the follow button above for more of the news you need.
Daily Mail
07-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
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 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 '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.
NBC News
08-02-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Cowboy boots and community: How Black line dancers are kicking up joy
Line dancing has grown in popularity, spurred on by social media, where new steps and songs composed for new dances spread quickly. Posts by people of all ages dancing anywhere from dark clubs to open fields find their way online. April Berry, a former principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and now a master dance instructor and arts administrator in Pittsburgh, says there is joy in dancing. 'That sense of being together and moving together as one is really where the joy comes from,' says Berry. 'When you talk about Black joy, you talk about being motivated, being lifted out of hard times. That's why people get together to dance.' 'That sense of doing the same steps together, whatever dance it is, creates a sense of holistic well-being,' added Berry. 'Dancing together bonds us together.' Aaisha Peterson, a certified nutritionist, discovered the healing power of line dancing after her mother, a well-known teacher and line dancer in the Cleveland area, died in May 2023. 'I wanted to line dance at least once a week to honor her,' said Peterson, 32. 'It reawakened a joy in me. It became therapy for me.' She invited Devin J. Butler, a fitness trainer and former professional dancer, to go out with her one night. 'He was on the dance floor with me dancing as loud as I dance and I knew he was my person,' Peterson said. The couple teaches line dancing through Line Dance Is My Therapy, encouraging participants to 'dance loud, as long as you are enjoying yourself.' Business has grown because of their videos online, including the 'Boots on the Ground' dance and Peterson's favorite, 'Some Enchanted Evening,' named after a Temptations song, or Butler's favorites, 'Cupid Flex' and 'Chicago Style.' They call out dance steps and also perform line dances with hand-held fans. 'The fans add fun and energy,' says Peterson.
