Portillo’s, the national chain that originated in Chicago’s suburbs, is making a bold move into the fast-food breakfast market with the launch of a limited-time breakfast menu at five Chicago-area locations. Owned by Boston-based private equity firm Berkshire Partners, Portillo’s aims to attract early morning customers by introducing a selection of breakfast items available from 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
The new breakfast offerings feature a Polish sausage with egg and cheese sandwich on French bread, alongside a vegetarian version, a bacon, egg, and cheese croissantwich, and delicious doughnuts from Stan’s Donuts. Additionally, sides such as fruit cups and hash brown bites complement the menu, which also includes hot and cold beverages from Metropolis Coffee.
The pilot program is currently being tested at Portillo’s Near West Side location at Taylor and Canal, as well as four suburban spots including Elmhurst, Tinley Park, Shorewood, and Niles. To generate excitement for its new breakfast items, the company hosted a media and influencer preview on April 10 at its Taylor Street location.
This breakfast menu expansion leverages Portillo’s existing supply chain, as the restaurant already utilizes eggs in its Lenten special egg and pepper sandwich. The new sandwich, served on the same French loaves as their Italian beefs, adds a sausage option to the mix.
In other exciting news for Chicago’s dining scene, three bars from the city have been recognized in the inaugural North American list by the World’s 50 Best. For the first time, this prestigious organization has expanded its rankings to include 100 establishments, shining a spotlight on bars in the region.
West Town cocktail bar Lemon has made an impressive debut at No. 62, followed closely by Wicker Park tavern Queen Mary at No. 63, and Chinatown’s Nine Bar which comes in at No. 89. This extended list allows for greater recognition of establishments that members of the 50 Best voting Academy—comprised of over 300 bartenders, journalists, and experts from the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean—consider noteworthy.
The official ranking for the top 50 in the North American list will be unveiled on April 29, adding an even greater anticipation for the bar scene. Earlier this year, 50 Best also announced its focus on restaurants specifically in North America, marking a significant shift in its recognition process.
Meanwhile, DoorDash is taking delivery services a step further with the deployment of delivery robots. According to reports from Crain’s, the third-party delivery company is introducing a fleet of coolers-on-wheels to deliver orders in Chicago and Los Angeles.
Working in partnership with LA-based Coco Robotics, DoorDash has already begun rolling out these box-shaped delivery robots in areas including West Loop, Fulton Market, and Goose Island. Coco collaborates directly with restaurants, allowing its robots to dock at their business locations for efficient deliveries.
At this point, it remains unclear how many Chicago restaurants will utilize these robots for deliveries, and customers will not have the option to decline a robot delivery in favor of a human courier. As innovations unfold in both the food delivery sector and local dining establishments, the Chicago culinary scene continues to evolve and adapt to new trends.
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