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What’s better than a sandwich? Not much, but a little innovation from our favorite sandwich brands doesn’t hurt. Subway recently ventured into Taco Bell’s lane by introducing Dorito’s Footlong Nachos, just weeks after it also released two varieties of sandwiches with hot honey. Obviously, the giant chain was coming for Jersey Mike’s, which partnered with Mike’s Hot Honey earlier this year. And Jimmy John’s? It’s got a brand-new Toasted Hot Combo Box (aka T.H.C. Box), just in time for 4/20.
If you’re not yet familiar with Portillo’s sandwiches, you probably will be soon. The Chicago-born company is famous for its snappy hot dogs, as well as its Italian beef and char-grilled Italian sausage sandwiches. Though most of its locations are in Illinois, in recent years, the 62-year-old brand has expanded as far afield as Arizona, California, Florida, and Texas. And, with more than 70 locations, it shows no signs of slowing down. In fact, Portillo’s menu is about to get bigger than ever before.
Portillo’s Is Launching Breakfast
Part of Portillo’s appeal is its reliability. For decades, diners have known what to expect of the restaurant. But starting April 15, the brand has a lot more to love. In fact, it’s a whole extra meal!
At five Chicago-area locations, Portillo’s will test a breakfast menu for a limited time through the summer. From 6:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. daily, those stores will serve its signature flavors to hungry morning people. But don’t expect to wake up to a hot dog.
Instead, Portillo’s is launching three breakfast sandwiches, as well as serving their signature Italian beef, in the style of what you’ve seen on “The Bear.” The breakfast sandwiches include char-grilled Polish sausage stuffed into freshly baked French bread alongside scrambled eggs, melted American cheese, and flavor-packed giardiniera sauce. There’s also a classic Bacon, Egg, and Cheese, served in a warm, flaky croissant, and its vegetarian counterpart, the Pepper, Egg, and Cheese. The latter features roasted sweet peppers and giardiniera on French bread, along with scrambled eggs and American cheese.
Diners can enjoy any of those with a choice of sides, including a Loaded Scramble, which pairs fluffy eggs with hash browns and crispy bacon in Portillo’s creamy cheese sauce. There are also coin-shaped Hash Brown Bites and a cup of freshly cut fruit.
Portillo’s chocolate cake is notoriously decadent and crave-worthy, and now you can even enjoy it for breakfast. The treat is getting its own breakfast equivalent: Portillo’s Chocolate Cake Donut, a collaboration with Stan’s Donuts that features the chocolatey pastry dipped in chocolate glaze and drizzled with chocolate cake frosting.
Coffee service brings another collaboration, this time with local Chicago roaster Metropolis Coffee. Cups are available hot or iced, but it’s hard not to imagine going iced when presented with the choice of vanilla or Chocolate Cake Iced Coffee, inspired by Portillo’s gooey cake.
Starving for breakfast but don’t have much in your wallet? Breakfast meal deals allow guests to grab a sandwich of their choice, small coffee, and Hash Brown Bites for $7.99. With that much money saved, there’s all the more excuse to finish with a doughnut.
Here’s hoping that the test is a success and breakfast comes to Portillo’s locations around the country soon.
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