Excitement has been building for Portillo’s, the chain known for Chicago-style street food, to open in El Paso. The menu features its famous hot dogs, Italian beef sandwiches and homemade chocolate cake.
The grand opening is Tuesday, March 24, at 12221 Montana Ave. (corner with Loop 375).
The day will kick off with a ribbon cutting at 10 a.m., followed by a bash for the community from 4 to 7 p.m. featuring giveaways, a live DJ, and samples of Portillo’s favorite menu items.
In addition, the first 100Portillo’s perks members in attendance will score exclusive specialty swag — so fans are encouraged to sign up in the app and arrive early.
Fans who sign up will also receive a welcome reward of free french fries and the opportunity to receive other delicious rewards.
We got a sneak peek at the new Portillo’s in El Paso and here is what to know.
Portillo’s El Paso menu
The restaurant is spacious, about 6,250 square feet, with plenty of tables and booths for up to 130 guests inside and a patio seating area.
You walk up to the counter and order from the menu board above that features hot dogs and chili, various hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, beef and sausage sandwiches, and Italian beef and sausage bowls.
The main burger choices are hamburger, cheeseburger, bacon cheeseburger, and Rodeo burger, which is a classic char-broiled patty stacked with crispy bacon, red onion, American cheese, onion rings, and Portillo’s tangy BBQ sauce inside a Brioche bun.
We tried the cheeseburger and found the patty to be juicy and well seasoned. We liked that both the patty and the fresh ingredients — red onion, tomato slice, and lettuce — stick out from the soft bun and are not wilted by the heat.
The crinkle fries are crispy on the outside and tender inside and you get the option of dipping them in sauces like nacho cheese or the Giardiniera sauce, which is a cheese sauce with some kick from some peppers.
The beverages are Coke products and you can fill your cups at two drink stations.
Despite the busy day, the restaurant staff worked pretty quickly to get the orders out. The numbers are called out and flashed on a screen for people to see and come up to pick up their orders, which are packed as if to go in branded sacks.
The restaurant also has its pick-up shelves and grab-and-go areas for added convenience and its signature double drive-thru lanes.
Click here for the full menu.
Portillo’s chocolate cake
Apparently, the restaurant is also known for its chocolate cake, so we had to try some.
The cake slice is plenty moist with a nice layer of chocolate frosting. Definitely a favorite for any chocolate lover.
María Cortés González may be reached at 915-546-6150; mcortes@elpasotimes.com; @eptmaria.bsky.social on Bluesky, and @eptmariacg on TikTok.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Portillo’s brings Chicago-style street food to El Paso: What to expect
Reporting by Maria Cortes Gonzalez, El Paso Times / El Paso Times
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