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Food & Drink

The Independent

partner publisher · 2.6M followers
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Popular Chicago chain known for its hot dogs set to close locations

The Chicago-based fast-casual chain, known for its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, has 109 locations nationwide Getty/iStock To be frank, fans of a popular Chicago -style hot dog chain may not relish this news. Portillo’s plans to close a “mid-to-high single-digit number” of underperforming restaurants outside the Chicago area, mostly by the end of the year, CEO Brett Patterson announced Thursday. The Chicago-based fast-casual chain, known for its hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, has 109 locations nationwide. It said it looked at each restaurant’s sales, operating costs and expected future performance before deciding which ones to close. The company has not yet announced the affected locations. “This will improve portfolio quality, strengthen returns on invested capital and reflect our commitment to disciplined growth,” Patterson said. The move comes as Portillo’s looks to get back on track after struggling to find the same success in markets outside Chicago. The move comes as Portillo’s looks to get back on track after struggling to find the same success in markets outside Chicago (Getty/iStock) Portillo’s plans to put more focus on its existing restaurants and take a more careful approach to opening new locations, particularly in unfamiliar markets. Patterson said the chain

Chicago, IL · 4d

familydestinationsguide.com

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These 8 Illinois Restaurants Belong On Your Bucket List Faster Than You Can Say Delicious

Want to find the most delicious restaurants in Illinois for your bucket list?. These 8 restaurants serve up bold flavors and truly memorable meals!. 1. Alongi’s Italian Restaurant (Du Quoin) There are restaurants you visit once and forget, and then there are restaurants that stick with you forever. Alongi’s...

Illinois · 3d
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everafterinthewoods.com

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Families Drive Country Roads To This Humble Illinois Barn For Its Old-Fashioned Fried Chicken Dinners

Peacocks stroll the grounds while families sit down to fried chicken inside an old dairy barn. That alone sounds like a pretty good reason to gas up the car. This Illinois spot pairs that country barn setting with a salad bar loaded with homemade bread, plenty of toppings, and a long list of dressings. On Sundays, a brunch buffet shows up with a dessert spread big enough to need its own line.

Ottawa, IL · 4d
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Yahoo!

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7 Frequent Customer Complaints About Golden Corral

Buffets are convenient because you can fill up on precisely what you want, rather than picking a general selection from a menu. Golden Corral is known for this focus, as its buffets feature a wide variety of items. The company offers options for any meal of the day, for adults and children, as well as for various nutritional needs. Whether you're keto or vegan, the food chain advertises that you can find something to nosh on.

Schererville, IN · 8d
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takemetotn.com

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This Cash-Only Illinois Tavern Has Been Serving Giant One-Pound Burgers For Decades

A full pound of beef on one bun. That’s the standard burger here, not some dare written on a chalkboard. The smaller version is the half-pound option, which tells you a lot about this place. There are no fries on the menu either. You get chips instead, and somehow that quirk feels just right.

Lemont, IL · 1d

takemetotn.com

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This Unassuming Illinois Pizzeria Serves Sausage Pizza So Good It Should Almost Be Illegal

Anthony Bourdain called one pan pizza the only deep dish he ever loved. That pie still comes out of a small, homey pizzeria on a quiet suburban street in Illinois. The crust edge gets so dark and caramelized that it looks almost burnt. It isn’t. That crunchy, cheesy rim is the whole point, and the sausage on top is a house blend.

Illinois · 9d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Old-Fashioned Illinois Candy Shop Still Makes Its Own Fudge And Caramel Apples In A Nostalgic Little Shop

Caramel apples come with a choice of fruit at one little Illinois candy counter: tart Granny Smith or sweet Honeycrisp. That decision alone could stall a family for ten minutes. Then you spot the bear claws, the cheese popcorn, and the chocolate-dipped apricots. The fudge is made in house, the...

Riverside, IL · 7d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Illinois Donut Shop Still Fries Its Huge Apple Fritters Fresh In The Window, Just Like Always

An apple fritter roughly the size of your face comes out of a fryer in a shop window, and the man flipping it opened the place in 1972. He was 85 in 2024. He still works six days a week. The fritters get stuffed with apple chunks and cinnamon. Then...

Chicago, IL · 10d

We Are Illinois

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

Portillo's Announces Closures, But What About Rockford?

Portillo's is closing several underperforming restaurants outside Chicagoland. Here's what we know about the Rockford location.

Rockford, IL · 20h

unearththevoyage.com

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This Tiny Illinois Bakery Serves Flaky Danish Pastries So Authentic You’ll Swear You’re In Copenhagen

Some of the best bites in Illinois hide in places you would drive right past without a second look. I walked into a small, quiet bakery expecting a quick donut and walked out with a box of buttery Danish treats and a new weekend habit. The kind of flaky layers...

Burr Ridge, IL · 2d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Family-Run Illinois Italian Market Still Bakes Its Bread Fresh And Piles Subs High For Under $10

A 9-inch Italian beef from this deli can show up looking more like a 12-inch one. That’s the kind of generous surprise that gets an old-school Illinois sandwich counter talked about across the city. The beef comes from a family recipe, and it can arrive fully dipped and dripping....

Chicago, IL · 5d

fastfoodclub.com

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Since 1938, Russell’s Barbecue In Elmwood Park Has Served Beef Sandwiches From The Same Pit

Some families pass down recipes, and some pass down a favorite booth. Just west of Chicago, there is a barbecue counter where grandparents, parents, and kids have all ordered the same beef sandwich across many decades. The place opened in 1938, long before drive-thrus and self-serve soda machines were common,...

Elmwood Park, IL · 7d

familydestinationsguide.com

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The Illinois Buffet That Piles Your Plate High With Down-Home Southern Flavor

There’s a green awning on South Michigan Avenue in Chicago that makes a promise most restaurants would be too scared to make. That promise is “Down Home Southern Cooking,” and Pearl’s Place backs it up with every single plate that leaves the kitchen. You’ve probably driven...

Chicago, IL · 1d

fox32chicago.com

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Free turkey giveaway begins at five Chicagoland McDonald's locations

CHICAGO - A holiday food giveaway is bringing support to families at five McDonald’s locations across the Chicago area this week. The Black McDonald’s Operators Association of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is holding its 26th annual Food for the Body & Spirit giveaway from Tuesday through Saturday. The...

Chicago, IL · 1d

everafterinthewoods.com

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This Illinois Restaurant Serves Holiday Meals Beneath A Giant Christmas Tree

A Christmas tree stands right in the middle of a department store dining room, rising so high it nearly brushes the ceiling. People book tables months ahead just to eat lunch under it. The room itself dates back to 1907. The walls are covered in walnut paneling, and crystal chandeliers...

Chicago, IL · 2d

fastfoodclub.com

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Seven Illinois Pizza Taverns Have Been Cutting Squares For Regulars Since The 7s

Ask anyone who grew up around Chicago how pizza should be sliced, and there is a good chance they will say squares, not triangles. Tavern-style pizza, with its cracker-thin crust and party-cut pieces, has been a neighborhood staple across Illinois for generations, and a handful of family-run spots have been serving it to the same loyal crowds for decades.

Chicago, IL · 22h

NBC Chicago

publisher · 127.4K followers

Shoppers stand in line for hours for opening of new suburban Trader Joe's

Hundreds of shoppers reportedly stood in line for hours Monday as they waited for the doors of a brand new Trader Joe's store in a Chicago suburb to open. According to Oswego Village President Ryan Kauffman, shoppers began lining up as early as 6:30 a.m. for the 9 a.m. grand opening of the new grocery store.

Oswego, IL · 1d

unearththevoyage.com

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Illinois Families Fill Their Pantries At These 8 Old-School Meat Markets Making Their Own Smoked Sausage

Some of the best food in Illinois hides behind plain storefronts with hand-painted signs and a smoky smell drifting out the door. You walk in expecting a quick errand and walk out with a cooler full of brats, sausage sticks, and summer sausage you did not plan to buy. These...

Illinois · 14h

We Are Illinois

partner publisher · 5.8K followers

12 Illinois Restaurants Land On OpenTable's Top 100 In America For 2026

Twelve Illinois spots landed on OpenTable's Top 100 Restaurants in America for 2026, and every one of them sits right here in Chicago.

Chicago, IL · 21h

takemetotn.com

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This Nostalgic Illinois Diner Has A Sweet Surprise For Anyone Who Loves Greek Donuts

Free Greek donuts are not something you expect with breakfast, but one Illinois cafe has been known to hand them out on select weekdays. That small surprise is enough to make any morning feel brighter. The kitchen leans on Greek roots and classic diner comfort. Lemon rice soup shares a...

Illinois · 3d