Love Chicago-Style Hot Dogs And Italian Beef Sandwiches? Good News Las Vegas!
If you love Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, then we have good news for you! Because Portillo’s is eyeing Las Vegas for expansion with their Chicago-style eateries.
Here’s What We Know So Far About Portillo’s Las Vegas Expansion
At this point, representatives for Portillo’s say they are looking to expand in the near future. At the same time, they did mention that they are looking seriously at expanding to three different markets. That’s according to an article by News 3 Staff on News3LV.com.
Of course, this would not be big news unless Las Vegas was one of those three markets. Additionally, Denver and Atlanta are the other markets joining Southern Nevada for Portillo’s next expansion. The casual fast-food chain currently also has locations in nearby Phoenix and Southern California. So, expanding to Las Vegas seems like a logical next step in their expansion plans.
Here’s What’s On Portillo’s Menu
If you’ve never had a Chicago-style hot dog, then you’re in for a deliciously messy treat. An authentic “Chicago Dog” starts with a sesame seed hot dog bun. Then, they fill it with a Vienna Beef frank. After that, they cover it with mustard, chopped onions, sliced tomatoes, relish, a dill pickle spear, and spicy hot sport peppers. Man, I’m craving one right now!
Furthermore, Portillo’s will also be serving up another Chicago favorite, the Italian Beef sandwich. For one thing, they slow-roast their beef for four hours so it’s nice and tender. Then they pile thinly sliced beef into a fresh baked French bread roll. You can eat it dry or dip it in their specially seasoned gravy.
I like my Italian beef sandwiches to include giardiniera. Basically, that’s a bunch of chopped veggies pickled in vinegar and then marinated in olive oil. You can try it mild or hot.
To check out Portillo’s full menu, click here.
Chicago-Style Restaurants Already In Southern Nevada
As a matter of fact, there are already some great Chicago-style eateries here in the Las Vegas valley. So, you don’t have to wait for Portillo’s to open a location here to taste one of those Chicagoland favorites.
By all means, you can dine at Rosati’s Pizza, Chicago Joe’s, Great Links Brewhouse and Grill, Windy City Beefs N Dogs, Giordano’s, or Amore’s Taste of Chicago. That just names a few. FourSquare.com has a more comprehensive list, including addresses. Click here for that list. Enjoy!
7 Deliciously Dressed Hot Dogs From Around The USA - Have You Tried Them All?
New York City Hot Dog
Homemade hot dogs with the onion sauce on top, New York street cart food
This is the one I grew up with in Queens. It seemed like there was a Sabrett hot dog cart on every busy street corner. After a game of sandlot baseball or football, my buddies and I would stop off for a New York City hot dog with dark brown mustard and sweet onion relish. Sometimes, I would switch it up and add sauerkraut. Delicious memories!
Cincinnati Chili Dog
American Cincinnati Chili hot dog closeup served on a napkin. Also topped with chopped raw onions and mounds of shredded cheddar cheese.
Cincinnati is famous for its chili, and they love to eat it on pasta, in a bowl, or on their hot dogs. Why not? Chili dogs are popular all around the nation. However, Cincinnati-style chili has a much sweeter taste than other chilis. They add cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and cloves to season their chili. Good stuff! But mounds of cheddar cheese on their dogs doesn’t hurt either.
Sonoran Hot Dog
Homemade Sonoran Hot Dogs with Bacon, Mustard, Mayo, pinto beans, tomatoes, relish, and more.
This style of hot dog has its origins in Sonora, Mexico, but has migrated to Arizona in the USA. It’s a grilled bacon-wrapped hot dog that’s usually dressed with pinto beans, grilled onions and green peppers, chopped fresh tomatoes, relish, mustard, mayo, and cheese. Sometimes, green tomatillo salsa is added as well. This big boy battles the Chicago Dog for total number of condiments on one sandwich.
Seattle's Cream Cheese Hot Dog
Homemade Seattle Style Hot Dog with Cream Cheese, jalapenos, and Onions
We have visited Seattle quite a few times over the years, but I have never tried one of their street cart hot dogs. I see them everywhere, especially after hitting the night spots. I’m sure their cream-cheese laden hot dog is delicious, but I’m not sure I would have been pleased at first glance once it was served to me. I’ll have to try one next time we’re up there.
Cleveland's Polish Boy Sandwich
Homemade Cleveland Polish Boy Sandwich with cole slaw, BBQ sauce, and French Fries
Now, don’t quibble with me because this sandwich really isn’t a typical hot dog. Cleveland’s Polish Boy Sandwich can be served with a Polish kielbasa sausage, or an American style frank. It’s really the barbecue sauce and French Fries that set this puppy apart from all the rest. It’s always nice when you have a sturdy enough bun to handle what’s packed inside. I hate when overstuffed hot dogs or sandwiches fall apart in my hands. This one looks deliciously filling.
Texas Hot Dog
Texas-style hot dog served with chili con carne, jalapenos, and cheese.
Texas and chili con carne just go together. They serve Texas-style chili over corn chips, hot dogs, and just about everything else. Texans love their meaty chili as much of the folks in Cincinnati love their sweetly spiced chili. Of course, everything’s bigger in Texas, so you know it’s a foot-long hot dog, smothered with chili con carne, jalapenos to spice things up, and plenty of cheese to cool things down.
The Chicago Dog
Homemade Chicago Style Hot Dogs with Mustard Relish Onion and PIckle
The King of all hot dogs in America. The Chicago Dog. Even if you don’t like a lot of condiments on your food, this one is packed with everything but the kitchen sink. For some reason, I always end up working up a sweat when I eat one of these. Must be because of all the spicy sport peppers, and the vinegary pickle and mustard. To be an authentic Chicago Dog, it should really be a Vienna All-Beef hot dog served on a poppy-seed bun. I’d like to see Joey Chestnut eat fifty of these!
Larry Martino is the long-time afternoon drive personality on 96.3 KKLZ. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are those of Larry Martino and not necessarily those of Beasley Media Group, LLC.
