Portillo’s in Deerfield provides new open lunch destination

A Portillo’s employee (center) calls out order numbers for waiting customers at Portillo’s on Nov. 15. The restaurant is located on the corner of Lake Cook Road and Deer Lake Road. Photo by Chloe Carroll

A Portillo’s restaurant opened in Deerfield on Nov. 15. It features a drive-thru and is on the corner of Lake Cook Road and Deer Lake Road.

Portillo’s is a retro-themed fast food restaurant chain that sells hot dogs, Italian beef and chocolate cake shakes, among other items. It also features a separate area in which customers can get salads.

Senior Jonah Jacobs said he sees Portillo’s as an open lunch option because of its quick accessibility and because it includes a drive-thru.

“It’s more convenient to drive through really quickly,” said Jacobs. “You get a good parking spot when you come back [to school] because you’re coming back relatively early, given that [other students] are still eating out.”

Junior Jack Ferber said he is worried about the time it would take to go to Portillo’s because of how busy it has been since its opening date.

“It’s a very popular destination right now, so it doesn’t seem like such a ‘fast food’ [option] yet, but as its newness calms down I’ll probably end up going,” Ferber said.

Portillo’s also has an app available on the iOS App Store and on Google Play. The app allows users to place an order by going through a digital version of the menu on their devices, which they can then pick up either inside the restaurant or at the drive-thru window with a picture ID. Students can also place an order on the Portillo’s website for pick up.

According to junior Thomas Agins, the app could help lower students’ stress about going to Portillo’s for open lunch because it would eliminate the time students would spend waiting in line to order.

“You could either pick it up and come back, or you could have it ready to eat when you get there, and either way it speeds up the process,” Agins said.

Ferber said he is excited about the new Portillo’s.

“It’s great food at an affordable price … and it’s always a great option if your friends [and you] need a place [to go] because everyone likes it,” Ferber said.