16 Best Hot Dogs near Shorewood

“I don't think I like Facebook's way of posting reviews. [Edit: no one else likes it, either. I'm the only reviewer in 2025, and it's almost 2026. They should also pay closer attention to the "not recommend" reviewers.] The review below this paragraph is just over 1,000 words, as if it appeared in a newspaper. I might just make any reviews of other restaurants and venues as regular posts. If you like Chicago-style fast food, eat here. Expect $15 per person unless you just order one hotdog and a glass of water. Portillo's is a chain with 94 restaurants and "drive-through-only" locations spread throughout ten states. Their greatest concentration is in the Chicagoland area. Founded by Dick Portillo in 1963 as a hot-dog trailer parked in Villa Park Illinois, the restaurant grew steadily over the years. It’s now a publicly traded company, and Dick Portillo no longer plays an active role in day-to-day operations. All Portillo's locations are company owned, with no franchisees. Portillo's sells Chicago-style fast food. They serve Italian Beef, which I’m reviewing here. They also serve Chicago-style all beef hotdogs, Italian and Maxwell Street Polish sausage sandwiches, barbecued pork ribs, grilled and deep-fried fish and chicken sandwiches, pepper-and-egg sandwiches during Lent, chili, and even char-grilled hamburgers. They also sell Chicago-style tamales, but only in the Chicagoland area or "ship to home." The location reviewed here is at 1155 Brook Forest Ave., Shorewood IL. Their hours are 10 AM to 11:30 PM Sunday through Thursday, and 10 AM to Midnight Friday and Saturday. I visited the location in mid-evening on a Tuesday. The dining room was still roughly half occupied, and the double-column line for the drive through was still overflowing into the main parking lot. I've yet to see a Portillo's location not busy, but they might not be as popular outside of the Midwest. I ordered the "regular" Italian Beef wet with extra gravy on the side, sweet pepper garnish, small fries, and a fountain drink. Portillo's sells Coca-Cola products for fountain drinks. They are also famous for their milkshakes; particularly their "Chocolate Cake Shake." While it's incredibly good, it's exactly what it sounds like. Some, but not all Portillo's locations are licensed to sell beer and wine. The selection and availability vary by location. Italian Beef. The French Bread, like all bread products used by Portillo's was a Turano product. It was fresh, with just the right amount of toasting pre-service. The beef was perfectly sliced, very finely grained, and did not seem to have sat for an excessive period of time awaiting service. Portillo's gets their beef from Vienna Beef. However, they get it raw, and do their own seasoning, slow-roasting and slicing in their central commissary before repackaging and sending it to their restaurants. The French Bread Roll was properly filled with roast beef, not overflowing, but still quite full. The regular beef is more than enough for many diners. If you want more, the "Big Beef" sandwich is 50% larger. Both the regular and Big Beef sandwiches are also available as "combo" sandwiches with an appropriate length char-grilled Italian Sausage. The spice blend was properly Italianate, and at just the right strength to compliment the sandwich. When you eat this sandwich, you are eating Italian Beef, not "grandma's spice rack," or "store-brand-watery-Arby's." Gravy. Portillo's makes their own gravy while slow-roasting their beef. The gravy was a rich dark brown. Both the "au-jus" and the spices were in perfect balance, strength, and concentration. It was served properly hot. The flavor was perfect, with no hint of being scorched, burned, or overheated. The sauteed sweet peppers were cut "country style," which suited them well. The peppers were well sauteed, yet had enough slight to moderate firmness“

“Picked up a pound of beef last week. Wasn't aware that they prefer 24hr notice for catering type orders. Nevertheless, still accommodated me on this occasion. THANK YOU! Beef is outstanding and a decent price. Not a sweet pepper guy, but their sweet peppers are fire. Very good stuff! Shout out to the nice young lady working the front counter!! Nice to see some professionalism and not just going thru the motions.

Yes, they're located in a gas station. But at least they're not operating out of some decrepit shack. AS with some of the fast-food places in Joliet.“

“Really nice atmosphere great hot dogs good BBQ. hot dogs really good hot dogs good BBQ Beef homemade root beer a must-stop stop if your hot dog fan. Seasonal Farm Stand produce available during the mid to late summer locally grown it's fantastic“

“the food good! yes I recommend“

“Friendly staff Cool restaurant Good food“

“Our table had a burger, steak sandwich, Italian beef with cheese and peppers, and hot dogs. Everyone loved what they had and you get a lot of food for the price.

Italian beef is very stuffed, get a huge pile of shoestring fries when ordered. Soda fountain is Pepsi products.

Portillo's is embarrassingly bad compared to this place.“

“the staff is great. food is always delicious, love everything and specials polishes are great soup salad....favorite Hot dog stand!!“

“Tonight I went to Tasty Bite in Minooka and placed my order. I mentioned to the owner that while my food was being prepared I was going over to Roostys to grab a couple of shakes. Roostys was super busy and short staffed so I was waiting quite a while. No blame for that. All of the sudden I heard someone say my name, it was the owner of Tasty Bite bringing my order and then went behind the counter and made my shakes! That is amazing customer service! I also want to mention even though they were buried at Roostys, they kept smiling and kept their composure. Thank you to both businesses for great customer service!“

“stopped in on my way back to Tennessee from wisconsin. I had to surprise the wife and bring home a couple beef rolls .She was so happy and so was I .lol .The service was great and the food was amazing!! thank you ! we will stop in on our next trip .👊❤️🇺🇲“

“WE GET FOOD FROM BABES SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK AND IT ALWAYS OUTSTANDING..NEVER DISSASPOINTED,, GREAT BURGERS,,WRAPS,CORNED BEEF, POT ROAST SANDWICH,, EVERYTHING EXCELLENT. WERE VERY LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A GREAT,LOCAL LUNCH SELECTION.. FORGET THE KING AND THE CLOWN, MORE CHOICES , FRIENDLY STAFF,FRESH MADE TO YOU,, FAST SERVICE. THANK YOU BABES“

“Please don't put the gyros sandwich on a greasy grill...too soggy!! Also, cucumber sauce should be added AFTER the sandwich is made so it is still cool. Great place, food, prices!!“

“kicks butt! Great food! friendly people!“

“Neighborhood goodness reminds you of the hot dog shack in the town you grew up in. Solid menu. Great fries. They heat their freaking BBQ sauce! Come on. Why is that not a thing everywhere? My favorite is the poor boy, but nothing on the menu is bad.“

“This isn't about the good (which I love), but about the people! I foster dogs and got a new foster puppy Saturday. She's very shy and afraid of people so she ran from everyone. She ended up in the reeds by Five Guys. The manager and two other employees help catch my foster pup! This could have ended horribly, but didn't. I'm eternally grateful! Thank you!!!“

“This is one of the drive-through only locations, so I parked and ate since I wasn't near home.
Food was fresh, picking up my online order was easy, the got my order and condiments correct.
My only complaint was they didn't give me ANY napkins! I love Portillo's, but for that greasy goodness you almost need plastic gloves. No napkins at a location that most people will eat in their car is unfortunate.“

“I placed an order for a jumbo cheese dog and fries and had to wait in the drive thru line over 30 minutes. They said they had a system issue but after reading the reviews I doubt that's the case. I got in line at 6:59 and placed my order it's now 7:33 and I just got the bag. I can't move anywhere because nobody else has their food so I have to sit here and wait. This is absolutely ridiculous. I ordered a jumbo cheese dog with tomato and pickle only and a large fry. I open the bag there's a cup in there with a tomato and pickle in it and a cup of cheese missing my hot dog and my fries. It's now 7:37 and I'm still waiting and my order is incorrect. Who just orders a cup of cheese and a pickle and a tomato. I left there at 8:03 finally with my hot dog and fries“