Portillo’s set to bring its Chicago-style hot dogs to St. Petersburg

Portillo’s, a popular Chicago-based hot dog chain, will debut next year at Tyrone Square Mall in west St. Petersburg according to preliminary plan review documents filed with the city.

Portillo’s traces its origins to 1936 when founder Dick Portillo invested $1,100 into a small hot dog cart in Villa Park, Illinois. The restaurant chain has since expanded to over 60 locations in nine states.

Portillo’s will be located at 2302 Tyrone Boulevard North on a site formerly home to Romano’s Macaroni Grill.

Portillo’s entered the Florida market in 2016 with a location in Brandon, Florida. Later that same year Portillo’s debuted at the University Mall in Tampa.

Now, the chain is planning to construct a new 7,800 square foot outparcel building at 2302 Tyrone Boulevard North. The restaurant will have 176 seats.

The location was previously home to Romano's Macaroni Grill which permanently closed in 2020. Demolition of the existing structure wrapped up earlier this week.

Once it opens, guests will be able to enjoy Portillo’s famous Chicago-style hot dogs piled high with freshly chopped onions, sliced red ripe tomatoes, kosher pickle, sport peppers, mustard, relish, and celery salt on a steamed poppy seed bun.

A rendering of Portillo’s in Orlando. The St. Pete location is expected to look similar.

Another signature item is Portillo’s Italian beef sandwiches consisting of slow-roasted thiny-sliced Italian beef on freshly baked Turano French bread. Order your sandwich “dipped” and your entire sandwich will be dunked in the beef’s natural gravy that comes off of it during the four hour roasting process.

In addition to hot dogs and beef sandwiches, the restaurant also offers burgers, chicken sandwiches, salads, and pastas.

For dessert, try a slice of chocolate cake or a chocolate shake. And if you can’t decide, have both! Portillo’s is famous for their Chocolate Cake Shake, where they’ll blend an entire slice of cake into your chocolate shake. Just make sure it’s a cheat day. The cake shake is 1,490 calories!