Portillo’s to plant flagship in the heart of Chicago
The new restaurant coming to Michigan Avenue will be about 5,500 square feet, smaller than most Chicago locations, and the first in-line Portillo's in the city.
June 5, 2026
Portillo’s has a new flagship restaurant coming to Chicago’s Michigan Avenue, the heart of its hometown.
The fast-casual chain, which first started as a hot dog stand in the Chicago suburbs, has slowed development since last year to focus on unit economics and proving out new smaller prototypes as it attempts growth outside Chicagoland.
The new unit coming to 304 N. Michigan Ave., just south of the Magnificent Mile, will be the brand’s first in-line location in the city, and only the second one in the system.
Portillo’s freestanding Chicago locations tend to be much bigger than those outside the city, up to 11,000 square feet. The Michigan Avenue unit will be 5,500 square feet with seating for nearly 100. It will also offer pickup and delivery.
“Chicago is where the Portillo’s story began, and opening in the heart of the city is not only an incredibly proud moment for our brand, but also a recognition of how important Chicagoans are, not only to our history, but to our future,” said Portillo’s CEO and President Brett Patterson, in a statement. “Michigan Avenue is one of the most iconic destinations in Chicago. This restaurant celebrates our hometown and reinforces a simple truth: no matter how much we grow, Chicago will always be at the heart of who we are.”
The company didn’t say when it is expected to open, but it will be the 45th unit in the greater Chicagoland area, and the fourth in Chicago proper.
Last year, Portillo’s announced a strategic reset which included a slowdown in growth planned for the U.S. Portillo’s added eight restaurants last year, bringing the end of year total to 102, after initially expecting to add 12 in 2025.
Another eight are expected to open this year, and five of those restaurants had opened by the end of the first quarter.
Same-store sales were down 0.1% in the first quarter, but that was a big improvement from the prior fourth quarter, when same-store sales dropped 3.3%.
Portillo’s average unit volume last year was $8.5 million, down from its peak of $9.1 million in 2023, when the chain began growing outside Chicago, according to Technomic data.
About the Author
Lisa Jennings
Executive Editor, Restaurant Business
Lisa Jennings is a veteran restaurant industry reporter and editor who covers the fast-casual sector, independent restaurants and emerging chain concepts. Her experience includes other industry publications as well as the daily newspaper The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., where she was Food Editor. Her work has been cited in the Los Angeles Times, Business Insider, FoodBeast, The Huffington Post, Time.com and more.
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