Portillo’s, the Chicago icon known for its Italian beef sandwiches and hot dogs, is opening its first shop in Dallas on March 31, 2026.
The more than 60-year-old company has embarked on a rapid expansion since it served its first Texas customers in 2023 at an opening in The Colony’s Grandscape development that drew hundreds of people outside the restaurant and in the drive-through.
Since its debut in the Lone Star State — which The Dallas Morning News called one of the biggest openings of the year — Portillo’s has opened 10 restaurants in North Texas and 20 across Texas.
The new restaurant on the Dallas North Tollway, near Galleria Dallas, is the only one so far in Dallas city limits. It comes after CEO Michael Osanloo admitted in a 2025 earnings call that the Texas rollout was “too many too quickly.”
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He added: “The flip side is that we need to build awareness.”
Portillo’s has restaurants scattered across Dallas-Fort Worth: on Central Expressway in Allen, near Texas Motor Speedway in North Fort Worth, off President George Bush Turnpike in Grand Prairie, south of the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in Arlington and beyond.
Next up is a hot dog shop inside DFW Airport, according to Portillo’s website.
Portillo’s Chicago-born CEO said the restaurant’s No. 1 item is its Italian beef. “If people are coming to Portillo’s and they’re eating one thing, I’d say get a beef sandwich. It’ll blow your mind,” Osanloo told The Dallas Morning News in 2022, ahead of the Texas debut.
The slow-roasted, shaved beef is served on French bread. Many customers get the sandwich dunked in “gravy,” or jus. (If it sounds drippy and messy, the CEO confirms: It is.)
“If you eat two things,” Osanloo continued, “you should complement it with our fries.” Portillo’s crinkle-cut fries are fried in beef tallow.
Another beloved menu item is the slice of chocolate cake — free, if it’s your birthday. Regulars love the chocolate cake shake, which is a full slice of cake, blended in a milkshake.
Portillo’s has now grown to 100 restaurants in 11 states. Find other locations on Portillo’s website.
Dallas’ new Portillo’s is at 13904 Dallas Parkway (near Spring Valley Road). Ribbon cutting is at 10 a.m. March 31, 2026.