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Some Arizona road trips end at a canyon rim, and some end at a counter serving sandwiches straight out of Chicago. In Tempe, one busy corner draws Cubs fans, homesick Midwesterners and curious first-timers who all line up for the same three things: Chicago dogs, Italian beef and cake shakes so thick the straw has to work overtime.
People make the drive from across the state to eat here, and plenty of them grew up on this exact menu back in Illinois. Keep reading for the backstory, the orders regulars swear by, and the practical tips that make a visit go smoothly.
A Windy City Outpost on McClintock Drive
Some addresses in the Valley carry more Midwestern weight than others. Portillo’s Tempe, at 65 S McClintock Dr, Tempe, AZ 85281, is one of them, planted right in the middle of Arizona’s college town.
On paper, it is a fast food restaurant. In practice, it works more like an embassy for Chicago street food, serving the city’s most famous sandwiches and hot dogs to a crowd that stretches well beyond Tempe.
The chain was born in Chicago, and that heritage shapes everything here. The menu leans hard on Chicago-style dogs and Italian beef, the two items people bring up again and again when they talk about this place.
Thick shakes round out the famous trio. The chocolate cake shake in particular has built a following all its own.
The building sits on a corner lot with a drive-thru, a large dining room and some outdoor seating for mild Arizona days. Retro decor sets the tone, giving the place a throwback personality that stands apart from the typical quick-service stop.
For a spot built around a counter and a drive-thru lane, it draws a remarkably devoted following. Locals treat it as a destination rather than a quick errand.
So how did a Chicago hot dog stand turn into a Tempe road trip target? The answer starts back in the suburbs of Illinois.
Suburban Chicago Roots, Arizona Fans
Long before it landed in Arizona, the name meant something very specific to families in the Chicago suburbs. The family behind it started out there, and generations of kids grew up with a trip to Portillo’s as a regular part of life.
That history travels well. Plenty of Chicago transplants now living in the Valley treat the Tempe location as a direct line to home.
Many bring along spouses and friends who have never tried it. Converting those newcomers becomes a friendly mission, and some need a second or third visit before the appeal fully clicks.
First-timers make up a big share of the crowd too. A surprising number of people try the chain for the very first time in Tempe rather than in Chicago, and many leave planning a pilgrimage to the original city.
Friends often talk the place up with a mini history lesson before the first bite. Even with expectations set high, the food tends to hold up under that pressure.
Not every Chicago favorite made the trip west, though. Longtime fans point out that some items found at the Illinois stores are not offered here, so the Tempe menu sticks to the core classics.
And the biggest classic of all is a sandwich that gets dunked before it ever reaches the tray.
The Italian Beef Ordering Ritual
Ask a table of regulars what to order, and most answers begin with the same two words: Italian beef. It is the most talked-about item on the menu by a wide margin.
The big Italian beef has an especially loyal fan club. Ordering one is less a transaction and more a series of small, serious decisions.
The first choice is how wet to go. A quick dip gives the bread a light soak, while a full dunk sends the whole sandwich into the juice for the classic Chicago experience.
Next comes the pepper question. Sweet peppers are hugely popular, hot peppers add a kick, and plenty of regulars simply order both.
Some go further with grilled onions or a side of cheese sauce for dunking. A word of caution on that cheese sauce: it can come out very hot, so give it a minute before digging in.
Drive-thru staff are happy to steer newcomers in the right direction. Beef with sweet peppers and grilled onions is a common starting suggestion for anyone unsure where to begin.
Chicago natives, meanwhile, tend to keep it simple. Dipped, with hot and sweet peppers, is the order many of them recommend to anyone trying it for the first time.
Of course, a beef is only half of the classic Chicago lunch order.
Chicago Dogs and Their Unwritten Rules
There is a right way to dress a Chicago dog, and people take it seriously. The Tempe kitchen builds them in the traditional style, with the loaded lineup of toppings that sets this hot dog apart from a backyard frank.
For many first-timers, the Chicago dog is the order that seals the deal. It regularly gets called phenomenal, even by people who show up with sky-high expectations from friends back home.
Consistency can shift a little from visit to visit. Some orders come with a heavier hand on the toppings, which makes for a messier meal, while others land just right.
Purists occasionally have notes too. The toppings and the dog-to-bun ratio are details Chicago fans watch closely, so the occasional miss does not slip by unnoticed.
The menu also offers other hot dog variations, including a plant-based option for anyone skipping meat. That keeps mixed groups happy without forcing anyone to sit out the Chicago experience.
Delivery apps carry the dogs as well. That comes in handy on a July afternoon when nobody in the house wants to face the parking lot.
Still, the dog is rarely a solo act. Most trays also carry something in a tall cup that needs a very sturdy straw.
Cake Shakes With a Cult Following
Somewhere along the way, a shake stopped being just a shake here. The chocolate cake shake, built around the restaurant’s much-loved chocolate cake, has become almost as famous as the sandwiches.
It is thick enough to count as dessert and a drink at the same time. Fans describe it as a gloriously over-the-top treat, the kind of order that makes no apologies.
A large cake shake paired with a big Italian beef is a well-known power move. Regulars who know the menu inside and out often treat that duo as the definitive order.
The lineup has grown to include a strawberry cake shake. It has earned its own fans, although chocolate loyalists tend to stay exactly where they are.
The chocolate cake behind the shake is one of the most mentioned items at this location. Drive-thru staff often suggest it as a final add-on, which says plenty about its reputation in-house.
The shakes also make an easy sell for anyone in the car who is lukewarm on hot dogs. Adults who grew up with them in Illinois tend to order one out of pure nostalgia.
With dessert handled, the next question is where to enjoy it all. The dining room has plenty of personality to answer that.
Retro Decor, a DJ and a Huge Dining Room
Fast food rarely comes with a playlist and a sense of theater, but this dining room breaks the mold. The retro decor channels an old-school Chicago street food spot, and the space itself is huge.
There is room inside for large groups, families and solo lunchers alike. The setting has a way of making Tempe feel like a Chicago side street for an hour.
Music plays a big role in the mood. A DJ keeps the energy up, adding a fun layer that most quick-service stops never attempt.
The staff add to the upbeat atmosphere as well. Team members working the floor are known for being friendly, and some clearly enjoy the job, which shows in how they interact with guests.
Outdoor seating offers another option when the weather cooperates. During the milder months, especially spring, eating outside is a popular move.
Speed is part of the appeal. Even with all the fun decor, orders tend to arrive quickly, with some meals on the table within about 15 minutes of joining the line.
One area to keep an eye on is the restrooms, which have drawn occasional cleanliness complaints. Management has said the issue is being addressed.
All that energy makes the place a natural fit for a very specific crowd each spring.
The Unofficial Cubs Spring Training Hangout
Each spring training season, Cubs fans pour into the East Valley, and a good number of them end the day at the same corner. The restaurant sits just down the road from the stadium, making it a natural postgame stop.
For Chicago baseball fans, the pairing is almost too perfect. A day of Cubs baseball followed by Chicago dogs and Italian beef is about as close to Wrigleyville as Arizona gets.
Game days are not the only draw. The spot also works as a regular meetup location for local professionals, who find it an easy place to talk business over lunch.
Groups are well served too. The large dining room and wide menu make it simple to feed a crowd with different tastes, and portions are generous.
Chicago transplants form a loyal core, but the circle keeps expanding. People from around the state make the trip for a taste of Chicago without booking a flight.
Value keeps them coming back. The meals are widely considered good value for money, which matters when feeding a full carload after a long drive.
Of course, a smooth visit takes a little planning. That tricky corner lot deserves its own briefing.
Hours, Drive-Thru Tips and Parking Strategy
Timing a visit is easy thanks to generous hours. The restaurant opens at 10 a.m. every day and stays open until 10:30 p.m.
Sunday through Thursday.
Friday and Saturday nights run later, with doors open until midnight. That makes it a solid choice for a late dinner after an evening out in Tempe.
The drive-thru is a strong option when time is short. It has a reputation for being fast and professional, and the team at the window is known to offer helpful menu suggestions.
Parking is the one area that calls for patience. The corner location means getting in and out of the lot can be a little awkward, so allow a few extra minutes when McClintock Drive is busy.
Delivery through apps is another route. Fees can add up, but the convenience helps on peak summer afternoons.
A rewards program runs through the restaurant’s app, with occasional offers sent to members. The app is not the most user-friendly, but the deals can make it worth downloading.
Tempe is not the only Valley option either, since the chain also has a Scottsdale location. Still, this corner remains a favorite for East Valley regulars and road-trippers.
With the logistics sorted, only one question remains: is the drive worth it?
Worth Every Mile of the Drive
Chicago may own the recipe, but Tempe has made a strong case as its Arizona headquarters. The Italian beef, the Chicago dogs and the cake shakes deliver the kind of experience that turns first-timers into regulars.
No restaurant is flawless. Toppings can run heavy on some days, parking takes patience, and the restrooms have had their moments.
Those small hiccups rarely outweigh the main event. The food, the speed and the upbeat atmosphere keep people coming from across the Valley and far beyond it.
For Chicago transplants, it is a trip home without the airport. For everyone else, it is a crash course in why Chicagoans get so passionate about how a hot dog should be dressed.
The smartest approach is to arrive hungry and order the classics. A big Italian beef, dipped, with peppers, plus a Chicago dog and a chocolate cake shake covers the whole story in one tray.
Spring training season brings extra buzz, and the late weekend hours make it an easy after-dark stop too.
Arizona has plenty of homegrown favorites, and this Chicago import has earned a seat at that table. Some road trips end at a canyon, and this one ends with a paper-lined tray and a very thick shake.
