The Best Portillo's Menu Item Isn't The Chicago-Style Hot Dog Or Italian Beef Sandwich

Portillo's is a fun, fast-casual spot devoted to Chicago street food. For those visiting the U.S. for the first time, it's one location that deserves a place on your must-visit list, though you might be wondering what to order once you get there. Albeit famed for its Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, Portillo's Chocolate Cake Shake snagged the top spot in Tasting Table's estimations, with its Maxwell Street Polish Sausage and Italian Beef Sandwich taking the second and third place, respectively. Per Tasting Table's rankings of Portillo's menu items, this decadent dessert outshined all other offerings as the ultimate cap off to a delectable Chicago-inspired meal. The writer notes that this is a vast improvement on another one of Portillo's best menu items, its chocolate cake slice, which ranked fourth overall. This is, in large part, due to the fact that the shake includes an entire slice of said cake blended up with vanilla ice cream and milk, which help to temper some of the excessive sweetness.

Bearing an ideal texture and unmatched flavor, the Chocolate Cake Shake from Portillo's has garnered plenty of fanfare. One Redditor says, "It's my absolute favorite food on this planet." Another commenter enthuses, "It's SO GOOD. During the summer they have a strawberry shake with lemon cake in it and it's my favorite." Portillo's limited-time cake shakes include lemon, strawberry, and salted caramel spice items, but chocolate remains, arguably, the best.

Although it seems odd to rank a dessert in first place among beloved hot dogs, sausages, and Italian beef sandwiches, that's not to say that you can't assemble a delightful and fully realized meal by pairing up these menu items together. There is so much wonderful Chicago-style street food on the Portillo's menu from which to choose. It's simply up to you whether you start or end your feast with dessert.

If you order an Italian Beef Sandwich from Portillo's, be sure to add a combination of its sweet and hot peppers to the mix. Beware that the house-made hot pepper giardiniera is not for the faint of heart or palate, making the Chocolate Cake Shake an ideal way to cool off in between bites. Similarly, if you're a fan of "swalty" snacking, order a side of Portillo's crinkle-cut fries and dip these into your milkshake.

If there isn't a Portillo's nearby, fear not. This iconic Chicago restaurant also ships kits of its food nationwide. Grab a Portillo's Famous Chocolate Cake kit and blend up a slice with milk, ice cream, and frosting. Including the actual cake is the major secret to making a Portillo's-inspired Chocolate Cake Shake at home. And remember, indulgent treats like Portillo's cakes and shakes are even better when shared with friends.