Portillo’s is a popular restaurant chain serving filling portions of classic Chicago flavors.
The majority of the menu is meat-based, although the new plant-based hot dog means vegans do have some options!
In this guide, we’ll explore the vegan menu items at Portillo’s so you and your family know what you can dig into next time you’re at Portillo’s
Portillo’s Vegan Menu
It’s not impossible to put together a vegan meal at Portillo’s. The plant-based hot dog is filling, and you can always add a side salad. Just be aware that there isn’t much choice.
Vegan Entrees
Good news for vegans who want to try Portillo’s — there is a vegan option!
- Plant-Based Garden Dog: Crafted by Portillo’s Field Roast, the Garden Dog is made from 100% plant-based protein. It’s served on a steamed poppy seed bun and topped with mustard, relish, celery salt, fresh onion, tomatoes, sports peppers, and Kosher pickle.
The Chicago-style hot dog is pretty tasty and a welcome addition to a menu that was otherwise almost entirely meat-based!
Hopefully, the Plant-Based Garden Hot Dog will prove popular enough that Portillo’s considers adding some more vegan items to the menu. At the moment, options are very limited.
Vegan Salads
When it comes to salads and sides, Portillo’s doesn’t have much for vegans. None of the salads are vegan as-is, but you can order with some modifications.
- Garden Side Salad. Ask for no croutons and no shredded cheese. The garden side salad comes with romaine lettuce, topped with cabbage, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes. You can also pick your own salad dressing. We’ll cover the vegan options below.
The Greek salad can also be made vegan, but only with some significant changes to the menu. You can ask for the salad without chicken and Feta cheese — but there isn’t much left.
Alternatively, you might want to try subbing the croutons and cheese on the garden salad for Kalamata olives.
In terms of sides, the fries at Portillo’s are supposedly cooked in beef tallow. Unfortunately, that means they aren’t vegan-friendly.
Vegan Breads
The good news is that the majority of bread at Portillo’s is vegan. You can order:
- 6-inch French Bread.
- Hamburger Bun.
- Hot Dog Bun.
The bad news is that there isn’t much you can put in them. If you want, you can order hamburgers and sandwiches without the meat fillings and extra salad, but there isn’t a vegan substitute you can turn to. Without the meat, there isn’t much of a meal.
Dressings And Sauces
If you want to order a side salad you have a choice of dressings. The vegan options include:
- Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette.
- Lite Italian Dressing.
- House Dressing.
Portillo’s also has one vegan sauce:
- BBQ Sauce.
None of Portillo’s pasta options are vegan, as they all appear to contain dairy.
And that’s pretty much it if you want to eat vegan at Portillo’s! There are a few other options that you could modify, but you’d be removing so much you’d hardly be getting a meal.
Final Thoughts
Portillo’s does have a plant-based hot dog, but the rest of the menu is lacking in vegan options. Even the sides aren’t vegan-friendly, as the fries are cooked in beef tallow.
The options might be limited but the Plant-Based Garden Dog is tasty. We just wish that there was more like it on the menu!
Hopefully, the Garden Dog will prove popular, and Portillo’s will decide to add some plant-based sandwiches or burgers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Portillo’s Have Vegan Salad Dressings?
Yes, Portillo’s does have vegan salad dressings. The House Dressing, Lite Italian Dressing, and Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette are all vegan. If you want to order the Garden Side Salad, ask for no croutons and shredded cheese, and choose one of these three dressings.
Are The Fries At Portillo’s Vegan?
No, we can’t guarantee that the fries at Portillo’s are vegan. It seems that Portillo’s has started cooking the fries in beef tallow at all locations. If you want to eat vegan at Portillo’s, stay away from the fries.
