Portillo's has so many Silver Platter awards (the "Oscars" of the food industry) that the company was retired from competition for 5 years to give others a chance.

•1987 Chicago Food Service Marketing Club Hall of Fame Award
•1991 Chicago Executive of the Year Award from the Chicago Alumni Club of Southern Illinois University
•1994 Entrepreneur of the Year Award - sponsored by Inc. magazine
•1995 Top 3 Restaurateur of the Year
•Food Industry News' 1996 Restaurateur of the Year Award
•2002 Manufacturer Agents for Food Service Industry Restaurateur of the Year Award
•2004 Employer of the Year award from The National Able Network and NBC 5 Chicago.
•2002 Nation's Restaurant News - Regional Powerhouse Chains "Portillo's Hot Dogs - Out of the Dog House and living the American Dream, frankfurter chain operator grows his business independently"
•2005 Nation's Restaurant News - Fast, Casual Players - Portillo's Hot Dogs "Barking up the right tree, theme eatery's familiar food, keeps customers begging for more"
•2006 Chicago Area Entrepreneurship "Hall of Fame" award
•2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 Portillo's is listed by Crain's Chicago Business as one of Chicago's Largest Privately Held Companies.
•2012 Portillo's is listed 144 out of 500 in Technomic’s Top 500 U.S. Chain Restaurant Report for 2011. Technomic is a leading fact-based consulting and research firm serving the food industry.

The Portillo Restaurant Group is the largest privately-owned restaurant company in the Midwest. Combined, the concepts have over 4000 employees and a total of 50 restaurants, plus a catering and shipping division and 2 shopping plazas. This was all accomplished without franchising or investors. Dick Portillo attributes much of his success to his hard-working employees and to you, the satisfied customer. He thanks you for your support.