Illinois Fast-Food Chain Among Best In The Country: Ranking

ILLINOIS— An Illinois restaurant chain is one of the best in the country for "quick bites," according to the Best of the Best Restaurants ranking from the travel guidance platform Tripadvisor.

The company’s 2023 Travelers’ Choice Awards ranked eateries both globally and in the United States in seven categories: fine dining, everyday eats, hidden gems, vegetarian, family-friendly, date night and quick bites.

Chicago-based Portillo's/Barnelli's Pasta Bowl ranked No. 2 in the U.S. among restaurants for "quick bites." Tripadvisor's ranking notes that the chain is "home to America's favorite Chicago-style hot dogs, Italian beef, burgers, salads, and chocolate cake."

With more than 7,200 reviews, Tripadvisor users give Portillo's 4.5 stars, including one rating that calls the Chicago chain "an institution."

According to Portillo's, the chain — which now has locations across the Chicago area as well as in California, Arizona, Florida, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Michigan and Iowa — started as the Dog House in 1963 in Villa Park. The restaurant was a 6-by-12-foot trainer launched by founder Dick Portillo for $1,100.

The first Portillo's drive-thru opened in Downers Grove in 1983 before the company added the Barnelli's Pasta Bowl concept to all locations in the 1990s, featuring homemade sauces, salads and sandwiches. Today, there are more than 60 Portillo's/Barnelli's locations nationwide.

Related: Portillo's Makes History: 1st Triple Drive-Thru Opens

Tripadvisor said in a news release that the rankings are based on traveler reviews left on its website from June 1, 2022, through May 31, 2023. The winners span six continents, 68 countries and 478 destinations, “forming a list that appeals to a diversity of tastes,” the company said.

No U.S. restaurants made the top 10 cut in the global rankings. But New York City has more winners than any other destination, Tripadvisor said.

The top 10 U.S. restaurants in all categories are:

Fine Dining

1. Le Bernardin, New York City
2. The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
3. Hall's Chophouse, Charleston, South Carolina
4. Bourbon Steak by Michael Mina, Nashville, Tennessee
5. The Silver Fork, Manchester, Vermont
6. Sazón, Santa Fe, New Mexico
7. Fat Canary, Williamsburg, Virginia
8. Mama's Fish House, Paia, Hawaii
9. GW Fins, New Orleans, Louisiana
10. Circa 1886 Restaurant – Charleston, South Carolina

Everyday Eats

1. Doc Ford's Rum Bar & Grille, St. Petersburg, Florida
2. Local Goat, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
3. Florida Keys Steak and Lobster House, Marathon, Florida
4. Ristorante Pesto – Philadelphia
5. Moose – AKa's, Denali Park, Alaska
6. Gambino's, Fairhope, Alabama
7. Golden Goose American Grill, Sedona, Arizona
8. The Republic Grille, Magnolia, Texas
9. Jettie Rae's Oyster House, Asheville, North Carolina
10. Oceana Coastal Kitchen, San Diego, California

Hidden Gems

1. Cookie Dough Monster – Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
2. Riverfront Seafood Company, Kingsport, Tennessee
3. Kaya Island Eats, Key West, Florida
4. Rendezvous Bar & Grill, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
5. Happy Fish Peruvian Fusion Restaurant, Tampa, Florida
6. Katherine Meets Toni, New York City
7. Piccola Cucina Osteria, New York City
8. Express Cafe, Kissimmee, Florida
9. Cru Cafe, Charleston, South Carolina
10. Spice Symphony, New York City

Vegetarian

1. The Studio, Hilton Head, South Carolina
2. Full Bloom Vegan, Miami
3. Plant Vegan Restaurant, Asheville, North Carolina
4. Bouldin Creek Cafe, Austin, Texas
5. Fox & Fig Cafe, Savannah, Georgia
6. Russell’s By Eat Healthy, Kapaa, Hawaii
7. Eleven Madison Park, New York City
8. P.S. Kitchen, New York City
9. The Cafe, Key West, Florida
10. Lovina, Calistoga, California

Family-Friendly

1. Outer Banks Boil Company Corolla, Corolla, North Carolina
2. MACS — Macaroni and Cheese Shop, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
3. Pirate’s Table Clabash Seafood Buffet, Surfside Beach, South Carolina
4. English Mountain Trout Farm & Grill, Sevierville, Tennessee
5. Frizzle Chicken Cafe, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee
6. Yak & Yeti Restaurant, Orlando, Florida
7. Thomas Donut & Snack Shack, Panama City Beach, Florida
8. Bandanas Mexican Grill, Wildwood Crest, New Jersey
9. Merlin’s Pizza, Destin, Florida
10. Blue Bayou Restaurant, Anaheim, California

Date Night

1. Hot Tin Roof, Key West, Florida
2. Circa 1886 Restaurant, Charleston, South Carolina
3. The Restaurant at Gideon Ridge, Blowing Rock, North Carolina
4. Glen-Ella Springs Inn & Restaurant, Clarkesville, Georgia
5. The Silver Fork, Manchester, Vermont
6. Bistro St. Michaels, St. Michaels, Maryland
7. Desert Bistro, Moab, Utah
8. Franny’s Bistro, Camden, Maine
9. Le Stick Nouveau, Eureka Springs, Arkansas
10. Dahl & Di Luca Ristorante Italiano, Sedona, Arizona

Quick Bites

1. Bleecker Street Pizza, nNew York City
2. Portillo's & Barnelli's – Chicago
3. Joe's Pizza, New York City
4. BurgerFi, Naples, Florida
5. Steak Shack, Honolulu
6. BirdHouse Page, Arizona
7. Shake Shack Theater District, New York City
8. In–N–Out Burger, Los Angeles, California
9. The Taco Stand, La Jolla, California
10. Earl of Sandwich, Orlando, Florida