Portillo's, well-known for its Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef, is shaking up service times across its chain locations. They're looking to cater to the early birds and night owls by tweaking their operating hours. As reported by Restaurant Business Online, the chain will be welcoming patrons 30 minutes earlier, at 10:00 a.m. across all 86 locations, departing from their long-standing 10:30 a.m. opening time. Some locations are even pushing closing times to as late as 1:00 a.m., adding a new dynamic to Chicago's late-night dining scene.

In a move that reflects changing consumer habits, 15 restaurants across Illinois, Indiana, California, Arizona, and Texas, are varying their closing times, with some shutting their doors at 1 a.m. At the forefront of this shift is a Naperville unit, strategically positioned near a train stop, and another by a Walmart Super Center in Homewood that remains open till 11 p.m., as detailed by Restaurant Business Online. Both outlets are now open every day till 1 a.m., aligning with the bustling retail and transit locations that surround them.

This announcement comes amidst a pattern where restaurant chains have been extending hours post-pandemic, undoing the prior years' contractions of operating times. Portillo's CEO Michael Osanloo pointed out that late-night business, particularly drive-thru, tends to see more pressure when lower-income consumers feel more economic challenges. The chain's initiative towards better staff training aims to ramp up drive-thru efficiency, a response to a reported 3.2% dip in transactions during the unfavorable winter season in the first quarter.

With roots dating back to 1963, Portillo's expansion has taken its iconic Chicago-style offerings across the United States. The new, more flexible hours aim to offer "more convenience and flexibility for guests," whether they're dining in or grabbing food to go, as per NBC Chicago. Among the Chicago-area restaurants, locations in Vernon Hills and Schererville, Indiana are now open Sunday through Thursday until 11:30 p.m., extending to midnight on the weekends. In a push to cater to customer needs, especially during the late hours, this schedule mirrors the lifestyle of the residents in the areas they serve.