If you’ve ever sat and wondered what pizza and hot dogs would taste like combined, we’ve got your answer! Start taking notes here, as Chicago’s famous pizza joint Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria collaborated with Portillo’s to combine their most notable dishes. With Portillo’s Chicago-style hot dogs and Lou’s pizza, they came together for one strangely delicious Chicago dog deep dish.
About The Establishments
Lou Malnati’s was established in 1971 in Lincolnwood, IL. Throughout the Chicagoland area, they have become known for being one of the best places to get a deep-dish pizza. Portillo’s started as a hot dog stand in Villa Park, IL in 1963. With 70 locations expanding across the United States, they are most known for their Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches. With a similar start and story, it’s no wonder why these legendary establishments came together.
Despite having 60 locations in different Illinois cities and states, the collaboration can only be enjoyed at Malnati’s full-service restaurants. While it’s only available as a small size, the dish is hearty in toppings that can get a single person full in two slices.
How Does It Taste?
The crust is coated in poppy seeds while the pie is filled with relish, pickles, and sport peppers. It tops off with slices of hot dogs and drizzles of mustard. Together, the combo shouldn’t work. The mashup of mozzarella sweetness and mustard tang should clash into sensory overload, but they fit perfectly.
Even though the pie is filled with different textures, they come together as one. When trying it for the first time, each coating is tasted individually. However, the more you consume it, the less it feels like two different courses, with the hot dogs having the stronger taste. This dish could understandably be considered a comfort meal, more so something to serve at a sports party rather than a sit-down dinner. Whether White Sox or Cubs is dependent on your preference.
Since announcing the special menu add-on, Malnati’s social media team have been nothing short of fantastic with promotion. On launch day, July 16, they uploaded a video offering free samples for anyone curious of the crosstown collab. Content creator, JewishJonah, hosted this promotion by venturing around the city with a tub of slices. Apparently, word of mouth is the best form of advertisement, as the minute-long video showcased many locals singing praises of the mixed dish.
While the combination may sound odd, especially due to their different cultural origins, the dish may take you for surprise. If you’ve been convinced to try it, you should run to your nearest dine-in restaurant and tell them Just N Life sent you.
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