Quick Review: Char’diniera Dog from Portillo’s Hot Dogs

Bottom Line: The Char’diniera Dog from Portillo’s Hot Dogs is a good addition to the menu, delivering a tasty twist on the classic dog with a nice kick.

Portillo’s Hot Dogs is expanding its exposure across the country (which is good because they are a favorite of mine), and it is expanding its menu as well. One of their new items is the Char’diniera Dog, which offers a char-grilled Vienna Beef hot dog infused with giardiniera and provolone and topped with grilled onions and yellow mustard on a poppy seed roll. I happened to stop by recently and decided to give this one a try. (I also got one of their classic Chicago-Style Dogs, and you can read my previous review of that here.)

With the first bite, you taste the char from the grill, and you get that expected snap from the sausage. There is also an immediate kick of heat, though it tastes not so much like the familiar giardiniera condiment (a blend of vegetables and chilis in oil), more like a chorizo sausage. The provolone is not too noticeable, but it adds some hints of sharpness. The mustard delivers on the tang and also helps to enhance the heat. The sweetness of the grilled onions complements the flavors and offers a nice balance to the bite from the sausage and mustard. The poppy seed roll is plenty fresh, and it adds a nice little enhancement to the flavor.

As for the heat, you feel it right away, but it does not escalate too much. It definitely delivers a kick, but not quite to Medium on my scale. That is perfectly fine, though, because the overall combination works very well, and I hope they consider adding this to the permanent menu. And if you do want more of a burn from your dog, just ask for extra giardiniera on top (for a small surcharge).

They don’t show the calories for this item because it is a limited-time offering, but I am going to guess somewhere around 400, which is not too bad for the drive thru. You can get a regular order of fries with it and not break the calorie bank for the day. It sells for $4.99 in my area, and the combo with fries and a drink will run you under ten bucks. This one is certainly worth seeking out, and if you have a Portillo’s near you (check for locations here), I would get one before it heads back to Limited-Time-Only-Ville.

You can read my prior reviews of Portillo’s offerings here.