Portillo’s Secret Menu Guide 2026
The Portillo’s secret menu is real, and it’s hiding in plain sight. Since August 2025, Portillo’s Perks members can unlock Pokey’s Secret Menu on in-restaurant kiosks: a triple cheeseburger, chili cheese fries and loaded chili cheese fries. You just need a free Perks account to see it. Here’s how to order every item.
If you’ve never ordered at Portillo’s before, start with our full Portillo’s menu with prices to see the regular lineup, then come back for the hidden stuff. I looked into this because, honestly, I didn’t believe a chain this mainstream actually had a secret menu. It does, and it’s weirder and cooler than I expected.
What is on the Portillo’s secret menu?
Portillo’s secret menu officially launched on August 26, 2025 as Pokey’s Secret Menu, named after Pokey, founder Dick Portillo’s dachshund and the chain’s longtime mascot. It currently has three items, and you won’t find any of them on the menu boards.
| Secret Item | What It Is | Approx. Price |
|---|---|---|
| Triple Cheeseburger | Three 1/3 lb char-broiled patties with cheese, mayo, lettuce, tomato, onion, pickles and ketchup on a toasted bun | ≈ $13 |
| Chili Cheese Fries | Crinkle-cut fries loaded with cheddar cheese sauce and hearty chili with beans | ≈ $7 |
| Loaded Chili Cheese Fries | Chili cheese fries plus your choice of bacon, green onions, giardiniera, or all three piled on top | ≈ $8 |
Prices are ballpark figures and vary by location. Portillo’s keeps the secret menu prices in-store, so don’t quote me to the penny.
Here’s the thing: Portillo’s has said these are just the first items, and more are coming. If you love the idea of Portillo’s secret menu items rotating in over time, it’s worth keeping that Perks account active.
How do you order from Pokey’s secret menu?
You can only order the Portillo’s secret menu one way: in person, at an ordering kiosk, as a logged-in Perks member. No drive-thru, no app, no website ordering. It takes about two minutes.
The exact ordering script
1. Join Portillo’s Perks. Sign up free at portillos.com/perks. It takes under a minute and you get birthday rewards anyway, so there’s no real downside.
2. Go inside a Portillo’s. This doesn’t work at the drive-thru or on your phone. Walk in and find the self-order kiosk.
3. Log in on the kiosk. Sign into your Perks account right there on the screen.
4. Tap Pokey’s head. Look for the little Pokey logo in the bottom left corner of the kiosk screen and tap it. That’s the unlock, and honestly it’s pretty fun the first time.
5. Order and pay. Pick your secret items, pay at the kiosk, and wait at the pickup counter.
A fair warning: the secret menu is available at all Portillo’s restaurants, but kiosks can be glitchy on busy nights. If the Pokey tap doesn’t show up, just ask a crew member. They know exactly what you’re after.
What off-menu hacks can you order at any Portillo’s counter?
Beyond the official hidden menu, Portillo’s fans have been building their own custom orders for years. These aren’t advertised, but the crew will make them without blinking.
The classics worth trying
Beef “dipped” or “wet.” Order your Italian beef dipped, and they dunk the whole sandwich in au jus. It’s messy in the best possible way. Sweet peppers, hot peppers, or both on top.
The beef and sausage combo. Italian beef AND an Italian sausage in one sandwich. Say “combo, dipped” if you want the full Chicago experience.
Chocolate cake shake. A literal slice of Portillo’s chocolate cake blended into a vanilla shake. It’s on the regular menu now, but plenty of people still don’t know it exists, which makes it an honorary secret.
Fries, well done. Ask for your crinkle-cut fries extra crispy. They come out darker and crunchier, and they hold up way better under cheese sauce.
Maxwell Street Polish, Chicago style. The grilled Polish sausage with grilled onions and mustard. Simple, classic, and exactly what the counter crew eats on break.
Want to go deeper on the regular menu first? The Portillo’s menu breaks down every sandwich, hot dog and shake with prices so you know what to build on.
Which secret menu item is actually worth it?
My pick is the loaded chili cheese fries with all three toppings. The bacon, green onions and giardiniera together give you salty, fresh and spicy in every bite, and the crinkle-cut fries hold up under the chili better than most fast food fries would.
If you’re only going once, order the burger for the spectacle and the loaded fries for the flavor. Split both with a friend and you’ve had the whole secret menu in one sitting.
Portillo’s Secret Menu FAQ
Is the Portillo’s secret menu available at every location?
Yes. Pokey’s Secret Menu rolled out to all Portillo’s restaurants, which number 90+ across 10 states. But you can only access it at the in-restaurant ordering kiosks, not online or in the app.
Do you need Portillo’s Perks for the secret menu?
Yes, and there’s no way around it. You must be signed into a Portillo’s Perks account on the kiosk to unlock the hidden menu section. The good news: membership is completely free.
Can you order Portillo’s secret menu online or through the app?
Not right now. As of 2026, the secret menu only unlocks on the physical kiosks inside Portillo’s restaurants. Online and app orders show the regular menu only.
Will Portillo’s add more secret menu items?
That’s the plan. Portillo’s has said the triple cheeseburger and chili cheese fries are just the first additions to Pokey’s Secret Menu, with more hidden items expected over time.
