Menu pricing at Portillo's reflects a combination of high labor costs, rising food and supply chain expenses, and the premium quality associated with their signature made-to-order Chicago-style items, such as Italian beef and char-broiled burgers. As operational overhead, minimum wages, and commodity input costs have escalated significantly across the restaurant industry, fast-casual brands have been forced to implement periodic menu price increases to protect their profitability margins, which consumers frequently notice during visits.