With 2023 newly underway, an iconic chain restaurant based out of the Chicago area is switching up the process to the swift drive-thru ordering the establishment has become known for.
Starting this week, Portillo's customers can expect a significant change at the restaurant chain's popular drive-thru lanes.
As of Monday, Jan. 16, Portillo's locations will no longer accept cash as a form of payment in the drive-thru lane, the chain said in a release earlier this month, adding the change is meant to help speed up the ordering process and make the experience safer for Portillo's employees.
"The safety of Portillo's team members and more efficient operations to benefit restaurant guests were the main drivers behind the change," a Portillo's spokesperson told NBC Chicago.
It's a big update to a system that has become renowned among Chicago-area residents for its uniqueness and efficiency.
According to Portillo's, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express are all accepted as methods of payment for drive-thru customers.
Cash payments are still accepted for customers who enter the restaurant to pay for their food.
The chain said the majority of drive-thru customers already pay with a debit or credit card and there are no plans to switch to a cashless-only system for inside the restaurant.
Originally based exclusively in the Chicago area, Portillo's now has locations in Wisconsin, Indiana, Minnesota, Michigan, Iowa, Florida, Arizona and California.
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