Portillo’s Starts Construction in Frisco, First Collin County Location

Portillo’s moved forward with construction last week on its first Frisco location, beginning work December 11 at the northwest corner of Gordon Heights Lane and FM 423. Company materials say the build is part of expansion plans for the region, and officials expect the restaurant to begin serving customers in early 2026.

The site will use Portillo’s smaller "restaurant of the future" design, with about 6,250 square feet of indoor space and a 500 square foot patio. The dining room will seat roughly 120 patrons, and the layout will include double drive thru lanes, pick up shelves for online and phone orders, and a grab and go area for faster transactions. The menu will feature Chicago style hot dogs, Italian beef, char grilled burgers and the chain’s signature desserts.

For Collin County residents the arrival of Portillo’s carries several practical impacts. The facility will create construction activity during the build and permanent employment when it opens, from kitchen and service roles to management positions. As a taxable retail food operation the restaurant will contribute sales tax revenue to local governments, and the added customer traffic will be a new consideration for the busy FM 423 corridor. The inclusion of double drive thru lanes and pick up shelves reflects a wider industry shift toward convenience and off premised ordering that has reshaped quick service revenue mixes in recent years.

Local commercial developers and property owners are likely to view the project as a sign of continued retail demand in northwest Frisco. For consumers the site represents more dining variety and an option for quick meals that accommodates both dine in customers and those seeking expedited pick up. With an opening slated for early 2026, the Portillo’s project will be one of several recent additions reshaping the county’s retail landscape and pointing to sustained appetite for restaurant investment in fast growing suburbs.