Portillo's vs Sonic Drive-In: Menu Prices Compared (2026)

Updated August 16, 2026 5 items matched

The short answer

Sonic Drive-In is the cheaper of the two. Of the 5 directly comparable items we could match across both menus, Sonic Drive-In is cheaper on 5 of them, by an average of $2.10 per item.

Typical menu price: Portillo's $9.29 · Sonic Drive-In $4.29

Matched Items, Side by Side

The same item on both menus, priced against each other. Where names differ, we matched the closest equivalent — Portillo's's wording first.

Item	Portillo's	Sonic Drive-In	Difference
Crispy Chicken Sandwich	$9.99	$6.79	$3.20 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Grilled Chicken Sandwich	$9.79	$6.99	$2.80 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Double Cheeseburgervs SuperSONIC Double Cheeseburger	$9.79	$8.29	$1.50 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Onion Rings	$5.49	$4.29	$1.20 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In
Corn Dog	$4.29	$2.49	$1.80 cheaper at Sonic Drive-In

Make Portillo's and Sonic Drive-In at Home

Whichever of the two wins on price, cooking the favorites at home beats both. These are the sauces, mixes and kitchen tools that get closest to the real thing.

Chicago-Style Hot Giardiniera The spicy pickled topping for a proper Italian beef. Check price on Amazon Countertop Nugget Ice Maker The soft, chewable "Sonic ice" at home. Check price on Amazon Cast Iron Skillet Steakhouse sear on your own stove. Check price on Amazon Copycat Restaurant Recipes Cookbooks that recreate chain-restaurant favorites. Check price on Amazon

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Portillo's vs Sonic Drive-In at a Glance

	Portillo's	Sonic Drive-In
Typical menu price	$9.29	$4.29
Average menu price	$14.10	$4.66
Cheapest item	Fries (regular) — $3.79	$1.99 Snack Menu items — $1.99
Most expensive item	Sandwich Party Tray (12) — $99.99	SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger — $9.29
Items priced	41	44
Menu sections	6	6
Price range	$$	$
Founded	1963	1953
Headquarters	Oak Brook, Illinois	Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Locations	About 90 restaurants, centred on Chicago and expanding across the Sun Belt	More than 3,500 drive-ins across the United States

Which One Should You Order From?

Sonic Drive-In has the lower typical menu price of the two — $4.29 against $9.29 — but a typical price only tells you where the middle of the menu sits. At the value end, Sonic Drive-In gets you in cheaper at $1.99.

Portillo's is strongest on Italian Beef, Chicago-Style Hot Dog, Chocolate Cake Shake; Sonic Drive-In on Cherry Limeade, SuperSONIC Bacon Double Cheeseburger, Tots. Neither chain's app prices match the counter, and both discount heavily through their loyalty programmes, so the deals below usually matter more than the few cents between the two menus.

Deals Worth Knowing at Both

Portillo's

Ordering the beef dipped, wet or dry costs nothing extra — the preparation is free, so ask for what you actually want.
Italian Beef family packs at $59.99 feed four to six for roughly the price of five individual sandwiches with sides.
Portillo's ships nationwide, so the chocolate cake and Italian beef kits are available outside the chain's footprint.

Sonic Drive-In

Happy Hour from 2:00 to 4:00 PM every day takes 50 percent off all drinks and slushes — the single biggest recurring discount in fast food.
The Sonic app frequently offers half-price burgers on Tuesdays and free items with a purchase.
Upgrading to a Route 44 (44 oz) for $0.60 more is the cheapest per-ounce drink on the menu, especially during Happy Hour.

About these prices: menu prices are set by individual franchise owners and change without notice. The figures on this page are researched estimates for 2026 and are provided for reference only. Confirm the current price with the restaurant before ordering. Menu Price Book is not affiliated with this chain.

Portillo's vs Sonic Drive-In — FAQ

Is Portillo's cheaper than Sonic Drive-In in 2026?

Sonic Drive-In is cheaper on most matched items — 5 of 5. Across the whole menu Sonic Drive-In is the lower-priced of the two, at $4.29 for a typical item against $9.29 at Portillo's.

What is the price difference between Portillo's and Sonic Drive-In?

On matched items the average difference is $2.10, or about 67% overall. Portillo's averages $14.10 across 40 priced items; Sonic Drive-In averages $4.66 across 42.

Which has the cheaper entry price, Portillo's or Sonic Drive-In?

Portillo's starts at $3.79 (Fries (regular)) and Sonic Drive-In at $1.99 ($1.99 Snack Menu items).

Are these prices the same at every location?

No. Both chains let franchise owners set prices, so figures move by a dollar or more between markets and run highest at airport, stadium and highway locations. Treat these as the typical U.S. price, not a quote.