About

Ol’ School Johnny’s Shrimp Boat in Boyle Heights is a Classic Original Dive Serving the Best Crisp & Golden Fried Shrimp in Town”™

With the multi generational changing landscape of Downtown LA it makes it hard to make a lasting impression with food. 

Take a stroll through downtown and you will see many abandoned, yet beautiful, buildings of what once was the hustle and bustle of movie theaters, which are now surrounded by the latest architectural condos and skyscrapers.  Although most of these memories have been forgotten, one thing has remained the same: the generational and diverse set of food and restaurants. 

Before the rise of the theatrical district, pop-ups, studio lofts, bike lanes, and food delivery apps there stood a seedy food shack serving fried shrimp, rice, chili, and gravy on Main and 3rd Street across from the once famous Main Street Gym near the Cathedral of Saint Vibiana’s Church.  This shack was known as, Johnny’s Shrimp Boat

On any given day, you could find a constant flow of customers from the local factories, sweatshops, department stores, RTD bus riders, and locals that lived around the surrounding neighborhoods of Downtown Los Angeles. 

Generations of customers remember stepping over the winos and standing in lines stretching as they did for Tommy’s, Clifton's, Philippe’s, and The Pantry.  The start of the weekend started on payday--Friday when the local families and kids would pack-in the back of the pickup truck and head Downtown for dinner.  Those of us that ate there in the parking lot would listen to our families banter while we watched the boxers go into the gym.  Or if we picked up the golden fried shrimp to go, the brown paper bag would be soaked with a greasy line by the time we got home.  The late hour party crowds would choose this hang-out to help absorb the late night drinking and cruise the streets of Downtown L.A. and East L.A.

Johnny’s Shrimp Boat, which has changed several hands, remains as authentic as it was when Johnny Matsui first opened the restaurant in 1945.  Matsui laid the visionary foundation for the recipe that would become the famous golden fried shrimp.  Following several ownership changes, Johnny's Shrimp Boat has kept its integrity and loyalty to the community serving its unchanged recipe, ensuring that it remains a staple in the community of Boyle Heights for generations to come.

The breaded fried shrimp only describable as a fusion of Asian, Mexican, and American cuisines will delight you with its thick golden crust which comes with beans, steamed rice and secret gravy and if you’re not in the mood for seafood, you can always get a hamburger and delicious chili cheese fries.

“Johnny’s is a throwback to a time when food was judged strictly on taste.  You won’t find kale or leaf greens here just deep fried heaven on a plate” 

Come in any day of the week to enjoy some of the same comfort food the people who built this city came to love.

The restaurant is open every day from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 pm, closing early on Mondays at 5:00 p.m.

Original Johnny’s Shrimp Boat at 2712 Whittier Blvd is the oldest location established after relocating from Downtown Los Angeles to Boyle Heights.

No alcohol.  Debt/Cash.  Order Online.  (213) 262-8713

Others are Independently Owned!