Sandwich is definitely better, the smoke is heavy in terms of pastrami however it tasted great. I just wish it wasn’t so smokey where the pastrami spices sort of get lost. My main problem is the rye bread, mine was straight up toasted hard and dry. Pretty sure they are still tinkering with the bread.
The dip is standard fare, cheap pastrami that you would get better at Marty’s on Pico.
Haha @Chowseeker1999. You’re like the truffle pig of butter detectors. If you tried hard enough you could probably tell what kind of butter is in it. I notice you like a basis for comparisons and like things as originally planned. But I rarely let wrong get in the way of yum. 
I 
the Matzo Ball and found them light and moist and buttery. The Knish on the other hand…
Funny! We grew up with Matzo in the house. One of my favorite snacks was eating them smeared with butter. 
It probably primed me for Johnny’s Matzo Balls. 
As a kid, When we had matzo, during Passover, that was one of my favorite ways too. Yum. Cream cheese also. Until I got old enough to make matzo brei with lots of butter.
French Dip Pastrami
Yep, @A5KOBE, I only had a couple bites (for research) - liked the roll soaked in oily dip broth and wrong mayo & melty swiss cheese and right mustard & pickles, but I thought the meat was kinda’ chewy. They’re definitely trying to appease the OG Johnny’s regulars with that one, except the original was better - they probably used cheap, restaurant supply co. pastrami too, but it was cooked more tender and melded into the steamy roll. It was up there with the best late-night, drunk, stoned & hungry fix back-in-the-day. But hubs really liked this sandwich and that’s what counts since it was actually his. 
Slaw
Really fresh, crunchy, lightly creamy, but no acid for those of you who like that. I like it both ways so it worked for me.
Hand Cut Fries & Garlic Sauce
These crispy kennebec fries are great! I almost asked for extra crispy because it was to-go, but no need. 
The sauce was a garlic ranch-ish sauce. It was good but I like the trashier Hidden Valley Ranch - the powdered mix w/buttermilk or sour cream, never the slimy bottled stuff. I have my standards. 
Matzo Ball Soup - Chicken Broth, Shredded Chicken, Aromatic Vegetables, Capellini & Dill
Love this. Light (not bland) chicken broth, chef ups the fresh dill, but doesn’t overwhelm, butter from the matzo ball - the horror! - added a touch of buttery love to this delicate chicken-y broth. But, the matzo balls! 
light, firm, not dense and very tender from the butter. My only complaint is that there’s only one. There’d better be an add-on option, because I want this a lot.
Knish with Gravy, Pastrami, Potatoes, Caramelized Onions, Sauerkraut
I had a feeling I wasn’t going to love this (even before tasting the smoked-out pastrami) but I ordered it because my FTC buddies do love it and have been known to prove me wrong. The pie crust (because it really is like a pot pie) was undercooked and a little doughy underneath, but nothing a toaster oven can’t fix. The worst (for me) was the immediate charcoal fluid taste of the thick-cut pastrami. This isn’t a caution for others, as I just don’t like hyper-smoked meat very much. Anyway, everything was overshadowed and I forgot there was sauerkraut in it until looking at the description - makes me want to go take another bite. The gravy was good with a light herby quality… and that whole grain mustard! I’m going to start hoarding that.
Soft Serve S’mores
Talk about shutting the f-ing door! Chocolate Ice Cream, Dark Choco Cookie, Chocolate Sauce, Crunchy Peanuts, Marshmallows Scorched on top to a Dark, Crystal-y, Sugary, Glaze. The textures and flavors are firing on all cylinders. Rich, rich and might, might! take you a couple days to finish. Only nitpicky is the opening on the to-go top is too small for the spoon and you have to take it off carefully to eat it so the small mountain of marshmallow doesn’t spill all over. First world problems.
Is Johnny’s traditional? Who knows. Traditional to where? Is it kosher? Not really would be an understatement. I mean, none of these spots are kosher, unless they are kosher, and Angelenos who keep kosher probably know this and steer clear of the Johnny’s. Yes, that was a lot of kosher in one sentence. Anyway, we like the new Johnny’s a lot. And next time I plan on going for my first love - before you Angelenos turned me into a pastrami eater - corned beef! TBC…
Happy Eating!
LOL!! Same here. I love that soup.
Thanks for the write up! I supremely curious about what you thought, especially about the french dip. There TOO was a time where the original Johnny’s was one of my favorite late night wind downs… Looking forward to trying it still, although now with tempered expectations. For thin cut style George’s has a great supplier which also makes Langer’s Pastrami. So a high quality thin cut at a not too crazy price point is possible…
–Dommy!
I STILL like the other, Johnnies occasionally for that non-jewish-style pastrami dip and awesome pickles. So i’d probably like the pastrami dip at this Johnny’s.
Thanks @Dommy!
Are you talking about the one on Sepulveda @Gr8pimpin? I’m in that area about once a month and usually go with Tito’s Chili con Carne but will switch it up once, maybe.
Yep. Been there like 100 years LOL! Cheap thin cut pastrami, like the Hat. Pretty fatty but I still like it.
But those pickles. Damn good, kosher style dills. They do frozen crinkle cuts, but always cooked right.
I don’t mind fatty as long as it’s tender fatty, lol.
Not sure how tender fatty. It’s so thinly shaved, and probably the cheapest pastrami there is. But they pile it high, and it’s tasty. Cash only.
Ok,this place has been reviewed to death so I’ll just chime in with a few thoughts of my own.
Had Johnny’s as part of a Tripp’s Burger bang x2.
This was definitely not Jewish food. It was a smoked brisket place with a slight “ode to Jewish dishes” on the menu. Kind of like if I took over a Tex-Mex place and made cornbread with a hole in it and called it my Tex-Mex Bagel.
PASTRAMI
First the pastrami. My wife could not get past it not being a Jewish-style pastrami, coming from Miami and then New York (she did like the potato salad 
). But for me, I just looked at it is a really good smoked brisket sandwich. I liked the bread. I happen to like crunchy crusted bread like that. Again, completely not pastrami. So smokey, you wouldn’t know there’s pastrami seasoning on it and that it’s brined except for the black pepper and color of the meat. If you eat it and accept it just as it is, no expectations or comparisons, it’s delicious!
PASTRAMI RUEBEN
I don’t think I liked it as much as the pastrami with just mustard. It was dripping with Russian dressing, which was ok but even with the kraut and cheese it tasted too much like it was trying NOT to be a smoked brisket sandwich which really was what it was.
(What they call a) KNISH
The knish was NOT a knish. It was more like a stuffed croissant. @TheCookie may be more accurate comparing this to pot pie crust. Flaky puff pastry is definitely not anything I’ve ever had as a knish. That’s not to say I didn’t like it. It was very tasty, surprisingly moist filling. I personally couldn’t taste any of the pastrami or the sauerkraut, just potato. but the pastry was so light that I really enjoyed it. I didn’t bother with the gravy. Plain.
BURNT ENDS
My favorite thing at Johnny’s: BURNT ENDS!! Dipped in the whole grain mustard. $7. I’d be fine with just this. Juicy, heavily smoked, tender. The fat was really really terrific.
DRINKS WITH LAWN TRIMMINGS
The house soda shrub drink was tasty. Like someone cut their hedges and put it in an agua fresca. F—- paper straws. Less then 3 minutes in, it was completely collapsed and useless.
SOFT-SERVE S’MORES
Kid got the soft serve s’mores. Chocolate soft serve, cookies, chocolate sauce, torched fresh marshmallow. He loved it.
Got a Green goddess salad for wifey to take to work tomorrow. I’d have taken a photo but the kid threw it out with the garbage 
BTW, two hours later and several blasts of hand sanitizer and several handwashings and my hands STILL smell like they were in a smoker.
I would go back for sure. But not for when I crave pastrami. But when I want BBQ.
+1. As a straw biter, I just can’t (and I can’t w/ metal straws, either).
Had people mentioned burnt ends before??? I also really like that.
Will probably wait until the weather cools down to try this place. Food sounds too heavy for a mild heat wave. 
Thanks for the review.
Burnt ends don’t look that burnt but they look delicious. I think burnt ends, salad, knish and smores would make a great meal.
Funny! Good report. I’m glad you liked the Pastrami more than me. That’s why I gave the warning that I’m not a smoked meat gal… ymmv. I’m looking forward to the Corned Beef.
Wasn’t impressed. Might go back to try that soft serve tho. The price to deliciousness ratio was off.
Im’ finding the pricing is actually lower than we’re used to for this level food. Guess because of the area
You know, i quite liked the chicken sandwich today. It’s juicy and flavorful. Enough paprika, light cayenne in the coating to keep me interested, i was also drenching with Frank’s red hot but it’s not spicy so i was also eating the spicy yellow pickled chilis. This would be great with some home brought hot sauce.
Fries need to be ordered fried hard though i like them.
Friend was mind blown at the pastrami. Still talking about it
YOOOO
Different experience but I dig it. Probably too sweet from the sauce + bun for me but love it anyway
2 more people became regulars today
RIP to dead man across the street. Bummed me out to see that
Oh my! Is that a BBQ Sammich?!
