Johnny's Shrimp Boat — Local services in Santa Fe Springs

Johnny's Shrimp Boat has got the best fried shrimp and fish in Whittier. I rate it a 5 out of 5. The tasty batter is crispy and not too thick. I usually get the 2 shrimp &2 fish w/fries for under $12. The menu has something for everyone. (Note: they have decent tarter sauce but don't have authentic cocktail sauce, is why I order take-out and keep a bottle of McCormick cocktail at home). This kitchen is well maintained and the cleanest I've ever seen in a restaurant. Shiny stainless steel all around The same and very polite staff have worked there for over 10 years and the dining area offers plenty of space for dining in despite the size. It's hard to block the glare on the menu photos because of the glass windows surrounding the restaurant. Enjoy! Update 1/21/23 I visited today and the fish wasn't as good as I expected. After getting take out, I found after bringing the food back home (about 10 minutes) and still hot, that the fish was a bit on the dry side. After biting into one fillet I found a thin unappealing strip of dry fish inside a bubble of air of batter that I couldn't eat. Maybe I was wrong but I thought the proprietor fried the cod filets himself in the restaurant, so this batch tasted like it was provided frozen by an outside vendor I suspect. To be fair, I don't know how the food is prepared, or the freshness of the food. All I know is that on previous visits the fish was flaky and at least (seemed) freshly battered, and this time it didn't. I'll keep my original rating though until, and if, I decide to return, as this is the first time out of maybe 10 visits that I didn't...

Update June 2025

Had one of my better experiences at this location. Place looks like it was recently remodeled I side and looks really clean. Went around 2pm and got the lunch special with 2 fish and 2 shrimp with fries as well as an 8 piece shrimp only. Decent prices, but has gone up since my last visit, which was not unexpected. Anyway, the shrimp looks very different since my last visit. Larger shrimp and breading more proportionate. Made to order, so supe fresh and hot. Barely made it home with my food :). Happy I stopped my and will try to make it more often. Service was pretty good too. All business, but what else do you need? ——

Love the shrimp, service not so much. I love love love the fried shrimp doused in the red hot sauce which is kind of a sweet salsa. A combination that I have only experienced in downtown LA, next to Grand Central Market but is now closed. Johnnys used to have a spot in downtown as well, but is no longer there so I only have this option and the Johnny’s in Covina.

So here is the problem. Service is definitely hit and miss. This time was partly my fault. I ordered the 6 shrimp lunch combo which was supposed to be $7.99. It comes with rice, beans and gravy or fries. I opted for rice and chili, which is a option for some of the other combos. I guess it’s not an option for the lunch special, because they charged me $12.14. Wow, big leap. I wish they would have told me that when I ordered, but that’s just not how the service works here. Next time I will have to stick to what they offer and...

*updated *"""""""this took place on Sunday January 8 2023"""""(So i walked in...cook was on the phone taking a order...while I looked at the menu....after phone order was done ..i walk up to counter and began telling him my order...he look at me and said I got a big order....with a " what do you want face'" and said whatever your order is going to be a 30 minute wait....as if my order wasn't important..and i said ok....but seem like he did not want to take my order...soon after paying he said ...oh it's Guna be 10 min ...ok i said...so later after 10 minutes I grab my order...drove home ...opened the styrofoam food container and was just so disappointed..i payed for a plate...and got the size of bowl in my plate ..that paisa cook is the worse no wonder no one's goes here anymore....sad...

....worst customer...