- Restaurants |
- Nightlife |
- Shopping |
- Movies |
- All
Johnny Pacific
Categories: Event Planning & Services Caterers Restaurants Latin American Restaurants American (New) Caterers, Latin American, American (New) [Edit]
7574 Winnetka AveWinnetka, CA 91306
Neighborhood: Winnetka
(818) 885-6927
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 10 am - 9 pm
Sun 10 am - 7 pm
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- No
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
284 reviews for Johnny Pacific
Review Highlights
"I crave these empanadas and stop in whenever I'm back."
(in 207 reviews)
"Beef Tinga and Kalua Pig are amazing."
(in 32 reviews)
"The chimmi-churri one is excellent."
(in 21 reviews)
Loading...
284 reviews in English
-
Review from Tomy l.
North Hollywood, CA
2/8/2012 1 photo
Order the chimi- chirri its steak was delicious and the enpanada chicken spicy was delicious too. The fries was o.k, And the salad was little lame,
the price was o.k too.
Price A-
Taste A -
Review from Cynthia M.
Granada Hills, CA
2/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
hat's off to Yelp yet again on another find. i can't believe i had never heard of this place until looking at Valley reviews off this site. it's everything the others have said about it and then some.
i had the Chimichurri Skewer plate and the Spinach & Cheese empanada. if you love garlicky stuff, go for the Chimichurri. the flatiron steak was very tender and you get 2 skewers, a side salad, and fries along w/ your choice of empanada for $10.95 (as of 2/11). as others have said, the empanadas are a great highlight. Spinach and Cheese was fresh. i took a bite of my kid's Chicken and it was very good esp. w/ the Chimichurri sauce. good flavor. the Pulled Pork was also good.
out of the whole meal, i truly enjoyed the dessert empanadas. we tried the Maui Gold Pineapple and the Flanada which comes w/ Caramel Sauce. man, oh man. it''s like having a fried pie like those Hostess ones from back in the day, but 10x better. the Flanada was especially good and exactly what u would expect a Flanada to taste like- Flan, duh! the Maui Pineapple was delicately sweet and also went great w/ the Caramel Sauce. the great thing is they use a sweet dough for the dessert empanadas as opposed to the savory ones.
all in all, a great little joint in the middle of the Valle. small place w/ a great selection of flavors for empanadas. we will definitely be coming back for more! -
Review from Jeff M.
Winnetka, CA
1/27/2012
The empanadas are creative, plump and tasty.
I had a beef skewer that was a bit too chewy, but the Chim Churri sauce was bright and fresh. -
Review from Ted T.
Winnetka, CA
Updated - 2/8/2012
always the best. everyone should try this place!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
-
12/23/2009
What can I say, were else can I see friends surfing locals I surfed 20 years ago, It's not all about… Read more »
-
-
Review from Annie N.
North Hollywood, CA
1/20/2012
Um, wow, it is SO VERY SERIOUSLY easy to under-estimate this place! Theyre in a less-attractive, lower-income part of town, whats more, in a ghetto'ish looking plaza. My bf was grabbing his dry cleaning so I walked in to kill time. I got a chocolate empanada, chicken, beef and pork or something. SO delicious! Please give it a chance; theyre wonderful and it was all like 8 or 10 bucks.
Im a fan
:O) -
Review from Joni S.
Camarillo, CA
1/21/2012
Pros: Started taking credit cards. Surfing videos play nonstop. The empanadas are larger than most places and a lot more delicious. Can't beat the price and quality.
Cons: Small parking lot. -
Review from Jenn L.
West Hills, CA
2/2/2012
if your in the mood for some empanadas then johnny pacific is the place to go. they have good lunch specials so if your ever in the mood for some good food and your short on time then definitely hit up this place. I know next time I'm craving an empanada I'm going there!
-
Review from Enrique G.
Los Angeles, CA
1/12/2012
Holy cow, who would have thought a little place like this existed in the this side of the valley. Sadly I have been to the surrounding shops and not once did I ever go inside. After disappointing experiences from the other shops I stopped exploring this side of town.
Finally, thanks to a friend, we visited this little place on a Friday afternoon. The restaurant was busy right as we arrived. The interior has that beach feel with your surfing nostalgia decorations on the walls. The place is somewhat small with limited seating. But most patrons here eat and go so its not like you'd be waiting long for seating.
This little spot is truly a hidden gem of the valley, looking forward to trying the rest of the empanadas. The prices here are fair and the service is prompt. You can't go wrong with any of the items, if I could, I would have tried all of them my first visit. -
Review from Trish G.
Granada Hills, Los Angeles, CA
1/14/2012
A tiny gem in the Valley. Johnny Pacific's is definitely a place you want to go.You'll feel like your in Hawaii. My favorite's are the chicken el pastor, kailua pig, and chicken. Also, try their Maui pineapple empanada.
* Seating can be limited
* Need more staff during busy hours. -
Review from Mike R.
Redondo Beach, CA
1/10/2012
Was in the valley and looked for a place to eat lunch. Saw the good reviews and tried it out - wow! I pulled up and wasn't sure - it is in a strip shopping center on a corner which looked pretty low rent. But the food was AMAZING! Had the #2 Chimmichuri Steak Skewers which was $10 and came with an Empenada, fries and a salad. Everything was great - the steak was so tender and had both a Korean BBQ taste plus a chimmichuri sauce on it. Flavors galore!
Definitely will hit this up again next time I'm in the valley! -
Review from Star H.
Winnetka, CA
1/25/2012
The food is amazing!
-
Review from Jennifer L.
Los Angeles, CA
12/24/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum yum yum. I was so starving after a hike and I wanted was a hamburger. We checked yelp for a burger joint near where we were heading. We get there and my BFF realizes that she didn't check the hours, and they were closed. At this point, I could have eaten anything, but luckily I didn't have to settle for crap food.
Across the street I see a colorful sign that read Grand Opening. I was confused because yelp had the business listed as a caterer. We went in anyway. They had only about 4 dishes to choose from and like 20 empanadas. We ordered the chimi churri.
Can I say that I wanted it again for dinner? The flavors were incredible. I am so glad that other place was closed, otherwise I would never have found this gem. I just wish I lived closer. -
Review from Khathy H.
11/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I don't need to write this review. You can read all of the other praises and here is another patron amazed and grateful for Johnny Pacific. Anytime you go in there'll be a small crowd eating quietly and you can tell they're having a great time. Fueled by the owner's energy, and the staff's friendliness, it's not a wonder that the food is made with passion for us to enjoy. I haven't gotten a chance to try their larger dishes but I've stopped in for some quick empanadas on several occasions--none of which disappointed. When you eat in or get it to go, the food comes freshly, blazing hot with a variety of choice sauces. Feast on the bbq pulled pork, chicken el pastor, spinach & cheese (my regular favorite), and regular chicken or beef crisp empanadas with complimenting basil-aioli, chipotle, or chimi-churri (very unique) sauces and you will fall in love too.
They are very quick, with quality items, and a pleasure for any visitors. I highly suggest you stop in! -
Review from Maggie D.
Toluca Lake, CA
11/30/2011
This place is a true diamond in the rough! Located in a skimpy mini mall, Johnny Pacific is home to the BEST assortment of empanadas I have ever seen. The inside of the restaurant is so clean and really nicely decorated with a very laid back atmosphere. The people who work there are very nice and delighted to recommend which flavors are best.
My favorite is the BBQ pulled pork. It is OUTSTANDING! The chicken is great as well, especially if you're into testing out their dipping sauces.
The sausage and pepper one is another great choice with the sweet and sour dipping sauce. Anyway, this place is absolute heaven! Whenever I leave, I cannot wait for the chance to come back !
Great food, great staff, great ambiance! -
Review from Rose S.
Encino, CA
1/26/2012
I've gotta say...the "hole in the wall" places NEVER fail! We ordered a dozen empanadas and tried almost half of the menu! This place has the most delicious...non-greasy...non-doughy...juiciest empanadas I have ever had. I gotta say...our 2 year old son doesn't really like meat...BUT he devoured the Kailua Pig empanada dipped in the sweet Thai Chili sauce....so, there you go...it passed the picky as hell 2 year old toddler test! What really topped off the entire experience..was that the service there was awesome.
-
Review from Ryan M.
Canoga Park, CA
1/25/2012
Ono grindz but long wait. Small joint and when it's busy expect to wait but, the waiting is so worth it. The empanada choices and the taste one of the best empanada's I've had - not too oily and everything inside was fresh.
Could improve with more space and probably one more to help run the front of the house.
Good stuff though! -
Review from Chris S.
North Hollywood, CA
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
I stopped in recently after a long hiatus from the Winnetka area. The service is great and friendly.
The empanada variety is wonderful - from the desserts such as apple empanada with caramel dipping sauce to my fave the mushroom empanada. Delish!
Open late and good eats. Always a good combination. -
Review from Adam S.
Woodland Hills, CA
1/14/2012
My family and I love this place. All of their empanadas are delicious and each one is so different from the others. The sauces are also each packed with flavor and bring our subtle nuances for each empanada. The pricing is fair, the service is quick and friendly and the place is clean. Oh, make sure you leave room for the dessert empanadas as well. I can't forget their skewers as well. I haven't had the satay skewer, but the chimmi-churri and the island style skewers are both delicious. They come with a starch (rice or fries) and a veggie for a complete meal. We have gone back several times and have never been disappointed.
-
Review from Kaylee L.
Canoga Park, CA
11/22/2011 1 Check-in Here
Come here. Just do it!
The Kalua pig empanada is so good dipped in their chimmichurri sauce!
I also really like the Spinach and cheese one.
Wash it all down with a guava-ade and you will be in heaven :) -
Review from Edward B.
Hidden Hills, CA
1/6/2012
This place is food crack! The empanadas as so good I tend to overeat and spend the night suffering. The Kalua Pig is by far the best of the bunch, and the flanada is the king of treats to finish you off. The service is almost always great - always friendly for sure. It's a little hole in the wall, but a great secret little spot to go and pig out.
Everyone should at least try the spot once, get the Kalua Pig and one dessert empanada at least. -
Review from Roxy O.
Los Angeles, CA
10/27/2011
This place is F***** good! Hands Down... We have it every sunday if we can for our sunday night television.....When we watch Boardwalk Empire and True Blood...I am amazed by there empandas...Try the chicken pastor and there chorizo con papa do not even forget the veggie one...There very sweet there and there dipping sauces wow......Look I'm latina and I love my mom's empandas but dam this place hits the spot.....I thank my friend Saif for introducing me to this place....If your every in the valley check it out!!!!!!
P.S. they have great specials also! -
Review from Florence L.
WOODLAND HLS, CA
10/14/2011 3 Check-ins Here
DELICIOUS! There is nothing more to say!! I've had Johnny Pacific bookmarked forever now and just never made my way there. I found it on yelp while looking for a good salad place and I'm so glad it came up. It had such great reviews and high ratings, I knew id eventually make my way over. Worth the extra trip, for sure!!
their Empanadas are so good. Crispy on the outside, soft and juicy on the inside. My fav so far is the pulled pork empanada. It was perfectly made. We also tried the chorizo and potato, chicken, and had the korean style meat skewer thing. YUM! They also have a few different choices for dipping sauces and those are BOMB too!! The reallllly nice guy who takes your order and makes your food, he will give you a little of all 5 sauces if you say please =)... So far my fav sauce is the sweet and sour, I think thats what it was.
BUT I am saving the best part for last... The watermelon drink I had was just flat out amazing. I should have gotten 2 so I could have had one allllllllllll to myself (yes selfish, but thats how good it was). I would go back to JP just to have that. It was like they took the freshest, sweetest, most ripe watermelon and squeeeeeeezed the crap out of it and made me a drink (lol, thats probably exactly what they did). It was so refreshing, so delicious, just so darn good.
I cannot wait to go back. Its a little out of my way, but I will for sure stop in sooner then later.
Thank you Johnny Pacific for not being strictly a catering company. thanks for letting us little people, who don't need catering, get a taste of your awesome, delicious, perfectly made empanadas. Be back soon!!!Listed in: Food I cant live without
-
Review from Vanessa P.
Sylmar, CA
1/5/2012
When with my boyfriend and was excited because of the 4 and half stars. But very disappointed! Food was greasy and made us sick. The man who was there was very unhelpful.
-
Review from Joey G.
Winnetka, CA
11/27/2011
Beef Tinga and Kalua Pig are amazing. Desert empenadas with the caramel sauce are quite a treat.
The place is known for the empenadas of course, but don't forget the combo menu on the left. Pretty decent barbecue items. -
Review from Clark Y.
OMFG!
GUAVA-ADE - must try
Pineapple FRESCA - super refreshing
Empanadas!
1. Kalua Pig - GAHH, juicy, moist, tender, and a little sweet but not overpowering
2. BBQ Pulled Pork - more BBQ then sauce.. which makes this BOMB
3. Chicken El Pastor - Tender chicken, with cheese, onions, bell peppers
4. Spinach and Cheese - my least favorite, but dipping it into any of their sauces..
THAI
CHIMICHURRI
BASIL AOILI
SPICY CHIPOTLE
will still satisfy your taste buds!
they should totally branch out, OPEN *hint hint* more restaurants, and have a food truck
LOVEEE this PLACE!Listed in: Across the Boarder
-
Review from Josie P.
Woodland Hills, CA
10/28/2011 5 Check-ins Here
I am truly addicted to this place. The beef empanadas are outstanding and when coupled with a signature salad and a guava-lemonade, I am the happiest woman around.
It is located in a small shopping center but parking has never been a problem. As for the restaurant, the space is very small and I think it may comfortably accommodate 25 people, so don't expect a whole sit-in dinning experience with a waiter.
Overall, this is a lovely place that deserves 5 stars for the taste and quality of the food. -
Review from Melody D.
Pasadena, CA
10/14/2011
The best empanadas ever! The girls at the office and I always call in our orders for lunch (lunch special: 2 empanadas, fries or salad and a soda- $7.95) so we can bring these babies back to the office! I am always temped to try new empanada flavors (pss last week they told me they're going to make a pumpkin one for fall!) but it's very difficult for me because I already know I LOVE the chicken and cheese empanadas!
Tip: Upgrade your lunch special beverage...get the guava-lemonade. It's excellent! -
Review from Charleen M.
CANYON CNTRY, CA
12/13/2011
Let me start off by saying how SWEET and attentive the staff is, i never wait more than 10 minutes for a tasty and delightful meal. Unfortunately, its located in a small shopping center and parking isn't easy to find, i recommend you park behind the building by the barber shop. I've gotten my managers addicted to this place, so YES religiously we have it every Friday, thank god for awesome coworkers. Granted, their known for their empanadas, I'm still a fan of the scrumptious island style skewers:)In conclusion, their motto fits them RIGHT "good eats on your street"
-
Review from Tricia G.
San Fernando, CA
9/7/2011
I love this place. I used to only get the lunch special (2 empanadas, salad or fries and a canned drink for $7.25) but now I only get the beef skewers. The #1 has a sweet Korean bbq sauce that I was thinking would taste a little like kalbi but it's a bit sweeter. Still really good. It comes with rice, salad and 1 empanada. The #2 is the chimichurri with fries, salad and 1 empanada. The chimichurri is very garlicy but delicious. I prefer to get it on the side since it can be very oily.
My go-to empanada is the kailua pig. It's so delicious and perfect. I like to eat it with the chimichurri sauce.
The restaurant is in a little strip mall so I probably would have never stopped to try it if not for a friend. I go here all the time since I work nearby. They use very fresh, high quality ingredients (I went once when Johnny was there and they were unloading products and everything was from Costco). My work group also orders from here often for big group events and it's very easy to order a day before. -
Review from Ray N.
Glendale, CA
10/18/2011
Great, food, setting, and service! Tables were a little sticky, but that's the only con.
On my second trip there, the food was great too but the Chicken Satay you get from combo #3 wasn't the best Thai dish I've ever had.
However, I tried my friends Korean BBQ #2, that was great! -
Review from Harn C.
Agoura Hills, CA
9/20/2011
4.5 stars, best empanadas I've had stateside!
The Place- Looks pretty shady, to be honest. Drive slow, you might miss it- corner strip mall between some smaller grubbier shops. But the inside is quite a bit nicer! Some sticky tables, but it basically seems like a lunch or quick-dinner kind of place.
The Service- Yeah, they seem nice. You order at the counter, the guy called out goodbyes as we left.
The Food- Mmmmm, I love me some empanadas. Got the corn something (special) which was damn good, beef tinga highly recommended, and the chorizo/potato was spicy but also pretty good. A LOT of choices on the menu so I'll def be back! Of those three I'd probably only get the beef again (until I try everything else, of course!) Good price for the portions, the sauces were good but it's kind of hit-or-miss re: what you dip in them. -
Review from Stephanie H.
Las Vegas, NV
11/27/2011
Besides repeatedly stating that this is the food I dream about at night when I'm at home in Las Vegas, and i have yet to find anything close to the deliciousness that I indulge in while here. I have finally discovered the next best thing. For the small price of 2.50 I can bring home my very own 12 pack of empanadas dough circles pre-cut just for me to create whatever my heart desires all the way in Las Vegas. My life is feeling pretty complete right now.
-
Review from TNT M.
Northridge, CA
10/23/2011
Awesome times at Johnny Pacific!!!
Super cheep food! awesome salads, and the guys that work there are rad, parking is ok... and for my first time to the johnny pacific it was my Birth Day! They gave me a free empanada and hey were super friendly and kept us laughing.. Try this place...
empanadas to try..
Chorizo con Papa!!!! (potato)
and all the desert empanadas!!! ahah..
the BBQ is good.. Chicken was alright, and the Machaka was ok.. the salads are bomb though so were the squires!
As always I Grade my experience on a scale of 1-10(10 being THE BEST) upon these five indicators of Explosive Quality:
1. Food: 8
2. Price: 7
3. Service: 9
4. Atmosphere: 6
5. Parking: 5 -
Review from Jordan M.
Westlake Village, CA
8/13/2011 1 Check-in Here
This place is really neat. It sits, inconspicuously, in a tiny strip mall and you would never notice it driving down Winnetka. My best friend brought me here and swore that I would love it, and I did! Their lunch special is a great deal: two empanadas of your choice, salad or fries, and a canned beverage for $7.25.
I would recommend:
1. BBQ Pulled Pork Empanada: The pork is melts in your mouth. Ther flavor is tangy and slightly spicy. Dip it into their basil aioli.
2. Chocolate Banana Empanada: This is the perfect way to end a meal: it's fried and filled with chocolate. Dip it into their homemade caramel sauce. -
Review from Gina F.
Reseda, CA
1/21/2012
Love Love Love this place! What a find. The skewers are tasty. The beef tinga, pulled pork & corn empanadas are my favorite and I crave them all the time.
-
Review from Mario Q.
North Hollywood, CA
12/4/2011 1 Check-in Here
Great food you can really taste the freshness. Their Chimichurri is as good as it gets almost as good as my families recipe ;). I tried the Kalua pig, Beef tinga, Beef, and Pulled pork empanadas and they were all superb. You can really taste the quality and this is a place that I will definitely recommend to anyone who want's to try a new take on traditional latin american food. I will be back to try their other specials.
-
Review from Matt N.
Canoga Park, CA
12/2/2011
This place rocks... I just had it for the first time, and I can't wait to try all their empanadas. I had bbq pulled pork, apple, and flan empanadas, with chimi churri skewers. The food was excellent, and the staff was vary friendly. I will definitely be back.
-
Review from Anthony N.
Winnetka, CA
1/17/2012
Just ate at JP for the first time and now im upset that I didnt try it sooner. Food was amazing, portions were generous, service was prompt and friendly. Ill def be going back again soon
-
Review from Lisette C.
Woodland Hills, CA
10/31/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Oh Mylanta! This place is going to put a serious damper on my recent "diet plan" - Oh well.
Came here at the recommendation of 200 yelpers and I'm so glad we did! What a gem! Completely unassuming strip mall location and simple but thoughtful interior. This place probably holds 20-25 people -- max. You walk up and order and pick your food up at the counter where you ordered it - so no frills. The 4 or 5 things on the chalkboard menu may leave you scratching your head, but look to the right for an endless array of empanada fillings -- that's where I turned into "The Mask" and my eyes popped out of their sockets and my tongue unrolled and hit the ground. YUM!
I tried the chicken, beef, cajun sausage, chorizo and the spinach and cheese - ALL amazing. The dipping sauces were delish too - chimichurri, aioli and chipotle sauce.
They were fresh out of guava-ade, but I had fresh watermelon juice and it was soooo good. This place left me wanting more. The staff was cool and nice and the clientele was as diverse as it gets. This place is bound to end up on Diners, Drive ins and Dives (if it hasn't already), so go there soon, before word gets around.
5 Stars for Johnny Pacifico! -
Review from Suzie Q.
Los Angeles, CA
10/7/2011
Crispy, juicy and full of flavors!!!!
By far the best Empanadas I've had in LA!
We were ordering to go .... as were many other customers just before closing last night. While waiting for our order, we started off with a
Guava-Lemonade that was so delicious and refreshing. We ordered 3 different types of skewers and a dozen empanadas (beef, chicken, Chicken El Pastor, Chorizo, Corn, Flanada and apple for dessert. The empanadas were OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD. The skewers were good - liked the Hawaiian-Korean style and chimichurri. The chicken skewer sauce was really good (chicken was a little dry and flavorless). Another favorite is the Salad dressing - balsamic -- sooooo delicious!
If you have never been to Johnny Pacific ... you have to try it! You will LOVE IT !!!!! Last night was our first time ... now a new favorite. We ate the leftover empanadas today and they were just as delicious today as they were last night! Would make a great Party Dish for entertaining!
We can't wait to go back XOXOXO - Thank you - Johnny Pacific's ... Awarded - Major Thumbs Up!!!!
