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    Urban Bliss Life » Restaurant Reviews » New Orleans Restaurants » Johnny Sanchez: New Orleans Mexican Restaurant

    Published: April 27, 2017 / Updated: May 4, 2022 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Johnny Sanchez: New Orleans Mexican Restaurant

    4 shares

    When it comes to New Orleans Mexican Restaurants, Johnny Sanchez stands alone. This modern eatery serves up fresh, vibrant dishes in the heart of downtown.

    New Orleans Johnny Sanchez Restaurant

    I'm so excited to take you along our recent visit to New Orleans, Louisiana, in the second blog post in my New Orleans Travel Bliss series!

    If you missed the first blog post, you can read a brief overview of New Orleans Travel Tips.

    Jump to:
    • Johnny Sanchez: New Orleans Mexican Restaurant
    • Cocktails at Johnny Sanchez restaurant
    • What to Order at Johnny Sanchez
    • More delicious entrées to order
    • Visit Johnny Sanchez New Orleans
    • Is Johnny Sanchez family-friendly?
    • PIN IT:
    • More travel ideas

    Johnny Sanchez: New Orleans Mexican Restaurant

    Johnny Sanchez New Orleans Restaurant review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    Our first meal in New Orleans was dinner at Johnny Sanchez restaurant.

    Located in the downtown area of New Orleans, known as the CBD (Central Business District), Johnny Sanchez is the restaurant brainchild of celebrity chefs Aaron Sanchez and John Besh - hence, the restaurant name.

    After a long flight to New Orleans from Portland, Oregon, walking into Johnny Sanchez restaurant was an absolute treat to wake up our senses.

    As you enter the restaurant, to the left you are greeted with a large vibrant colorful mural with Mexican art, flanked by the bar with a backlit grid wall. It's very striking, and sets the scene for the colorful feast you are about to enjoy.

    New Orleans Johnny Sanchez Restaurant

    To the right, is a study in contrasts: the large main wall is adorned with tall decorations that look like they could be gates or doorways found in traditional New Orleans architecture.

    The design and decor of Johnny Sanchez reflects the cuisine beautifully. Here, you'll enjoy classic Mexican cooking presented with a fun, modern approach and New Orleans charm and flare.

    Cocktails at Johnny Sanchez restaurant

    New Orleans Mexican Restaurants - Johnny Sanchez cocktail

    Also welcome after a long day and night of traveling: delicious, beautiful craft cocktails.

    The Oaxacan Sunrise came highly recommended by our waitress, and it did not disappoint.

    This is their twist on the classic tequila sunrise cocktail. At Johnny Sanchez, they use house-made hibiscus syrup and passion fruit, pair it with Agavales Blanco Tequila, and finish it off with a house margarita blend.

    What to Order at Johnny Sanchez

    We were able to try several different small plates, which is how I'd recommend dining here with your family or group of friends. We also enjoyed one main entree. My daughter was excited to try their quesadilla, and they made a vegetarian, cheese quesadilla for her, which she enjoyed.

    crispy brussels sprouts

    One standout small plate that we tried was the Crispy Brussels Sprouts ($12). I love Brussels Sprouts and the Johnny Sanchez bowl combines them with butternut squash, cotija cheese, radishes, a sprinkling of pomegranate seeds and tossed in a jalapeno vinaigrette. Delicious, and so beautiful with all of the vibrant colors in the bowl!

    mexican street corn

    I love Mexican Street Corn, so I was super excited to try it at this unique New Orleans Mexican restaurant. For just $5, you get a bowl of fresh yellow corn with green onions, cojita cheese, and my favorite ingredient that makes this traditional street dish stand out: flash fried rice.

    arroz con pollo at Johnny Sanchez

    The Arroz Con Pollo ($18) is grilled chicken, crispy rice, cotija, avocado, serrano

    We also enjoyed some Queso Dip ($10) made with chile con queso, chorizo, jalapeno, and cilantro. This was slightly spicy but nice and thick - perfect to dip the tortilla and plaintain chips into. This was actually the first time my daughter tried plaintain chips, and she really liked them!

    Plates and bowls of Mexican food at Johnny Sanchez New Orleans Restaurant

    More delicious entrées to order

    If you're looking for larger entrees, I spied on neighboring tables to see what looked good. The Louisiana Crawfish Enchiladas ($20) look amazing, and are made with roasted corn and have a tasty-looking tomatillo-avocado salsa.

    The Fajita Platters can be made with either Crispy Lousiana Shrimp ($26) or NY Strip Steak ($28). Both are served with housemade corn tortillas.

    And, of course, you can order a combination of tasty tacos to tide you over. Choose from Carne Asada Tacos ($6), Barbacoa Tacos ($6), Fish Tacos ($5), Carnitas Tacos ($5) or vegetarian Cauliflower Tacos ($5). The Oyster Tacos ($6) sound amazing.

    Visit Johnny Sanchez New Orleans

    Johnny Sanchez New Orleans Restaurant - interior

    Johnny Sanchez restaurant was a wonderful introduction to modern New Orleans cuisine. It's fresh, vibrant, with a dash of fun and slight twist on the traditional. The restaurant is large, and I saw several large parties dining here. It would be a great place for work dinners, family gatherings, or girls' night out. The bar is spacious, and the restaurant also is open to hosting private events.

    ATMOSPHERE/ATTIRE: The vibe is modern and trendy while being kid-friendly. You can definitely wear jeans here, but it's also the kind of place where you'll find business suits and dresses. I wouldn't come here in athletic wear (but then, I wouldn't go to any restaurant in athletic wear...).

    Is Johnny Sanchez family-friendly?

    daughter at Johnny Sanchez New Orleans restaurant

    They don't have a separate kids' menu, but I think most kids would find something delicious that they would enjoy here. From the tortilla and plaintain chips to the Mexican street corn, there are plenty of small plates kids would love. As for entrees, kids will love the quesadillas and tacos.

    It's not the kind of restaurant you'd want to hold a playdate with moms and their babies or toddlers. However, you can definitely bring your whole family here and have an enjoyable dining experience. I think kids older than 7 would especially enjoy it.

    PRICES: The prices are moderate, in my opinion, and they also have a $15 Express Menu worth exploring Monday through Friday from 11am to 2pm.

    930 Poydras Street
    New Orleans, Louisiana 70112
    504.304.6615
    info@johnnysanchezrestaurant.com
    HOURS:
    Sunday - Thursday 11:00am-10:00pm
    Friday - Saturday 11:00am-11:00pm

    Johnny Sanchez restaurant website

    PIN IT:

    New Orleans Mexican Restaurants - Johnny Sanchez review on UrbanBlissLife.com

    More travel ideas

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    Thanks so much to the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau for hosting our media visit to New Orleans, and to Johnny Sanchez restaurant for hosting our meal. As always, all opinions and photos are my own. Seriously: eat here, guys. It's so good!

    This post was originally published April 27, 2017. It was updated February 1, 2020 with new content.

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Natalie says

        April 29, 2017 at 5:28 pm

        We went to New Orleans a few years ago but it was before this restaurant was open--that's such a shame we missed it because I think my entire family would LOVE it! I can definitely see my daughter diving into the corn and the chips and salsa!

        Reply
      2. Mary says

        April 28, 2017 at 4:17 pm

        Oh man, every single thing you mentioned sounds fantastic. It doesn't help that I haven't had lunch yet and I'm starving. Sounds like you had a fantastic trip! I haven't been back to New Orleans since early 2010. I neeeeeeeed to get back to eat everything that the city has to offer, including this.

        Reply
      3. Maggie Unzueta says

        April 28, 2017 at 2:26 pm

        New Orleans is on my bucket list. I want to go to this restaurant!

        Reply
      4. Kate says

        April 27, 2017 at 8:52 pm

        This place looks fantastic. New Orleans is totally on my bucket list!

        Reply
      5. Erin says

        April 27, 2017 at 8:22 pm

        Oh man, New Orleans is so the place to be these days. I really need to make a trip. I love the colors of this restaurant! And the food looks so good - were those fried plantains too?! Those are my fave!

        Reply
      6. Megan Joy says

        April 27, 2017 at 7:14 pm

        The crispy brussel sprouts and corn look so delicious! I have always wanted to go to New Orleans, I've heard it's amazing.

        Reply

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. Here you'll find my fast, easy, and delicious recipes, wine pairings, and travel guides. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

      More about me →

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