Johnny Mananas

Great place to eat and drink right on the boardwalk. Ocean view and live music! The bartender is great and everyone is very friendly. I recommend stopping in if you’re in the area!

Since I live in Suffolk now, I don’t visit Virginia Beach often anymore. However, I was at the expo and out with a friend. We wanted to find a place to get a drink, grab a bite to eat, and –most importantly– watch the beautiful ocean view. We didn’t see a lot of options, so we decided to give Johnny Mananas (JM) a chance.
JM is nothing fancy, but you can dine alfresco and enjoy live music. We sat inside so we could chat, but were still able to see the ocean. The service was fine, although seemed a bit disorganized.
I ordered their P.B.L.T.A.: crispy pork belly, lettuce, tomato, avocado & garlic mayo on griddled bread. The sandwich wasn’t half bad although one portion of the pork belly was a bit «crispier» than the other. I would eat it again but it didn’t make me get excited. 3*
Coleslaw– I didn’t realize coleslaw came with my sandwich, so I was happily surprised when it arrived – I love coleslaw! However, when I took a bite, I thought it was awful. Their coleslaw was messed up! I don’t even know what they did to it – maybe chili powder? I asked my friend to take a bite to make sure it really was that awful. She declined. :-/​1*
I doubt I will ever go back again – mostly because I am rarely down in this area. But if you’re in a pinch and want something to eat or drink while watching the surf, go for it. Just be warned that their food isn’t the greatest.

My friends and I came here at 9:00pm on a Saturday night, and the bartenders and wait staff were clearly high. Red, puffy eyes, out of it, disengaged… and the drinks we ordered were terrible. My friend ordered a grapefruit crush and the bartender put in bad grapefruit juice, no grapefruit purée…and no soda. I ordered a margarita and it was syrupy, and extremely heavy on the sour mix. Our bartender took our check before my friend had signed it – as she told him she hadn’t signed it yet… and he took it anyway. Not to mention my drink cost $ 11.50.

Nothing good to say about this place. Drinks came right before the food showed up. Didn’t get water so I guess you have to specifically ask for it. Waiter forgot my daughter’s lemonade. Kids mac n cheese had onions in it? So that was a waste of money, luckily we ordered chips n salsa so she ate chips. The salsa is water with tomatoes and onions in it. Fish tacos were ok. Then to top it all off, waited a good 20min to get my check. Had to ask for it because I don’t think he was going to bring it, ever. He didn’t even ask if I wanted the check after my wife and daughter left to go get ice cream without me because they were tired of waiting. McDonald’s would of been a better choice. Save your money and go somewhere else.

Besides the plantain, the food and drinks were terrible, but my server Ben, ooh, la, la, is a delicious Black man with freckles. Dreamy… Excellent customer service, a beautiful smile and confident gait. He made it all bearable. I give him 5 stars. *drops the mic*

Don’t bother with the garlic shrimp. No taste of garlic and over cooked.
On the other hand my wife said the tequila lime chicken was delicious
So it’s a draw

At our next favorite place. Hard to put a number on this one because we’ve been coming here since the beginning. Great margaritas.
We walked by an hour earlier with a mission to go to Johnny’s. We walked right past the place, neither one of us recognizing it (keeping in mind we’ve been here at least 6 times before).
They remodeled over the winter and all I can say is Johnny Mananas you have really stepped up your game.
This time we googled it (only 3 blocks away). As we were walking in front of what Google said was it we both looked at each other saying «Nope, Not Johhny’s», then we squatted and looked under the awning. Lo and behold «JOHHNY MANANA’S» clear as day.
Loved this place as a beach dive. Totally love it now.

Nice view but that’s about it. Bartender was exceptionally nice and helpful on tips around town but food and drinks were mediocre for the high price. I wouldn’t recommend this place since there are so many other restaurants with views and better food and drinks.

In you swing by VA Beach and you don’t stop here… you don’t know what you’re missing! Good music, fantastic view of the beach and fireworks, and a wonderful staff. The largest selection of Tequila in the area too.

Service was good and the waitress was very friendly. We ordered chips and salsa. they brought out a plate with maybe 10 stale chips on it, clearly not a sharing appetizer portion as we had to ask for more chips. Food took a while for the rest of us. The rice was bland no flavor at all. Chicken sandwich was just mediocre. There was also styrofoam falling from the ceiling the whole time into our food. It looked like it was snowing. I hope I wasn’t eating asbestos.

Johnny Mañana’s is located right on the boardwalk which is wonderful. The margaritas were good. I am a local, so I of course wanted to get in before the tourists did.
I recommend the Machaca Burrito, and their fries are good as well. It has a fun atmosphere with reggae music playing. I’ve seen live performers there, which were also very relaxing. I had a great time!

I can’t comment on the food or the prices because we were never served. We walked up, asked a waitress if we should seat ourselves and she told us yes. I asked if they had high chairs (the bambino is traveling with me), and she again replied in the affirmative. We sat down, waited about nine minutes while she talked to the table behind us and brought them multiple items.
Never received a menu, never ordered a drink, and decided to stay. I’ve seen a lot of lackadaisical service on this vacation, but this was complete non-​service and incredibly insulting.

Perfect «JohnnyRita» and view! Love this local spot, great fried shrimp, margaritas and ocean view from the family-​friendly Ocean Sands Resort!

Another great ocean front view, but man was the service lacking and the prices were outrageous! I know there is a premium for ocean front views, but man this seemed to be way over the top.
The food was just so-​so, and the signature drinks were not very good at all. The house margaritas were way better than the overpriced signature stuff.

Awesome meal, friendly staff, great margaritas while looking out at the Atlantic Ocean.

Really? Really? I’m an avid food eater and I walked out here pissed! The worst burrito I ever had. Service… halfway there. Maybe she was new. I’m also a local. Couldn’t believe it.

Do not waste your money! Taco Bell is the better choice hands down! No spice, no flavor, very unauthentic! The menu lacks of imagination and the Chef has no idea how to cook Mexican food much les Tex Mex… who puts black olives on Nacho’s? Just awful!

BEST margarita I’ve had along Atlantic Avenue. Food is meh but…
…can you really not like a bar that is literally right on the ocean front?
I didn’t think so. Not to mention the one person performers they have on the patio sooo
Go enjoy a drink overlooking the beach :)

I should have read some reviews before we stepped in here.
The good thing about this place is the location. There’s nothing better than sitting on a patio overlooking the boardwalk and watching people wander by. And in the middle of tourist season, you see your share of ugly as well as pretty which is a lot of entertainment by itself. Especially after a few beers.
The bad thing about this place is the food. Which took a bit too long for my liking especially since we were one of three tables that night. The beer that I ordered was also just shy of warm. We ordered the fish tacos and the chicken tacos. The portions for both were small. One chunk of fried flounder per taco and what looked like 2 ½ oz. of chicken. Also a spoonful of cold, salty rice and beans on each plate as a side next to a pile of wet shredded lettuce and chopped tomato. All for $ 10 a plate. My fish tasted alright, but it was gone in two bites. The chicken tasted ok, but it was cold. The tortillas they were served on tasted like they came straight out of a bag with no attempt to warm them.
There are better places on the boardwalk. And this place can do better than what they gave us.

Anyone who gives this restaurant more than 3 stars… I just don’t understand. The only reason I am giving it 2 is because our server (Dana?) was one of the sweetest I’ve ever had.
The food and drinks were horrendous. The guacamole is a salad with balsamic vinagrette and chopped up avocados. The salsa is tomato sauce. The fish taco was a LITERAL fishstick in a hard shell taco. My drink tasted like the bartender was on their first day ever.
I should’ve taken the hint when we walked in and there was no one there on a Saturday at 5pm. But it was our first time at Virginia Beach (live in DC) and we didn’t know better. Never again. Not even if the food was free.
Sidenote — When I mentioned to some locals that we went there, they cringed. Apparently a place called Baja Cantina would’ve been the smarter choice. Next time.