Johnny Boy’s Ribs
7540 Crain Hwy, La Plata, MD, 20646
Johnny Boy’s Ribs Menu
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Sandwiches
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Platters
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Side Orders
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Drinks
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Slab Ribs
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BBQ by the Pound
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Chicken
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Fresh Cut Boardwalk Fries
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Combo Meals
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Mama Sophie's BBQ Sauce
Diabetics at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets serves burgers which are generally high in sodium and fat. Ensure that you pick the burgers which are light and doesn't contain too much sodium. Try ordering salads if you're concerned about your sugar intake and looking for healthy choices.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for Diabetics:
Johnny Rockets is a fine dining place for burgers, but you must be selective if you're a diabetic. Skip all kinds of dressing when you order a burger at Johnny Rockets as it will only spike the sodium content on your meal. Salads are often considered diabetic-friendly but not the ones at Johnny Rockets. Avoid Crispy Chicken Club Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as they are too high in sodium and fat.
Make sure you opt for water instead of the drinks available on the Johnny Rockets menu. Besides Diet Coke and Coffee, most of the drinks served at Johnny Rockets are high in sugar. Skip the shakes at Johnny Rockets to avoid high sugar intake. Breakfast is always preferred heavy for diabetics but most of the breakfast items on the Johnny Rockets menu are high in sodium and must be avoided.
Food Suggestions for Diabetics at Johnny Rockets:
Rocket Single Burger (1 Serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Bacon Cheddar Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 280mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Double Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 410 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 10g), 320mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Original Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 590mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Hot Tea (8 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 0 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 10mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Sweet Potato Fries, Side (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 220 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 370mg sodium, 30g carbs, 10g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side of Fries (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 0g), 460mg sodium, 30g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Healthy Meal suggestions for Johnny Boy’s Ribs
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Sandwiches
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Platters
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Side Orders
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Drinks
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Slab Ribs
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BBQ by the Pound
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Chicken
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Fresh Cut Boardwalk Fries
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Combo Meals
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Mama Sophie's BBQ Sauce
High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Fast-food restaurants are your last resort if you are suffering from high BP. Most fast food restaurants including Johnny Rockets offer foods rich in sodium. High sodium intake can be even lethal for people concerned with high blood pressure. However, you can always try the salads or choose food without any extra dressing or side dishes to limit your sodium intake.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Blood Pressure
It is extremely important to avoid any kind of burgers with extra dressing at Johnny Rockets. You must also skip any kind of breakfast items except Pancakes at Johnny Rockets. Also, avoid Breakfast Belt Sandwich and Rocket Breakfast Burger at Johnny Rockets as both these items are too high in sodium. Also, avoid Crispy Chicken Salad and Grilled Chicken Club Salad as well as any kind of dressing on other low-sodium salads available at Johnny Rockets. Skip shakes containing Oreo on the Johnny Rockets menu as Oreo shakes served at Johnny Rockets are high in sodium.
Food Suggestions for High Blood Pressure at Johnny Rockets
Strawberry Chocolate Swirl Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 810 calories, 40g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 30g), 300mg sodium, 90g carbs, 90g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Rocket Single Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Route 66 Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 240 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 350mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 150 calories, 10g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 260mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Side Salad (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 70 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 110mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Apple Juice (10 fluid ounces)
Nutritional Facts: 140 calories, 0g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat0g), 30mg sodium, 30g carbs, 30g sugar, 0g fiber, 0g Protein
Visit below restaurant in La Plata for healthy meals suggestion.
High Cholesterol at Johnny Rockets
Burgers fall into the fast-food category and most fast-food items are high in cholesterol. If you're suffering from high cholesterol, then it is advised that you skip any meal with excessive fat and sugar.
Foods to Avoid at Johnny Rockets for High Cholesterol
You must skip all types of dressing on your burger. Also, avoid burgers like Smoke House Burger at all costs from Johnny Rockets menu. Skip all the drinks except coffee, iced tea, and diet coke as they are completely unhealthy for people with high cholesterol. Breakfast items on Johnny Rockets are very high in cholesterol and it is strictly recommended to avoid all the breakfast items on their menu including the sandwiches.
Food Suggestions to Maintain Cholesterol Level at Johnny Rockets
Kids Cappuccino Crunch Milkshake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 740 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat 20g), 310mg sodium, 100g carbs, 80g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Garden Black Bean Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 330 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 650mg sodium, 10g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
The Spicy Houston Burger (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 190 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 700mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Kids Banana Shake (1 shake)
Nutritional Facts: 560 calories, 30g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat20g), 190mg sodium, 60g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Johnny's Breakfast Sandwich (1 serving)
Nutritional Facts: 180 calories, 20g (Tans. Fat 0g & Sat. Fat10g), 230mg sodium, 0g carbs, 0g sugar, 0g fiber, 10g Protein
Visit below restaurant in La Plata for healthy meals suggestion.
Q & A on Johnny Rockets
Who owns Johnny Rockets?
Johnny Rockets is founded by Ronn Teitelbaum. Today, the restaurant chain is owned by Sun Capital Partners.
Does Johnny Rockets serve breakfast?
Yes, Johnny Rockets has a separate breakfast section, especially for breakfast meal. Johnny Rockets serves breakfast all day and night.
Where is Johnny Rockets located near me?
There are over 320 Johnny Rockets outlets across the United States. You can find a Johnny Rockets restaurant nearby using our Restaurant Listings directory.
What time does Johnny Rockets open and close?
All Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States opens at 8 AM and stays open till 9 PM. Some Johnny Rockets restaurants stay open till midnight at some locations.
Does Johnny Rockets have gluten-free?
Johnny Rockets offers a wide range of gluten-free items. You can opt for the gluten-free bun to turn your burger into a gluten-free burger. For assurance, you can check out Johnny Rockets gluten-free menu.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
About Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a restaurant franchise headquartered in the United States. The American restaurant chain features 1950s diner-style restaurant format with individual jukebox stations, red vinyl seats, chrome accents, etc. There are around 320 Johnny Rockets restaurants in the United States.
Ron Teitelbaum from Los Angeles, California founded Johnny Rockets as a recreation of the 1940s vintage themed malt shops of his childhood. The first Johnny Rockets began its operations on June 6, 1986. Johnny Rockets specializes in American burgers and sandwiches as well as offers salads, starters, and shakes to enrich your dining experience at Johnny Rockets.
Healthy Food Options at Johnny Rockets
Johnny Rockets is a fast-food restaurant and finding healthy food at Johnny Rockets can be a bit tricky. While you can always opt for the salads and healthy shakes at Johnny Rockets for healthy options, there are also some healthy burgers and sandwiches which you can bet on. Ensure that the sugar, sodium, and cholesterol is in check when you order food at Johnny Rockets.
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Address :
7540 Crain Hwy
La Plata, MD, 20646 - Phone (301) 870-2526
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Divey
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : Yes
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Lauren P.
My husband and I both started vomiting simultaneously within 20 minutes of sharing a meal here. We should have called the health department but didn't think about it because we were too busy puking our guts into the toilets for hours.
(1)Su K.
I joined Yelp back in May, and one of my first bookmarks was Johnny Boy's, which I added in early June. Lester K., Johnny's disciple, told me the good news of Mama Sophie's sauce, and I immediately bookmarked the place and eagerly looked forward to my first visit. Nearly 6 months and tons of "foreplay" had passed, when we found out Johnny Boy's may be up for sale. We immediately made plans to get out there. Were the ribs good? Some of the best I'd ever had. Was it worth the drive? On the last day of Fall in DC, not really. Before you decide to drive out there, understand that Johnny Boy's is out there (roughly 40 miles from the Metro area) but it's not out there. You see, when I think of "out there," I think of farmland, roads that were paved a few months ago, and getting stuck driving behind a frackin John Deere tractor for 5 miles. Instead, you'll be driving through Waldorf, which I used to think was as terrible city for providing Good Charlotte, but now I think is even worse as 1) every chain store imaginable is out there and 2) Waldorfian's flock to these stores and 3) there are traffic lights every few hundred yards on 301, and by these 3 things combined, the drive out there can be aggravating. Food - The ribs are amazing! Beautiful smoke rings (see Alicia G.'s pics), fall-off-the-bone tenderness combined with gnawing at the cartilage, and excellent flavor. My only gripe with the ribs is the price: $22.75 for a slab and $14.25 for a 1/2 slab of spareribs. Though I will warn you, Johnny Boy is a Jedi and can use the mind trick on you. For example, Me: WHAT?!?! $23 for a slab of ribs?!?!?! Johnny Boy: You -wil-l pay $23 for a slab of ribs Me: I will pay $23 for a slab of ribs... I also ordered a minced pork sandwich and it looks like Jeff W. and I got the bottom of the batch b/c the meat was terribly salty, while Lester K.'s and Anson P.'s looked and tasted fine. Sandwiches are $5.40 for sliced pork/beef and $5.50 for minced. The sliced beef was like a smoked version of an Arby's roast beef served on a sesame seed roll. Platters (come w/ 2 sides) are about $4 more (buying 2 sides individually is $5.50) and combos (come w/ a 16oz drink and 1 side) are roughly $3.75 more. The sides here are fantastic! The cole slaw was incredibly sweet, which I thoroughly enjoy! The baked beans were smoky and the sauce was excellent. The potato salad is some of the best I'd ever had, mostly b/c there was so much mayo/egg in there, and increasing mayo/egg/butter in any recipe makes it -that- much better in my book. So the total damage was: 1 slab of ribs, 1 minced pork sandwich (only finished 1/2), 1 sliced beef sandwich, some fries, cole slaw, potato salad, baked beans, roughly 1/2 a bottle of sauce - cost: about $45. For $45, I expect to be stuffed to capacity, so much so that another bite would result in me lying in state then and there. While I was full, I wasn't as full as I would expect for having dropped nearly $50. In fact, we went to Twin Kiss Inn and I had a sundae and later, I went to a dinner party later that night and ate 4 fried hot dogs. For reference, after Oegadgib - the Crew's maiden voyage, I wasn't hungry at all. Sauce - Once the sauce touched my lips, I soon realized that Johnny Boy needed to become my master. I'm pretty sure he's a Sith Lord, considering the the prices he can charge, but I'll gladly become his apprentice to learn his ways. The sauce comes in mild or hot and is available in squeeze bottles. I believe I went through about 1/2 a bottle of hot sauce that day. I also bought 2 16oz bottles of the hot and 1 of the mild ($5.95). As I eagerly waited, she told me they only had mild left. Thankfully, Lester K. traded me 1 hot for 1 mild, but that's mostly b/c he was in a refractory period after his time w/ his meat. Location - the prices and the location are the only reason why this isn't a 5-star review. Even the Sith Lord himself seems confused as to when he is actually open as there are two sheets of paper: one that says they are open on Mon and Tue and one that says they are closed on Mon/Tue. If you decide to drive out, call ahead. There's also an adjacent building that also says Johnny Boy's. Some employees were transporting food from that building to the shack but the building wasn't open. Bathrooms are available on the side of the building and were fairly clean. There was also a steady stream of customers coming to pick up food, so one can only imagine how crowded it may get in warmer weather. Service - friendly and fast. Order at the counter, turn the corner and your food will be ready in minutes. I'm sure they were surprised by the rush of Yelpers on a freezing Saturday morning, but they fed the Carnivore Crew and that is to be applauded. The ribs were really good, and eating outdoors with more than a dozen Yelpers was quite an experience, but the price and having to drive through Waldorf are definite detractors. Still, I hope Johnny Boy's stays around for a spring Field Trip!
(4)Kevin L.
As much as I enjoyed my food, it's simply not worth the drive and the cost itself. One would kind of expect grub from a shack to be somewhat inexpensive... y'know, passing along the reduced operating expenses to the customer in the form of great food at a discount? Yeah... not so much. Michele generously covered the cost of my ribs platter in return for my driving us out here, but for $15-16, really? Lemme just point out that the one place I've been to for ribs more than anywhere else is probably Merle's in Evanston. And it's a -ribs- kinda place. You don't go there and order anything else unless you just don't know better, or you're allergic to meat. Even there, with table service, indoor seating... and (gasp) central heating, you can get a half slab of ribs platter for about $13. And in comparison, those ribs weren't any less savory or tender. Value at Johnny Boy's? I'm not seeing it. As far as the grub itself, my ribs were very tender, although they weren't falling off the bone by any means - I had to work at that (which is fine). It probably would have been better if it weren't so cold out. Our meat chilled pretty quickly, and became more and more difficult to manage as it cooled. I liked the "boardwalk fries" as they call them here, but again, not quite as enjoyable as the ones at Red Robin. At least at Red Robin, they're piping hot, crispy on the outside, and mushy on the inside. These were kinda limp. (Doesn't the word "limp" just sound sad?) Coleslaw was surely a winner, though... bummer about the tiny half-bowl it came in. I question whether they've always been charging the prices that they do here, or if they're now resting on the laurels of their fame from the WaPo story (whenever that ran). Sure, it's great to be proud of accomplishments and accolades. But it's no excuse to slack. I had an absolute blast heading out here and hanging with the Carnie Crew, but the vast majority of the pleasure came from the company, not from the grub. Perhaps a future road trip out here in nicer weather will engineer a more superb experience. Any takers?
(3)Melissa S.
My family has always loved this place, we've been coming to Johnny Boy's for years and years. They've updated the outside a bit and the update looks really good. I wish they had indoor seating but honestly it's not a big deal. They have good food and that's all that matters! I would def choose Johnny Boy's over that crap hole across the street any day.
(5)Jim U.
A well regarded ribs place down in Maryland, but the acclaim is mostly hype. It is located in a shack just off the state highway and offers some picnic tables should you wish to eat your meal on site. The service is fairly gruff and uninviting. When my order number was called, I confirmed specifically the food I ordered, but in response the gentleman just pushed the food at me in a bag. I decided to eat at one of the picnic tables, and I am glad I did since a few items were missing from the boxed meal. For instance, my ribs were not sauced, and there were no napkins and no silverware. The sauces and the napkins were available up front, but I had to ask for the plastic silverware. Another nonverbal gruff response awaited me -- I could think was that these folks really love their jobs. I ordered the ribs platter which came with a half rack of pork ribs and two sides which I took to be boardwalk fries and baked beans. Drink was not included, so I ordered sweet tea as a second item. I thought that was strange since their combo includes one side and a drink. But apparently there is a difference between a combo and a platter, so take note. The ribs were not so very good. In particular, they were not all that tender and the meat adhered to the bone more than I would have liked. The natural infusion of flavor that can occur from long and slow cooking was entirely missing. The hot sauce was not complex at all and was monolithic in its muted flavor. The beans were not very good either; I would really have preferred canned beans to this. The boardwalk fries were limp, and I failed to finish them. Finally, the sweet tea was just saccharine with little hint of the tea. I remember this place being much better years ago. Now it is more costly (my simple meal was about $20), and quite disappointing. Do not recommend.
(2)Brad Z.
I've never actually had Jonny Boy's Ribs, but I've had his sliced pork and beef BBQ sandwiches. The sandwiches are large, and for $10 you can get a generous helping of boardwalk fries and a soda (which for some reason their fountain coke always tastes funny to me). The meat is good, although can be a bit dry. They're weird about the BBQ sauce...there are no little condiment cups so you have to make you own out of tinfoil or drench the bottom of the styrofoam sandwich container. I prefer to add my sauce as I go rather than smother the sandwich from the start. An employee once told me that they did this because the sauce is available in a bottle for sale...go figure. Overall I like Jonny Boy's. It can be inconsistant which is why I only give it 3.25 stars.
(3)Euler U.
Awesome ribs, fried fish and wings! I am not sure what Tron T is talking about but the ribs are great. They use a dry rub and they are very tender and meaty! Half a rack is more than enough for one person. A full rack is $24.95 and well worth it given the amount of food you get. Definitely want to catch them early. It was packed when we got there. Thank goodness they were quick to serve. If you like ribs, check them out!
(5)Beth A.
Don't let the appearance of this place fool you!! BEST food, hands down. So Good, in fact, I have never been able to give the place across the road a chance. The minced pork sandwich and macaroni salad are sure to make you smile!!
(5)I M.
Something has changed be it the management or the cooking staff. I can't give it 5 stars anymore. Their sliced pork sandwich used to be the best in southern Maryland. Not so now.
(1)mike f.
Haven't been to Johnny Boy's in years...maybe even a decade plus. Still pretty darn good BBQ. Love the spicy sauce. BTW, Yelp says closed on Sundays, but was fully staffed today - a Sunday in July 2015
(4)BearCat 1.
Note to TRON T. I've been eating here since 1981 when it was owned by Johnny Katsouros. They always have used a dry rub. When the Stewart's bought it in 2012, they used the same rub but eliminated the salt. We were concerned that the new owners might mess with the recipes, but the food tastes the same as it always has. Anyway... The ribs are still seasoned with a dry rub. They tasted great (like they always did). The minced pork and minced chicken sandwich is terrific. I like to dip mine into Mama Sofia's sauce with every bite (gotta have that sauce!) I had the fried fish, which is now on menu daily. It used to be on fridays only. The breading was a tiny bit too salty, but it had a nice crunch and the fish was cooked perfectly. Along with the fried fish I had the fries. The fries were incredibly good: crispy on the outside, creamy on the inside. Good job.
(4)Tom R.
I have heard about this place, so I decided to take a ride to see about them. There are three key elements for ribs, smoke, taste and the density of the meat. The smoke was there, but the ribs were lacking flavor and the meat was tough. Ribs should be flavorful without sauce, sauce enhances The flavor. Review for 2014- Honest and Simple
(2)TRON T.
Dis spot has changed ownership. It's now some booshit. What used to be classic bbq ribs has turned into some mess. They trying to fancy up they shit by puttin some dry rub on they ribs and it suck. Tastes like some sweet cinnamon and cummin shit. If you truckin up or down the 301 skip it. Texas Ribs right up the way which ain't much better but at least they do a classic no BS rib. Herd.
(1)Mike C.
There are now four places inLa Plata to get ribs, but there is only one place where the ribs taste like what you would expect in Texas. Of course that's Johnny Boys! The ribs are large, smoky and delicious. They are tender and juicy and don't quite fall off the bone. Just the ways I like them. The fries remind me of Thrashers on the board walk especially when you add salt and vinegar instead of catsup. Good Eats!
(5)Esther Z.
This is for the Whiting fish which is only served on Friday's. Two of us ordered a sandwich and a dinner. We shared the 2 sides that came with the dinner. We ate at the outdoor picnic tables (no indoor seating) because fried fish is always best when piping hot. For sides we ordered the vinegar based cole slaw (delicious and crunchy) and the Mac & Cheese (not so good). The Mac & Cheese was cheesy but there was some flavor in it that I did not like. It was "clammy" in my mouth; like extra starchy tasting. I'll order another side next time but the fish is worth working through this minor distraction. There are bathrooms next door for your use.
(4)Craige M.
We always stop at their competition across the road, but we decided to try this place today. The food comes out fast and you can eat at picnic tables or in your car. There is no indoor seating. Jeff and I shared a pork ribs platter, which came with 6 huge, meaty ribs. The platter comes with 2 sides. We chose cole slaw and beans. I thought the beans were excellent and the close slaw was pretty good. It's not full of mayo, which is definitely a plus. They have a wide variety of sodas and sweet and unsweet iced tea. There's no dessert and nothing for a vegetarian to eat except cole slaw. All the other sides probably have meat in them, which makes them so good, haha. We couldn't decide which sauce we liked best. All 4 were finger lickin' good.
(4)Matt M.
Reading these older reviews of folks talking about "going deep into the country", "out in the middle of nowhere" had me chuckling. Those are some sheltered urbanites if Johnny's is deep in the middle of nowhere. Anyway, the food was not great. I had the brisket sandwich (usually my favorite BBQ) and tried several of the sauces. The meat was tough and chewy, although the portion size was huge. The staff was friendly, but the food was just not good. Having driven buy many times it seems the locals agree becuase there is never more than three cars in the parking lot.
(2)Stewart S.
For over 30 years this has been my favorite rib shack in So MD. Their ribs melt in the mouth simply put (I prefer them dry) so I cant comment on the house sauces. The side dishes are typical for So MD. Their ribs are so good that I am going to get a rack right no....
(5)Jess B.
A tradition of SOMD! This little roadside place is home to some of the best BBQ east of the Mississippi. The ribs are deliciously smoked and flavorful, to the point the meat can and does fall off the bone. I have had dreams about the fries and the sauce! It's recently changed ownership, and there have been some changes--new, non-splintery picnic tables, for one, and last week there was a fellow set up to play guitar
(5)Katherine P.
Johnny Boys is the best barbecue in Southern Maryland... Mama Sophie's sauce is a staple!
(5)John Y.
Slow, mediocre service, overcooked ribs - nothing special here. Some past reviews were good, but the current location and staff cannot be recommended.
(2)Jack F.
I would give this place 3.5 stars. Its the first place that isn't a shady motel that pops up coming north of the river, so the smell is always tempting when its open. The ribs are wayyyy overpriced for being sold from a rib shack next to an abandoned building, but the minced pork sandwich is a better deal for me, even if it isn't that big. The price is what knocks this review down. The main reason to go is for the BBQ sauce. Be sure to load up on the stuff, although you can't get it in containers, which means you have to make a big pool in the foil, which is awkward. They have bottles on sale which is well worth it.
(3)Jack D.
Checked this place out for lunch and was overjoyed with what I found. I got the minced pork sandwich, which is the same as a pulled pork sandwich, and I was very impressed! The meat was perfectly cooked...juicy, tender, and fantastical! I tried all of their sauces and enjoyed every single one of them. The homemade chilli was also great! I didn't care that I was eating outside, the meal was worth it. I am a BBQ fanatic, and highly recommend checking this place out.
(5)Ann S.
chopped pork sandwich was YUM-O! Cost is a little high ($10.50 for sandwich, slaw, and drink) for surroundings - I am used to DC prices so it wasn't as big a shock to me as those I was with. No "ambiance" at all since you are sitting at a picnic table on the side of the road, but the food is really good.
(3)Missy F.
Conveniently located off of 301, food comes out quickly, good service. Outside picnic areas to eat. Ive eaten there a few times, order was messed up on a pick up order terribly. Cost of food is high. It cost me $12.00 for just a large sweet tea, chicken sandwich and a side of green beans. Sweet tea is excellent so long as they dont fill the cup up with all ice. The green beans looked and smelled good, had chunks of bacon in them as well, but had zero flavor. The minced chicken sandwich was so very dry that I used the liquid from the green beans in order to make it go down. The last time I ordered a pork sandwich it was very dry as well. My coworkers had a fish dinner which they were happy with and was a very large portion. They also ordered a sliced beef sandwich and said that it was hard to eat due to it being tough/fatty.
(2)Tu-van L.
Nothing says hard-core Yelp Carnivore Crew dedication like taking a 1-hour road trip to the middle of nowhere Maryland and eat BBQ outside while it's merely 40*F outside. I'm almost thawing out after that trip. Some impressively awesome BBQ in Southern middle-of-nowhere La Plata, Maryland. I didn't realize until I was in the car with Jeff W. on the way there that this place was actually a shack with outdoor picnic table seating. The building besides the shack with the "Johnny Boy's Ribs" sign was a tease since it was closed (both the building and the shack were sold for $2m?! Are you fer real?!), but at least the bathrooms were opened. As for the food itself, what I had was excellent. I split a rack of ribs with Karman L. and PC W. and they were well-smoked and flavored. It would've done just fine without sauce, but with the hot BBQ sauce with a great balance of sweet and spicy, it was too good to pass up. The meat was well-smoked and not fatty at all and the steak fries while soft were well-salted and spiced. The large fries were large enough that plenty of other people were able to share what we ordered. Can't vouch for the sliced/chopped pork or beef but from the positive accolades other carnies were given, I'd go back to try it out. Great BBQ if you're willing to take the trip down there. If it's still around I'd go back in warmer weather - it'll probably taste better when it's not cooling down as we're eating it.
(4)Alicia G.
flickr.com/photos/alicia… is all I have to say about the ribs. *Please take this moment to wipe the drool from your face and/or keyboard. Long drive. Cold outside. Dedicated/hardcore carnies + carnies in training Delicious food. Though kind of pricey. That sums it up for me.
(4)Jerry C.
Out of sight! Say no more - this place is superb. Smoked, fall off the bone, juicy and sauce comes in heat level. This place is not one of those BBQ place that pre-boils there ribs. Highly recommended!
(5)Emily R.
After a week of eating frozen dinners and tuna packs, I decided to head out of Dahlgren in search of real food. No yelp app this time...just me, the car, and my eyeballs. Driving down 301, there are trees, trees, and more trees. So, when i spied a shack on the side of the road, a bunch of people sitting at picnic tables, and a lot full of cars, I whipped a u-turn and pulled in. If there's a line, it must be good right? As I step out of the car, i am greeted with a nice smoky aroma and my mouth starts watering for some good barbecue. Oh yeah...I'm getting ribs, chicken, brisket, the works. One look at the menu, and sticker shock sets in...I end up just getting the rib platter. About 18 bucks for about 6 ribs, 2 sides, a roll, and a small soda. Yikes! OK, get my food, grab some napkins and squirt some of the fast disappearing hot sauce onto my styrofoam tray, and set up camp on my tailgate for the feast. Sides: Beans and greens. Both were just ok...tasted like canned pork and beans and canned collard greens. Slightly disappointing, but i still had the star of the show waiting right? Ribs: Dry rub, not overly greasy or fatty, and nice sized. Initial rib was smoky and fairly tender. The seasoning was very faint though, so had to spruce it up with some hot sauce. That made it much better. Subsequent ribs fell a little short. More smokiness, but less tender. Non actually fell off the bone. In fact, it took a bit of gnawing to get it off the bone. The redeeming quality was the hot sauce. That made everything taste better. So, ribs and sides were just ok. Hot sauce was great. They have potential, and apparently a lot of people like it, but it was not worth the price or the drive for me.
(3)Richard F.
Johnny Boy's Ribs deserves the positive reviews. When you step out of your car, you smell the hickory (and oak, maybe?) smoke. The (dry) ribs have a crisp exterior, and the top meat is moist and delicious, while the ends are crunchy, smokey, chewy nuggets. Very nice. I also got the chicken. Surprisingly good - smokey and juicy. Met the owner. He's likable, and takes the time to talk about the meat, the cuts, the process. I dig this place.
(4)K D.
We visited Johnny Boy's on the way back from the beach, and I thought their BBQ was great. The kids got hot dogs and actually enjoyed eating outside at picnic tables. Will definitely go again next time we drive down 301. Note, if it's windy or foul weather, you'll be eating in your car since all seating is outside at picnic tables.
(4)Autumn N.
Delicious but overpriced. There is a rib shack in Bryans Road, MD that is better priced and just as delicious. Location is great if you're headed on your way to the river.
(3)PC W.
It's time again for that obligatory disclaimer for any PC W. bbq restaurant review: "I'm a Boston-bred Chinese-American, what the heck do I know about authentic bbq?!?! You can stop reading here and I wouldn't blame you." Nothing says solidarity like a group of yelpers sitting on picnic tables outdoors in 30 degree weather, shivering from the cold with barbeque sauce staining the sides of their mouths. Thus ended the first-ever field trip for the Carnie Crew. Each of us overcame great adversity and hit the road around 10am from all corners of the DMV to converge at Johnny Boy's Ribs. The layout is simple: parking lot, shack, picnic tables and trash barrels. What I wasn't expecting was the price tag on a slab of ribs. $22.75?! Karman L., Tu-Van L. and I went in on a full slab of pork ribs and large fries together. We each got a good 4-5 ribs each. I would give the ribs 3 stars. I like heavily-sauced, meaty ribs that fall off the bone. These ribs weren't particularly meaty or saucy. The ends were really salty too. The extra star is for Mama Sophie's hot bbq sauce. It's so sweet and spicy that I may make like Lester K. and start using it as mouthwash. I would have enjoyed my food more if it wasn't so cold out. The ribs cooled down so quickly that they weren't enjoyable toward the end. I was so cold I didn't really want to order any other food. All I wanted was to jump back in the car and blast heat on my hands and feet. Worth a trip back? In the warmer months for sure.
(4)Tony P.
I came out with some of the most dedicated yelpers on the east coast. The Carnivore Crew will go to great lengths to acquire our meats. An hour of driving past the brain dead I-95 S traffic and then east on MD-5 til 2mi past La Plata. I finally arrived at a shack with 4-5 outdoor picnic tables. The Carnie Crew was already feeding when I placed my order. I got a ribs and chicken platter for $17 with potato salad and baked beans as my sides. The ribs they have here are dry rub meats. They have some spicy BBQ sauce available on the side made from their own recipe. I thought the meat was very flavorful. The smokiness was present but not overpowering. There is a distinct hint of Old Bay in the BBQ sauce that really lend a unique flavor to the ribs. The potato salad has a lot of yolk that adds good flavor to it and the baked beans is not overly sweet but rather has that natural brown sugary sweetness to it. Overall, I enjoyed the food. I bought an extra full rack and full chicken home and had a great feast with the family in a warm accommodating environment. As much as I love coming out with the Carnie Crew, I think this event in less than 40 degree weather was really not a good situation to enjoy the food. In the end, we all did have fun and managed to get some ice cream afterwards. Yes.. ice cream after spending over an hour freezing our asses off outside. Because that's just the way we roll.
(4)Lester K.
How do I spell love? C-a-r-n-i-v-o-r-e-_-C-r-e-w How can you not love strangers that drive an hour+ go to eat ribs outside when the wind chill is like 30*? Strangers I tell ya. Well, maybe not 100% strangers, but those who weren't still qualify as strangé . The Latin spelling is: J-o-h-n-n-y_B-o-y-'-s_R-i-b-s My disappointment of an epic fail mission a few days prior was satisfied on this fine day the Carnivore Crew made an emergency field trip here. I was planning to go first in line, but upon a return trip from the bathroom, my spot was taken, as was the 2nd, 3rd, 10th, etc. I was left to bat cleanup. My anxiety level was approaching a disturbingly high level waiting and waiting. Finally Rack of spareribs, chopped pork sandwich, macaroni salad, and large sweet tea was my order. Then another wait for the food as I passed the time by evilly glaring at the Carnivore Crew already eating off in the yonder. Finally the moment came. So did my mouth after it took the anger out when it hate f*cked the ribs in revenge for what happened Tuesday. No mercy for you either, chopped pork sandwich! The only form of defense the ribs and the sandwich had was Mama Sophie's sauce. Still, it was no match. Such an underwhelming match that I need a sliced beef sandwich as dessert. Here's the actual food review: * Ribs were excellent as usual. They're not super smoky; just the right amount of smoke. The rub is excellent. These are not fall-off-the-bone kind of ribs. You need to work it a little to get all the meat off, which is the way I like it. Oh, for the Carnivore Crew members who ate their ribs with the lid of the carton/box open, I just discovered this brand new invention called aluminum foil. If you keep your ribs covered with this sheet-like metal sheet, it keeps them warm. * Chopped pork sandwich was excellent as well. Soft, tender, seasoned just right. Su and Jeff obviously didn't give the right gang sign so they got yesterday's leftovers or something. I, on the other hand, am formally trained in Johnny-Boy's-Gang-Sign-Giving so I didn't have the same problem * Sliced beef. Mine was new and warm, slightly chewy and slightly fatty, which I don't consider a bad thing. It was great without any sauce. It was great with some sauce as well. * Macaroni salad wasn't up to par this time. Had this aftertaste that I'm not used to. Maybe it was the taste of ass-freezing-cold * Sweet tea: Excelled in tasting like good sweet tea * Mama Sophie's Sauce: I leave you for the end because there isn't enough I could say about you. You are #1 on my list of favorite sexual fantasies. I'll leave it at that. I did discover that an almost eaten rib makes a pretty good toothbrush. Just dab a little Mama Sophie's sauce on it like toofpaste, then brush your heart away. It leaves a nice shiny layer of, um, protective coating on your teeth. Mama Sophie's sauce also doubles as moufwash; just don't spit, you must swallow. Just on a note, later when I was home watching TV, I was rubbing my belly like I normally do when I'm full and Alladin popped out of my ass. Since I freed him, he gave me 1 wish. I complained that I was supposed to get 3 wishes, but he replied that he can only give 1, given the state of the economy blah blah blah. Anyways, before I could say my wish for world peace, another fart found its way out of my ass and Alladin ended up granting my ass it's wish to have gas for the rest of its life.
(5)Brendan J.
Lester, I fear you breaking my knee caps more than I fear your backhanded fake compliments, but as you see, this is not a 5 star review. I'm sorry. The ribs were very good. They had a great smokiness and were meaty. I agree that they're not fall off the bone ribs, but it's kind of fun when you have to gnaw. I'm not sure if it was due to the rapid cooling of the ribs or if it was the actual ribs, but some were a little bit dry. The ribs were flavorful enough to eat without any sauce, but the spicy barbecue sauce was very very good. Not very spicy, but really tasty. I probably should have bought a bottle or two to take home and eat on other things - but that would have required getting in Lester's way since he bought them all out, and I'm afraid he would accidentally mistake me for a slab of ribs. As the most junior member of the Carni Crew, I think I was the only one to order a non-potato/cole slaw vegetable side. The kale was pretty good and slightly smokey from the pieces of bacon, but the liquid it was cooked in was really really salty. The fries had a great flavor but could have been a little crispier. As the most junior member of the Carni Crew, I was full from the rib platter, but several senior officers of the crew was not satisfied and had to get additional food. Considering that it is picnic table outdoor only seating and a little shack in Sort-of-Nowheresville, USA, the ribs were on the expensive side. I know quality requires time and money, but: 1. if a platter for that price doesn't leave you full 2. you're sitting outside 3. senior members of the Carni Crew aren't sure it is worth the drive out something isn't quite right. If Johnny Boy's was closer and it wasn't a few days before winter, I'd probably readily head back. Otherwise, maybe not so much.
(4)Michelle P.
"Well on Saturday I drove an hour to get some BBQ in Maryland. The didn't have any seating inside, so we sat outside in the cold and i think that might be why i'm sick now". Saying this to my students: made me sound like a loser Saying this to fellow yelpers: Made me sound awesome. So i drove out here (ok sat in the car while someone else drove) and drank a whole water bottle full of water. At which point I was told "Its a shack.. they dont have bathrooms!". Well the first thing i see upon arrival is the gigantic bathroom sign! Bathrooms were suprisingly clean and well maintained. Now on to the food.... I nearly ordered the ribs, despite my alleged hatred of all things pork. But i couldn't justify spending that much money and potentially not being able to eat it. So i stuck with the minced beef platter. The 2nd best brisket like sandwich i've ever had. It had hte perfect amount of moisture that it wasn't dripping everywhere, but was still saucy and full of flavor. I liked it.. a lot! I was a little less impressed with the sides. The potato salad was great... tasted just like my grandma used to make and the fries i stole from someone were pretty darn awesome. But teh coleslaw? YUCK. Way too wet! And the macarroni salad? Disgusting. So i'll stick with fries and potato salad from now on. So Johnny... i loved your brisket, your potato salad and bathrooms. But buy some heaters or use your building and i will give you that fifth star. Its definitely good,but just a little too far and a little too outside!
(4)Jeff W.
Foreword: the following review will not once reference the fact that Johnny Boy's is far away from the DC area, as it is not Johnny's fault that you have to live in your hip city so he should not be criticized for your choice of residence. It will also not reference the fact that it was cold out, because external environment should have no impact on your desire for meat, and thanks to modern aluminum foil technology, food can still stay warm and tender. With that said, as you can see and read, Johnny Boy's is a shack off 301. It's next to a sketchy decrepit building of the same name, but judge their openness by whether or not smoke is billowing from the shack. They offer the usual BBQ dishes, but the focus seems to be ribs. I was a little surprised to see no baby backs offered, as they're listed on the website, but not on the actual menu. I tend to prefer baby backs, but figured I'd just stick with the spare ribs. First thing to notice was how quickly they put out your food. I think the reserves of meat they must have definitely will create some variance in quality as the first round of pulled/minced pork sandwiches were awful. Disgustingly saucy and salty. I later tried another sandwich and it was if it came from a different restaurant all together, though I still thought it was overseasoned and dry. Ribs were quite good, with excellent smoked flavor. I would have preferred to taste some other flavors, since smoke was all I really tasted, but they were certainly tender. Still, I'd rather go to the Mighty Midget in Leesburg, or Buz and Ned's in Richmond for ribs. These were good, but not a noticeable improvement over others that I've had. The true standout of JB's, however, is the sauce. Man was that hot Mama Sophie's sauce something to behold...and betaste. I kept resisting the urge to drink from the squeeze bottle of sauce. Probably the second best BBQ sauce I've ever had with great zing and depth of flavor. It was spicy, but not overpoweringly so. Really, they could just give you a sandwich made of day old meat and it would taste amazing if topped with the sauce While everything (besides the bizarro pork sandwiches) was very good, I was still turned off by the price and don't think it's worth the cost. $20+ for a slab of ribs is a bit much, and a combo with sandwich, side and drink for $10 is also really expensive, in my opinion. I would think that JB's would have a pricing scheme consistent with the fact that it's an outdoor BBQ shack, but obviously that's not the case. It was some really good BBQ, but the price just made it a bit cost-prohibitive for any frequent returns. Overall item assessment: Pulled Pork - 3 stars Macaroni Salad - 2 stars French Fries - 3.5 stars Ribs - 4 stars Sauce - 50 stars
(4)Tim S.
I had a minced pork sandwich with greens and coleslaw. In a word, meh. No smoke at all in the pork, and the 'hot' sauce had no heat at all. Inexplicably, I found several pieces of bay leaf in my pork. I cook and eat a lot of BBQ, and have never seen this before; maybe a local idiosyncrasy? Regardless, not pleasing. The homemade lemonade was good, but a little on the sweet side.
(1)Michele D.
When you're jet lagged and flat out exhausted, what do you do? You drive 1.5 hours to sit in 40 degree weather to eat ribs. That'll bring you back to life. I was also thankful for whoever suggested bringing something to sit on, because those benches were like ice blocks. Kevin L. and I left Reston and went to Springfield to pick up Brendan J. We drove, and drove and drove on the road that seemed to go nowhere. I think it would not have seemed so long had we been on multi-laned road that didn't have stop lights with annoying frequency. We both got the rib plate, except I had the BBQ beans and the potato salad as my sides. The beans were almost a little too sweet for me, but it wasn't a deal breaker. I did, however, really enjoy the potato salad and thought it was probably super bad for me because it was incredibly creamy. The ribs themselves were good. I think I can't give it a higher rating than that because as they got cold, from being in the cold, they got harder. Now, I'm not a woman that complains when she's around hard meat (ahem!), but when it's smoked, comes with a bone, aw shucks...this ditch is gettin' big, isn't it? :) Yeah, so back to the ribs. Perhaps, if I ate them indoors or in warmer weather, they wouldn't be so bad. As to the quality, I can say the meat was tender, not fatty, and I enjoyed the smokiness. To add the sauce really sent it over the edge, though, and I recommend you use it. I'm glad I left a little room for dessert down the road!
(3)Don D.
The ribs are great, but not sure it was worth the money. They are a bit on the pricy side
(3)Patrick H.
Undoubtedly the best barbecue in Maryland! This is a true BBQ shack with counter service and highway-side picnic tables for dining. There is NO DINING ROOM. After living in Kansas City for 10 years, where barbecue is Haut Cuisine, I can tell you that Johnny Boy's sauce is on a par with the greats of KC, like Arthur Bryants, Gates and Haywards. It comes in two varieties, Mama Sophie's regular and Mama Sophie's Spicy. The sauce is available for purchase and you'll want to buy a couple of bottles considering how far out in the boondocks they are. The ribs are the draw,and their specialty is not baby backs, but good ole pork spare ribs. They won't let you down, but you'll feel like you need a shower after you eat them. Dense, moist and most of all smokey ribs which fall off the bone, but remain meaty and chewy. The pulled pork and chicken can't be beat and the whole smoked chicken is a revelation. Sides can't be beat and they keep it simple here, it's BBQ baked beans and french fries for me with an extra helping of the spicy sauce.
(5)Anson P.
That's right...4 stars. Lester, my knee caps are here for the breaking. Eating outside during the winter doesn't generally make for a good eating contest, at least that's the excuse I'm going to use this time around. I had ordered a pork rib platter to start things off, seeing as how I had not been here before. The pork rib platter came with 4 or 5 ribs and two sides. I went with potato salad and fries. The ribs were pretty good, the meat was tender and came off the bone with relatively little effort. The sauce was excellent. It was tangy and sweet and the hot version had a decent level of spice, although not enough to make you sweat or go reaching for your drink. The potato salad was one of the better versions that I've encountered and was even better with a few squirts of bbq sauce. The steak fries were ok but again, the sauce made everything better. After finishing, I realized I was still hungry. That rib platter wasn't cheap either. 16 bucks. I then went and got two more sandwiches, one sliced pork and one minced pork. I liked the minced pork better than the sliced pork. The minced pork sandwiches that Su K and Jeff W ordered game out greasier than the sandwiches Lester K and I ordered. At around 5.50 for each sandwich, I think the sandwiches are a better deal than the ribs, at least to satisfy your hunger. You will be dropping a good amount of money. They have squeeze bottles of sauce for your saucing needs. Even though I ate as much as I did, Lester ate a full slab and two sandwiches and two sides. And he even took the time to brush his teeth with the ribs and gargle with the bbq sauce. I bow to the master. This is a rib shack. They have picnic tables. Deal with it. Apparently, the property is up for sale. I'm sure that this place is much better when it's warmer, but not sure if it will be here in the spring. It probably will. When in line, I met a guy who drives down from Reston to get his rib fix. He commented that he never expected to face a crowd. That's how Yelpers do it. Note: If you're coming from the DC area, take 210 (Indian Head Highway) down to the 228 bypass to get over to Waldorf and La Plata rather than taking the 495 exit at Waldorf. This was a tip passed onto me by the Reston dude.
(4)Joe S.
Awesome BBQ ribs that's says it all.
(4)Aisha M.
Today was the boyfriends birthday and we didn't have anything planned. Somehow we ended up a Johnny Boys. Well the staff offered us a great deal of Ribs, Pulled Pork and Sauce for $25. Not a bad deal at all. The ribs were flavorful and I can't wait for the pulled pork. The sauce you can tell is homemade.
(4)Rob K.
The best barbecue in Southern Maryland. The pulled pork is worth the trip from anywhere.
(5)