Johnny Boy

A local gem that offers great Filipino sandwiches. Recently came across this place while looking for a quick breakfast near Union Square. Operating within Juliet Social Club from Wednesday to Saturday mornings, Johnny Boy morphs the space into an adorable café exuding a relaxed and charming ambiance. At Johnny Boy, Chef Jeff elegantly redefines humble breakfast sandwiches with a touch of island magic. During my past two visits on Thursday and Saturday mornings, I was the only customer, so I had a nice conversation with him. He was extremely friendly and seemed really enthusiastic about developing Filipino-inspired sandwiches. The menu, though concise, featured a rotating selection of one or two sandwiches daily, with the Longganisa Sandwich on weekdays and Chicken Adobo Sandwich on Saturdays. On my first visit, I got the Longganisa Sandwich, which turned out to be one of the best sandwiches I had in my recent memory. With the banana ketchup adding a layer of sweetness and spice kick to the sweet and garlicky sausage patty, each bite was a flavor bomb. I came back a few days later to try the Chicken Adobo sandwich. Initially, the adobo's bold soy-vinegar melody seemed a tad overpowering, but soon, the subtle pepper undertone wove a more nuanced flavor narrative. Since Jeff does pop-ups in different locations around the city, you might come across his sandwiches on college campuses or at different restaurants. Juliet Social Club doesn’t have a coffee bar, so you might have to walk over to their main restaurant right next doors if you want to pair them with coffee, but the experience is worth it. Highly recommend giving this place a try.

Amazing and unique breakfast sandos. Even though the menu is small, it's incredibly hard to choose between the two sandwiches. You might not think you'd like tamarind outside of soups or ketchup with banana in it, but it works! Love what Jeff is doing and wish him the best

Holy moly this sandwich is DIVINE!! Walked in just 2 minutes before close with 0 expectations, and wow was I blown away! The owner went out of his way to make me a fresh sandwich even though he was ready to pack up. I tried the fried chicken adobo and it was an incredible combination of flavors and textures. The chicken was crispy on the outside, juicy on the inside, with a great savory seasoning that was balanced out by the sweetness of the bun and the acidity of the papaya slaw. I can’t wait to come back another time and try the longganisa sandwich next. Thank you for the great experience!

I've been here 6 or 7 times at this point, and every time has been fantastic! Both the longganisa and adobo sandwiches are great, but the longganisa is a must-try imo. Prices are reasonable and portions are perfect, menu rotates pretty often and hours are subject to change, so make sure to check the website for updates! Also the owner/staff is super friendly!

The Filipino inspired flavors of this restaurant that feel authentic and elevated is something you don’t see anywhere else in the Boston area. Everything was cooked perfectly and boldly seasoned. Both sandwiches are incredible but the fried chicken adobo is worth it to go on a Saturday.

Wanted to give a nod to this spot before it blows up after everyone finds out about it, perhaps when Union Sq Farmers market returns. I'm a big breakfast sandwich guy and the Longganissa with the teriyaki flavor hits the spot and the bun is perfect as it soaks up the sauce and garlic. It's still an outpost and feels very homely but you get to see the kitchen and chat with the chef while awaiting your sandwich. I have yet to try their chicken sandwich but I only hear good things

Absolutely adore Johnny Boy!!!! If I could order one of everything I would. Personal favorite is the chicken bites as a little afternoon snack - unparalleled crunch, flavor, texture, juiciness. Jeff is also the nicest guy around, which is a huge plus!! Seriously some of the best food I've had in a long time - can't wait to go back again soon!!

Owner is very friendly. Nice atmosphere and great filipino flavors.

Flavors - 3.8/5 Textures - 4/5 Presentation - 3.5/5 Value for Money - 3.5/5 This is a pop-up so the menu options are few! I got their longaniza sandwich which is a sausage patty, fried egg, and banana ketchup. Very unique flavors! Sweet and garlicky. I don't like that there's too much sauce which makes it very messy to eat. The sausage also overpowers the rest, but worth trying!

My partner and I shared a longganisa sausage sandwich, fried chicken adobo sandwich, and tamarind tots - TASTE: 5/5 - came in w no expectations, and Johnny Boy really delivered on the Filipino flavors! Highlights included the tasty adobo sauce and atchara (pickled papaya) on the fried chicken, the combo of the sweet & garlic sausage patty plus banana ketchup in the longganisa sandwich, and the subtle tang of the tamarind tots. Excited to come back to try the tortang talong (eggplant) sandwich when it's back on the menu TEXTURE: 5/5 - the longganisa sandwich's pandesal bun was thick, fluffy, and excellent, and the banana ketchup sauce, fried egg, and tender patty made for a satisfying and slippery (lol) sandwich. Both the chicken and tots were fried well w maximum crunch PRICE: 4/5 - total came to $27 SERVING SIZE: 4/5 - good portions for lunch SERVICE: 4/5 - walked in at 1pm on a Sunday, ordered at the counter, and our food came out less than 10min later. Looked like a one-woman show ATMOSPHERE: 3/5 - appreciated the laidback wine bar vibes in Juliet Social Club, but think the HVAC must've been broken today because it was super chilly inside and there was no hot water in the bathroom PARKING: 4/5 - got a street spot around the corner on Somerville Ave

Love this place to get my adobo fix, since it's rare to find Filipino food in the Boston area! The sandwiches are made from scratch with love and high quality ingredients by the owner. I've had the tortang talong (seasonal) and fried chicken adobo and both were memorable and packed with flavor. The fried chicken is double fried and then dipped in adobo (soy, vinegar sauce) and has a really nice crunch before you get to the juicy chicken, topped with pickled papaya slaw for added zip. Maple potato bread is nice and fluffy and holds up to the chicken. Tamarind tots are freshly fried and coated in tasty seasoning. My partner is Filipino and he and the owner usually chat a bit about Filipino food when we visit. Owner is a genuinely nice and personable guy who wants to bring more Filipino flavors to this area. Space is in the Juliet Social club so it's a nice hang, and you can go next door to Juliet Cafe/Restaurant to grab a nice coffee or tea to have with your meal. Operation is a regular pop up in this space so be sure to check hours to make sure they are open. Will definitely be back!

Absolutely blown away! Classic Filipino flavors repurposed into your everyday bites. The owner Jeff, is all class; homie knows what he's doing. Ordered the longganisa & adobo fried chicken sandwhich. INSANE! The longganisa sandwhich is classic. The pandesal bun on it was nuts. Loved the acidity of the adobo sandwhich. Chicken was super tender and well balanced. Both very light! Didn't feel terrible after eating them LOL. & the space! What a beautiful, open-concept, community spot. Pumped to come back and see the menu and team grow! Bravo, Jeff & Jon!

Visiting Boston from California - my friend wanted to check out this place. Wasn't sure what to expect. Got the chicken adobo sandwich. Really juicy, has the texture of a juicy chicken sandwich. Unlike anything I've ever had, but doesn't lose the comfort of a homemade chicken adobo. Incredible. Ambience was a great vibe. And Jeff was such a nice host, really made us feel at home. When I return to Boston, I'll be sure to come back. I absolutely recommend to any Filipinos visiting, but also anyone willing to try something new!

GREAT Filipino food in Somerville! Had a delicious breakfast sandwich & adobo chicken bites. Will definitely be back. While he has a limited menu, what he has is great.