Sometimes a restaurant starts with a business plan. Other times, it starts with two friends talking late at night and wondering, “What if we actually did this?”
For Jawny’s in Sherman Oaks, the story started with an Xbox conversation between two friends, Johnny and David, who were living in different cities. What began as a simple idea to create a Philly cheesesteak business eventually turned into a growing San Fernando Valley restaurant with a loyal following.
Today, Jawny’s is serving cheesesteaks, wings, loaded fries, and other comfort-food favorites from its Sherman Oaks location at 14062 Burbank Blvd. But getting there took plenty of work, persistence, and a willingness to start small.
It All Started With an Xbox Conversation
In 2020, Johnny had moved to Cincinnati, Ohio, while David remained in California. Around 2022, the two friends were playing Xbox together when the idea of starting a cheesesteak business came up.
The conversation could have ended there.
Instead, Johnny bought a ticket back to Los Angeles, and the two friends started turning the idea into reality.
Their first experiments happened in David’s backyard, where they worked on their recipes and tested the food on themselves, friends, and family.
Eventually, they knew they had something.
The next step was finding a place where they could actually start selling.
From a Backyard to a Car Wash
The early days of Jawny’s were anything but glamorous.
The team approached the owner of the Fashion Square Car Wash and asked if they could set up there. That opportunity gave them a place to begin building the business and connecting with customers.
According to Jawny’s, the business eventually spent time operating as a food stand before growing into something bigger.
What started as a small operation gradually developed into a system, a team, and a recognizable brand.
And they weren’t afraid to keep pushing forward.
The journey included setbacks, including stolen equipment, but Johnny and David continued working toward their goal.
Where the Name “Jawny’s” Comes From
Even the name has a connection to Philadelphia.
“Jawny” is a Philly slang term that can refer to a person, place, thing, or really just about anything depending on the context.
For Johnny and David, it felt like the perfect name for a restaurant built around bringing the Philly cheesesteak experience to Los Angeles.
Their goal wasn’t simply to sell sandwiches. They wanted to introduce more people in Southern California to the flavors and culture behind the food.
Building a Cheesesteak From Scratch
One of the things that stood out during our visit was how much attention Jawny’s puts into its ingredients.
The steak is sliced in-house, vegetables are prepared fresh, and sauces are made in the kitchen. Their website also emphasizes fresh, never-frozen ingredients and house-made recipes.
The menu centers around Philly cheesesteaks, but there’s plenty more to try.
Their 215 Philly comes with steak, onions, cheese, and mayo, while the LA Philly adds mushrooms and bell peppers. They also offer chicken cheesesteaks, steak fries, wings, bowls, and a selection of house sauces.
Don’t Overlook the Wings and Steak Fries
The cheesesteaks may be what puts Jawny’s on the map, but the rest of the menu deserves some attention too.
Their wings come with flavors including hot honey, hot lemon pepper, garlic parmesan, and barbecue.
Then there are the Philly steak fries.
Crispy battered fries are topped with steak, onions, mushrooms, bell peppers, cheese, and house sauce, creating a dish that basically takes everything you love about a cheesesteak and puts it on a plate of fries.
From an Idea to a Brick-and-Mortar Restaurant
Jawny’s officially established its food stand in 2023 before opening its first brick-and-mortar location in Los Angeles in 2026.
The growth represents more than just opening a restaurant.
It shows what can happen when two friends take an idea seriously, keep refining it, and continue moving forward even when things don’t go according to plan.
The team eventually expanded with Mike, who recognized the potential in the concept and invested in the company. His experience in building and scaling businesses helped Johnny and David take the next step.
A New Chapter in Sherman Oaks
Today, Jawny’s has its first brick-and-mortar home in Sherman Oaks, bringing its take on Philly cheesesteaks to the San Fernando Valley.
Located on Burbank Boulevard near Hazeltine Avenue, the restaurant has become a destination for people looking for a hearty cheesesteak, loaded fries, wings, and late-night comfort food.
And perhaps the most interesting part of the story is that it all goes back to something incredibly ordinary: two friends playing Xbox and talking about starting a business.
That conversation eventually became a backyard experiment.
The backyard became a food stand.
The food stand became a business.
And now, that idea has a home in Sherman Oaks.
Jawny’s is a reminder that some of the best local businesses start with a simple idea, a good friendship, and the willingness to see how far you can take it.
If you’re exploring the San Fernando Valley and looking for a local spot with a story behind it, Jawny’s is one worth knowing.
Watch the episode below