Lindale Park is getting a new destination for mesquite-fired Mexican cooking with the arrival of Johnny Ritas Cocina y Cantina, opening this Friday, February 6 at 5602 Fulton Street. The neighborhood cantina blends the comfort of Tex-Mex classics with the bold traditions of Oaxaca and bright flavors of Baja-inspired seafood, with preparations over open flame and charcoal.
Named in honor of owner Chico Ramirez’s grandparents, Johnny Johnson and Rita Ramirez, Johnny Ritas will be as much a tribute to family food memories as it is a fresh addition to Houston’s dining scene.
“Johnny Ritas is a tribute to my grandparents and the roots of our family,” says Ramirez. “Our gatherings revolved around family and cooking, and we wanted to create a place where people can come together over great food, drinks and shared moments.”
The kitchen is helmed by chef-partner Jesús Salinas, a veteran local chef who has had previous stints at Mark’s American Kitchen, Liberty Kitchen, Field & Tides, and White Elm Brasserie. At Johnny Ritas, Salinas has created a menu, which is an amalgam of beloved Tex-Mex dishes, with Oaxacan traditions. Among the highlights of the menu are trompo al pastor tacos, fajitas al carbon, enchiladas, tamales Oaxaquenos, and Johnny’s snapper a la parilla.
The beverage program puts the spotlight on margaritas with personality—from house frozen and on the rocks varieties to crafty originals like the Black Card, made with top-shelf El Tesoro Blanco and the Flaco, brightened with a hit of blood orange. The restaurant will open with a frozen strawberry basil margarita, then rotate to seasonal fruit variations.
The space comes courtesy of Wynne Design Works and principal designer Wyndy Ramirez—known for her work at Field & Tides and White Elm Brasserie—and it’s every bit as transportive as the menu. Spanning a dining room, bar, and expansive patio, the design is inspired by Oaxaca’s colors, textures, and architecture, the restaurant is awash in rich blue tones and outfitted with custom tables and chairs by Gino Vian, channeling the spirit of both the Oaxacan desert and Mexico’s Pacific coast.
Set forth plans for the weekend, and beyond—beginning Friday, Johnny Ritas will be open daily, serving late lunch and dinner Monday through Friday beginning at 3 p.m. The kitchen will remain open until 10 p.m., with the bar pouring until midnight. On weekends, brunch will be served Saturday and Sunday from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., followed by the regular menu for the rest of the day.
5602 Fulton St., Houston, johnnyritas.com
