Jordan Johnson is Giving Away 100 Free Massive Fish Fry Hoagies to Celebrate Lent

With Fish Fry Friday being celebrated on the first Friday of Lent every year, entrepreneur Jordan Johnson has found a great reason to offer his guests one of his signature items at his namesake restaurant in Northeast Philadelphia. This year, Lent begins on March 5th, so on Friday, March 7th, the first 100 customers through the door at Jordan Johnson – located at 6716 Frankford Avenue – will receive a complimentary All-American Buttermilk Fried Fish Hoagie.

The giveaway begins at 11 a.m. and goes until sellout. In addition to the giveaway, a portion of all of Friday’s sales will benefit Marvin’s Home, which creates homes for youth and young adults who have been homeless or have aged out of the foster care system — a cause that is near and dear to Johnson’s heart.

Jordan Johnson’s menu features four different buttermilk fried fish hoagie selections, including the All-American, Thai Sweet Chili, Honey Buffalo, and Mango Habanero. The scratch kitchen also offers a variety of jumbo fried shrimp options, fried fish and French fries, numerous wing selections, specialty egg rolls, creamy curry compositions, and a variety of fried rice options, including veggie, chicken, shrimp, salmon, whiting, crab, swai, and catfish. Johnson is also developing a variety of new items that celebrate cuisines from all over the world.

The self-taught chef was born in Jamaica, but grew up all over New York in foster care. When he was a kid, he was shown how to make scrambled eggs with white rice, and quickly became infatuated with cooking. In foster care, his case worker would often take him to restaurants after therapy sessions. “The best way to experience the world and cultures is through their food, and that inspired me as a child in the same way that children are in awe of magicians. It was magical,” exclaimed Johnson, who would eventually enter into food contests as a child and often win. Johnson forged relationships as early as elementary schoool, just by hanging around different restaurants, and visited libraries to read cookbooks. With a strong entrepreneurial spirit, Johnson often cooked for friends and family, eventually launching his first business in 2009. He sold his previous restaurant in 2021, and the current iteration of Jordan Johnson opened in May of 2023 after Johnson took a few years off to improve his work-life balance.

In addition to growing up in foster care while living through some incredibly traumatic experiences such as abuse and molestation as a child, Johnson began to hit his stride as a teenager, and credits boxing as a passion that saved his life. He notes that boxing taught him the power of discipline, confidence and sacrifice, which are paramount skills for many entrepreneurs. In December of 2023, he was hit by a car right in front of his shop, breaking his right leg, severely tearing ligaments, and fracturing his spine, putting him in the hospital and then keeping him bedridden for three months. He is still recovering today, but uses his restaurant as therapy to get through the difficult times.

Jordan Johnson’s namesake restaurant is an eclectic takeout destination offering seafood, fried rice, and other dishes to go at 6716 Frankford Avenue in Northeast Philadelphia. Consistent with his focus on work-life balance, the business is open weekends only, from noon to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Johnson plans on opening more Jordan Johnson locations, including one in downtown Camden this spring, as well as more Philadelphia locations next year. Learn more and place online orders at jordanjohnsons.toast.site.