An eight-seat saloon by the Stockyards.
Johnny’s opened in 1922, next door to the Omaha Stockyards, and grew as South Omaha grew. A hundred and four years later the fourth wall it ever had is still the one you walk through — behind brass doors cast as steer horns.
Scroll — the doors open
One founder, two sons, two granddaughters.
FK
Frank Kawa — opened the eight-seat saloon in 1922 and expanded the menu and the footprint as the Stockyards grew.
1922 — early 1960s
J·T
Jack and Tom Kawa — Frank’s sons, took ownership in the early 1960s; the 1970s renovation, two years in the making, gave the house its steer-horn doors and dining-room mural.
early 1960s — 1990s
K·S
Kari and Sally — Jack’s daughters, running the room day to day as the third generation.
1990s — today
Omaha’s Original Steak House, in its 104th year.
As the house says it — johnnyscafe.com
In 2026 the James Beard Foundation named Johnny’s one of America’s Classics — the award the Foundation reserves for locally owned places of timeless appeal, quality food and deep community character.
Built in the seventies and kept, not themed.
The renovation of the 1970s took two years and left the house its signature: the brass steer-horn front doors and the dining-room mural. Nothing about the room apologises for its age — the chairs are deep, the ceiling is dark, the lamps are warm, and the doors say what the kitchen is for.