Johnny Sánchez Restaurant Opens Inside L’Auberge Casino Resort

Celebrity Chef Aaron Sánchez brings his passion for authentic Mexican flavors to Southwest Louisiana

by Kristy Como Armand

L’Auberge Casino Resort Lake Charles has proudly opened its newest dining outlet, Johnny Sánchez. This is the second Johnny Sánchez location for celebrity chef and co-owner Aarón Sánchez. The space tells the story of Chef Aarón’s family and culture through tattoo murals, tilework, and other design details.

“The whole team here is excited for our guests and locals to walk down our hallway and see the impressive new restaurant. With its large bar expanding out into the promenade, it’s hard to miss,” says Harold Rowland, vice president & general manager of L’Auberge.

Aarón Sánchez is an award-winning chef, TV personality, author and philanthropist. He grew up in the restaurant business and is passionate about preserving his family’s legacy through food and encouraging diversity in the kitchen. He began cooking at an early age, helping his mother prepare traditional Mexican foods for her catering business in El Paso, Texas, and then at her acclaimed restaurant, Café Marimba, in New York. At age 16, Sánchez’s mother sent him to New Orleans to spend the summer working with Chef Paul Prudhomme, who would become his mentor.

Today, in addition to being the chef/owner of Johnny Sánchez in New Orleans, and now Lake Charles, Sánchez serves as a judge on FOX’s hit culinary competition series MasterChef and MasterChef Junior. He has starred in multiple Food Network shows, most notably as a judge on Chopped and Chopped Junior. He was the host of Cooking Channel’s Emmy-nominated series, Taco Trip, and has appeared on numerous other television programs, including Iron Chef and Best Thing I Ever Ate. He has won the James Beard Award for Television Studio Program and was recognized by the Hispanic Federation with the Premio Orgullo Award for being a leader in the Hispanic community.

Sánchez has followed in his mother and grandmother’s footsteps (they’re both published cookbook authors) and is a third-generation cookbook author. He has published two cookbooks: La Comida del Barrio and Simple Food, Big Flavor. He has also published a memoir, Where I Come From: Life Lessons From a Latino Chef.

With its vibrant and energetic atmosphere, Johnny Sánchez inside L’Auberge embodies the warmth of traditional Mexican cuisine while utilizing the freshest Louisiana ingredients. One of the highlighted features of the restaurant is a fully automated tortilla machine. This specialized piece of equipment is able to churn out 900 fresh tortillas per hour.

“The Johnny Sánchez team is thrilled to be part of the Lake Charles community, which is located midway between what I consider my two homes – Texas and New Orleans,” says Sánchez. “The team here at L’Auberge has been incredible to work with and I’m excited to share our passion for food, authentic Mexican flavors, and my cherished family recipes with our guests.”

Diners at Johnny Sánchez have the option to dine indoors or on the expansive patio overlooking the Lazy River. Both indoor and outdoor areas have their own spacious bars.

For up-to-date hours and menus, visit the Johnny Sánchez page of the L’Auberge website here: https://www.llakecharles.com/dining/johnny-sanchez.