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    The Hat

    4.0 (946 reviews)
    Closed • 10:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 1 week ago

    The Hat Photos

    Business Info

    THE HAT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Classy
    Moderate noise
    Good for kids

    Recommended Reviews - The Hat

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    Reviews With Photos

    Who loves this? I do! A Pastrami Dip sandwich comes with mustard and pickles (~$12)
    Jasmine M.

    Love the food here! This is called overindulging! The place is not fancy and the seats aren't super comfortable, but they have a super juicy pastrami with great flavor! I've also had their fries, chili fries, onion rings, and various other items. All so good that they may be bad for you. Still going here after many years and I keep coming back. I even went to one on my wedding day.

    13th of August 2025 2:04pm
    Ricardo M.

    3rd of October 2026, the wait time was quick, but the interaction with the person placing the cashier wasn't friendly in fact, even after I placed my order and I sat down I listen to how the cashier spoke to other customers, and I felt that he was rude. Didn't make good eye contact as far as my chili cheese fries. I felt that the fries could've been cooked a little bit longer. The soda machine was flat and my regular cheeseburger had the worst lettuce. I basically took a couple bites of the burger itself and felt like it just needed to be in the trash. I think it's a solid two from this place.

    Avocado sandwich, one fry and a side of potato salad
    Marisol L.

    Perfect lunch on a Saturday! I loved their avocado sandwich made quick with the perfect combinations. I also got a potato salad on the side which tasted a bit generic like a store bought salad but it was decent.

    Menu - 9/06/26
    Robert A.

    An absolute institution! Wish they had one in Ventura. If Tommy's is out this way, why can't they be here as well? - so worth the drive from out this way. Their portions are massive, and you have enough for at least a good couple of meals - especially for one! I'm glad you're still around. You guys are amazing!

    Chili cheese fries
    Doc P.

    This place is legendary!! I always have to get a pastrami burger and it is elite!! Pastrami tastes so good and it's nicely thinly sliced and tender. Great burger and they give a lot fries as well. Their chili cheese fries are excellent as well, the chili is seasoned so well. They have the best fountain drinks! The orange bang is a classic and my go to every visit.

    Chili Cheese Fries
    Rochelle M.

    The Hat always brings me back to my pregnancy days when we lived in Simi Valley. I waddled in at least once a week to satisfy my baby cravings. I could not get enough of that pastrami dip with EXTRA mustard and pickles. :) So, while in Simi for our Sunday errands, we stopped in for an early lunch. We decided on two famous pastrami sandwiches and one order of the HUGE chili cheese fries to share. It came out quick and so, so good!! The place has not changed -- it's like stepping back in time. Always super clean (I love that they still have live, healthy hanging plants), wonderful, friendly people and deeeeeliciously fresh food -- generous portions! Easy parking.

    The worst tasting and looking onion rings, EVER!!!!
    Dennis V.

    TERRIBLE!! Disgusting!!! This place is going down hill. I would not recommend this place. We just ordered two pastrami sandwiches and a large onion ring. The place is 15 minute drive each way. When we get home the sandwiches are sparsely filled with pastrami and the breads a totally soaking wet to the point the bread is just falling apart. In 25 years of going here we have never seen such slop!! The onion rings were even worse, they were nothing but shredded fragments of half burnt rings. They tasted terrible and were hard as rocks in some cases. Total crap. See picture. We called the store manager, Wilmer, who was one of the rudest unprofessional managers I have ever spoken with. Terrible not caring attitude. He says if you bring it back we will give you a replacement order. I told him the round trip is 30 minutes and just issue a credit for the $32 we spent. It would be so simple. Instead this punk was insulting and said bring it back or too bad. I guess I will now speak with Corporate and see if this Wilmer joker is a true representative of the organization. In the meantime, I would not recommend for anyone to go here unless you can inspect the quality of your food, before leaving. I also am concerned about the health aspect of what was served. The onion rings taste was rancid. The inside where the food is prepped is looking very long in the tooth! Wilmer should clean up the place. I would have never guessed this place would drop to this low level! ---

    Loaded hot dog
    Melissa L.

    I got the loaded hot dog, It was ok. I tried the Pastrami sandwich , Omg that was very tasty, the fries were good too. The service was quick when our order was ready. The ambiance was like a 50's diner vibe. Looking at the pictures of when they opened, and the story of how the Hat begun. If in the area go and get a bite to eat. Try the pastrami sandwich what they're known for....yum!!!!

    Yummy pastrami sandwich.
    Lianne K.

    Recently I'd had a seasonal illness that didn't want to go away, so ended up going to urgent care in the plaza next to The Hat. After my last visit, I told Dear Hubby that I had an urge for The Hat's amazing hot pastrami sandwiches. We walked over (who walks in Simi?), and shared a sandwich with au jus dip and a small order of fries. Having that hot from the kitchen was extra satisfying. It's not quite the same when you pick up and take it home. The warmth and freshness was off the charts good! The small fries are plenty for two people to share. Service was quick, and we were able to relax and enjoy our tasty food while having a conversation about the day. I appreciated that they had moved their music selections forward in time a bit. Their playlist was a decent compliment to the meal in their dining room. Speaking of the dining room, it's not fancy, but it's clean. I always marvel at how they keep their pothos plants so healthy. Someone has a green thumb at the restaurant, or they use a service that is successful in plant care. The kitchen staff works hard at cranking out tasty food all day to satisfy the cravings of their customers. They do a great job with pastrami!

    Pastrami sandwich

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    2 years ago

    Been going here since I was a kid, absolutely love it! The small fry is enough for two people, and their new tuna melt is really good.

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    1 year ago

    I tried the pastrami sandwich, and it was good. Nice AC inside. Clean. Friendly service.

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    Page 4 of 24

    Ask the Community - The Hat

    Is there any dairy ingredients in your fries or pastrami sandwich? Thanks

    None at all.

    Is The Hats Pastrami & roast beef sandwich smaller in size ? It's $10.49, I get the increase in price. But why take away pastrami from the Sandwitch, in the pass pastrami would be falling out the sides.

    Hi. Just went last week with my brother. Didn't notice the price increase but it was still the same size and overflowing. It filled him up and not much does haha

    View All 3 Questions

    Tapo St BBQ - Dino Ribs. Flavorful and juicy.

    Tapo St BBQ

    4.0(135 reviews)
    3.6 mi
    •$$

    Simi is famously very hard on restaurants…read more I hope people come and support this fairly new, small place behind Mcdonalds off Tapo St. I like to check out reviews before I go anywhere, but im glad I didnt read too much into the handful of bad reviews peppered in between these mostly glowing reviews before I had my amazing tender smokey perfect pork ribs, fluffy decadent Mac and cheese and finely chopped red cabbage cole slaw. Im a dude that will specifically search bad reviews, cause those are often more interesting to read. I feel like the handful of bad reviews this spot gets is either from local competition, some people that wish they opened their own joint or from people who would rather have someone lie to them about any situation more serious than an uncomfortable trip to the end of their own driveway I didnt know anything about this place, the owner, or anything else. Still dont really. Just saw it pop up in a Google search for ribs, and was really wanting ribs today. Don't eat out too often tbh, but have been seeking ribs a bit ever since visiting family in Alabama a couple times the past few years. I had a feeling about this place and I was right. The owner was there when I went in. He seems like a very real dude who takes pride in what he does. In this case food. Sometimes a very real dude like that isnt going to give you some real smooth type customer service experience. My customer service was great. Just saying I could see how it could go different if there was a rush or something. Doesn't take away from the clean presentation of this no nonsense establishment and the very high quality of the food. I hope this place ends up with enough customers so they can pay someone to smile and nod to anyone that cant appreciate that this is a real authentic homegrown kind of place that, frankly, kicks the crap out of most places that wouldnt have the time or energy to put the level of detail I had in my food. This place is old school and I guarantee not only will you enjoy not feeling like you were served by a bot who used an AI chef, as a lot of other places feel these days, youll also agree the food is really good.

    Update: Their brisket is sooooo good. Man! Seasoned to…read moreperfection- melt in your mouth. They also have hot links. The bbq sauce is also really good! I've been coming since they opened and see how they have improved and responded to their customers and I like that. They put seats for waiting and it looks like they're even expanding to give customers a dine in option. I like this place and the people behind the counter are always cool- I think they are doing a good job running the business as a small shop- especially in picky Simi Valley. Just go and be patient and early so they don't run out of anything you want and enjoy this local delicious bbq spot.

    Photos
    Tapo St BBQ - Inside

    Inside

    Tapo St BBQ - Fatty briskets which I don't mind at all if more fatty

    Fatty briskets which I don't mind at all if more fatty

    Tapo St BBQ - Heavenly tri tips

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    Heavenly tri tips

    The Sandwich Spot - 5. The Hulk Sandwich on Dutch crunch roll

    The Sandwich Spot

    4.5(807 reviews)
    2.2 mi
    •$$

    Whoa! The Skywalker Sandwich is phenomenal,I don't think I have ever had such a flavorful sandwich…read morebefore. The Dutch crunch bread type was very interesting and a must try,if you have never had it. I had everything on it. Mustard, mayo lettuce, tomato, pickles. Not sure what else was in it other than avocado but it was amazing. Customer service was much to be desired and the dude with the long dirty blonde hair definitely needs some lessons with explaining kindly rather than just pointing at a sign. This dude shouldn't be at the front line taking orders,who knows how much business he's losing as a result of his public social skills. Placing an order. Speaking with this guy was a very unpleasant experience. The owner needs to record the interaction and reactions of the employees and customers to see what's going in. The food? Fantastic! Couldn't recommend a better place to order a sandwich from. Service not so much. Would have given at least a 4 ,but again customer service skills is lacking here. The sandwich maker with the brown short hair is really nice and pleasant to interact with. Maybe ted Nugent should watch how he interacts with the public. Update: Mgmnt got back really quick and remediated the issue with the employee and hopefully improves over time. Sometimes,that's all it takes to get the full 5* stars, thanks Steve!

    I'm a huge sandwich guy and this is a great sandwich spot! They offer a nice selection of…read moresandwiches with chicken, turkey, salami and other deli meats. I decided to go with The Lake show sandwich, cause I love the Lakers and I love salami. In addition to salami, the sandwich came with their bomb sauce, pepper jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions and pickles. The sandwich was served hot and it was absolutely delicious. With every bite I experienced so many flavor notes. It was savory, a little sour, vinegary and also a little sweet from the ripe veggies. The yummy salami was perfectly complemented by the other ingredients and each bite was perfect, especially with the sourdough bread that I chose for my sandwich. For salami lovers, The Lake Show sandwich is top notch and a must try! The customer service was solid and the spot is pretty casual and has some tables i side for dining in. Will come back again when in the area!

    Photos
    The Sandwich Spot - Inside

    Inside

    The Sandwich Spot - The $14 Highlander.

    The $14 Highlander.

    The Sandwich Spot - The menu I was talking about

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    The menu I was talking about

    Makenna Beach House - Vegan Maria Tacos, California Burrito, Shrimp & Asada burrito, Maui Lattes and fire fries+Blueberry Protein shake. Delicious!

    Makenna Beach House

    4.3(247 reviews)
    3.3 mi
    •$$

    We needed coffee for a road trip and stopped here. Place…read morewas clean and the employees were very nice and attentive. The coffee was good like the other locations. Still very overwhelmed with the menu size and the wait is a little long but it is always good and served with a smile.

    Welp I got to stop by this Makenna after wanting to check it out for a while now. I believe there's…read moremore food options here than the other ones so I was excited to see what they had to offer. I ended up ordering their Cookie Butter Latte and it was so delightful. So far, all their drinks are spectacular but I think it's the Maui milk that just hits every time. Now the interesting part was that they advertise cooking with Beef Tallow which I found disappointing. Unfortunately it seems like Makenna fell for the MAHA nutrition misinformation and nonsense and think cooking their food with beef tallow is healthier for you than cooking with seed oils. *Sigh As someone who has an education in nutrition and health, I have to say this was disappointing to see especially after looking forward to ordering their food. FYI beef tallow is not healthier to cook with than seed oils. Seed oils in isolation is not inherently bad for you. In fact, there's an abundance of evidence that shows seed oils aka polyunsaturated fats reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and LDL cholesterol. The part that gets misunderstood (especially if you're relying on social media and influencers for health advice) is seed oils are usually used to cook ultra processed food which is a COMBINATION of high fat content, refined carbs, excess sodium and added sugars. So it's not the seed oils alone that's unhealthy. Polyunsaturated fats are a healthier alternative to saturated fats like beef tallow which is silly to consider for cooking because you're just adding more saturated fats which raises LDL cholesterol and increase the risk of heart health. So yeah thanks for coming to my TED talk. But in all seriousness just felt the need to spread the word. Really wish Makenna can just go back to cooking without beef tallow and then I can try their breakfast burrito and all the other deliciousness! Everything else was chill though. I'll still be coming back for their amazing drinks.

    Photos
    Makenna Beach House - Inside

    Inside

    Makenna Beach House - Cookies were good, especially the white chocolate one

    Cookies were good, especially the white chocolate one

    Makenna Beach House - Drink it up yo!

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    Drink it up yo!

    The Flying Yolk - Lomo Saltado Bowl.

    The Flying Yolk

    4.4(905 reviews)
    3.4 mi
    •$$

    My wife and I have been coming to Flying Yolk since they first opened, and it has become one of our…read morefavorite breakfast spots. The staff is always incredibly friendly and welcoming, and we're consistently impressed by how quickly the food comes out without ever sacrificing quality. You can tell they genuinely care about every plate they serve. The menu is creative, everything is made with attention to detail, and the food is always cooked to perfection. My personal favorite is the Steak & Egg Burrito--the marinated steak is incredibly flavorful, the grilled onions take it to another level, and every bite is delicious. Flying Yolk offers great value for the quality you receive. This isn't just another fast-food breakfast place; it's a restaurant that takes pride in serving fresh, high-quality food with excellent service. We highly recommend Flying Yolk to anyone looking for an outstanding breakfast or brunch. We'll definitely continue coming back!

    The food is ok... fine... edible. Nothing really blows me away. A little bland, but apparently I…read morelike salt more than many. To add a drink and a little tub of fruit to my order was like $5. Eh. Not impressed. 8 grapes, 8 blueberries, one strawberry. Fountain drinks all have sugar except for the Diet Pepsi and the worst iced tea in existence. The most shocking was the restrooms. Omg. The womens was "out of order" and the mens stunk worse than a morgue with faulty air conditioning. My husband wanted to go before we left. I don't know how he did it. I went next and -- this has never happened to me -- as soon as I closed the door I immediately had the urge to vomit. I ran out and exhaled. Gawd it was the most horrid sulfur, rotting flesh, overflowed septic smell ever. So, today is 7 May 2026... if you go there any time soon and think you might need to "go", check in the back before you order. You might want to skip this place til they get their literal shite together!

    Photos
    The Flying Yolk - Fountain drinks

    Fountain drinks

    The Flying Yolk - Lomo Saltado Bowl

    Lomo Saltado Bowl

    The Flying Yolk - Indoor seating

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    Indoor seating

    Jack in the Box

    Jack in the Box

    2.7(69 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    •$

    As Halloween was approaching, I began to receive flyers from Jack-in-the-Box advertising their…read moremonster tacos and mummy-wrapped tacos. I was excited to see what all the hype was about, so I decided to stop by this Jack-in-the-Box to get some of these advertised items. As I approach this Jack-in-the-Box, I was pleased to see how well kept the grounds were and how well lit the Jack-in-the-Box signage was surrounding the building. I ordered their monster tacos and mummy-wrapped tacos along with a "witch please" shake and some French fries. The young lady that took my order was professional and friendly. As I waited for my order, I was pleased to see how clean the inside of the dining area was...In fact it was spotless! All the tables were wiped down and clean and all the seats were clean as well. Although the dining area was pleasant, it was not as well lit as I would've liked it to be. It was quite dark inside for a fast-food restaurant. My order took a little longer than I expected because there was a rush of customers that came in around dinner time, at the same time I did. Upon receiving my order, the cashier apologized for the wait. It wasn't too long of a wait considering how many people there were inside. When I got home, I was pleased to see everything that I had ordered in my to-go bag. Everything I ordered was good, however the tacos were not what I expected. Although the monster tacos and the mummy-wrapped tacos were delicious, they were certainly not filled as much as I thought they would be from the advertisement I received. I believe the staff at this Jack-in-the-Box can do a little better by being more generous when filling their tacos for their customers. Overall I had a good experience here, but I think there's room for improvement at this Jack-in-the-Box. If the dining area at this location was more illuminated inside and they were a little more generous in filling their tacos this would've been a five-star review for me. However, overall, I would still recommend stopping by here for a meal.

    Stopped by this spot for convenience and there are soda options that are out of stock. I came in…read morefor this sole purpose...because I can get it myself. Do I call branches now to make sure they have soda options available? What's the reason to have this soda machine if things aren't available? This is bad.

    Photos
    Jack in the Box - Very clean and nicely decorated inside Jack-in-the-Box, but poorly illuminated

    Very clean and nicely decorated inside Jack-in-the-Box, but poorly illuminated

    Jack in the Box
    Jack in the Box

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    The Hat - sandwiches - Updated October 2026

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