Ive been coming to this location for years. I grew up down the street from the original one in Alhambra so I have fond experiences of this place. They do so many things right I don't think any choice you pick you can go wrong with (even if you are a vegetarian). So I'm going to focus on the big items. Chili-fries - They have only one size, massive. Go to share this. Even if this is all you order, its unlikely you can finish it. They have a variety of toppings, unless you don't like something specific get it loaded...WITH Pastrami! They have lot of fries, chili, cheese, onions, pickles, tomatoes and the Pastrami allows you to bypass their next awesome item. Pastrami Dip Sandwich - This has been one of my favorites. Nice soft French roll, a lot of pastrami, mustard, and dipped in Au Jus. I like to grab a packet or two of the horse radish sauce to go on this and its one awesome sandwich. Avocado Sandwich - This is all avocado, mayo and lettuce. Its really a good sandwich if you want something a little healthier or have a vegetarian in the group. Pastrami Cheese Burger - If you don't want a sandwich you get the awesomeness of the pastrami on a nice burger loaded with toppings. I like that they've converted many of the locations to self service soda, there was a time where they had to manage this and in the past couple years they converted this over. I also like they have orange bang and some non-soda options. read more

Well you get a ton of food so that's really good. My downside really is that the pastrami is quite fatty and salty when compared to a nice deli. If you don't mind the salt and fat then this place is great! read more

I came here finally after many years of having to hear how it must be tried and watching people check-in left and right- now it's marked off the bucket-list. The atmosphere was very friendly and upbeat- a lot of different faces and diversity come here I can tell- as regulars. It's very tidy, there is a lot of room to sit, and I love the cute little organized condiment area....I'm keen to small bizarre oddities/details like this. My turkey and ham sandwich was nothing special- not bad just meh- typical plain sandwich. They couldn't sub ranch for mayo (which made me very sad) so I did that part myself. I appreciate that it comes cut in half already. The meat was fine and the rye bread was good too. The bread (rye) was very stale a couple hours later so my leftovers were less than the average meal they were originally a part of. It's cool that they give you bags (like you ordered to-go- for leftovers) but not cool that there aren't trays so we have to eat out of our take-out bags on a bare table. I believe my extremely plain sandwich was about 9.95?- around there. Price not at all worth it- when I can go to jersey mikes and pay 6.95 for an amazing sandwich every time. The fries sucked as well. Over cooked and lacked flavor- so skip those. Overall it's very pricy and overrated- you're getting a very bland sandwich- it's meh. Sure I'd try it again, but I'm in no hurry at all. read more

Best pastrami ever and inexpensive! If your down, try the chili fries but make sure you share it because it is ridiculously huge and would be ashamed seen eating this alone hahhaha... read more

Hands down! Best Pastrami Sandwich I ever had in my entire life! Portions are so massive. 2lbs. of French fries and 5lbs. Chili Cheese Fries. Pastrami is so juicy is dripping juice all over your wrapper and all over your French Fries. read more

My family and I always get their chili fries there and we always shared their pastrami sandwich. Haven't been back in awhile because of the pandemic and the inflation hike on prices but it doesn't change that this is a great place! read more

So there's times where i am Simi Valley for random reasons and I always come across the hat . I finally went in and said why not . I ended up ordering the chili fries and the pastrami expecting it just to be like every other spot ... Nope... I was wrong . The pastrami sandwich was definitely good I will give them that. Peppered just enough and stuffed just the way it's supposed to. The real MVP is those chili cheese fries... Holy moly. That can be a meal itself Overall the place is really delicious and I'm excited to try out the other items . One thing I know for future reference is not to order the chili fries if I'm alone.. It can literally feed a family of 5 no problem with how big it is. Touché . Looks like you got a fan in me . read more

The Hat - Pastrami sandwich and chili cheese fries - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Relatively high prices for such mediocre food. I really wanted to like this place for the retro look and unique style of the restaurant, but pretty much every food item we ordered except for the Chili fries and Pastrami dip were left unfinished. The Orange Bang is basically OJ whipped with Milk and Sugar, don't think i'll be drinking that stuff again lol. read more

The Hat - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

The food was tasty. My only complaint was that it left a saltiness to it when I swallowed. It took away from enjoying the food because I knew I was going to get that kick-back saltiness. Not just a little, but a lot. It was a huge sandwich with plenty of meat. The fries were outstanding. read more

I came here for dinner because I was craving pastrami and I haven't eaten at The Hat in years. There were a decent amount of patrons dining in when I arrived, which is a sign of a good restaurant. I remember it being really popular in high school/college, and that is still true today. I ordered the pastrami dip ($9). The first thing that I noticed was how much pastrami they pack into the sandwich! There were juicy and flavorful pastrami pieces spilling out of each crevice. The bread was warm and soaked with that delicious au jous that they dip it in. The pastrami dip sandwich really filled me up and each bite was more delicious than the last. I also had some fries with my meal, but they weren't anything special. I would recommend skipping the fries here. However, their pastrami chili cheese fries ($12) is amazing. I didn't get it this time because I wasn't THAT hungry, but it is usually my go-to meal whenever I visit The Hat. If you want cheap, delicious, and filling food, then The Hat is the place to go! read more

The Hat - Pastrami dip - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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Once glorious, now atrocious. Shame on the cooks here for intentionally screwing people. Especially loyal customers. I have heard this from multiple people and all of whom are honest, hard working Simi valley residents that have lived here for decades- don't get me wrong in the past the food has been fantastic, but If this is the new normal, They will ultimately get what they deserve. From the sounds of it, they need to deal with a few of their employees in the kitchen. If I hear these things have been handled I will gladly update my review. read more

Best onion rings, fries and burgers anywhere which are better than the burgers at In-N-Out because they aren't very messy. Best place to eat a pastrami sandwich or any side with pastrami as well. Best service throughout Ventura County. Everything is to die for at The Hat when you're hungry. Only one of the very few locations with a drive-thru which I have yet to go through. Stopped by about 2 times after seeing a movie across the street and mom and I haven't been wasting any time with our orders because we get there at the right time. Great soda fountain machine and water fountain as well. I absolutely would not mind going back again after seeing a movie on any night of the week. Best place to eat at for a vegetarian because there are tuna, grilled cheese and avocado sandwiches. It's much bigger than all the other locations there are in California. Only restaurant that offers paper plates for your food which I think is nice. People are very nice and know what you want when you order. I enjoy going to The Hat and would love to go back again. There are plenty of eating places on Los Angeles Ave. between Erringer and Madera to eat at and The Hat is a must for anyone looking for a place to eat. They even have a stack of menus you can take home with you which I think is nice. Great cups for your drink and paper bag for french fries or onion rings that has a list of all the locations on it which I also think is nice. We spend about 20-30 minutes eating in and it is worth it. There are plenty of selections for condiments as well once you get your food. read more

Very good sandwiches overflowing with pastrami, but the real star is the chili cheese fries. One serving of chili cheese fries could feeds 2, add pickles, tomatoes and pastrami on top and you could probably feed a family of 4. read more

Great pastrami. Totally generous with the pastrami and fries . Love their cherry coke

For great take-out or eat-in food head out to The Hat. Their pastrami, french fries and orange bang are the BEST!! The Hat has been in business for many years which attests to their yummy and great food. Just taking about it is making me hungry ... on my way to The Hat!! read more

I must say one of the best services that I have ever encountered during this pandemic. We called in an order for pick up and they only offered pick up through drive thru and Octavio told me just call me when you get here and I will personally collect payment and bring your food to your car. I was like wow thank you! So we arrive and Octavio comes out to collect payment and asks if we would like condiments, plates etc. He comes back and brings everything that I had asked for plus all food. If your looking for a great pastrami sandwich and great service this is a must come to place! Will definitely come back! read more

Delicious pastrami. Second time here, first time was not memorable.. can't recall why, I guess I just wasn't feeling it the first time around. Nevertheless, food is delicious and indulgent. Wanted the pastrami fries but I stood my ground and only my bf ate (I insisted on eating a salad once home ). He got a pastrami dip, which I thought would come with au jou in a little cup, but was told they just give it a little dip beforehand. I'm sure I could have requested some, but he was the one eating... remember?! Ha! I ended up eating half and almost enjoyed the pickles included (always hated them). The fries were yummy and hot and crunchy. Absolutely plan on returning when I go to the simi DMV on Friday. read more

The Hat - Yes, just ate this in my car. - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Well tired this place for the first time... Ordered the hot dog and pastrami dip. The hot dog just tasted terrible. It was mushy and the flavor of it was so gross. I took one bite and that was it. My husband had the pastrami dip, which I had to share with him since the hot dog was terrible, and the pastrami was pretty good. Not amazing, not terrible but definitely better than the hot dog. Oh and the fries were very dry. It's safe to say that I wouldn't recommend this place nor return. read more

I love this place! If you haven't been here YOU ARE MISSING OUT!!! Pastrami sandwiches are dank, make sure you get them double dipped! Chili cheese fries are bomb and there's plenty to share. I've been coming here my whole life and have never ever been unhappy with my food! Today we got 2 pastrami double dipped sandwiches, an order of onion rings YUMMY!! and an order of chili cheese fries. Total 36$ read more

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While having to pay a visit to Time Warner Cable put a cloud over my first visit to Simi Valley, I decided to try and brighten the day by firing up Yelp and finding a local place to indulge a bit. While I later found out that The Hat is one of a few locations, I was pleased that it ended up being my destination. Star 1 - How was the service and atmosphere? Upon walking in the front door, I was very literally stunned by how CLEAN The Hat was. While there are a lot of places that run a tight ship due to health inspection standards and whatnot, this degree of cleanliness brought a whole new meaning to the word. Even sneaking a glance into the kitchen area, all of the cooking utensils and even the stovetops and fryers that were in use appeared absolutely immaculate. As a fantastic compliment to the atmosphere, the service was fast and provided by a group of extremely friendly people. Star Granted. Star 2 - How were the portions relative to the cost? I've been on a Deli kick as of late, so The Hat's extensive menu didn't disappoint in terms of selection; however, I also had a nagging craving for a burger that I couldn't quite ignore. The solution? The Pastrami Burger. While I'd heard of the combination in the past, I'd never pulled the trigger, so I was excited to try something new that blended two of my favorites. At $8.03, the price was a little bit high, but my burger turned out to be easily proportionate. While the burger patty was weak, there was a thick stack of pastrami on top of a plethora of goodies, making $8 a fair price. Star Granted: http://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?userid=OKX-V5j_qfuOebeHeWGrHg&select=DfDy1eh0V9MSwfyGl9nYhA Stars 3/4 - How was the food? This is a bit of a tough one. Yes, a pastrami burger is a pretty fantastic concept, but the thing about pastrami is that it's a pretty overpowering flavor, and as a result, the lackluster size of the burger patty made it taste like all I was really eating was a pastrami sandwich with lettuce, pickles, thousand islands and cheese on a hamburger bun. So while the sandwich as a whole was a good one, I should have probably just gone with a pastrami dip sandwich. Single Star Granted. Star 5 - Would you eat it every day if you could? My open obsession for cleanliness alone would bring me back to The Hat on a daily basis, and there extensive menu, reasonable prices and friendly service are a plethora of fantastic bonuses. While a slightly better meal size / cost ratio and maybe a bigger patty would have brought The Hat well within 5-star territory, I had a great dining experience, and will no doubt patron another Hat location in the near future. Consider me a fan. Star Granted. read more

The Hat - Pastrami Burger - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Love love love. Greasy, bad for your heart. Love the pastrami!! Gravy fries bomb! It's not a nice or fancy place! read more

The Hat - At the famous hat restaurant with my kids - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Over pretty good. They are very generous with their portions. The drive though was suele fast. And they have tables outside to eat. read more

The Hat - Pastrami burger - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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The best French dip pastrami sandwich. A ton of fries, if you like you can get chili on, or now the pastrami chile fries!!

I can't believe how this place thinks their pastrami dip is worth $11.99. If the sandwich was bigger it might be worth $10. And the small fries used to fill half the bag, now they're cutting back and small. Disappointing. Can't support a local restaurant with the price gouging and cutting back on product this place thinks they can get away with. read more

Best pastrami sandwich in Simi. The chili fires are huge but needed a little salt when I have had them.

If you have a "kick-ass" crayon in your box, get it out an color in the Hat with it! Roast beef sammmiches to die for. Great burgers, excellent hot dogs. Chili cheese fries.... be READY if you order them, as they are huge. I have NEVER seen anyone ever be able to finish a whole order of fries by themselves.. and I know folks who like to eat. Cherry coke the old-fashioned way with syrup added to a 'coke'. And open later then most spots in "roll up the sidewalks at 9 PM Simi" read more

Have been to this location a few times over the years and the food is average, fast food and all that comes with it however that's not important right now. As a citizen of the Conejo Valley and in the wake of the 1st anniversary Thursday November 7th of the tragic Borderline shootings I came in here with $200 of my own money as I have with other restaurants thru the past year to be a good community member and get meals for the East Valley Sheriffs Station. I politely asked to speak with the manager and described my mission for the anniversary day of our local tragedy. I asked if he wanted to donate the meals, partner them with me and he cut me off and said "no full price and that's it". I asked if he was serious and he said yes quite rudely actually and said "you need to have a letter" which I replied from who, I'm a private citizen. Clearly the standoff wasn't going to end and it wasn't just an insensitive poor manager I probably would of just bought the 15 meals and left however I couldn't in good faith give my money to them, they didn't deserve their name at the Sheriffs station that day at least. Friendly reminder to The Hat. We are the people that sustain your business, community, without us you don't exist. I would HIGHLY recommend some sensitivity training to your management and empower them to make the obvious right decision. I procured the food from another local restaurant and delivered it to the East Valley Sheriffs Station without incident, and I got a free hug. To my neighbors speak with your wallet. read more

Pastrami heaven... Fries as big as your head.... Not for wimpy eaters, ultimate cure for when your hangry for pastrami n fries. I would give them 5 stars but it's too much food for one person, fries work best shared with a crowd, they are that huge. read more

Would you like to die happy? Well you'll at least get a few clogged arteries from a visit to The Hat. Pastrami Sandwich is so good but for me it's way too salty. If you take it home, I would suggest maybe taking some of the pastrami out and making another sandwich with it or else it's just way too salty. Really good though. Just be prepared to drink a lot to flush all that saltiness out of your system. http://ate-ate-ate.blogspot.com/ read more

I grew up in Simi Valley I love the place I miss living there, and like anyone that is nostalgic I visit now and then. I also happen to really like the food at The Hat, I can't speak for the pastrami but if that's what you're looking for just scroll down a review or two and you'll find what you're looking for. What I can talk about is their awesome double cheeseburger. Gourmet burgers are hipster gold right now, The Hat knows a good burger is simple, meat, cheese, lettuce, onions, tomatoes, thousand island dressing and pickles. And the Chilidogs?!? These must be eaten with a fork. If you're going to order fries bring a friend because you'll get a bag of them. I have to say The Hat is way better than Cheers the dive bar that used to be on that plot of land. You other Simi people know what I'm talking about. read more

Highlights: Their pastrami sandwich is really good. Tuna sandwich on a French roll is excellent. The junior burger for kiddos is fresh and good. Their french fry portions are generous and always come hot! Their blend of cherry coke is the best! The food is always fresh. Today I had an avocado sandwich on a French roll and it was excellent. Generous portions of avocado too. Don't expect the drive thru to be fast. They make everything to order and if someone is ahead of you with a large order, you have to wait it out. read more

The Hat - Avocado sandwich with generous portions of avocado. Yum! - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Love there good food and service. We don't go there to much cause they are a bit over priced.

This is the 28th Hot Dog place I have reviewed and in most cases, the quality of the meat is the usally the reason why a place gets the number of stars I give them. But not at The Hat. A basic hot dog is 1.99, but the same wiener in a Chili Cheese Dog is $3.98. That better be some good chili. It was. Sometimes it is frustrating when you get a bun that can't support the weight of the dog and condiments, and it breaks apart wen you try to pick it up. Well, here at The Hat you can forget the illusion that you can use the bun as a conveyance from table to mouth. Grab a knife and fork before you sit down, and don't even think about ordering this puppy at the drive thru. The dog is a simple pork dog. It would no be much of a hot dog in a starring roll. But it is a perfect base for the thick chili they heap on. The bun is soft and absorbent; and you might want to ave a piece or two to mop up the extra chili/cheese at the end of the meal. The dog is served with dill pickles, diced onions,. tomatoes that were a little under-ripe and deli mustard. You need to tell them if you want them to hold an item or two. read more

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We LOVE The Hat! It's hard to try anything but our favorite - the pastrami dip! The pastrami dip IS AMAZING! Loaded with tender, spicy meat, mustard pickles...oh yum! And, the chili cheese fries are so delicious too and it can feed 4-6 people, it's so huge! Usually, my Hunny and I share a pastrami dip and the fries. Now that our girls like it too, I share my dip with them. I've had their onion rings, avocado sandwich and their Orange Bang drink too! All are equally yummy! You can never go wrong! But, you do need to be hungry. These servings are not for the faint at heart! Love all the guys behind the counter too! They are friendly, helpful and amazing cooks! read more

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This a review of my visit on 9/30/2011. What hell? The pastrami burger was dry and I ordered chili fries with everything. Where was the everything? Pick it up. Onion rings, awsome as usual. read more

The Hat - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

This chain restaurant serves up a GREAT pastrami sandwich. The single order of chili fries is enough to feed three people. There should be a TOP HAT in every town in America! read more

The Hat - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

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OMG. This was my first time at the Hat. Went for lunch 1-14-18 with family and was surprised. Loved the pastrami and the chili. The chili reminded me of my parents chili they served at their eatery so long ago. The best I have tasted in a long time. The portions are huge. 2 can eat from one order. My great granddaughter, 1.4 yrs. loved the pastrami and ff, the teens gobbled it all down and the adults enjoyed it also. Wish they would have one in the Van Nuys/North Hollywood area. Would definitely go back when in the Simi Valley area. Two thumbs up from this great grandma. read more

Was excited about trying this place. The cashier wasn't as friendly as I expect a cashier should be. Was disappointed that everything was a la carte especially since the price just for a sandwich was over $9 for a fast food joint. Got onion rings. Would've preferred to spend half the price to get half as much. Tasty stuff, but not worth the cost and subpar experience. read more

The Hat - Sandwiches Near Me - Simi Valley, California

Outstanding as usual! Just as I remembered it. Food here always brings a smile to my face. They know how to do it right.

The Pastrami is the regions best and for good reason. The meat melts in your mouth and creates a circus of flavors. I love the Orange Bang from the 70s also. read more