At Barlow Realty, we believe the best way to truly know a community is to experience it—the food, the people, and the everyday culture that make a place feel like home. That’s why we regularly get out of the office and into the neighborhoods we serve across Ventura County.
In our latest video, we headed to The Hat in Simi Valley to dig into what many locals (including us) consider some of the best pastrami in Southern California.
Why The Hat?
The Hat has been serving its “World Famous Pastrami” since 1951. The Simi Valley location (1308 E Los Angeles Ave) is a no-frills, classic SoCal spot that still delivers the goods. In the video, we keep it simple and order what we always get: the pastrami dip.
The thinly sliced, juicy pastrami piled on a soft French roll with mustard and pickle hits that perfect nostalgic deli note. It’s the kind of sandwich that makes you wonder why you’d order anything else on the menu. We’ve heard the pastrami burger is solid too, but when you’re at a place known for one thing, you stick with the classic.
We also grab the cheddar cheese fries—and fair warning: the portions are massive. Come hungry.
More Than Just Lunch
These lunch runs are one of the fun parts of what we do as a team. Getting out, trying local spots, and talking with the people who live and work in these communities helps us stay connected to the areas we help clients buy and sell in—Camarillo, Simi Valley, Thousand Oaks, Moorpark, Oxnard, Ventura, and beyond.
If you’re looking for a solid, no-nonsense pastrami fix in Ventura County, put The Hat on your list. And if you’re exploring what it might be like to live in Simi Valley or the surrounding area, we’d love to share more of the local favorites we keep coming back to.
Have a favorite pastrami spot or local lunch recommendation in Ventura County? Drop it in the comments on the video—we’re always looking for the next great place to try.
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