Billy’s Deli

OMG! I’m soooo saddened to see this placed has closed. We were just there a couple months ago. This place has been there for decades and even when a new owner took over it was still the same awesome deliciousness. I am SOOOOOOO BUMMED! I’m gonna miss Evelyn’s sassiness and jokes, the to-​die-​for pickles, the knish potatoes with gravy, the wonderful pastrami on rye, the corned beef on rye and the brisket of beef dip. I am seriously sad. That has been a Glendale landmark for decades. WOW, I swear i’m so bummed. I need a beer. I don’t think I’ve ever been this bummed when a restaurant has closed. Damnit! Well maybe another owner will take over and keep the recipes, Evelyn and the Glendale legend going. Fingers crossed! If not, then I loved every delicious meal while it lasted. Glad I experienced it many times. Love you Billy’s!!!

We live in an assisted living facility and like to go out for a good lunch now and then. Billy’s was certainly one of our favorites. Several months ago we noticed things had changed when they began to charge us for the pickles with our corned beef and pastrami sandwiches. Solomon who is one of our favorite residents asked, «Oy Vei, vy do dey charge for dah pickles, already?»

I heard Billy’s is closing and called them today. It’s true. Tomorrow is their last day…

If I could give this zero stars I would, not only because of the terrible food I was served (4 people in the whole huge place at noon) but because of the attitude of the waitress when I showed her the pastrami had more fat than meat and was inedible.
Matzoh ball soup was not good either… soup had a funny test… You think she would have offered a exchange for another sandwich or something… not for a minute — offer me a cookie… nothing, and after my bitter complain she said, keep us in mind when you are around here …
It pains me to give a bad review, but save your money… eat elsewhere

Oh, so very sad. This is an old favorite that was a major disappointment today. My first two menu selections were unavailable. Then, not only was my order wrong, but we asked for a take-​out item and the waiter forgot. The food is still good but the portion sizes have been reduced unlike the prices.
I’m very sorry to report that we probably will not be back.
The end of an era, at least to me.

We eat at Billy’s consistently on weekends. Their Pastrami Ruben and Pastrami Scramble are both to die for if you live pastrami! Their staff is always warm and friendly, parking is convenient, and there’s usually no wait to be seated.
I think we’re going to be permanent fixtures of this deli for the near future. :)

I’m giving 5 stars because I didn’t want to leave a low score simply for an update on their hours:
Billy’s hours have changed again. I like to come here for an early breakfast, but, unfortunately, 10am is way too late for me. I’m trying not to think the worst, and I hope they stay open, but with the way Glendale is changing, I can’t say for sure. So, call them ahead of time and make sure they are open otherwise you will leave still hungry, like me!

Saw this on a list of oldest restaurants in Los Angeles, I live down the street, so my friends and I decided to check it out.
Before I even start with the food, I have to say that we waited a good 45 minutes for our food to arrive. It was a really long wait! I didn’t mind because I ate a big breakfast, but it turned my friends off.
Was the food worth the wait? Meh. I got the hot pastrami on rye and the matzo ball soup. It was my first time having matzo ball soup and I really liked it, perfect on this gloomy day in Glendale. I would order that again.
The pastrami sandwich was just ok, the pastrami wasn’t melt in your mouth like at Katz in NY or Langers on Alvarado. The bread was also a little stale, I couldn’t eat the crust. The side of potato salad was pretty good deli potato salad.
My friends both ordered the French Toast which looked great, they didn’t complain.
I loved the old school vibe of this place and enjoyed looking at old pics of Glendale on the walls. It felt very authentic. Great place to check out or knock off a list, but I won’t be a regular here cause the food is just ok and it takes long.
They gave us the matzo ball soup on the house because they knew we waited long. That was nice of them and again the soup was good!

Talk about diamond in the fucking rough. amidst all the shifty construction going on between brand and central is this little classic gem. I used to walk past it during my morning and afternoon break everyday and thought it was just some little ghetto joint that was trying to entice people with cheap pizza. Little did I know it was this cool ass deli with tons of history and classic Glendale pics all over the wall… pre invasion… you know what I mean hahaha…
Food wise I can’t say much because we came here solely for one thing and one thing only… the no coupon needed, no frills, everyday low price large pepperoni pizza for $ 6 FUCKING DOLLARS. So worth it. Better cheese and pepperoni than little caesar chavez and so much bigger/​more flavor. Crust wasn’t burnt one bit and it was perfect right out of the oven. For $ 6 I will be here every week. No sarcasm.
I didn’t even bother looking this place up but since I did, apparently the deli sandwiches are all the rage. Perfect because ive been looking for a place near work. Well see if the process tag is worth it next week.

Billy’s, Billy’s, Billy’s… What can I say about this place.
This is probably one of the strangest places I have ever reviewed, and I say that in a loving way.
Let me start with the wait staff. The staff here can range from having you busting up laughing to having you fuming because it is taking so long. That being said usually they have you laughing. You do feel a bit neglected most of the time, but then when they do come to help you they make you feel rushed. Now you are probably saying, «well that sounds awful,» but the reality is in some way it comes across as charming. Again odd, but charming. They are funny enough to make you feel like a regular so you don’t really mind.
The décor is also very old and kind of run down. It has that old deli/​dinner feeling to it. Sort of dirty looking, sort of not well kept, but still again that odd charisma. It feels welcoming and easy. It is like slipping on a comforting old sweater. It is a little worn, but when you want that comfort it is right there for you.
The food is also really solid. Nothing outrageously good, but good in that old deli/​greasy spoon/​dinner sort of way. You get a good amount of food for what you pay for. The only thing is (and this might have changed by now) is that you don’t ask for french fries. Their frier broke and they can’t make fried things now, so don’t even ask. Their menu needs to be updated to reflect that fact, but not a deal breaker.
Like I said it is an odd place. The flaws and cracks only make this place more special and unique. I wouldn’t say it is the best lunch spot to go to, but when you need that comforting, quirky meal there is no better place to look.
³¹⁄₁₀₀

They gave bad service… gave me a salad that was old and bad… at the end they charge me for the salad for something I didn’t eat. Wtf I wouldn’t give them one star it SUCKED! !!!

I love this place. It’s a very nostalgic deli. The décor of the restaurant, the booths, the chairs and tables, the counters. The fans on the ceiling. All of it. Very nostalgic, in a good way. The hot pastrami sandwich that I ordered was good too. Generous slices of pastrami, and it was juicy. But the flavor of the pastrami was just salty and peppery. It was very one-​dimensional. I wished it had more spices in it, to add some depth into it, but hey, deli pastrami, shouldn’t really stray from the recipe right? The potato salad side was pretty good.
The chicken noodle soup was really nice. I like that their food is not salty. Some would call it too bland, but I believe that everybody can benefit from cutting back on sodium.
The meatloaf dinner was good. The gravy was perfect for the meatloaf. I dont know what good meatloaf is supposed to taste like, but the meatloaf I ate here tasted good. Oh, the carrots were amazing. Soft, savory, I loved them to bits. Ate til all was gone.
The staff seems like they’ve worked there their whole lives. They’re very friendly and homey. They seem like great people.
3 stars for the food, and an extra star for the staff.

I don’t come here too often, but this is where I go for Christmas Breakfast. It started 3 years ago when my girlfriend and I spent our first Christmas together. We were starving and went looking for someplace to go for Christmas Breakfast. After finding all coffee shops closed, she said, «It’s too bad you don’t have a Jewish deli around Glendale.» The light turned on. We do, Billy’s. We came here and we’ve been coming here every Christmas morning for breakfast.
We typically get get two «Sky High Sandwiches,» one with Pastrami and the other with corned beef. This is what we got this past Christmas and we split half the sandwiches with each other. We both felt the corned beef was the better, but this is our tradition and we will be doing it again next year.

Came here on my quest for the greatest Pastrami sandwich with guests.
The sandwich was very good but did not make it into my top three.
Very good service, extensive menu. The décor is a bit old, tired and dated but the spot is a good solid place to eat.
Ate here again on 12÷29÷14. Pastrami sandwich has made it into my top three. It has replaced Canter’s which was number 2. The sandwich is about half the price of Langer’s but much bigger but Langer’s still holds number 1 as the bread crust is a more crunchy and that is the edge (I guess literally in one way).
Upped my rating from three stars to four primarily because our waitress, Tanya as was the case last time, was exceptional and full of great stories. The $ 7.95 stuffed bell pepper special that one of our party ordered was exceptional. Photos posted.

On the positive side, this place is well known for their food and they have great service, especially from a waitress named Jaydee. She has a great personality and is a delight.
On the negative side of things, they have been slacking off in the kitchen and lately when I order things, I am told «We’re out of that» half of the time.
Also they stopped serving dinner! By the time I get off work and drive home through L.A. traffic, I can’t get there in time to eat!
Does the current management want to lose money? Are they trying to lose customers? I hope not. I’d hate to see this place close down.
Go there if you can make it before they close and ask gor Jaydee!
Hopefully the management will notice all of the new apartments being built nearby and realize those people might want to eat dinner at Billy’s.

OK, so I’m up in Glendale, which doesn’t happen often but sometimes as my wife’s from here. We are up for her high school reunion from Hoover High.
Anyway we want a late lunch on a Saturday so she tells me there’s this place she’s been coming to since she was a kid.
You walk up and the exterior is a little tired, with pictures of pizza, of all things, in the window. Bad sign right? Keep in mind my favorite deli in LA is Langers and then Brent’s in Northridge, ok Nate and Al’s too. So I’ve got deli cred.
Entering, it’s quite as it’s 4pm on a Saturday and definitely old school, not any obvious remodeling, which I quickly come to agree is a good thing. It’s got that old charm like Phillipe’s in down town. Mostly high back booths and great old huge pictures of Glendale. Character.
We order sandwiches, grilled Rueben for me, corned beef rye for her. Cole slaw, potato salad. Jay Dee is our server, she is straightforward but great, personable but busy, offering us cherry cokes, chocolate sodas, whatever.
Chilled, garlicky pickles slices for the table. Really good appetizer. Sandwiches come quickly. Nicely stacked with quality corned beef with just the right amount of fat. Two mustards and russian dressing.
The Rueben is grilled just right. High quality rye bread with both chew and crunch. Sautéed sauerkraut and melted swiss. Really scrumptious. Almost better without condiments. Flavors all meld together but are clearly there by themselves. A great sandwich ! Cole slaw not as good as the Pantry’s but crisp, cold with a good amount of dressing. Potato salad nice, moist, eggy and not dry. Very good. A really great lunch !
I only finish half the sandwich as I’m full now, ok two more bites of the other half. Can’t help it.
I think were done but my wife raves about the blitzes. Everything so far is how she remembers it as a girl. I’m now super impressed so why not.
Out they come, crisp and golden all over, a little powdered sugar, not greasy with this cream cheese and I’m guessing ricotta filling. Warm, creamy, fluffy Yesus ! Like a little burrito of fluffy goodness. Sweet, a little tart, crunchy with sides of apple sauce, strawberry jam and sour cream. Best I’ve ever had.
Meanwhile Jay Dee, ask her about her name, starts telling us jokes, good ones, while still taking care of the rest of her tables. Charming, fun, a great character and a great experience.
Wife says wait until you try the potato pancakes. We are going there tomorrow for breakfast. They look like they could use more business. Give it a try or go back. Do not lose this place in Glendale. Easy public parking across the street one block off Brand. Easy in and out. I’m sure Jay Dee has a joke about that.
Loosen your belt and get there !

Came here during the lunch rush hour and there was no wait for a sit down. I love the sit downs at this place because each booth has these tall walls around so you get decent privacy. Great place to go to if you’re going with someone to have a good conversation with.
They serve breakfast/​lunch menu items all day, which is around $ 11 – 13 for omelets, salads or sandwiches. A little more depending on the meat you get. They’re known for their pastrami and pull pork sandwiches because they give you plenty of meat. My coworker got the pull pork sandwich that came with a side of mac and cheese and a piece of watermelon for $ 13. I got the two scrambled eggs (all white) with a side of their house hash brown potatoes, sour dough bread and a piece of watermelon for $ 10 (extra for all white). For me, the entire dish was ok. I didn’t like the house hash too much because it was a little too mushy and wet. On top of that, there was no flavor or seasoning. You can’t really mess up with the other stuff, i.e., bread, eggs and watermelon. They use real eggs and not the powder eggs, for those who love eggs like me and can tell the big difference in taste and texture. The total came out to be $ 31. You take the check to the front to pay.
Overall, it’s a cute, Jewish deli place that’s been around for a real long time. It’s a good place to go to if you’re looking for a good, quick sit down place to eat for breakfast or lunch with a friend.

I’ve been coming her since 1978.
The food is still wonderful, but something seems «off».
The bakery case is gone. The take-​out case is gone.
They are selling pizza now. Wtf?
I hope things take a turn for the better.
It would be a tragedy if Billy’s were to go out if business.

First of all the staff is wonderful. The only plus about this place.
If you are the owner please pay attention! I’ve been coming here for over 15 years and I’d like to know what happened to the food quality. It used to be so good. Now the food is extremely horrible.
I ordered a corned beef sandwich. Years ago it was melt in your mouth good. Now the corned beef is spongy and that’s consistent with something that comes out of a package. It taste like something you’d buy in bulk at Costco. It’s the same story with the pastrami. To add insult to injury I was charged 12.95 for the sandwich.
I have also ordered a chicken breast sandwich in the past and It also taste prepackaged.
The coleslaw had bits of meat in it. Not very appetizing.
Billy’s was The old school gem of Glendale where you could get a great, decent hot meal or a sandwich piled high with wonderful homemade corned beef.
Now it looks like a empty sad place that will be closing soon. I wish I had the money to buy this place and make it great again.
If you have good quality food, people will come. It’s not rocket science. People are not frequenting this deli anymore because the food quality is extremely poor.
Very sad.

I’ve been coming to this place for the past 6 years for one thing and one thing only, the high sky pastrami sandwich. I love a good pastrami and this place makes a terrific pastrami sandwich. Langer’s #19 sandwhich got me hooked to pastrami, but I thought that it was just too small of a sandwhich for $ 17. I had to find a cheaper and heftier alternative. Billy’s was that alternative. It’s comparable pastrami sandwich is $ 3 cheaper and twice as big, plus they even include a side of either coleslaw or potato salad. The service is quick and friendly. My wife loves their tuna melt. This place is a solid recommendation if you love pastrami or good deli sandwiches.
P. S. This place was featured in one of my favorite shows, «Nathan For You».