The Hat

Yuuuummmmmmmmyyyyyyyy. Yum, yummy. Yum. Thanks. I love wieners with chilli on them.

Pastrami dip sandwich is a classic. Had it again after many years. Still the pretty much the same. Very tastySkip the chili. Ordered a side cup of chili and it was not good! Very pastey gummy texture (see pic) and lacked the nice chili blend of spices; kinda like meat slop.

It's good. Fast food ambiance but place is kept clean and workers are working hard. Leave 'em a couple bucks. California pastrami as it was meant to be. Soft roll. Yellow mustard and pickles, all good. Fries are good too. Try the gravy or chili if your cholesterol isn't too high.

So good. We've been to a few other locations. This one is small and happened to be near our hotel. What a coincidence! We got here around 11:30 and there was not an empty table in sight. It's not hard to see why because it was soo good. We shared a pastrami sandwich. It is the best thing on the menu. I heard the onion rings are really good too. Long live the Hat!!

After reviewing some years ago that I was not a fan of the Hat, I've gone back a few times with friends or with my wife and honestly can say it's grown on me. The Pastrami Dip has finally won me over! It's obviously not the best sandwich I've ever had, but for what it is, it's pretty darn good. The pastrami is tender and flavorful and the bun is nice and soft, you got to eat it pretty quick cause if you don't, the juice will definitely make the bread soggy. The fries are out of control, I've mistakenly ordered the large a few times and forgot that you need a dump truck to load em in, yes, they give you a ton of fries. I just wanted to update review to show that they've won me over and made me a fan!

Cute little restaurant that seems like it has been around forever. The staff was nice. I asked what the most popular item is and he said it was the pastrami sandwich. Of course I had to try it. I've heard so many good things about it. I know that pastrami is fatty, but unfortunately, my cut was extremely fatty. It was just like chewing on fat rather than any meat. I only came here because I was getting my car worked on across the street. I will definitely not be returning.

The Hat has been home to signature pastrami dips and chili cheese fries since 1952! Believe it or not, the Lake Forest location is their 9th store and opened back in 2004. They by no means serve up a healthy meal, but I'd def recommend ordering a pastrami dip, chili cheese fries and topping off with an Orange Bang on your cheat day. I appreciate that their pricing is fair, especially during these inflationary times, and I'm a fan of their portion sizes. This location also has a drive thru but if you decide to dine-in, the service is personable and efficient. With locations across the Southland, it's no wonder why this establishment is popular and the greasy goodness never disappoints!

The pastrami is so good it might just make you question your life choices--and the chili cheese fries? I'm pretty sure they're illegal in some states. I don't usually venture to this part of town, but a work meeting got me in the area, and the hunger pangs kicked in like a Ronda Rousey move. I strolled into The Hat, ordered a pastrami sandwich, chili cheese fries, and a Diet Coke because, well, I'm a sensible lady and BALANCE. I was sitting, texting the LOML, waiting for my food. I was excitedly telling him about the yummy sandwich & fries I was about to devour. That Foo' bet me $50 that I couldn't finish the meal. I confidently accepted the challenge, thinking, "Yeah, I'm a normal-sized person. This is totally doable."Brahhhhh....it wasn't.I was served enough food to feed a small village. I knew in that moment I was going to leave this place $50 poorer and eating my words. As for my dignity? Well, let's just say it's in a food coma somewhere in the back of my throat.Pros: The food was perfect. 10/10 would eat again, even if it bankrupts me. I mean, are you kidding me??? It was delicious. Cons: I lost a bet, gained 5 pounds, and discovered what true regret feels like.Next time, I'm bringing my man to help me with all this food!

If you're craving a pastrami sandwich that will blow your mind, *The Hat* is the place to go. I tried the Pastrami Dip, and let me tell you--it was damned tasty! This isn't your standard roast beef dip with a cup of au jus. Instead, the pastrami comes pre-dipped, slathered in its own juices, and piled high on a fresh French roll with mustard. The sandwich was stuffed with so much incredible, flavorful pastrami that it was almost too much meat (but let's be honest, there's no such thing as too much pastrami - especially if it's GOOD pastrami!). HALF the sandwich is a full-on meal in itself!For a side, I opted out of their famously enormous bags of fries and onion rings and went with the potato salad--and I was not disappointed. Served in a normal-sized container, this is some of the best potato salad I've ever had at a sandwich spot. It was creamy but not overloaded with mayo, and the potatoes were fresh, not dried out or overly mushy. A simple side, but absolutely delicious!The store was clean, and even though the crew was handling a packed crowd, the service was efficient. Parking was decent, but getting back onto Rockfield during lunch hour is definitely an adventure (pro tip: use the Centre Drive exit!).All in all: a great sandwich, a fantastic side, and a solid experience. I'll absolutely be back!

Stepping into The Hat for the first time I got New York Deli vibes in the best sense of the term. Although don't confuse what they have in their menu as NY Deli like but the atmosphere is quite similar to it. What seems like original interior, white collar and blue collar people sitting side by side and the kitchen staff cranking out food at an incredible pace.I ordered the Pastrami Dip and Wet fries (fries with gravy). The pastrami dip was greasy and came with pickles and mustard already on it on a soft white bread roll. The fries were good but tasted rather under cooked. I would advise customers to split a side of fries because the portion is massive.I would highly recommend going to this restaurant but instead of getting the fries, consider the onion rings instead as I had a couple and they were well cooked and delicious.