Did not disappoint! If you are craving pastrami, chili cheese and all that goodness; you've come to the right place! Honestly, we ordered way too much thinking these would be standard fast food sizes but we were wrong! Are we sad? Or mad? Heck nah!!! You won't be disappointed! read more

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Great food, a bit expensive but some of the best pastrami around. Managers a trying to cut costs, which is silly when you are paying $35 for two pastramis a drink and fry. Food is a winner, but recent cost cutting by manager is a bit petty, it takes away from the experience. read more

This is the kind of joint I absolutely LOVE! It's a throwback to a simpler time with delicious food. The portions were great, the prices were reasonable and the service fast and friendly. I will likely go out of my way to eat here every time I roll through town read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Since moving from Australia, The Hat has become my go to place for the best French fries (chips) anywhere in SoCal.

Worst pastrami sandwich ever... I have had The Hat pastrami sandwiches at several The Hat locations and they were always amazing... Not the case in the Lake Forest location... what is up with that?? read more

The Hat - Pastrami Sandwich - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Have been at The Hat twice now, both during COVID-19, both drive through. Service, quality, and speed are about neck and neck, it was not busy as we went during off times right before lunch rush and after. We've only tried the pastrami dip and fries and wow! The pastrami is tender and very generous servings piled high and falling off the sides enough for two meals and large fries (surprisingly not greasy - we ate right in the car at the parking lot lol) good to share with 3 people, orange and pina colada bang are fun (may be too sweet for some)! Will be back to try other offerings! read more

I've never had anything except the pastrami dip at The Hat until I visited this location recently. That's when I ordered a pastrami dip AND wet fries. From the moment I walked in until I left, this place was really busy. Someone was always at the counter ordering and numbers for orders were constantly being called. It's like the In-N-Out of pastrami. Good luck finding an open table (I had good table karma this day). All the staff are pleasant and working hard behind the counter although the dining area lacks attention. My pastrami dip was superb as you would expect from The Hat. A multitude of tender pieces of savory pastrami crammed into the bun amidst pickles and mustard make for pastrami sandwich perfection. The wet fries - a mountain of thick fries covered in delicious hot gravy - were enough to feed four hungry lumberjacks. I barely made a dent in them before I surrendered to a full stomach. They have a drive-thru but I wouldn't recommend trying to eat The Hat's messy offerings in your car. read more

The Hat - wet fries - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Can't go wrong with a Pastrami Dip. This spot is an institution. I love the food, I love the prices.

Pastrami dip on the double ! Really enjoy eating at The Hat. Always plenty of seating when I come and the restaurant is always clean. Always relaxing with oldies playing over the sound system. I normally do the pastrami dip or pastrami cheeseburger and a side of fries/chili cheese fries or onion rings. The sides come in huge portions ( can feed 3 people ). The pastrami is some of the best around and normally my order comes out pretty quick but cheese burgers take longer. When you're passing through lake forest give The Hat a try. read more

The Hat - Exterior - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Solid place to grab a meal if you're looking for some good food to feel stuffed. Definitely recommend the pastrami burger or pastrami dip. Normally pair that with some chili cheese fries and boom it's heaven. read more

The Hat - Pastrami Burger - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Such an odd experience last night. I went through the drive thu to get literally just a side of pastrami and a drink (I'm celiac and have specific health concerns so I just wanted straight meat) but there was such a language barrier that he didn't really understand me and instead of trying or just saying we don't do that, he kept being very dismissive and annoyed and kept repeating ok a sandwich with no bread... I kept saying no just a side of meat. Tell me how it was $17.... I asked like 3 times at the window what I am getting charged for and he said customized sandwich no bread and it got to the point where I could tell we'd both rather just give up on this convo so I just handed over my card.. But I left so shocked and disappointed. He didn't want to give me my receipt, obviously, so I'm just kind of stuck with the payment and feeling like I just involuntarily donated to this establishment read more

The Hat I've passed this place multiple times but for some reason never got tempted to stop in. Recently I was out late and looking for a bite to eat but not really craving anything. So finally I stopped in and.... I can't believe I never stopped here before. What was I thinking? I was happily stunned by the food. They have one of the best pastrami sandwiches I ever had. Oh, and you have to try the the chili chesse fries. Make sure you have company when ordering the chili cheese fries cuz they're huge. I mean ginormous. I couldn't even make a dent. I think the employees can easily recognize a newbie since they offered to wrap them to go when they saw me struggling. Great service, delicious food... I'm definitely coming back read more

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Best Pastrami Dip sandwich on the Planet The Hat has been around for almost 70 years. This is pretty much a So Cal Institution. Love this place read more

When traveling I always like to find the hidden gems that have great food but are reasonably priced. The Hat was beyond my expectations. Great pastrami and excellent onion rings. Next time I will definitely try the chili cheese fries read more

This is a classic and hopefully will be around forever! Don't expect anything fancy or frilly, go for the food and enjoy it!!!

Great team and good food. The space and overall ambience add to the experience. This has definitely become my go-to pastrami spot in South OC. read more

I always love coming to The Hat. This location is no exception. I had their chili cheese pastrami fries. They were delish. I don't know what it is about their pastrami that is so good but it is indeed tasty. It isn't too salty and it's just the right thickness. The vibe is chill here and there's usually a large lunch crowd no mater what day. So you can expect that. Their potions are huge and I mean, you can't go wrong. The staff can be a little short and snappy but really they are just trying to move the line along. Let the cashier know you're paying with card or cash. sometimes that makes a difference in which register they'll ring you up on. This is def NOT a New York style spot but I'll tell you this, it's damned tasty!! One of the things that I love about their chili is that it's super meaty, not chock full of whole beans. YUM!!! Oh and there is parking along the back of the restaurant in their own little lot. And yes they are open late. Stop on in. You won't be sorry you did. And definitely get their chili cheese pastrami fries!! It is huge and definitely for sharing. read more

OK, we gave this place another shot this past Saturday... same-o same-o. The quality of the pastrami and roast beef is inferior to what it used to be, so we'll not be going back again. I was lucky enough to eat at their original location in South El Monte as a kid and have been to other stores in Brea and Rosemead, and it was really great back then. This location has always been a go-to but no longer. A sad state of affairs, but I expect they'll continue to sell a lot of food to people who don't know the difference. Oh well. read more

Cool ambiance. Food was pretty good, just a little bland though. People who worked here were nice. read more

The Hat - Pastrami dip - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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The wait can be long sometimes, they also got confused with my order and thought my order was nonexistent when it had been sitting right there for a while, so that had me a little worried for a bit. The ambiance is pretty classic American and the place is bustling with customers. The portion is huge, but it's not cheap either so if you order one and share it with your buddy, it's a win. The food itself is great. read more

There is nothing remotely "World Famous" about this place or the Pastrami sandwich. They should change their online menu boards and website to reflect the new 7% (80 cent) price increase. I imagine they just changed it a day or two ago. While we were dining on our $11.39 sandwiches we noticed a marked decrease in the quantity of Pastrami in the sandwich. The fries, while still a great value, had noticeably shrunk as well. We also tried the BBQ beef for the first time and it was pedestrian at best. Barely any sauce and pretty dry. The Pastrami here does not have the taste of actual deli Pastrami sandwiches and if you're new here, note that the Pastrami is actually a bunch of tiny shredded bits. The flavor is OK but it's like they threw the bottom of the drippings tray between two buns. Don't come looking for what you'd find at Canters, Brents or Nate 'n Al's. The price increases are not specific to The Hat of course as many restaurants are making up for past Covid down time by raising their prices and lowering their quantity and quality. Not really a recipe for success. If you want to raise your prices and the market will permit it then good for you but don't skimp on quality or quantity as well. Nobody is fooled. read more

This was my first time here. I called on the phone and got someone who could barely speak English after about 5 minutes of telling him no lettuce and tomato on my steak sandwich. That I just wanted grilled peppers and onions on it. Which Apparently they don't do. When I arrived 10 minutes later they still had not started my sandwich. We went back and forth again on the no lettuce and tomato. I then asked if they started my sandwich bc I want to switch it now. He just kept saying yes. I said I can see that you haven't. Yes again from him and another mention of no lettuce and tomato. The manager than came out. Switched my order nicely. To the pastrami. Pastrami was ok a little dry. 5.5 out of ten on quality and cooking. 8.2 out of ten on overall flavor. Seriously who puts lettuce and tomato on a steak sandwich. That guy probably puts it on a bacon egg and cheese sandwich too. God bless America and where it's heading. read more

Another Hat experience of hot pastrami and onion rings. Consistency at its best. I think I will order the chili cheese fries next time. read more

The Hat - Just have to eat Pastrami with Onions Rings. - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The hat is next to the place that I work. It's possibly the best pastrami place that I've ever been to the dip is fantastic.

at the drive thru window , i could barely hear the woman on the speaker. she didn't understand me at all. i ordered a plain cheeseburger , and onion rings. i drove out of the drive thru with one of those items. she said she heard my order but clearly didn't. luckily she did only charge me for the onion rings. but that's not the only part. the onion rings were burnt to a crisp. literally black. at first i thought maybe i got just a burnt one , but every single one of them were black and burnt to a crisp. read more

The Hat - burnt onion rings - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I had the worst meal ever at the Hat restaurant in Lake Forest. The Chilli cheese dog was soggy and the cheese fries weren't all the way cooked. To make matters worse when I went to the manager Victor to complain about the raw french fries he never tried to make things right he just told me to call corporate to complain. I will never go back the service and food is HORRIBLE. read more

The Hat - Cheese fries - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Review I went to the Hat Lake Forest location and ordered my lunch. Waited in line for 15 minutes which was no big deal. I gave the lady inside the Hat my card to pay. She gave me the bag of food, my drink and my credit card. I drove to work 25 miles away and when I arrived at my office found only french fries on my bag. Then I called the Lake Forest location I asked to speak with the manager. Told the manger the issue and she became very hostile and rude and told me it's my fault. I used to go the Upland location for years and always got great service. read more

Great place for Ann old style Pastrami sub, they give large portions that will satisfy. I purchased both the pastrami sub and the pastrami burger. Was completely satisfied by both because they were so big. The place has a great nostalgic atmosphere and decor to match (love the classic photos and pictures). Don't just drive by...go on in and give them a try. Support your local economy... read more

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Freshly made, the food here is excellent. They give you generous portions! The pastrami sandwich was sooooo good! It was a great amount of spice and wasn't dry. Loved it! The drive thru had a bit of a wait during lunchtime which was completely understandable with their amazing sandwiches. read more

Not exactly a regular customer, for only been there a few times. But every time they do not disappoint. The food is simple yet amazing, price hiked up a little bit but so is everything and everyone else, a must go pastrami sandwich place! Definitely recommend and will return when the crave hits! read more

If you're looking to be a glutton or want to feed a small village, this place has you covered. Known for their pastrami, you can add it to pretty much anything on the menu. The regular offerings are merely okay, but when the pastrami is added, it elevates a standard hot dog or hamburger to a new level of culinary excellence. I typically get the pastrami dog or pastrami burger. The pastrami is thinly sliced, lightly peppered, juicy and flavorful. It's tender and piled high above whatever base you decide to go with. There's so much that the casual observer would be mistaken into thinking that was all there was. An off menu item that is highly recommended is the pastrami chili cheese fries. Not for the faint of heart, be advised that you'll need at least 3 other people if you want any chance of finishing this in one sitting. It legitimately weighs close to 5 pounds. You get a large tray of fries, a couple of ladles of chili, handfuls of shredded cheddar cheese and a mountain of pastrami. The fries themselves are okay, but act as a great vessel for all the other items placed on top. The chili is comforting, chunky with a bit of spice for a kick. The cheese will melt from the heat of the chili and coat everything creating gooey goodness. I also highly recommend the onion rings. They basically give you half a bag with an order. The rings are fried to an extra crispy golden brown and they're not soggy or overly greasy. There's just enough batter to cover each ring perfectly, and the onion is fresh, soft, with a slightly firm texture. They're a great complement to anything you order on the menu and good enough to shine on their own. read more

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Huge portions. You can probably order one thing and share it especially the fries and chili fries and chili cheese fries. Unless you have a huge appetite. The pastrami is good but if you've had great pastrami, you'll see that this is alright. It's a neat #59;'s type joint and has a great atmosphere to it and the patrons and staff are what gives it the aura that it gives off. Worth making it once in awhile, otherwise you'll end up clogging up your insides if you ate here weekly. Good food. Good service. Friendly staff. read more

The food is amazing! Their pastrami sandwich is always a must! The fries is a big portions you'll need to share but so good!

Had the tuna sandwich and fries and it honestly wasn't the greatest. I've definitely had better elsewhere. Fries were ok. Overall my meal was just OK. The sandwich was pretty big but just kind of meh. Price was OK considering the size of the sandwich. About $14 for both the sandwich and large fries. Probably will not be coming back for the tuna though and don't know that I would want to come back to try something else. read more

The Hat - Tuna - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This should be 5 stars because the quality of the food is really good. The pastrami is the best in OC. But it's 4 stars because this place isn't very inviting to eat in, and although the staff makes great food and keeps the place really clean, they aren't very friendly. To sum up, best pastrami in OC, unfriendly staff, clean place, and amazing food. read more

Update: the food has gotten even worse. Try the burger if you want a guided tour of every public restroom along the 5 freeway. Just awful.

So excited we finally have a few Locations in Orange County. The best pastrami around read more

Restaurant closes at 11pm. I've driven, ordered my food and received my food with no issues in the past. Today, I went expecting to receive a 10/10 experience but was unfortunately disappointed. I ordered with a few minutes left, still open for business, but was informed that they no longer had pastrami for the evening. I had to order something else that I've never ordered before. That item was not what I come to the establishment to eat and was therefore dissatisfied with the taste and was not impressed. Pastrami, OPEN TO CLOSE. Period. Clean & organized though! read more

Expensive - but really good. Total greasy spoon. Lots cheap once inside - but great fires and sandwiches.

First off. The Brea location got our order wrong and the manager of that location to correct there mistake offered to us to get rest of the order from the Lake Forest location. My wife had some free time the next day. And went to the Lake Forest location. She got 3rd degree from 3 different people for 2 cheeseburgers. When the Brea manager put us on a list. You guys got the order wrong. We are getting all this hassle for 2 cheeseburgers? There no more customer service anymore. Next time you guys get an order wrong. You might want to have better customer service for those customers. So they will want to comeback. Not going back to the Lake Forest location and maybe not back to The Hat. read more