--- **Ambiance:** The Hat in Alhambra is a beloved local institution known for its casual, retro vibe. The interior is simple and unpretentious, with a nostalgic feel that takes you back to classic American diners. The bright yellow and red color scheme, checkered floors, and vintage signage create a fun and relaxed atmosphere perfect for a laid-back meal. While it's not a place for a fancy night out, it exudes a charm that's hard to resist. **Service:** The service at The Hat was efficient and friendly. Despite the steady stream of customers, the staff managed to take and deliver orders quickly. The counter-service model works well here, with staff members being both helpful and patient, especially with first-time visitors unfamiliar with the menu. The food was prepared promptly, and our orders were accurate, even during peak hours. **Food:** The Hat is famous for its pastrami sandwiches, and they certainly lived up to the hype. I ordered the **Pastrami Dip**, which was generously packed with tender, juicy pastrami slices. The meat was flavorful and well-seasoned, and the French roll was fresh and perfectly toasted. The accompanying au jus added a delightful, savory touch that enhanced the overall taste. My dining companion chose the **Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries**, which were an indulgent treat. The fries were crispy and well-seasoned, topped with a hearty portion of pastrami, melted cheese, and savory chili. It was a delicious, albeit heavy, dish that's perfect for sharing. We also tried the **Onion Rings**, which were crispy and golden brown, with a satisfying crunch that paired well with the main dishes. **Overall Experience:** The Hat is a must-visit spot for anyone craving hearty, satisfying comfort food. The restaurant's straightforward approach, focusing on quality and consistency, makes it a standout in the fast-casual dining scene. The efficient service and nostalgic atmosphere add to the charm, making it a great place for a quick bite or a casual meal with friends and family. **Recommendations:** - **Must-try Dish:** Pastrami Dip - **Best Side:** Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries - **Perfect for:** Quick bites, casual dining, and late-night cravings. Whether you're a local or just passing through Alhambra, The Hat offers a delicious taste of classic American fare that's sure to leave you satisfied. I look forward to my next visit to try more of their mouthwatering menu. read more

I recently visited The Hat, expecting a satisfying meal, but unfortunately, my experience was quite disappointing. Here's a detailed review of what I encountered: Chili Cheese Fries The chili cheese fries were a major letdown. Despite the large portion size, the quality was inconsistent. Some fries were crispy, while others were disappointingly soggy. The most crucial aspect, the flavor, was sorely lacking in both the fries and the chili. It was bland and did not meet the expectations set by its appearance. Pastrami Sandwich The pastrami sandwich was another disappointment. The bread was cold, which made the entire sandwich unappetizing. The pastrami portions were small, and the cheese wasn't melted, adding to the overall unsatisfactory experience. Additionally, the sandwich was served with just two small pickles, which did little to enhance the flavor. Grilled Cheese The only item that was somewhat decent was the grilled cheese. It was satisfactory, but not remarkable enough to redeem the other shortcomings of the meal. Customer Service Customer service was virtually absent. The staff seemed indifferent, and there was no effort to ensure a pleasant dining experience. Prices The prices were absurd, especially considering the portions, taste, and quality. It felt like a poor value for money, leaving me quite dissatisfied. Final Verdict If you're looking for a truly authentic and delicious pastrami sandwich, I highly recommend Johnnie's in Culver City. Now that's a place where you can enjoy a fantastic pastrami sandwich, far superior to what The Hat offers. Overall, my visit to The Hat was underwhelming, and I cannot recommend it based on this experience. read more

This place has completely fallen apart. My family and I used to love The Hat, but in the last two years, it's become a total mess. They're fully staffed yet have no clue what they're doing. The woman taking orders is painfully slow, and the young cooks behind the counter are running around with zero organization. The line is long, people are complaining, and food just sits there getting cold. I watched fries pile up for over 20 minutes before anyone bothered to serve them. When I asked for yellow chilies, one of the workers literally threw a small packet at me. I asked politely for more, said thank you, and he completely ignored me with an attitude. That's not customer service -- that's disrespect. To make things worse, the cashier didn't even wash her hands before jumping into the food area to "help." That's disgusting. Absolutely no hygiene, no professionalism, and no management oversight. I ordered four pastrami sandwiches and chili cheese fries, and everything was terrible. The pastrami was paper-thin with barely any meat, portions have shrunk, and prices went up. It feels like they're cutting corners everywhere while treating customers like an inconvenience. This place used to have pride in its food and service. Now it's chaos, poor attitude, and low standards. Serious management change is needed before this location completely destroys The Hat's reputation. read more

Went to this place about 2 times and the service isn't good. First time I went I ordered some fries and a sandwich, waited about 30 minutes considering that there wasn't many people and when asked about my food they all looked lost and said they didn't have my food order. Showed them my receipt and said they would have it ready. Went again for some fries a couple months after and they seemed to be very rude that day. The customer in front of me was obviously new and was trying to figure out what to order so when she was asking the cashier questions about the food he seemed very impatient and would roll his eyes. Didn't even bother ordering afterwards, you can tell they don't care much about customer service. read more

the last GOOD pastrami sandwiches in L.A... ...too bad they aren't actually IN L.A. Most pastrami in L.A. is the overly-lean, overly-salty crap, grilled or microwaved. Yuck! The Hat is the only place I've seen in the area that serves REAL, properly-steamed pastrami. Portions are generous, I recommend the pastrami cheeseburger, or pastrami sandwich au jus. (hint: the au jus sandwich gets soggy very quickly - but - you can order it with meat and bun separated and au jus on the side, pop it in the refrigerator, and warm everything up the next day, and it's still pretty damn good!) The Hat has several locations throughout the greater L.A. area, and quality is consistant throughout the chain. read more

Oh my goodness such good memory's of this place! And so sad to think about. =( I remember me and my grandmother use to sometimes go here after church. We use to go to the first fundamental bible church. It is no longer in Monterey park. She use to take the bus to church and while walking we would if I was lucky as a treat has Sunday lunch here. Oh how I loved there pastrami sandwich we would share it half for me and her. It's been over a decade now since I was last here. My grandmother past away several years ago =( I was crying while I was here today but that pastrami sandwich is still as good as ever. Glad this place is still here. So many memories. read more

so i had a friend offer me half his pastrami from the hat today. i have never been a real fan of pastrami, no real reason, just always preferred a burger or steak sandwich if i must eat something at a burger joint. but i didnt want to be rude and i saw him eyeballing my scrumptious homemade lunch. so i figured i would share my lunch with him also. OMG! was I in awe as to how yummy the pastrami was. i usually go for the chili dog here but never again. where has this pastrami been all my life!? now i just have to find someone to go there with because i would need to order pastrami AND the chili cheese fries which is way too much food for one person. read more

If could put 0 stars i would! I came in yesterday to eat the staff where off the bat rude and acted like taking an order was too much to ask for. I have a 1 year old toddler that came with me and let me tell you, i watched as they prepared the food with bare hands and touch other things at the same time ! I really did not let my daughter eat that . Thats disgusting ! Also the supervisor and the cooks are perverts! They kept looking at my little 16 year old sister in a disgusting way! I will defintley be reporting these things to corporate. Either you need a whole new crew or you will lose faithful customers. This is completley unacceptable read more

100% DO NOT RECOMMEND! From the moment you walk in, the customer service is absolutely unacceptable. I had the worst experience with Emilio which is supposed to be the manager in charge. Not only did he refuse to do something about the hair I found in my food, he was extremely rude about it. I've never Been treated this way and I saw the way he treated the employees that were around. No one should have to work in this kind of environment! Please everyone, save your money! Not to mention that I approached the situation calmly, he flipped out on my family and I as well as the employees in shift. ABSOLUTELY UNACCEPTABLE!!! read more

This place I full of racist/ homophobic Mexicans that immediately look at you and judge you as soon as I walk thru those doors especially if your a girl they always seem to stare at you and make weird remarks.. I can't believe they have a girl working with a bunch of guys hopefully she's not harassed even tho it seems like it. The management is the worse especially the one called Emilio he has no patience and is rude and mostly looks like he was having a bad day and was ready to take it out on the workers and the service is simply disgusting the food is cold and not even worth eating I won't be going back there again read more

Service was super friendly, so I'll let the fact that food was slow getting out slide! They were nice, chatty, acknowledged that it was our first time there, and made recommendations for future visits. Will definitely be back!! Can't wait to try their wide selection of burgers, fries, sandwiches, noodles and unique entrees! Oh, and turn those extra dollar bills into mils at the liquor store next door! Good luck with those lotto tix!$!$!$! This dingy plaza could sure use a makeover!! I wouldn't have thought twice to stop here if it weren't for Yelp.. I agree these services....... read more

Guys, I don't recommend you visit this another "The Hat" location in Monterey Park. Here, there's unprofessional employees who trash talked to customers, disrespect young women and act like total clowns. If they don't care about food safety, the negative reviews will still increase and likely to close this failing pastrami franchise. These idiotic employees should not serve some dropped food to customers!! Careless and unprofessional who've sometimes drop customers food during the ordering process. Seems like this location is losing customers oof... read more

Best pastrami I've had in L.A. And I love pastrami. First, they pile it on, high and full, on a crispy french roll with mustard and pickles. That's it. then they dip it in au jus. Just perfect! You'll want to eat it right away, while the roll is still crispy as the au jus soaks in. It really is heavenly. Also, good fries. I like the wet fries (gravy), and the chili cheese fries are the best! I've heard their burgers are good, I just haven't tried them as I can't bring myself to ordering anything other than the pastrami. read more

Really disappointed with my experience. The fries were undercooked, the meat was overcooked, and everything tasted extremely oily. The food quality was not good at all. On top of that, the packaging was excessive -- they double bag everything. I literally received six bags just for a small order of fries and a burger. It feels like a huge waste and something the owners should seriously address. Overall, the food wasn't enjoyable, and I wish they offered at least a few healthier options on the menu. I won't be coming back. read more

The hat is always an awesome place to eat. I ate one of their pastrami sandwiches the other day and I was so full by the time I was done. I used to be a big Subway person but omg not anymore. I definitely say go to this place and eat your lunch or even dinner. They do have other things you can eat there such as the chili fries which also makes a good snack if you're just looking to munch on something quick(and have alot leftover for later.) Check em out and bring some friends! read more

anyone who eats from this establishment should be aware of what this place is about. not only do they serve food that has fell on the floor... they make young female customers uncomfortable with their perverted stare's and remarks... they abuse their workers and badmouth customers behind their backs. whenever you spend a dollar you are supporting an establishment. i wouldn't suggest anybody to eat here let alone step foot in the door. visit another establishment or location. read more

If you haven't tried the hat you are missing out. Every time I come here I always order the chili cheese fries with add pickles,tomatoes and onions and a large orange bang.. The chili cheese fries here is extremely large. Its enough for 2-3 people. Do not attempt to eat it all by yourself. Thats a warning. They have indoor and outdoor seating. The parking lot is small and its shared with another restaurant. Everything I go I get lucky and there's always a parking space. read more

The Hat is delicious; nothing more need be said. Whatever you get here you will enjoy. The only downside is if your a health freak, because then you will not enjoy it. The chili cheese fries are teriffic, and if you add pastrami on it its even better. Pastrami Dip is the best pastrami I've ever tasted, its messy and very juicy.Chili Cheeseburger is also very good, and so is the hochata. I recommend not eating before coming, because you will be stuffed when you leave=) read more

I know this place is known for pastrami but I go for the chili fries. They serve a giant portion, enough to eat for days. It is easily enough for two to three people for about $7 dollars an order. I have yet to try anything else from the menu, I always end up getting the fries. The only problem is that this place can get really packed, especially during lunch hours. The parking lot is small so you have to find residential parking about a block away when it's full. read more