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I have tried a few items off the menu however my favorite item is the Pastrami Dip. The pastrami appears to be of better quality than other places I have visited. I asked to substitute for rye instead of the roll and the fellow who assisted was very accommodating and friendly. Great place for a late night snack!
The best pastrami anywhere! Including another hat location. This place has thin, moist and not too fatty pastrami with a soft bun. The service is quick and they are so efficient. The location has no restrooms, outside tables and only 2 hour parking. Ambiance is rustic with load traffic on 2 sides. It's definitely worth traveling to have. We will come back again next year!
ever since I was a child, I would come here with my family, knowing that they had the best chili and pastrami in Alhambra. Nowadays, I come here after Sum kind of athletic feat lol. It's a lot of food, but I come for one thing and one thing only, the pastrami chili cheese fries. It's the type of food that I dream of. Just thinking of it makes my mouth water. Imagine freshly cooked fries with a fluffy interior and crispy outside, smothered with cheddar cheese and a delicious chili, and then topped generously with juicy pastrami. Peak living. The service is very fast here and they do a good business. The ambience is like IDK, burger shop on the corner? The burgers are also really good here. Oh and also whenever I get the fries here, I always get an orange bang to wash it down. You gotta get the savory and then the sweet. Necessary.
The hat never lets me down. I got a pastrami burger fries and a drink. I always forget that the fries they give are a lot, the burger is usually cut in half it's honestly a really good amount to split with someone else. The staff is really quick, don't take it as rude they just want to get everyones order. It's on a very busy cross street with no drive through so be aware sometimes there's a line or no parking
I came here for some piping hot fries. Service was quick. Don't let the crowd out front by the sidewalk deter you from coming. They have an order window and a pick up window. Makes it less chaotic. There is no drive thru like some of the other locations, but plenty of parking in their private lot. Plenty of outdoor covered patio seating.
I'm not usually a big pastrami fan, but this sandwich was so good. The Hat is known for its pastrami sandwiches, so we definitely had to try it. We ordered the pastrami dip, and it was incredibly tender and juicy - very filling too. I remember they used to give a separate cup of broth for dipping years ago, but it seems they don't do that anymore. Either way, it was still really delicious. They accept cards, which is convenient, and the service was quick and efficient. There are a few outdoor tables where you can enjoy your food, and they stay open late, which makes it a great option for a late-night snack.
THE spot for fries. This is a review for fries. Their pastrami dip is also amazing, probably the thing to get for most people, but for me it's THE FRIES. Not only is this the best spot for pastrami and fries, it's the best The Hat location (the original!) because they have the most generous portions and their fries always taste fresh and perfect. The large is MASSIVE, enough for a family to share. Literally a paper bag half full of fries, with a cute little boat in the bottom of it as if it ever had any chance of containing the couple of pounds of fries that they serve. The owner-posted pics are true to reality. Can't think of another place with this value, only much smaller portions for much more $$$. I've been eating here since I was little, a local late-night staple, and I have to stop here every time I visit the area. I like a good basic order of fries, but the gravy and chili versions are also good. You can ask for gravy in a cup on the side to dip too. Pro tip: Ask for them well done if you prefer crispier fries. They can overdo them a little and turn them into chips, so be specific if you're looking for a nice medium, or just try them as-is first.
Nice that,'The Hat" is open late night, split a pastrami with my son Blake,it was good,but he asked for it to be dipped+a little gravy added...'NEITHER WERE !" My son felt it was an error in communication we get it that way alot ((they speak mostly Spanish)) and we tried the,'chili cheese onion rings" they needed a layer of cheese then chili twice to cover,so order them with extra of both...they give lots of onion rings! All in all,my craving was satisfied...! ((Open Late till, 1am))
I got a pastrami dip and some chili cheese fries with pastrami. They both have a generous amount of pastrami. They both were pretty good but nothing that stands out. It was a bit busy when I arrive and the staff were quick. I was able to receive my order within 10 mins. The restaurant is located on a corner with a small lot. Parking may be an issue if you come when they are very busy. There is no drive thru like the other location. There are tables and sitting behind the restaurant.
I wonder what it must be like to taste the first pastrami dip sandwich back in 1951, when this location first opened. Back then, it probably costs 25 cents. Today, it's $12.60. And it's worth every penny! I can't get enough of all that scrumptious pastrami meat they pour into the sandwich. Well it's not everyday I eat like this, so I also got the chili cheese fries with onions, and an orange bang, too. I just can't get enough of all the chili they pour on top of the fries. Was it a mistake? No. Did I finish everything? No. Guess what I had for leftovers next day? Yep, you guessed it!
I went to high school years ago nearby when there were only 2 locations. They have quickly created a chain across Southern California but the original Hat has the best pastrami of them all! I don't live in the LA area and so when I visit I've tried several other locations closer to my parents in Walnut. It wasn't what I remembered but coming back to original Alhambra location to try the original once more made me realize it is still everything how I remembered it. This location has a small outdoor dining area and no inside seating. It's fairly easy to find place to sit. On a Saturday evening around 8pm there was a small steady trickle of people mostly taking to-go. Service is amazingly quick and straightforward so I have no complaints there. When craving a pastrami this should be on your list of go-tos. read more
2 years ago
Come to this place for a quick grab & go or quick bite. Parking lot is available and order at the front. There's a covered seating area as well but the ambiance is a bit more rugged. Love their chili cheese fries, order pastrami on the side! Tried the chili tamale with everything on, but would not recommend. The masa was too dry and didn't have much filling. Chili cheese fries w/ Pastrami: 9/10 Chili tamale: 5/10 read more
1 year ago
Haven't had The Hat in over 10 years so I decided to treat myself to a "cheat" meal. Ordered myself a pastrami dip and a chili cheese fries, came out to $25.xx. The pastrami dip was as good as I remembered it to be, juicy, tender and all around delicious. The chili cheese fries on the other hand was straight trash. The chili tasted more like a bean dip then a meat sauce. Wienerschnitzel taste way better, Top's Jr on Main is also better. read more
8 months ago
Needed a spot to go to after finishing playing basketball at ~11 PM. It's been a while since I've been to The Hat, so I thought to give this a try again. The Hat is located on a corner in Valley Blvd, and there is only an outdoor dining area. There is no option to take a step inside, but taking a look inside - people are busy, look hard-working, and seem like they know what they're doing. There was a decent line (~6 parties) when I ordered my food. I ordered the "Pastrami Dip" and I thought I was going to get a sandwich + dip on the side. I only received the sandwich w/out the dip. The sandwich is dipped, but I was not served any dip. Little confusing here. I didn't end up eating on their outdoor dining area since it was too cold outside, so I ate the sandwich in the car. Good amount of meat (dipped and tasty). The sandwich is savory and the pickled toppings helped to cut through the dense flavor and satisfy my hunger. The sandwich didn't need any condiments or sides! I would come back to get a Pastrami Sandwich. (4/5) I always had mixed feelings about this brand without remembering the quality of food and service that happens at The Hat. I didn't want to converse and chit-chat. I wanted food quickly and for the food to be decent. This did exactly that. Quick food for not too expensive of a price. The Hat might not be my go-to, but will be a decent option to consider moving forward (as long as you're not on a diet)! read more
I've been aware of The Hat for a while but there aren't any locations near me so I was very interested to try it. Found this location randomly through a mobile search of the area. Yelp showed popular orders so I followed them. Probably a mistake but when in Rome or Monterey Park. I came fairly hungry for dinner. It's a little stand where you order outside. Seating is under a cover and bolted to the ground. There's no indoors. I ordered: Pastrami burger Pastrami fries Orange bang Burger was really good. They're famous for their pastrami and it didn't disappoint. I had it with Swiss cheese. The bun and veggies were good too. Solid patty too. The fries were massive and I didn't realize that when I ordered. They had chili, cheese and probably something else along with pastrami on them. I didn't really like anything but the pastrami which I already had eaten. Fries were average. They could feed 2 as a meal. I couldn't make much of a dent so it was a waste. No one else to hand it too. All that meat and calories made me a bit sluggish on the way home. I can't eat that much pastrami again. Orange bang was delicious. Haven't had one of those in a long time. Sugary orange deliciousness. I'd probably order a cold sandwich or turkey burger if I return but they're famous for pastrami. This chain has been in business since 1951. I still prefer the multi-state chain from 1948 and its modern locations but I'm glad I got to experience The Hat. read more
4 years ago
I love coming here for late night snacks. They're open late and their food is so good! I recently tried their hot dog and wasn't expecting much to be honest but they put toppings on it like lettuce, onion, mustard. It was really good we also ordered gravy and chili on the side. So I also put some on my hot dog and it was just so yummy. PRO TIP: I usually get the cheese fries with chili and gravy on the side so it doesn't get soggy. I also really enjoy my meal with the Orange Bang drink. I love everything I've tried so far and their portions are really good. Highly recommend coming here any time of the day! I also don't have a many photos because I always want to eat their food right away. read more
1 1/2 minute read: The best pastrami around isn't around anymore. It use to be at Johnnies Pastrami at Adams and Crenshaw Blvd. But they closed some 10 years ago. At the time Johnnie closed, we had already eaten The Hat Pastrami and enjoyed it very much. Good bun, Good hot pastrami, etc. I will tell you this, The Hat is (by far) the most generous portion givers I've seen. My wife and I usually get pastrami with fries and share both. We get full. We've had Chili-pastrami Fries and that TOO was a huge serving. The Hat's menu offers other items but we go there for the pastrami and that's it. Now, This food stand at this corner of Valley Blvd only provides seating outside. No inside tables. Parking isn't too bad. The Staff here is happy, They smile, they are polite and fast. If you're in the area, go get pastrami. read more
This is one of the reasons why I was happy to move to Alhambra! The food, the service, and the efficiency is impressive!! Why would you go anywhere else if you're trying to satisfy your fast food needs?? They are famous for their Pastrami, and rightfully so, but they also have the best burger, the best sandwiches (steak, tuna, turkey), the best hot dogs, the best tamales, the best chili, the best onion rings and...their fries, awesomeness!!! Huge portions, monster size!! So generous! And the prices are so much better than any other fast food joints, do you know...a good burger form the other Big 3 fast food places run over $10 bucks! I don't understand how the Big 3 in this vicinity stay in business. They keep the kitchen so clean and it's like a well oiled machine the way they run their station, so impressed. They have been here and running this business for well over 30 years from my own recollection, a staple and should be the pride and joy of this town! We probably come here once a week, and will continue to do so. Thank you The Hat!! read more
I finally made it out here for the first time last night, and it appears that I waited a little too long to sample that novel modern-day 15-cent coffee, because it no longer appears to be on the menu ... I suppose keeping it as a loss-leader was no longer proving to be a viable business strategy. The Hat's tagline of "The Best Pastrami Sandwich in the World" is an unqualified case of puffery ... as anyone who has ever sampled a Langer's #19 can attest to. That said, for the comparatively modest price point, The Hat does serve a satisfactory pastrami sandwich/burger. There is no drive-thru, and on-site dining accommodations are outdoors (but appear to have overhead cover and lighting). They're open reasonably late, and we had no trouble finding parking (which is always nice). Wait time for your meal is minimal. The staff at this location is pretty friendly. Signage asks patrons to mask up before approaching the ordering window, so don't forget to bring your face diaper (given the lack of enclosed dining spaces at this location, papers are obviously not required). read more
1 year ago
1 year ago
Bored one day scrolling through my social media feed, a video featuring The Hat popped out of no where. Was this a coincidence that I was heading to LA during the second week of January 2022? I think not! It was destiny! During my visit to LA, couple of my friends and I decide to grab lunch at The Hat. The take away frim the video I viewed was to try the chili cheese fries, topped with pastrami. My eyes and stomach was set on that, and that's what I ordered! The ordering and wait time was fairly quick. I would say ten minutes tops. It was kinda slow for a Saturday afternoon. The chili cheese fries didn't disappoint. It was packaged very nicely and served hot. This entrée came with a large heaps of pastrami, fries, chili and cheese! This was just heavenly on the eyes, but rough on the internal organs. A very flavorful and filling meal. A most definite repeat meal when I'm back in the area! read more
3 years ago
The Hat's my go-to place whenever I'm hungry, but can't decide what to eat or simply don't feel like cooking. It's a pastrami sandwich stand located at the corner of a fairly busy intersection. Next to it is a small parking lot that's usually fairly vacant, so you'll always easily find parking. By the time you place your order, you'll be in and out and ready to enjoy your meal. This is the place to go if you want quickly-prepared, quality food without breaking the bank. Usually, you need to sacrifice one of the three, but that's not a problem for The Hat. Their prices are affordable, yet they never compromise on flavor or portion sizes. Now, let's talk about their star attraction--the pastrami. Thinly-sliced and incredibly savory, their pastrami is a true delight for people who love the deli meat. The Pastrami Dip, their signature dish, features a generous serving of this tender and fatty pastrami, perfectly complemented by the well-dipped bun and just the right amount of mustard and pickle to help cut through the fat. While pastrami is their specialty, The Hat makes good burgers too. The Double Chiliburger with cheese is a personal favorite of mine--a combination of two juicy beef patties, flavorful chili, and melted cheese that's plain addictive. Lastly, how do you make two things better? Combine them and you get the Pastrami Burger. All the great qualities or their pastrami and burgers combined into one. Haven't asked if they're willing to add chili to it, but I'll definitely try next time. Next is the sides! The Hat doesn't hold back here either. The Onion Rings and Fries are always well-fried and well seasoned. Just be prepared when choosing a size because even a small portion alongside with a sandwich might be hard to finish for one person. And if you order a large, definitely be prepared to share with friends. The Chili Fries are another irresistible treat that I recommend sharing or eaten as a standalone meal. Lastly, though not officially listed on the menu, the Pastrami Fries are a bit of a hidden menu item. Not much to say here because I've already mentioned how well they do their pastrami and fries. Just mention it, and the staff will already know what you're talking about. The Hat is a staple of Alhambra, offering a range of mouthwatering items that will have you coming back for more. With fast and friendly service, ample parking, affordable prices, and generous portions, they're highly recommended for pastrami lovers, burger aficionados, sandwich lovers, and really anyone looking for a good meal. read more
3 years ago
Today was my first and last time eating anything from this location. I ordered a pastrami dip with a order of fries to go. I happen to live many miles away. So when I arrive home and opened up my sandwiches, the meat was very Brown looking to me. I then decided to taste it, and it had no flavor at all. At this point, I decided to call location and informed them of my concerns. After speaking with a manager, I believe her name was Celina. She told me that the meat is cooked fresh every day and it looks like that sometime when it is over cooked. Sorry, but I do not believe her. I've been eating pastrami say for a long time and I know when it's fresh and when it's not. The sad thing about it she didn't even offer me a refund. Never again will eat at this location again! read more
2 years ago
I've loved the Hat since I learned about it in undergrad. Well priced for A LOT of food. My favorite "snack" is their wet fries, but I get gravy on the side. I mean who doesn't love a cup of gravy? Everyone there is chill and they're pretty quick. Great spot to just pick up something quick and easy. Tl;Dr good simple food that's well priced. read more
1 year ago
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Pastrami, chili, cheese, fries. Is a great thing to get here. After the kings game. We came here to eat. It's great thing to share between me and my girlfriend. It was around 11 Thursday night. There wasn't anyone. So we oder and got our food fast. We got it to go. The food was still hot when we got home. The pastrami dip sandwich is great too. You won't be disappointed with the food here. We spend about 22 bucks. It's worth it. Great way to end the night. You get what you pay for. Wroth it. read more
1 year ago
Absolutely delicious been coming here since I was a little kid and I absolutely love the pastrami sandwiches here. I am so thankful for the service which was fantastic service they packed me 3 sandwiches to go since I went from living in Washington State now we don't have this level of food up here and only get to come home and they we able to pack up a 3 sandwich for the road thank you guys very much for the outstanding experience. read more
11 months ago
1 year ago
Open late night! Came out of a concert and everything was basically closed, but thank god it was open here. Ordered a pastrami dip and fries. The pastrami dip was such a big sandwich, with pastrami stacked high. The bread was super soft, Don't forget to ask for some peppercini to break up some of that meat. The fries serving was giant, but unfortunately it's not very crispy. Great late night option if you don't want McDonald's! read more
2 years ago
So glad I finally tried this place! The Hat is a staple in the SGV and I think(?) this location is actually the original one. We ordered for pick up since there's no indoor seating at this one and it was a bit too chilly to sit outside. It only took about 20 minutes from the time we ordered for our food to be ready. I was a little nervous the food wouldn't be quite as tasty after transporting it home but it was delicious! We got a French dip, pastrami dip, and the gravy fries and we were really impressed by how warm everything stayed! Even the fries were still pretty crispy and the gravy on top was delicious, it seemed like it was probably made from scratch which was a nice touch. The French dip was flavorful but I made the mistake of ordering mine with onions thinking they would be grilled onions but they were raw and it wasn't quite the tasty combination I expected, next time I would definitely just order it as-is. The roast beef and au jus were delicious! read more
5 years ago
On a Sunday morning in January, I drove by The Hat and I thought of their Chili cheese fries. Few hours later, I drove down at 11am and no lines at all. I seen quite of few people eating in their cars. I ordered jr burger, chili cheese fries and cherry coke. As I was waiting, they have a sign to order online on their website. I seen the workers wearing the hat's face masks which looks nice. Then my food was ready. Nice to see the cheese melting to chili on the fries and it tasted so good. The jr burger was fine and good size since I didn't want to overstuff myself. Next time I will order online and do a pick up. read more
1 year ago
3 years ago
1 of the best parts of being from the SGV is I got access to really great foods in the multi-cultural enclave that was home for most of my young adult life. And, of course, The Hat is an indelible part of that history. My buddies and I have eaten their amazing Pastrami Sandwiches too many times to count and although I am no longer a SGV resident, every time I'm back in town and drive through this corner, I expect to see The Hat that looks about the same as it did back when.... So, I was back in the SGV to see family for the ubiquitous CNY family get-together & brought along a native San Franciscan friend who has never visited LA (crazy right?). As I was driving through Garfield and Valley, he noted The Hat and asks if their Pastrami is really that famous. Mind you, we had eaten lunch less than 30 mins ago, but I offered to stop and let him sample the food. Well, very simply, The Hat has got another fan... read more
2 years ago
I used to eat here all the time. Recently my friend had a craving for The Hat, so I stopped here to pickup the food. There were social distancing signs in place as people wore face masks, but the quality of the food didn't change from what I remembered. They also had the same service - quick and efficient. I got the grilled cheese and wet fries (with gravy on the side). The food was just as I remembered - so comforting to have it again. Thanks guys for not disappointing! read more
5 years ago
This was my first experience at The Hat. I came on a tuesday afternoon around 2pm and there was no line. I ordered a pastrami dip which was made in front of me pretty quickly. To start off, I thought 12 dollars for a dip was a little bit expensive until I saw the size of this sandwich. It is packed with tons of juicy pastrami. The taste of the sandwich was even better with its slight amount of mustard, adding a bit of heatiness. Overall, the pastrami dip was 10/10. Simple sandwich that just tastes delicious. read more
More info about The Hat
1 W. Valley Blvd
Alhambra, CA 91801
Directions
(626) 282-0140
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http://www.thehat.com
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Ask the Community - The Hat
Can you order ahead?
The general rule I go by is, If the establishment posts a phone number, Call it in.
Does the Hat have a drive thru or only walk up?
Walk up only but the service is fairly quick.
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
116 reviews that are not currently recommended
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The Hat - sandwiches - Updated May 2026
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