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The Hat is a local institution in the Southern California area with multiple locations throughout, even with a location in Las Vegas. This location is in Brea right at the intersection of the 90 and 57 freeways. They are best known for their pastrami and their massive portions. I got the pastrami dip ($12.60) which is their most popular dish. Pastrami is piled on a French roll with mustard and pickles and dipped in au jus. I also got the wet fries with gravy ($6.75) which was just fries topped with their gravy. I didn't realize just how big the portions were but it was a huge pile of fries. [[HIGHLIGHT]]The interior reminded me of an old school diner.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] When I arrived there was a long line for the drive through, but ordering inside I got my food within minutes of ordering. The portions were great for the price and the pastrami was tender. I'd be interested in their other offerings.
We were craving pastrami sandwiches for dinner, and this place definitely hit the spot. We ordered two pastrami dip sandwiches (one with mayo), a small order of onion rings, chili cheese fries, and two fountain drinks. The pastrami was tender, juicy, and not dry at all. The onion rings were crispy and cooked perfectly, while the chili cheese fries were flavorful without being overly spicy. The portions were generous for the price, making it a great value. The service was fast, so it's best to know what you want before ordering. [[HIGHLIGHT]]There was plenty of indoor seating and ample parking, which made the visit even more convenient.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]We also appreciated the refillable fountain drinks and the clean restrooms.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] The only downside was that the condiments weren't available for self-service--you have to ask the staff for them. Other than that, it was a great experience, and we'd happily come back.
Had been to their other location and here couple time in the past. Was in craving for pastrami chili fries and man they delivered and it's simply just awesome & delicious and filling. Big parking lot and this place has been around for ages, well kept and maintained, got patio seating area overlooking street. Inside also has big seating area, mainly booths for 4 or 2, big table is in the back against the wall. Big menu but most are here for the famous pastrami dip and the chilly chess fries w/ pastrami. Staff are nice and friendly, the owner was there and took orders (since there was a line) and he just crushing it by. Ordered and took about within or less than 5min, you got your foods. The prices are just reasonable and affordable for sure, a very thick and generous amount of meats sandwich is for $13 and the pastrami chili cheese fries are around $19. Great & tasty meat, the sandwich is good (you can requested for different type of bread, but why). The pastrami chilli cheese fries is just HUGE and so yummy, once you start eating, you just can't stop. Yes we finished but there are around 10 fries left...but the rest are well cleaned. Worth it, definitely no question. Service is great, great location and well established place too. Can't wait to come back.
I used to eat at The Hat in Alhambra when I was growing up. I always loved their Pastrami Dip sandwiches. We happened to be in the area, so we decided to pick up lunch. We ordered a Pastrami Dip and a small order of Fries. The pastrami was really good, but I don't like soggy bread. I should've asked for the au jus on the side. The fries were just okay. The portion size was huge. We ordered a small. I can't even imagine how many fries they give you if you order the large size. I'm sure we will visit this location again. However, next time, I will order the au jus on the side. I'll also order onion rings instead of fries.
Amazing as always. If you're in the mood for some pastrami, hot dogs, or just want to be a fatty with some chili cheese fries, then make your way to the hat! Can't forget about the great quick customer service
I traveled for 25 minutes and subsequently waited in line for an additional 20-30 minutes, influenced by numerous positive reviews regarding the chili cheese fries offered at this establishment. The pastrami itself was satisfactory. However, the chili cheese fries did not meet expectations; they primarily consisted of fries with a minimal, moist topping, and the cheese was largely lost due to inadequate to-go packaging, adhering entirely to the wrapper. From my perspective, the journey was not justified. The customer service, however, was commendable, particularly the gentleman at the drive-thru, who was exceptionally courteous.
Review 12/365 Day Challenge Met up my in laws on a Sunday noon for lunch. The place was fully packed indoor and outdoor umbrella seating outside. My hubby loves Pastrami Sandwiches. He's been a fan of THE HAT way before we've started dating. Him and his brother loves The Hat for their World Famous Pastrami Dip. Use to drive from La Mirada to Brea for it. What we ordered ~ Pastrami sandwich in my opinion is a little bit salty but I'm not a pastrami sandwich connoisseur. My husband does say it's one of the best. Must enjoy it w the dip, i feel makes a huge difference. ~ Chili Fries is pretty huge! With dice onions on top with mother Load of cheese & chili. Definitely can be shared by 3-4 people if not that hungry. ~ Orange Bang is sweet but refreshing. My oldest son loves this drink. I like to let the ice dissolve to water down the drink tad a bit so it can be a little bit less sweet. Service was fast taking order and got our items within a good time frame since it was during rush hour, weekend Sunday noon = lunch time. Drive thru available. Located next to Ted Craig Regional Park in its own building. All in all. Do recommend THE HAT if you love a good pastrami sandwich and the dip is a must. Makes eating a pastrami sandwich to a whole different level. One suggestion I'd make if they can offer pepperoncinis to give the pastrami sandwich a kick of spice especially to those like mee, love some spice with my eateries.
Garsshhh, I wish there was one of these close to home! Came through this 'hood for lunch at Fogo across the street, and when I saw this place, it was a must stop. And I'll be honest: I couldn't get it out of my mind during that lunch run. So after that disappointing experience at Fogo, hopped in the car and drove across the way to pick up grub for dinner. Their drive thru line was a mile long (which is an awesome sign) but I much preferred to come in. The inside was poppin' as well with most of the tables occupied. Got in line, got three orders of pastrami with sauce on the side, an order of large fries and chili cheese fries. I reminisced my first experience with The Hat as I waited. Hubbers was near their Pasadena location and stopped by to surprise me with a sandwich before coming home. That sammich so good, couldn't let this opp pass! Like mentioned, there were lots of customers so it was only natural every member of staff was busy. Kinda cool watching them work in synchronicity, each and every one of them aware of each other's space. Impressive. PASTRAMI: Ordered the sauce on the side because it was about an hour drive home and didn't want it soggy. The bread held the proteins well. The amount of meat was generous, soft and so juicy, and seasoned so very nicely. ONION RINGS: Ordered a large and it occupied more than half the brown bag they were packed in. Nicely sized and seasoned battered pieces. A couple of pieces were a bit overcooked/burnt but no biggie. Awesome crunch and flavor. Recommending. Hubbers ordered the chili cheese fries but with the long drive home, it was natural for the cheese to be coagulated by the time we got home. No worries: he nuked for a few and good as new! He enjoyed that as well. FOOD: 5. SERVICE: 4. VALUE: 4. PARKING: Private lot. Not an issue. OVERALL: 4.25. Granted I had their goodies way later in the day, it was still so SOOOOOO GOOD!!! I guess one can say this place was a saving grace for the disappointing eats across the street. So happy for the discovery. Definitely keeping this spot on my radar.
There's not much I can say about The Hat that hasn't already been said 1000 times. The Hat is the gold standard when it comes to pastrami chili cheese fries and it has been that way since I can remember. I have one order here and that hasn't changed in decades. Just writing this review makes me drool
Very affordable and tasty! The burger tastes like a classic mom & pop restaurant. About $6 for a burger so very reasonably priced. The large fries were amazing! Thick and fluffy and fed all 4 of us. There were so many fries in the bag, they really fill it up. The onion rings were so crispy and delicious. Service was good, they were moving the drive through at a good pace. The outside looked very nice and clean. Overall, 10/10, another large fry bag!
Came here for a quick and inexpensive dinner.Chili Fries are always a must and they always give enough to feed 4-5 people easy. Add some cheese and some Pastrami and you definitely got yourself a meal. I enjoy getting a chili tamale and many times, there's enough chili to take care of those naked fries that didn't get enough or any chili at all from your chili fries. Win-Win. Wash everything down with an ice cold drink! It's a tradition for me to get the Wild Cherry soda and my BF loves his Orange Bang. Go home with a full happy tummy but if you are prone to IBS or anything, take some precaution! Haha
This is our first time here(hubby and I), and I'm no pastrami expert but wow!! The pastrami dip sandwich was delish!! Why? Because it was tender and moist and the bread was not hard to chew on!! The size of sandwich is medium size, not humongous like the ones at Deli Restaurants, which is perfect for someone who gets full fast. There is also a Drive-thru section too(it was busy with tons of cars on Saturday evening). And we also ordered Orange Bang...haven't had or seen that in ages!! The one I wanted was Pina Colada flavor, but they were out. We ordered their regular fries and that was also good. I apologize if you see double pictures because I thought I posted them already and I don't see it on my end. Fun place lots and lots of people. Depending how busy, may have to wait for someone to finish eating to get a table. There were outside tables too.
The hat always delivers no matter which location you pick. There are 4 signature things at this place that never fails... 1) Cold Turkey and Avocado sandwich (ask for chili peppers andd a side of aus jus, dip sandwich- you will thank me later), The chili cheese fries - (ask for extra tomatos, onions and pickles), the cherry coke (which is half strawberry fanta + coke, i believe), and the double dipped pastrami sandwich with swiss cheese added. Don't forget to order yellow chilies and aus jus containers on the side. This is a receipe for a total food coma... but, it is totally worth it. The food quality continues to thrive... even though the prices keep going up, you never second guess the quality from this place. The employees are friendly and service is fast. [[HIGHLIGHT]]Always plenty of seating if your choosing to dine in.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] [[HIGHLIGHT]]The restaurant is alwats clean and maintained.[[ENDHIGHLIGHT]] A+++
Review Insights
3 months ago
2 years ago
Fantastic pastrami and chili. I recently Was told that the Hat uses the same chili as Tommy's. Today's order is chili cheese fries with pastrami, so I get to enjoy their world famous pastrami and my favorite chili. Order and pay at the counter and they will call your number when your oorder is ready. Grab a table inside or if it's a nice day on the patio. Once your food is reready dig in. I highly recommend bboth the pastrami and chili. Ambiance is typical fast casual. read more
2 years ago
This place is consistently 10/10 in my book. This location has a drive thru! (Some locations do not) Staff is friendly service is quick considering there's usually a long line everytime I get here! This place has a casual ambiance to it so whether you're grabbing lunch or on the go to an event or wanting to eat out with your family this is a place for you. I ordered a pastrami dip sandwich HITS EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. (inserts the clapping emojis here haha) The meat is tender, juicy, warm, and seasoned perfectly The bread roll they use is perfect for catching the excess juice from the meat My sandwich had pickles and mustard but I'm a mustard kinda girl so I always request for extra mustard packets. I ordered a root beer this time for my drink, it was delicious and the balance of syrup and carbonation was on point. read more
3 months ago
They heap the meat deeply here. Anyone who orders pastrami in any format here is going to get it dropped on them. I saw plenty of sated diners struggling to finish devouring the meat & cheese mounds they ordered. Appetites are required here. I tried the chili fries. If I recall, an ample amount of french fries lay buried beneath an avalanche of chili, cheese, tomatoes, and pickles. I ate most of it before I started to feel the grease seeping from my pores. Pacing is key, and I had made the error of eating more than my body could process without hibernating for a season. Needless to say: a tasty dish. Ambiance? Ambience? late 19th century: from ambient + -ence, or from French ambiance, from ambiant 'surrounding'. I prefer the second iteration of ambience myself. In any case, ambience is a bit of a fancy term to describe a diner like The Hat. It's not like there were two dudes floating through the dining area serenading people with strains of music from their violins, or some chick laying on a grand piano belting out jazz numbers. Sometimes enough good fries are enough. read more
11 months ago
Man this place beats the in n out next door lol, just saying #1 best pastrami I have been eating for a while. Been coming here with my family and we honestly really enjoy the pastrami it's not salty nor fatty like other places we have tried. Has always been our come to place even on late night. Very quick service and friendly! Get to see food made right there and then everything is freshly made as well which is the greatest thing ever! The inside is always clean even restrooms are cleaned, very affordable to share a meal with a family. Fries are honestly the best and crunchiest as well and that chili hits that spot. Better fries than those soggy ones at in n out No literally! Not lying people, I recommend going there if you are near the area! read more
1 month ago
8 months ago
9 months ago
Wow didn't think a simple pastrami sandwich with mustard and pickles could blow me away like this did. Holy cow seriously crave worthy. The pastrami was so flavorful and had almost a bacon texture to it but was till super moist not sure how they do that. Walked in to get take out and I ordered and had my sandwich in less than 5 minutes. Staff was super friendly and the interior had the flare of the 70s. read more
1 year ago
This was my first visit to the Hat and I'm so upset I didn't come in sooner! This place is immaculately clean, from the dining area to the kitchen and even the bathrooms were spotless! We got our food super fast and it was so delicious! The pastrami was served in a soft bread roll and paired perfectly with mustard and sliced pickles. I've eaten pastrami at places like Katz deli in Manhattan and the Hat can run with the best of them! Please have the chili fries but only if you have 4 people to share them with! I will be claiming back real soon for the prices, the food, and the ambience! read more
5 months ago
1 year ago
Food was good with all the hype is true. Overwhelmingly generous portions of Pastrami sandwich with fries. Still busy on a Sunday at 8pm with cars lining up outside for takeout. Family style-friendly restaurant with old style feel. Average wait 20-30 minutes read more
2 years ago
As we left Los Angeles heading to Orange Coumty. We all agreed as a family "The Hat is where we will eat at. Upon our arrival I quickly noticed the drive thru was wrapped around all along imperial highway. Once inside it was busy I mean busy. Folks were waiting for food pick up , folks trying to get thier food ordered. I quickly realized we needed seats since we were dinning there. Every booth inside was taken. I gave my order to my friend so I could get a table outside. As we sat and enjoyed our food outdoors was perfect. Just like the chili! Food was perfect and hot with a whole Lotta chili !!!! read more
2 months ago
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11 months ago
Was craving pastrami sandwich, came order the pastrami sandwich and did not disappoint. Massive sandwich, bread nice and fluffy and soft. Service was fast. The always very busy. Parking is plenty, very hard to find seat since they are pretty busy inside. They have a drive through as well. My husband also tried the chilli fries, warning, it's really big! The sandwich heat up pretty well in the air fryer. read more
2 months ago
A coworker suggested this spot so we came in a group of 11 during lunch at around 11:15 am on a Friday. We had to sit at 3 separate tables but were close to each other. I got the pastrami dip sandwich which they pack with pastrami. The sandwich tasted fresh but definitely on the heavier side. Bread does get soggy if you don't eat it quick. 7.8/10 One of my coworkers got the chili cheese fries which was massive. It must've been 1400-1600 calories. Overall, the food was good and none of us had complaints. Since I found the food to be heavy, I would personally come back after a night out instead since they stay open late. read more
11 months ago
This location is superior. Pastrami dip always a go-to, the pastrami chili cheese fries were a perfect shared plate. Service is always quick at this location, and the ambience always busy here. Busy but never slow service. That's what makes this location top tier. read more
5 months ago
5 months ago
Drove through after spending forever trying to figure out what we wanted for dinner. It he inside was packed, so was the drive through, but the line moved quickly: we received our order. The our food, especially the fries were soooooooo hot and super fresh we had to wait for them to cool off before to eat them. The food was delicious as always and I'm already looking forward to our next visit. read more
3 years ago
My first meal back in SoCal didn't disappoint. It's been forever since I've been to The Hat, and man, I forgot how good their pastrami is! What to get: Pastrami dip - This one is a must! Comes packed with their famous pastrami on a soft roll. I surprisingly didn't mind the small amount of mustard spread on the roll. It's that good! Chili cheese fries - Make sure you top your order with pastrami, of course! This one is definitely shared item as the portion size is super generous. Service is super friendly and your order is ready in a decent amount of time despite how long the line may be. There's plenty of seating inside. Parking is ample in their lot. Bonus points for a drive-through! read more
2 years ago
Pastrami enthusiasts, this is a local mainstay and if you haven't tried them, you're doing yourself a disservice. Pastrami Dip is the classic way to go here; the bread is soft and slightly soggy, the pastrami is lean yet super juicy, the mustard and pickles bring on the perfect complementary tang if you're into that sort of thing. They are generous with their meat and the sandwich is pretty substantial without feeling disgustingly heavy. Now if you ARE looking for something disgustingly heavy, I highly recommend their chili cheese fries. The fries are fresh and pillow-y as is, and when you top them with the chili and cheese, you've got yourself a rich and meaty monstrosity. The chili is dense and greasy (think Tommy's), and then they pour on a blanket of shredded cheddar. Definitely the type of food you'd hunt for after a bit of partying. Good thing they're open late! Oh, and don't forget to grab plenty of napkins. You're going to need them. read more
3 months ago
1 year ago
Food is good workers friendly when they have time they look up and smile they are so busy, the line is out the door, it's a good sign, our once a month trip, People go!!!! read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
This was my first time going to this The Hat location and had a really good experience. I ordered my usual when ever I go to The Hat which is a pastrami dip, chili cheese fries and Fanta wild cherry soda. I really like the pastrami at this location. I feel that they sliced the pastrami thinner which I like. The bread is also really soft. The chili cheese fries is good and doesn't give you heart burn. The serving is also huge and 1 order is enough for 4 people to share. The wild cherry soda is so refreshing and complements the food really well. There are always lots of people, but the line moves quickly and service is quick. They also have a drive thru which is a plus. read more
2 years ago
Come here if you want to get super stuffed and food coma. I opted for the Chili Cheese Fries today w an Orange Bang, and the fries are fully loaded. You can most definitely share this portion with 3 other people. The meal is very fast food/heavy but hits the spot for late night munchies. Inside line and drive thru can both get pretty busy. I usually have better luck by going inside vs waiting the drive thru though! Easy to find and a convenient location. Ample parking available, but the drive thru like can definitely cause difficulty with getting in and out of spots. read more
More info about The Hat
1210 E. Imperial Hwy
Brea, CA 92821
Directions
(714) 257-9500
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http://www.thehat.com
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Ask the Community - The Hat
What delivery services are used by The Hat from Brea (closest) to Westminster? The Yelp site shows that delivery is available.....
Yes, it's the closest however, I don't know if they'll deliver that far. Besides most of the items that you order, there will be soggy by the time you get them it's better to visit the location if you can and eat the food when it's fresh.
What is the pastrami dip? Is it a sauce or?
A pastrami dip is when the bread is dipped into the au jus while the sandwich is prepared. Most restaurants serve it this way, only some call it a 'dip.'
Why does Yelp recommend reviews?
138 reviews that are not currently recommended
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The Hat - sandwiches - Updated August 2026
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