The hat is a great classic greasy spoon for pastrami that originated in LA and has spread across the Southland. The restaurant in Lake Forest has plenty of seating in indoor and outdoor, and the staff are really nice. On this occasion I had Fries with pastrami and it was delicious! It is a little bit greasy, and I would've liked to have been able to order a smaller fries, because I ended up throwing away quite a bit of excess fries. read more

The Hat - Fries with Pastrami - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

We love The Hat but not today. They were efficient processing the lunchtime crowd and always cheerful but the food and service suffered. The Pastrami Dip was messy before we dug in. The generous portion of small size onion rings were barely warm. Not good at all. Normally, we would have gone back and asked for fresh ones but we eat so few, we let it go. Our drink order never made it on the ticket. We went back and were cheerfully assisted. Finally, the dining room needed attention. Normally, there's an amazing woman constantly cleaning up but neither she nor anyone else was present. There were several messy tables that needed cleaning. Urp. There's something magical about this location that was sorely missing today. The Hat's Pastrami Dips and onion rings are a rare treat but today felt like punishment. We will come back when we start Jonesing for pastrami but don't think it'll be anytime soon. Our arteries may thank us but we are bummed. read more

The Hat - Pastrami Dip and French fries - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Eating at The Hat was on my bucket list and I finally had an opportunity so I took it. This was my very first visit to The Hat. I had late evening rations after a doctor appointment and a partial day trip. I had a made to order Pastrami Sandwich, French Fries and a self service drink. The sandwich was excellent. The French Fries were decent. I was disappointed that Pepsi was not offered. Men's washroom was clean and paper towels were available... good. However there was only one urinal and only one commode which I think is deficient considering this location was busy late in the evening. I have a bone to pick about the personal appearance of some of the employees. I noticed that the majority of the guys failed to tuck their shirts in. I consider that to be a highly unprofessional look. This is something I am OCD about so I am dinging this establishment a point. If I was to assign a letter grade as is done in school this establishment would get a solid B. read more

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Very cool place. Staff is nice, food good, would prefer toasted bread for their pastrami but it's still tasty. Small onion rings are huge portion. $18 for both classes pastrami and small order of onion rings. A must try read more

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I've been to several of The Hat locations and the Lake Forest one did not disappoint!!! The food is fresh, cooked to order, with generous portions. Be aware the large fries and onion rings can easily feed 3 people. We love their burgers, pastrami dips, fries, and onion rings. The food also comes out pretty quickly. Service is always great. So many workers moving the food along, cleaning the tables, and running the cash register. Even when they are busy, they have a great system (almost better than In-N-Out!). The dining area has an old school vibe which is nostalgic for me remembering the good old days of dining here as a teenager. It's clean and spacious. I wish they had a location in San Diego but I'll be definitely stopping by the next time I'm in the area! read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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The Hat is the place that I come to for comfort food. Their Pastrami Dip ($12.60), Onion Rings ($4.85), and Chili side ($2.99) always hits the spot. Occasionally, I get their chili cheese fries, but I can never finish it with everything else that I want to order. They continue to serve up really good food with generous portions. I'm a bit bummed that they don't leave out the pickled peppers for self-serve anymore. You have to ask for them and they only give you a few at a time. Prices have gone up, but it is still a deal for the amount of food you get compared to other places. I like that they haven't updated the look of the place all these years because there is nostalgia in keeping things the way they are. read more

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Stopped by the Hat for lunch today. Very busy location but worth the wait. They're known for their Pastrami so when in Rome...I must say the Pastrami is delicious but the bread was a bit over steamed. The fries and O rings are damn good. Seating is first come, so it can be tough during lunch rush. read more

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

I can't believe I forgot how good this place was. Honestly, I think it's even better than what I remembered. Food came out fast. Tasted great. Hit the spot in a major way. Wish I lived closer...it's probably better that I don't. Lol. read more

The Hat - Ham and cheese. - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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The Hat is a favorite in our house for many reasons. The interior reminds you of what an LA diner feels like. The staff is extremely kind. I purchased one of their 75th anniversary shirts and they showed me the different colors and explained the sizing! My favorite thing to get is the chili fries with pastrami and onion added on. It is indulgent but the combination can't be beat! I also love the pastrami burger because of the contrast with the tomato and lettuce and the pastrami. It's located in a shopping plaza so there's a lot of parking available. We've ordered to eat in and the drive thru and both are great options that give large portions! read more

The Hat - Chili Fries with Pastrami and Onions added! - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Came here on my first visit with my daughter and had to go with the world famous pastrami dip sandwich and chili fries with cheese and small order of onion rings. Simple enough. Did not realize how much food that would be! The small order of onion rings comes in a bag!! (Onion rings were my favorite!) They use a take out tray and fill it with fries and chili. The sandwich was full of pastrami! It is a bit greasy but still delicious. Inside is clean and we were able to find a table easily. With so much food, I only was able to finish half the sandwich and brought the rest home. read more

The Hat - Pastrami sandwich, chili cheese fries, small onion rings - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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The Hat in Lake Forest absolutely delivered. I ordered the pastrami dip sandwich with a small order of onion rings, and the portions were massive. Honestly, it was more than enough to split between two people. The pastrami was flavorful, tender, and stacked generously. And the onion rings were easily some of the best I've had -- perfectly crispy on the outside and still light inside. Service was great, staff were friendly and the place was not too busy. Parking is easy. If you're hungry and want solid comfort food with huge portions, this place does not disappoint. Definitely coming back. read more

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

The Hat is a classic SoCal chain, approaching its 75th anniversary this year! This was my first visit to the Lake Forest location and it was like stepping back in time. It looks exactly like something out of the 50's - from the signs behind the counter to the seating. For $12.60, you can get a pastrami sandwich, which is a deal! It's thinly sliced and fatty, with mustard and pickles. I shared mine and also got a tuna melt ($11.25) to make my meal a little healthier (LOL). Tuna melt was decent, though the tuna salad was still cold since it was added after the sandwich was grilled. The real star was the onion rings. I got a small order ($4.85) and got more than twice the amount I expected. If you like onion rings, The Hat is the place to go! read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Haven't been to the Hat in a many years since I don't live close. Went back recently and it still holds true that their Roast Beef Au Jus is my favorite pastrami sandwich here in California with its tasty flavors. Size-wise, it doesn't look too big but it filled me up fast and was able to take the other half home. It does not come with a dip since it already comes pre-dipped. Also ordered a side of onion rings to split with my husband. The rings are huge, batter is nice and crunchy, and they give you a generous amount! Available for drive-thru and there are many indoor seats (diner style) and a few outdoor ones. We went on a Saturday night around 9pm and we didn't have to wait very long for the food. read more

The Hat - Roast Beef au Jus - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I've been coming to The Hat since I was a UC Irvine student, and it never disappoints. My go-to order is the pastrami chili cheese fries. Sure, it's gone up in price over the last decade, but the flavor and portion size makes it completely worth it. Their burgers and regular fries are solid as well. We love that they have piña bang here too! read more

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

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My daughter wanted to try something that you can only find in SoCal and the Orange Bang at The Hat was it. I was going to do the drive thru but somehow missed the entrance. She went inside and brought one back. It tasted like an orange creamsicle (at least to me). There is a decent amount of parking. Worth a try! read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Everything from their French dip, pastrami burger, pastrami, hotdog, is wonderful. I can always get the pastrami on the side too, and enjoy both separately if preferred! Furthermore, It seems like every three months I have a new favorite menu item at this place. Last two months it's been the lately it's been the "tuna sandwich", which may seem simple, and unexciting BUT somehow The Hat has once again, combined all the ingredients that would make a dull tuna sandwich. Wonderful! Additionally, Service is always polite and fast. The environment is always friendly, festive, positive. Always enjoyable to see the expressions / reactions of customers ordering the pastrami fries, and then seeing what a HUGE generous order it is - snd at such a great price.! read more

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Something changed over the years. In a good way. Much less fat. Leaner cuts. Huge bag of fries. Love the size of the sandwich for the price. Great value. Love the dip! It's the only thing I've tried here TBH. Fries and dip. Love it late night! read more

There are plenty of parking spaces, and they also have a lot of indoor seating. You order at the counter first, then sit at any open table. I ordered the chili cheese fries and the pastrami dip. They're known for their pastrami, and it was definitely delicious! It was flavorful, tender, and not dry at all. They even cut the sandwich in half for you, which makes it much easier to eat. The chili cheese fries were tasty too, but most of the cheese and chili were on top, making it a bit hard to mix everything evenly. Recommendation(s): - Chili Cheese Fries - Pastrami Dip Service: 5/5 Tip(s): - Plenty of indoor seating - Plenty of parking available - Restrooms available read more

Usually go for pastrami sandwich, but had a taste for a sandwich and glad to have tried this delicious turkey sandwich on french roll bread was soft, fresh, lots of turkey meat, and delicious!!! read more

The Hat - Turkey Sandwich on French Roll - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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I recently visited The Hat and had a really enjoyable experience overall. The highlight of the meal was definitely the onion rings. they were absolutely delicious. They came out hot, crispy, and perfectly golden, with a light, crunchy batter that wasn't greasy or heavy. The onions inside were tender and flavorful, making them some of the best onion rings I've had in a long time. That said, one area where the restaurant could really improve is they need some vegan options. The current menu is very limited for plant-based customers, and adding more vegan-friendly choices would make the restaurant more inclusive and appealing to a wider range of diners. With the growing demand for vegan meals, this would be a great update for the future. Overall, I'd happily return for those amazing onion rings and hope to see more vegan options added soon. read more

Wow, I've never been here and heard a lot about it. I thought the food would be gross, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good it was. I much prefer the sandwich from here over the one from Phillips in LA. I got the world famous pastrami as well as their chili tamale. I totally did not expect the chili tamale to be just a tamale with chili and cheese and pickles on top of it. It wasn't a bit odd but I love salty fatty savory food so it was delicious. The place was packed and had a lot of people in there with the lines move quick. If you are looking for some comfort food that really hits the spot I would not hesitate to recommend the hat read more

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This place is so good I love the chili cheese pastrami fries but the fact they only have one size and that size is HUGE meant for 4 people to share and if I want just a small portion, they don't have that option. They really need to make a smaller size. read more

Gotta give this classic eatery props for doing what it does well. If you want a good pastrami sandwich, this is absolutely where you go. The onion rings are fantastically crispy without being overly greasy as well. My husband loves his food every time he orders here. While I'm not a big pastrami person, I've tried their other items and found them to be more than adequate, even the turkey burger, which can often be dry and tasteless - it was pretty good here. Service is efficient and friendly. The Hat deserve its rep as a Southern California classic. read more

What a great place - the pastrami dip and roast beef were large in portion, fulfilling and delicious. Live the small fries as they're quite big portion. Staff were friendly fly and helpful. Ambiance is as if you traveled back in time to 1989, just a classic place you must visit in Southern California! read more

The Hat - Roast Beef (au Jus) - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

A classic with quick service and food that hits all of the fast food cravings. There's a decent amount of parking available. They have mostly indoor seating with some outdoor seating available. They have a fairly large menu with lots of different options but they are most known for their pastrami. You order at the register and they give you a number that they will call once your food is ready. The food comes out quickly and they give very generous portions of meat in the sandwiches. The pastrami has really good flavor and it is definitely big enough to be shared. We asked for cheese on our chili fries and it added to the taste of the dish. The fries were surprisingly not salty at all. The steak sandwich was more on the well done side, but still had good flavor. The hot dog was fairly small and a little bit tough. The cheeseburger was on the smaller size as well. The onion rings come in a very generous portion and have the perfect ration of crispy batter to onion. read more

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Stopped by The Hat and had a great classic diner experience! I ordered a burger and small fries. The burger was exactly what you want from a classic diner. Soft buns, fresh lettuce and tomatoes, and just the right amount of thousand island dressing. The small order of french fries were actually a generous portion. The staff were friendly and the place has such a nostalgic classic feel it really takes you back to a simpler, old-school diner vibe. read more

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Love The Hat ever since I was introduced to it many years ago. I'd say I'm not a huge pastrami fan but am always down for their famous pastrami sandwich. This was my first time at this location and it has the same feel as others. We went between lunch and dinner so it was empty and we got our sandwich within 1 minute. I can see why they are well-known and loved, the pastrami was so flavorful and the mustard and pickles go so well. read more

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Needless to say, I've only ever had their pastrami dip sandwich whenever I come here. The simplicity of the sandwich is what I appreciate, piled high with pastrami spilling out the sides, and with a few pickles inside. I got the chili cheese fries to this time which I thought was okay, a little salty, but in some ways still it's the spot. The location itself is great with plenty of parking. Service is always quick, but there's also a drive-thru for those who need it. I always try to stop by whenever I'm in the area for a quick bite. read more

The Hat - Pastrami Dip Sandwich and Chili Cheese Fries - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The portions are huge and easily enough for a 2nd meal to go. If you want an old school diner vibe/food, this is the place to go. Staff is always great and the place is always clean. Service is also usually pretty quick every time I go. read more

worst place ever they dont speak english and charge for everything small. Want a spoon or bbq sauce wait 10 mins and bad attitude. I'm never coming back again. read more

It was busy, but our food came fast and the chili fries were humongous. Everything was delicious.

Finally got to try this place after hearing about it for so many years. We tried the pastrami sandwich, of course and burger. The large fries was enough for the three of us to share. We also tried the potato salad per another review. It was good, but I'll skip it next time and stick with the fries or maybe try the onion rings actually. The pastrami wasn't too salty at all and it was just right. The bun was warm and soft. It all went down easily with the fries. Will definitely come back here when we're craving these sandwiches. Service was friendly and they seemed to have plenty of staff on hand. The restaurant and restrooms were clean. We enjoyed our quick stop and looking forward to the next visit. read more

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Food is amazing! Service was great! Lots of families hanging out eating great food. Tried the pastrami fries with chili and the works. Enough food for probably 3-4 people. Yummm read more

Man talk about getting bang for your buck, this place is it. The food, especially the pastrami sandwich are amazing. I love their chili cheese fries. And your food comes out pretty quick. Try getting a side of gravy to dip with your fries, soooooo good. read more

The Hat - Steak sandwich with fries and a side of gravy - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

If I'm in the neighborhood of the Hat I go out of my way to go here . Service is good and efficient. Sometimes I eat in my truck because getting a table can be somewhat difficult at busy times. I have never been disappointed with anything from here . The Pastrami sandwich is great ( always ! ) the fries are great and lots of them . Onion rings are really good too. The burgers are tasty as well . If you have a big appetite try the pastrami fries . OMG ! read more

The only issue I have with this place is their fries. I came here countless times for their pastrami sandwich and it's amazing. But the fries here are either a hit or miss (most of the time it's a miss). Their fries are so soft and soggy. I took off 2 stars because fries are very important to me and it does define the experience. One time I asked the staff if they can re-make the fries and they said "no" because that's how it is. But there are other times when I go and their fries are sometimes decent. Not sure who or what to believe. But their fries suck. read more

This is my first time to this SoCal staple. They are known for the Pastrami Dip sandwich. We all ordered that to give it a whirl. We also ordered Onion Rings and the kind of famous Wet Fries. The Pastrami was lean and cured to perfection. We ordered it on Sourdough but it also comes on wheat and rye bread. My recommendation is to eat it there and not to go if your drive is long as the bread did get soggy. The Onion Rings were great and served pippin hot. The Wet Fries were also served hot but you also need a fork and as they were covered in a delicious brown gravy. Please check with your cardiologist before ordering these. I would definitely go back but dine in for sure. The location was clean and the drive thru quick. read more

The Hat - Pastrami Dip and Wet Fries. - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Love it love it love it!!!! The pastrami is the best I have ever had! Even the hotdogs are great! Add the orange whip and it's the best ! read more

I made visited this restaurant again recently. I had their roast beef sandwich for the first time. A generous amount of tender roast beef was served up on a nice roll with Au jus. The meat was lean and flavorful. This was paired with a "small" order of fries. (Beware that the "small" fries is enough for 2+ people.) I experienced the same great service I have grown to expect at this location. The restaurant was very clean. read more

Pastrami dip sandwich is a classic. Had it again after many years. Still the pretty much the same. Very tasty Skip 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. read more

The Hat - Chili sucks. Very pastey and meh flavor. See the chili up top is molded to the cup shape. Not normal! This was fresh in the parking lot. - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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