Pastrami? Call your mommy! Cuz she's gonna want some of this! Welcome to The Hat in Lake Forest! This iconic chain has been here since 1951, and its world famous pastrami is no joke! All the decor looks like you're stepping back in time, and it's perfect. Come up to the counter to order, and rejoice in the massive and tasty portions bestowed upon you. This is a guilty pleasure restaurant for sure. So don't come expecting a 5 star sit-down meal. Orders come out to-go, and you either plop down and eat it there, or speed into their drive-thru. Brandon and I ordered really simple here. A pastrami dip sandwich and some chili cheese fries. Look at how stuffed this sandwich is! Wowzers! It all gets to go in my mouth! Mustard, pickles, pastrami? Say less! Say less and say yes! Yeah I mean, the pastrami has been a staple for people in LA and Orange county for decades, so it's no wonder they've perfected the fast casual pastrami sandwich! We can't forget to mention the fries! These are thick fries that are meant to hold up to their gravy and of course, their chili cheese. This triumphant tall tower of totally tasty tubers is smothered in their chili and cheese before being served on a paper-lined tray. Dig in and get yourself ready for the perfect dirty food to help end the night! We couldn't even finish it, it was just so much food to enjoy. Get a 3rd or 4th throat in here if you want to eat it all! They're open 'til 11, which is late for South County, so get in line, and have a time! read more

I grew up in Southern California, the daughter of a pastrami, loving mother. She loved that when she was still alive and lived here we hadn't been to one in a while on our stay in this area we saw there was one close by.My husband and I visited after arriving on our trip back to California. This time we had hamburgers and they were cooked to order fresh and tasty same with the fries. Service was great. We ate inside and it was clean and comfortable Drive-through stayed busy the entire time we were there. Had sandwiches before and enjoying them. We decided to have Burgers this time and it was a good choice. Shredded lettuce on the burger. We are so bad that we stopped here to grab a bite. We will be back. read more

I generally don't go to this location but had to stop and review because of how great it was. Called in an order and the staff were super nice and understanding. When I got there all I had to do was give them my name and they pulled it up so I could pay. And of course the food was delicious and very affordable. read more

The Hat is slipping... their pastrami sandwich has increased in price by 35%, and decreased in size by 50%. It's sad to see another one bite the dust, but that's where they are headed off they keep this up, cause the large majority of their food isn't good. read more

Pastrami sandwich was great and up to expectations. Service was quick and efficient. Place was very crowded with only a couple tables available. The tables had crumbs and other debris left by others. I had to request someone to clean my table and they did quickly. The pastrami sandwiches are large and so is the helping of fries. I have no complaints. read more

Fantastic food! Most meat I ever had on a sandwich! They're the BEST for a reason I drive from Seal Beach because they are so DANG good!! read more

Cute little restaurant that seems like it has been around forever. The staff was nice. I asked what the most popular item is and he said it was the pastrami sandwich. Of course I had to try it. I've heard so many good things about it. I know that pastrami is fatty, but unfortunately, my cut was extremely fatty. It was just like chewing on fat rather than any meat. I only came here because I was getting my car worked on across the street. I will definitely not be returning. read more

The Hat - Pastrami sandwich - looks yummy but I could only eat half. - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I love this place. It's fast fast fast and very delicious. Needless to say I only come for the pastrami! YUMMY read more

Everything was great. The people were friendly and the food was tasty. I've been to several of the Hat restaurants and I have never had a bad experience. read more

Super awesome staff, very helpful and they held onto my purse when I left it in the bench. Super happy to get it back. I appreciate everyone

Brought my gf here for some amazing pastrami. A lot of people don't know you can ask to top you chili cheese fries with pastrami. Apparently even fewer people knew you could get chili cheese onion rings...with pastrami! That's exactly what I ordered with a traditional pastrami sandwich. Haven't had the Hat in a while but it was good as I remember. First time at this location but service was on point. Took a bit long to get my order taken but about 5 mins from completion of order to having the order ready. If you want a great classic pastrami sandwich come to the Hat! read more

The Hat - Chili cheese onion rings with pastrami - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Best place for pastrami in socal!!! So accommodating. They just close but willing to give us our order. From Vegas and is great!!! read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

The food is great! The pastrami is what they are known for, but the French dip is also great! The fries are ok, but the quantity they serve make us for the quality IMO. When it comes to ordering, speed is not what they are known for... it's going to take awhile. The drive through is unusable imo as there have been times where we waited 15-20 minutes to get our meal. The place is always pretty clean and has an old dinner shop feel. I do recommend the place, but go inside when you order and understand it's not fast food in terms of speed. read more

Today was a good day because it's the weekend, skies are blue and I got to go to The Hat for lunch! So many items on the menu but I always get the Pastrami Dip. I've tried other places but it's just not the same. My kids always get the chili cheese fries. Again, something you can get anywhere but The Hat does them the best! Went through drive-thru, fast service, no complaints at all. read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place never changes for me! There is definitely nothing healthy about the food here and thats exactly why I come here. Love their pastrami dip, super flavorful and juicy, not lean in any sense of the word, but it tastes really good. Also love their pastrami chili cheese fries! Still decent prices for what you get. I realize that i can't eat here on the daily for obvious reasons, but when im feeling like something tasty thats equally bad for me, this is my spot. Sometimes you gotta say F it and eat something naughty. read more

Love you guys over the many years in Lake Forest. I hate leave anything but 5 stars but I don't know any other way to connect. I just ordered the turkey on wheat. The bread was surprisingly dry and old. Somebody is not paying attention. read more

Fast service and delicious pastrami. I like getting the chili cheese pastrami fries. This place is a good late night fast food meal.

Had to come back again and give these guys 5 stars. Consistent sandwiches every time. Pastrami dip is the way to go. Bread is always fresh and the sandwich is always STUFFED with pastrami. Employees are great-asking if I need condiments. Keep up the good work guys!!! read more

Come on. Do I really need to review this? It's The Hat! They are the best of this style of pastrami sandwich. And the gravy fries?.... And everything else?.... If you haven't come, don't be stupid, come!! read more

You want Pastrami? Come here. It's a solid Pastrami. A little on the salty side but delicious. Surprisingly I discovered their Chili Fries, it's a must get but it is HUGE. You need 4 people to finish it if you get a sandwich. Another winner is the onion rings but honestly I had no more room in my stomach after getting the Chili Fries. read more

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

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I finally was able to try pastrami at a place that I have been recommended to. I got a pastrami sandwich, bbq sandwich, and chili cheese fries with a medium drink. It was quick to order and get my food too. I sat inside and overall would definitely recommend this place. A wide variety of menu. read more

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Used to love the food but haven't been in a while. Went recently and was disappointed. Pastrami didn't have the flavor it used to, very bland. Shared chili cheese fries and onion rings, those were still good and plentiful. Still, the disappointing pastrami will probably mean we won't be back again. read more

EVERY SINGLE TIME I visit my parents in Southern California, the very first order of business is a trip to The World Famous Hat, no questions about it. Try to get at least two trips in every time. Pretty much in all the states I lived in not compares to how good their pastrami sandwiches are . Like no one even comes close! Always takes awhile for you to get your food but every time it's well worth the wait. Been going since I could eat solid food the place always feels like I'm home. Always looks exactly the same at each location. Good times and good vibes. read more

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Received a gift card and thought how nice.... But it was how AWESOME!!! We had never been to restaurant so this was our first try.... sandwich was excellent!!! Packed with tasty meat and fresh!! Loved it!! read more

Great pastrami. World famous. My favorite. This is what I miss living in central CA. A huge sandwich stuffed with thinly sliced, delicious hot pastrami complete with pickles and mustard on a roll. Added banana peppers on the side for some zing. So scrumptious. This one in Lake Forest features a drive thru. Nice! So convenient as it was raining. The menu is large sized and easy to read. Service was very quick. Perfect for a rainy day. This is why the Hat has been a SoCal staple for decades. Thank you! read more

A good number of seats inside if you wanted to eat there, but they also have a drive thru which is great if you're not feeling up to leaving your car. We never have to wait for our food too long which is also nice. I switch between getting the chili cheese fries with pastrami on top and the pastrami dip. Chili cheese fries are my guilty pleasure LOL, and the pastrami is a great addition. And can I just say that the proportion for this is HUGE!!! I feel like this could be shared between 4 people and it's already inexpensive as a meal for 1. The pastrami dip is also really good if you're a fan of the meat. They stack a generous amount of pastrami too. read more

The Hat - chili cheese fries with pastrami - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Exceptionally good pastrami dip sandwich. Reasonably priced for the amount of food served highly recommend.

If you are craving a pastrami sammy, this is a good spot to check out. Nothing like a Katz' deli in NYC or a Langers in LA but still hits the spot for a quick fix. Their pastrami is tasty and stuffed in their sandwiches. If I were to indulge, I would go for their pastrami fries. They can also top their tamales with it. I'll have to try that one day. Conclusion: I would definitely recommend this for a pastrami lover on a budget. read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

I had the pastrami burger with fries. Very generous with the pastrami and fries. Food came out fast and was delicious.

Some comfort food for a descent price that leaves you stuffed and have enough leftovers for another meal. This place! They were busy, but moved along fast and kept the food warm. The servings are redic, so big, not soggy, full of flavor, cooked in house to serve. I haven't had fries like that ever and I would totally go back and try something else again. Everything on their menu sounds delicious. Also I think it's funny that they kept the vibe there totally in the 70's and 80's, I hope they keep the old time feel... as long as the food is good, no one cares. read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Service is great and establishment is always well kept and clean! Food is always consistently mouth watering. This is my favorite place for a pastrami sandwich! Repeat customer here! read more

I've been a loyal customer for years, and I was excited to return after a few months. However, I was shocked when my recent order didn't match what I was used to. I ordered two pastrami sandwiches and a larger onion ring, but when they handed me my order it felt much smaller than usual. I asked the staff if there had been a mistake, and the manager explained that corporate had changed the portion sizes. While I understand that businesses have to adjust, it was disappointing to find out about the change this way, especially without any notice or update. The quality of the food is still great, but the value seems to have taken a hit. I hope the company considers communicating these changes better to loyal customers moving forward. A heads-up about the new portion sizes would go a long way in maintaining trust. I would be willing to pay more for the old portion size.. Will probably think twice before ordering again read more

10a this establishment opens up where you can get some great food and enormous portions. The service here is always with a smile. I always enjoy seeing people enjoying their time to make others as in customers like myself feel welcomed and have positive energy throughout the day. It makes the food even worth it knowing the history of the hat. Place is always clean when I step inside vs going drive-thru. Tuna Sammy with wheat bread, Swiss cheese, and avocado. Add couple mustard packets and that's my fave!!! read more

Food: 3.5. Came by on a Thursday around 1 pm. Decided to go drive-thru. Line was long but moved very quickly. Ordered 3 pastrami dips with au jus. Sandwiches are a nice size for $11.99. One could almost make two sandwiches with the amount of meat in one sandwich. Food was ready fast and at the right temperature. This sandwich looks like my favorite Johnnie's Pastrami sandwich but that's it. They slice the meat thin and cook in juices. Bread/meat is dipped in juices prior to serving. Flavor even with the au jus was just good. Again, the consistency issue. Sometimes, The Hat pastrami tastes great and sometimes just good I've had better luck with consistency at their San Gabriel location. Staff was friendly and efficient Service: 4 Ambiance: N/A Value: _3.75 read more

The Hat - Cross section of Pastrami Dip - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Looked this up on Yelp, and referred by the hotel for lunch. If you expect NY style, you will be disappointed. But the quality of the Pastrami and the bread were very good and very filling . priced right, had the "World Famous Pastrami Sandwich " with pickles and mustard. side of Onion rings and a diet coke $20. Not a bad deal and really fresh. Very good for a local Calif joint! read more

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I came super late at night but luckily this place was open pretty late. I ordered a chili cheese fries and added pastrami because that's what they're known for a man they didn't disappoint! They gave a massive amount of pastrami and it was pippin hot. It was not too salty so it didn't overpower the rest of the meal. I wish the fries could be a little crisper so next time I would advise asking for chili on the side. They served it in a to go cup box so it was a little awkward to eat. The place itself was pretty lit up and had a good oldies vibe to it. Overall, pretty good spot if you're craving some pastrami and some good chili! Bring another person because it's a lot of food! read more

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

First off the parking and location are convenient. Easy to get in, easy to get out of the parking lot. This was the Lake Forest location. Upon entering the restaurant, I noticed how clean and well kept it was. Its decor is something like a 1960's sandwich shop, and the chairs and tables are well made and well maintained. The large menu behind the cashier made it easy to see all the selection options available. Also, plenty of staff members who were attentive, but not overbearing because I wanted to look at the menu for awhile before ordering. I ordered the pastrami sandwich on rye bread, which was a nice option, rather than a hoagie roll, and fries. Both the sandwich and the fries were delicious. Neither were greasy, and l was just impressed with the taste and quality overall. This was my first time eating here, but I will definitely be coming back. read more

The Hat is always a good thing! We are lucky to have one So OC. Open late and delish...enjoy! read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

This place used to be good. The food is very greasy and not as flavorful. The quality of the food has gone down. Very disappointing.

For the first at this location The Hat in Lake Forest is by far my favorite. As a self-proclaimed pastrami connoisseur (yes, it's a thing), I can confidently say that this place has the best pastrami in all of Orange County. I recently made the trek all the way from Vegas just to experience this pastrami paradise, and boy, was it worth it! The first bite transported me to a world where angels sing and cows roam free, blissfully unaware of their delicious destiny. It was a spiritual awakening, let me tell you. I might have shed a tear or two, but who's counting? The service at The Hat is top-notch. The staff knows their stuff and they treat you like a long-lost cousin who just won the lottery. I guarantee you'll be writing love letters to pastrami for weeks to come with a full belly and a pastrami-induced smile! read more

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