Pretty good gives off homemade soul food, service was plain simple and quick, definitely worth trying at least once read more

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

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Went here yesterday with friends. For 50 years now I always order the pastrami dip and I love it. Lately, whoever is in charge of cutting the sandwich in half is not doing it properly. It is never cut all the way through and then we have to pull it apart. Please correct this. Thanks read more

I've been to other locations and never complained this was disappointing. Something is different not sure the bread the fries were soggy and under cooked. I paid $43 for two sandwiches one large fri and two drinks. Here's the thing I don't mind spending the money on good food this wasn't that. read more

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 Pastrami Sandwich is definitely a winner and the onion rings were some of the best that I have had.

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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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

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

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

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

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

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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I have tried this place for the first time and I have to say I'm highly sensitive to the salty flavor not even the fries with cheese could make my taste buds handle. I'm not sure if this was the intended purpose. However I was not fully disappointed I would say if I need to fill my tummy it will do that fast. Not sure if I liked it though like something you need to have a few beers to get going. The service was fast and the place seems packed which is a plus because you feel the good vibes. 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

The Hat, a staple since 1951. 74 years serving their classic pastrami sandwiches. I visited this location in Lake Forest recently and was impressed with the smell of grilled onions. Like Ratatouille , I was using my cranial nerve 1 (CN1) using my olfactory sense like a champ trying to find out why every time I asked Javier I couldnt have grilled onions in my pastrami sandwich when I could clearly smell grilled onions. Mystery solved! Onions were coming from Onion rings! Sign me UP! Oh boy, was I impressed by my Onion Rings. I kid you not, I couldn't control myself. This place hands down has the best, onion rings! The texture, crunchy , the taste: morgasmic, the quality: chef's kiss! Im coming back just for the onion rings! The signature classic Pastrami sandwich was equally delicious. Now, let's be real, is it the healthiest choice: NO! However, if one must indulge in one of life's simplest pleasures once in a blue moon, then I say: hell yea, go for it! Let's talk about logistics: inside the restaurant has plenty of seating, clean bathrooms, and overall inviting. The parking is plentiful and has a great amount of ADA parking, plus a ramp! 5/5 for accessibility. If you are in the area in Lake Forest, I suggest stopping by. This location is next to Taco Bell, the Subaru dealership. Will be coming back. read more

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Finally got to try the famous pastrami sandwich. It goes well with ketchup, otherwise it seems a little dry and salty. I remove the pickles from the sandwich. I think eating half a sandwich at a time would have been satisfying enough, however, i finished the whole sandwich in one sitting and the sandwich became too salty. Anyway, I am glad I got to try it. Next time I will try their other items on the menu. read more

The pastrami is so good it might just make you question your life choices--and the chili cheese fries? I'm pretty sure they're illegal in some states. I don't usually venture to this part of town, but a work meeting got me in the area, and the hunger pangs kicked in like a Ronda Rousey move. I strolled into The Hat, ordered a pastrami sandwich, chili cheese fries, and a Diet Coke because, well, I'm a sensible lady and BALANCE. I was sitting, texting the LOML, waiting for my food. I was excitedly telling him about the yummy sandwich & fries I was about to devour. That Foo' bet me $50 that I couldn't finish the meal. I confidently accepted the challenge, thinking, "Yeah, I'm a normal-sized person. This is totally doable." Brahhhhh....it wasn't. I was served enough food to feed a small village. I knew in that moment I was going to leave this place $50 poorer and eating my words. As for my dignity? Well, let's just say it's in a food coma somewhere in the back of my throat. Pros: The food was perfect. 10/10 would eat again, even if it bankrupts me. I mean, are you kidding me??? It was delicious. Cons: I lost a bet, gained 5 pounds, and discovered what true regret feels like. Next time, I'm bringing my man to help me with all this food! read more

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

My first time going to The Hat Delicious quality food, large portions at a great price......What more could you ask for!!!! I will definitely be coming back read more

Great sandwiches and chili dogs. Noted for pastrami and roast beef. Fries are excellent. Sit down, family atmosphere. To go available. Please is nice and clean. read more

I love this place. I make a point to stop by whenever I'm in area. I love pastrami sandwich and they make the best I've had in LA and SD. Service is always on point. Dining area is always clean and definitely a 3 thumbs up for restroom cleanliness. read more

My wife and I ate there for lunch today and it was GREAT! The food the service was so good what a fantastic restaurant and great prices and huge servings. I will be there probably every week I can't wait to go back, If you love good food and great people that give you the best service this is a must stop!! 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

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

When u walk in, you notice the steam coming up from the kitchen.....which reminds me of a Deli scene from a movie. The way they loudly call out your order gives me an east coast deli vibe. Lots of seating. Semi open kitchen. Food is good. Great customer service. Clean. Food portions are good. Tasty food. read more

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

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Born and raised in SoCal there's nothing like the pastrami sandwich. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water. The Hat is by far the best pastrami around. Now I used to go to yellow basket as a kid and they were the bomb. I will say though that my husband introduced me to The Hat and that's what I've had every time visiting the area. Treat yourself. It's delicious! read more

The Hat - Pastrami with small fries and onion rings. Oh yeah! - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Great pastrami, roast beef, fries & onion rings. Their portions are LARGE. Pricing was a bit higher than I expected & that's my only negative. Our first visit was great!!!! read more

Stepping into The Hat for the first time I got New York Deli vibes in the best sense of the term. Although don't confuse what they have in their menu as NY Deli like but the atmosphere is quite similar to it. What seems like original interior, white collar and blue collar people sitting side by side and the kitchen staff cranking out food at an incredible pace. I ordered the Pastrami Dip and Wet fries (fries with gravy). The pastrami dip was greasy and came with pickles and mustard already on it on a soft white bread roll. The fries were good but tasted rather under cooked. I would advise customers to split a side of fries because the portion is massive. I would highly recommend going to this restaurant but instead of getting the fries, consider the onion rings instead as I had a couple and they were well cooked and delicious. read more

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Order pastrami chili cheese fries and large onion rings. Pastrami portion was half the normal amount. The onion rings seemed to be less than a small order and they were way overcooked to being burned. I have been going to this place for years but not anymore. Previous times I order small fries and onion rings and they would fill half the bag. Now it's even 1/4 to 1/2 the portion now. read more

The Hat is one of those SoCal restaurant businesses that has been around forever. What they offer is really very-very good pastrami. Yes, they have other meat options and other things like fries and stuff but what they're really known for is their pastrami. And, it's very good. This is one of their newer locations. They've expanded all across the LA/OC area. Their location in Pasadena remains my favorite. This being said, this location is very well designed. It is very The Hat. They have a nice indoor dining area with a number of tables and some booths. They also have a couple of tables outside, if you want to eat in the fresh air. They also have a drive-through at this location. So, if you want to grab your sandwich, and or or whatever, on the go, this option is available to you. Overall, if you're looking for a really good pastrami sandwich, this is your place to go if you're in Lake Forest. read more

I grew up getting pastrami dips from the Hat so it is my benchmark for pastrami's! I love the pastrami and the onion rings. It's fast food but great quick service. It's a typical fast food place with self table sitting. Nostalgic and now my kids love the pastrami from here too! Always clean and bright so comfortable to eat at. read more

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As a northeasterner in Southern California, who lived on the New England side of the New York City metro area, my standard for pastrami is pretty high. The Hat meets the highest expectations and is a great, simple, unpretentious hang. Highly recommend this place. Fast service, great food, great vibe. It's a chain but it boasts a more mom and pop feel than most chains do. read more

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

Best Pastrami Dip hands down. Must try if you haven't before. This is a quarterly place for me to visit with friends or family.

So good. We've been to a few other locations. This one is small and happened to be near our hotel. What a coincidence! We got here around 11:30 and there was not an empty table in sight. It's not hard to see why because it was soo good. We shared a pastrami sandwich. It is the best thing on the menu. I heard the onion rings are really good too. Long live the Hat!! read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

For a fast food place it was really great. I got the pastrami. My boyfriend got the beef. It was worth trip going there.

Disappointed, grew up on the hat. Staff was terrible. Went through the drive thru, Almost went inside because it was so empty but decided to stay in the car after a long day ... the speaker box cuts out during my order so I repeat 5 times " but then a line of cars built up so I pull forward... I get the window shut on my face. Then proceeds to cut me off before I explain the situation. " uhh well you can take your order here and pick it up inside or go through it again... we're really busy." The craziest thing he said .. " WE ARE OUT OF MEAT " when behind him a guy is packaging up a meal. I gave up and went somewhere else. It's called ACCOUNTABILITY and MANNERS. VERY DISRESPECTFUL AND VERY DISAPPOINTING. read more

This place is popular for their pastrami however I really like to get the tuna sandwich and chili cheese fries. The tuna sandwich is especially good on a warm day. The chili cheese fries are enormous definitely shareable. The chili has a good flavor not overly salty and they put lots of cheese. The fries are a bit thicker but crispy and soft. Service is always quick and restaurant is always clean. read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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Everyone knows about The Hat's location in the Inland Empire, but I cannot convey to you the extreme shock and joy I experienced while driving in Lake Forest and spotting one in OC! I immediately pulled my car over and grabbed a pastrami sandwich. AND IT DIDN'T DISAPPOINT. The service was quick, the food was fantastic, and the price was just right. I wish there were more in OC! read more

It's The Hat. Best pastrami in SoCal - I know there's other stuff on the menu, but I've never been able to pass up the pastrami. read more

The Hat - Sunset at The Hat - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

Love this place, they have the best pastrami sandwich and it's big enough to share with a their fries. My only complaint is their chili, it has no flavor at all. We always order it on the side and add some of the pepper juice and salt in it then dip our fries. We also found their secret menu pastrami fries and we were so excited to try but unfortunately was, disappointed. read more

The Hat - Chili - we order this on the side to dock it up - American Near Me - Lake Forest, California

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