Food: amazing food with a history of being an iconic restaurant for decades Staff: they did their job and it was fast and efficient. Ambiance: it's a basic burger joint as far as ambience goes. Its clean and there are plenty of places to sit. read more

Good food. Great service. Stylish oldschool diner type restaurant. I've been coming to this place for ages! And it has always stayed consistent in satisfying my pastrami cravings! This place is perfect stop for great pastrami sandwich, chili fries and a delicious root beer every time I'm driving through :) Thanks for feeding me all these years! Keep it going! read more

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Food: 5 Mics Service: 5 Mics Ambiance: 5 Mics Food: Pastrami dip as is. Generous sized servings of pastrami, pickles, mustard and broth dipped French roll. It was a melt in your mouth tender pastrami and very filling. The sandwich alone filled me up, no need to add fries...I will admit I wanted to add fries but glad I did not. Service: The service was great. No complaints but nothing to rave about. Cashier was kind and had service with a smile. Ambiance: Loved the ambiance here. It was clean and had diner vibes. You can watch the line make every sandwich! Stop in, if you're in the area. There is parking, no line at 11:45am on Thursday when I went. You won't regret it. read more

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The Hat has been a staple in my life since the 1980's. And it's still as good as ever. I always get the pastrami dip (dry) with mustard and pickles. Then add mayo. Best pastrami around. It is thinly sliced but still moist. Bread is soft. Really good. They also have good chili cheese fries. Staff is always great and fast. I do miss the grab and go condiment station, but that is typical post-Covid. read more

The Hat - Pastrami sandwich - A close-up image of a pastrami sandwich with shredded pastrami meat and pickles inside a soft, white bun. The sandwich is partially wrapped in yellow paper with black text, and the filling appears moist and tender. The image emphasizes the texture of the shredded meat and the bread, highlighting the sandwich's ingredients. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

We wandered in just a few minutes before closing time, but the helpful staff still served us an amazing pastrami sandwich. It was HUGE! We took it to go, as we were actually heading to another iconic west coast eatery. We had quite a feast back in our hotel room. I want to reiterate that the team on this Saturday night in May was so friendly to let us order in spite of serendipitously showing up mere minutes before closing. That sandwich was so incredibly tasty, too! Now that we KNOW about The Hat, I definitely want to return, and dine-in. read more

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I used to go eat there every time I can, we love that food from there.now where moved and we don't have any close by.

They have a parking lot, but it says only 45 minutes to dine in. I eat slow, so i hope we dont get a ticket or car towed for that. The cashier who took our order was super nice and was kind enough to change my order at the last minute (after he called out what needed to be made). I wanted a ham and cheese sandwich, but i wanted it as a melt, but wasnt sure if they were able to do that. I saw a sign that they are able to do it. Hence, why he was super nice about changing my order. It was a cold night, and not many people where dining in when we arrived, but it got busy as we were waiting for our food. Our number was called and we got our food. I opened up my sandwich and I pulled it apart, it looked so good! It was so cheesy! I pulled the slices of bread apart to see if there was any ham because that was a LOT of cheese! Sadly, it was just a grilled cheese sandwich that was DELICIOUS, but it was the wrong sandwich. I brought it back up to the counter and the guy had to confirm with the cashier, understandable. He took what I had and threw it away. They remade my sandwich. Once the new sandwich was done, the cashier brought it to where I was sitting and apologized for the wrong order. It was a delicious sandwich and I hope all the other locations have that available! read more

The Hat - Ham and cheese melt - A person wearing a yellow hoodie holds a ham and cheese melt sandwich, which is cut in half to reveal layers of sliced ham and melted cheddar cheese inside toasted bread. The sandwich is wrapped in yellow paper with a pattern. In the background, there are plates with ketchup and French fries on a wooden table, indicating a casual dining setting. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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This review is based on a takeout order only. So many times I heard this is the place I'd one wants a pastrami sandwiches. And the only reason I haven't been is because it's just too much of a drive from home. And then one day, Hubbers found himself nearby, called and asked if I wanted one. "Yes, please!" was the resounding answer. I asked for a plain (no pickles, no mustard, toasted bread.) Home after his long drive, the aroma pulls you in immediately. The sandwiches come sliced in half, so that's convenient. First bite and yum.com! The meat, of course, is the very center of this grub. It was juicy and well seasoned. The bread was soft and fluffy (didn't really experience the toasted part.) Overall delicious! FOOD: 5. Quality and quantity. Plenty for a second meal. SERVICE: N/A. VALUE: 3.5. PARKING: N/A. OVERALL: 4.25. Wish it was closer to home. But definitely trying it in person n should the opportunity come through! read more

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The place was just as clean as in Glendora. A bit smaller. A crowd came right after we sat down, good timing. The staff was accommodating.and took and had our at pickup counter in reasonable time. My favorite pastrami is my order. Again, it was filling for me eating only half. Guess I get two dinners for one. A bit expensive at $12.60 plus tax, about $14.00. We got a hamburger and two drinks, free refill. Still paid out about $31.00. read more

The Hat - Pastrami Dip - A partially eaten pastrami sandwich with sliced meat and pickles is shown on yellow branded paper from The Hat, placed on a wooden table. The sandwich is cut in half, revealing the meat and condiments inside. A tube of horseradish sauce is positioned nearby, and the paper features the restaurant's logo and branding. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Simple pastrami and beef dip sandwiches are the best from here. They have alternatives too such as grilled cheese.

Do you love Pastrami sandwiches? How about eating in a historic establishment with California history? You can do both right here! We shared one of these huge sandwiches and a small bag of fries, sorry no pics we were hungry. It's a small place where you hope to find a parking place off street. Walk in and order at the counter from a large menu on the wall, pay there take your number and find a seat. In a short time you'll have that hot pastrami in your hungry hands. It is big enough to share, but then again maybe you won't want to. read more

The Hat - The place you want to go for Pastrami Sammies! - The sign features a large, illuminated chef's hat at the top, with the name 'The Hat' in stylized yellow script on a red background. Below, a yellow section lists 'World Famous Pastrami' and menu items such as burgers, dogs, and chili. The sign is set against a clear blue sky, with a streetlamp visible at the bottom. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I absolutely love The Hat's French dip sandwiches and fries. The portions are large for me, typically lasting two meals, and the food is so good! We keep trying French dip sandwiches at other places, but it never comes close to The Hat's. Yum! read more

Visited here for a late night snack with a group of friends. The place was pretty busy considering it was around 11 PM. We ordered at the counter and sat at a big table. The ambience and decor was amazing, very old-school, friendly, and retro. Our entire party ordered the tuna melt, a side of wet fries, a side of pastrami fries, a side of onion rings, and some pastrami burgers. The number one thing to keep in mind about this place is that the portions are absolutely huge. The sides of fries and onion rings were incredibly hefty in both weight and food. We had a hard time finishing even with around 9-10 people. The tuna amount was very delicious and had amazing bread. The tuna was warm and the lettuce and tomatoes balanced it out well. The onion rings were crispy and fresh as well. The wet fries got a little soggy, but were otherwise tasty. The pastrami fries were incredibly filling especially with all the meat and cheese loaded on top. All very tasty, high quality and so affordable!! Highly recommend, very community and amicable atmosphere and servers, cheap prices and tasty food. read more

The Hat - Tuna Melt and Side of Wet Fries - The image shows a table with a sandwich cut in half, revealing lettuce, tomato, and meat inside a bun, wrapped in branded yellow paper. There is a serving of pasta topped with cheese and slices of meat, served in a paper tray. Several drinks in cups with straws are also on the table, along with paper wrappers and condiment packets. The setting appears to be a casual dining environment at The Hat restaurant. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Love the Hat !! A small order of Fries can feed a family of four ! The pastrami's are legit, again a value play here. The Hot Dogs are good too. Hamburger ? Well ... skip it I saw this and took a picture of a bus stop read more

The Hat - A graphic design with a solid orange background displaying the phrase 'Eat Local' in large, white, bold letters. The letter 'O' in 'Local' is replaced with a circular icon containing a fork, knife, and spoon, emphasizing food and dining. The design promotes supporting local food businesses and community dining. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Everyone knows why we all come here. I'm gonna give you some pro tips Pastrami add Swiss and get the dip / au jus on the side. Chili cheese fries are shareable pass on the pastrami topping. Wild Cherry aka Cherry Fanta is a must. Chili tamale is decent. Pass on the onion rings as they are all breading and not so much onion. Service is always great Place is always clean read more

The Hat - Menu 8/2025 - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Been here a few times, always take out. Sandwiches are great, just pastrami and mustard, the way I like it. Fries and onion rings are delicious and plentiful. So many fries. So glad they're opening one in Vegas, now I won't ha pie to wait until I'm in Upland to get my Hat fix! read more

Sometimes you just gotta eat like a damn hog and this is the place to go. Everything is big here, including the side orders. Menu is pure carnivore, and the must-have sandwich to bust your Hat cherry here is definitely the Pastrami Dip. The pastrami is sliced super thin, it's fatty, and very tasty. Another item you should try is a giant concoction called "wet fries." Basically it's poutine minus the cheese. Serving size is huge and will be enough for 2 or even 3 people. This is a meal and not a side dish, friends. Pricing is reasonable and the menu is large enough to come back and explore. Inside is spacious, clean, food comes out fast, and everyone is friendly. The only complaint here is the parking. It's a small lot and each space is not Hummer friendly at all. Other than that, check it out! read more

The Hat - Wet fries - A large portion of French fries is served in a paper basket lined with printed paper. The fries are topped with a generous amount of brown gravy, covering most of the fries. A white plastic fork is inserted into the fries, and a brown paper bag is visible in the background. The setting includes a wooden table and a wooden wall, indicating a casual dining environment. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is my first time at The Hat on Lake. Great efficient service! Nice and clean! Friendly staff. Amazing sandwiches...so generous, delicious and well priced read more

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Took my nephew here for lunch. He came visiting me from China, his first time at the Hat - he was shocked by the portion and the generous amount of meat in a pastrami sandwich! He walked out with a big smile on his face read more

Pastrami, burgers, hotdog, onion rings, french fries... You can't go wrong here. Even their chili is pretty good. I have been to several of their locations and there is always consistency. I will return. read more

Went to The Hat for the first time today. What a great discovery. Had an excellent BBQ sandwich (I like that they didn't put a lot of junk on it...just meat and sauce). The "small" order of fries was huge. Fast, friendly service. Got in and out in just a few minutes...and it was lunch hour. Easy parking, clean inside and out, and a big menu. I'll be back. read more

The food is good but not great. The fries were all right. They could have used a little bit more salt. However the amount of fries you get for the price was really good. I ordered a chili cheeseburger and it was a solid Burger. My partner ordered a pastrami dip. It was loaded with pastrami, but the taste was average. Inside, is a blast from the past. Good amount of seats. The parking isn't great. The employees are kind. read more

The Hat - Chili cheese fries - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Came here for the first time because my father wanted to show me this famous place! I got the pastrami sandwich exactly how it comes as I wanted to make sure I was trying the original way that started it all. Service was fast for a Sunday and everyone was very nice. The place was clean and simple. Classic dinner kind of feel. We got 4 pastrami sandwiches for the group. Comes with mustard and pickles. We also got fries and the stuff to dip. It definitely didnt dip well so we did more of a pour off each bite type which worked well. The dip was great with the fries but the fries themselves were a little boring. The sandwich was good. They are massive so have some for leftovers. The flavor was pretty good and the overall sandwich was yummy. The meat is sliced super thin which I liked. The lids to the drinks are really hard to get the straws through so be mindful when doing that so it doesnt break your straw. read more

The Hat - The image shows a sliced pastrami sandwich with mustard on yellow paper, with two large iced drinks from The Hat, a fast-food restaurant, in the background. The drinks are in clear plastic cups with lids and straws, featuring The Hat's logo. The setting appears to be a casual dining area with a wooden table. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Cold food like somehow the chili dog was completely flavorless. Hit up Tommy's in Eagle Rock for food that's actually flavorful and worth yur moneys. At least the homie was cool with giving me my money back. read more

I arrived just six minutes before closing and was greeted warmly, as if I were the first customer of the day. My expectations were low given the late hour, but I was pleasantly surprised. The pastrami was just as fresh as during the first service. I thought I might have room for fries, but I was wrong again. The portions of pastrami and fries were very generous. I strongly recommend The Hat's pastrami sandwich. read more

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Staff forgot to put the au jus in my bag. When I called, they told me the put it bested my drink and the 2 bags and it was my responsibility to grab it. very unprofessional !! read more

Most people know this great family owned and operated fast-food restaurant for their incredible Pastrami sandwiches...you've got to try their tamales! Sooooo good! Chili, onions, pickles and cheese. Get this next time. Their Ice tea is freshly made each day. Always well kept and clean...no matter the Hat location...go there. read more

The Hat - Tamale topped with chili, cheese, pickles and onions. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Well they sure cleaned up their act. Good service, friendly, tasty food, quick & clean! The update did good! It's bright, open & again, clean. The staff were diligent. A staff member was attentive to the needs of the washrooms. The classic dip was delicious as i remembered. read more

The Hat - The classic! - A person holds a pastrami sandwich with sliced pastrami on a bun, wrapped in yellow paper with The Hat logo. Behind, a paper bag from The Hat restaurant displays the logo and mentions 70 years of history, with a list of locations. The setting appears to be a casual restaurant interior with wood-paneled walls and windows. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Amazing pastrami sandwich--huge and generously stuffed with pastrami, mustard, and pickles. I grabbed an Orange Bang to drink, and true to form, everything here is huge. Friendly, quick service made for an easy takeout experience. This review is based on takeout only, but the spot has a large dining area and a drive-thru, typical fast-casual vibe. I was very happy with The Hat and will definitely be back. read more

I found myself on Lake and figured it was time to revisit this iconic store.The first Hat was in Alhambra and it has grown to 11. The pastrami was perfectly prepares and the swiss cheese enhanced the dip.The roast beef dip was also great but seemed instituional off a truck,like Sysco whereas the pastrami seemed in house. The large ice tea complimented our sandwiches but the cheese fries are best skipped.The fries had loads of chees but un melted and stuck to my shirt not the fries All and all a good visit read more

My friend has been trying to get me to go here forever! She grew up in LA and said this is one of her favorite places to go when she visits family. When I texted her that I'm here, her response was, "it's about damn time!" I finally dragged my husband over here after a long day visiting family. We split the pastrami dip sandwich and fries. It was a better decision for our waistlines though he confessed he could eat the entire sandwich and bag of small fries. For split portions, this is very generous. There were other menu items, but I always go with what a restaurant is known for. We'll be back and if not in Pasadena, I know there are other Hats in SoCal! read more

The Hat - I'm here - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I appreciate the Bare bone minimalism here, but the pastrami sandwich is greasy , lacks flavor and for almost fourteen dollars you'll can do a lot better. It's a non-deli style pastrami sandwich drenched in au jus , but passes off as greasy slimy pastrami. Sure, it's peppered, the oily slick taste isn't exactly pleasing .. it's super salty . That's for sure. With nothing other than a thin gangly line of yellow mustard underneath and a shaved pickle, I'm not sure what the hype is about. For this it's outrageously overpriced, and I understand it has history, but history it is nevertheless. Where's the taste ? read more

The Hat - Pastrami Dip. - A sandwich featuring shredded meat, possibly roast beef or brisket, inside a soft, slightly shiny bun. The sandwich is resting on yellow paper with printed logos and text, indicating it is from a fast-food establishment. The bun appears fresh, and the meat is piled generously, with some juices visible. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I was very happy at the Hat and will come back. The food was very good, Crispy Fries, fresh and light for being fried lol. The Chili was flavorful and rich. The Classic Interior really bought the whole experience together. parking is good. The service and cashiers were all friendly and quick. I can't wait to come back. read more

Very clean restaurant Staff is friendly and attentive Prices for sandwiches are reasonable $12.60 for pastrami or roast beef, $8.60 for huge order of chili cheese fries. Food was hot, fresh and tasty, portion sizes are on the large side. For the size and quality prices are very reasonable. read more

The Hat - Massive Chili Cheese fries - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I have been coming here for years now and it never disappoints. Although it is a bit expensive, it's totally worth it because the portions are large and the food is just so good. Whenever one of my buddies wants pastrami, we come here. Employees are nice and patient when it comes to picky eaters, i think that's why my brother loves it so much lol. Very old school diner type of setting, definitely a must try in Pasadena read more

We have made the drive to have The Hat in Pasadena for lunch many times and will continue to do so for their Pastrami Dip and onion rings! It's full of flavor and very filling. The pastrami is thinly sliced. We luck out with parking every time and the staff is super efficient and quick to get orders out to you. Order at the counter and receive a number to pick up when ready. I've also ordered the Tuna Sandwich, Grilled Cheese, and Chili Cheese Fries-all really good! read more

The Hat - Pastrami Dip - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Fun restaurant that instantly feels familiar. It has a vibe that brings back memories of local joints throughout the county. It's good, cheap food with generous portions. We split a pastrami sandwich and chili cheese fries between two of us. The pastrami was good. Not the best pastrami ever but still good. The same can be said for the chili cheese fries. We enjoyed our experience and would return the next time we're visiting Pasadena. read more

The Hat - Half of a pastrami - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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They don't deliver and no third party delivery either.cxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Came here before and definitely was a huge fan. I'm not too crazy for pastrami sandwiches, but this is for sure one of the best I've had. I also enjoyed the fries. Service was very quick and the restaurant was clean overall. The Hat is a bit out of the way for me, but I definitely will be coming back read more

pastrami and chili cheese fries hit every time!! love it!! place is always clean and if there's ever a line it moves very quickly