We stopped in at The Hat on the way back to our VRBO/Air BNB on our cali vacation last month. We were both starving, and were frustrated with the lack of open options (it was late and we are used to Vegas and their 24 hour food spots). We both ordered their world famous pastrami dip and took it back to the VRBO, and let me tell you....I wish we had more time and could go back and have another one of these. Oh my god it was delicious! Packed with meat, like...literally overflowing with pastrami, yummy mustard and pickles...I've been dreaming about this sandwich since we had it. Next trip to Cali, we are making it a point to swing by The Hat again, and have another delcious meal!! read more

Really good roast beef dip here. Friendly staff. Good quick service. Apparently because of the location the soda machine is behind the counter, and refills need to be requested. It's right by the freeway exit on lake st. so it is easy to reach for a quick bite. read more

Great food and service. Wish they only had a press for the sandwich. Fries were hot and fresh and, piles and piles of pastrami read more

I am not a big fan of pastrami and while this establishment offers a generous menu, it was an ok dining experience for me. Pretty popular place as I saw several come in and out, so it's definitely worth a try. Nice service, clean and plenty of open seating. Serving size was nice and they have yummy orange bang drinks. Maybe next time I will order a different selection for another try. read more

The food portions are amazing. The service is great. The ambience is awesome. I highly recommend it if you're starving. This is the spot to go to. read more

They have one of the best pastrami, i higly recommened it. Its seasoned perfectly. I get it without the dip. The chili chee fries, is good enough for 4 people. read more

Menu on the website has misleading prices as of May 2022. If you want an accurate cost, times almost everything by two. #inflation Meal for two (sharing fries and no drinks) was just under $30. They put the condiments out of reach , which they didn't used to do. The food was really good and the portions are huge. In that sense, The Hat never disappoints. To be completely honest though,I would not go out of my way to eat here if I wasn't craving a pastrami dip. read more

Classic, tasty food. I've been going to this location of The Hat for the eight years I've lived in the neighborhood and they never disappoint. The pastrami, the chili, the gravy, all delicious. My go to is pastrami cheese fries with extra pastrami and pickles and gravy on the side. (Chef's kiss!) Prices have gone up over the years but that's to be expected. My one complaint is that the orders never come even close to the order the numbers are given. Today I had 57 and orders all the way up to 69 were called before mine despite my order being chili cheese fries and a grilled cheese. Won't stop me from coming back! read more

The Hat - Menu with updated prices - Dec 2022 - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Well, this evening my sister took the kids for a few essentials for school... lol one of my nephew's misplaced his "sippy " (for lack of a better name) last week in school along with about 2 sweatshirts ( Ranging from chunky hoodie- Polo & a Nordstrom polar fleece by ugg? ) last week he came back home with someone else's lunch box lol because someone walked off with his. Apparently, kids don't recognize their chosen items when they are leaving class. I digress... my niece's and nephew's phone that they'd be picking up something from the HAT and needed to know what I was in the mood for? I haven't indulged in anything from the HAT since before the pandemic and cancer so I decided to roll the dice and grab myself a pastrami and fries. Whoa... I'm only halfway through my half portion, I'm over stuffed! But I'm able to handle pastrami in the pouch. I'm thinking next time this option poses itself I'll make sure someone is going to split it with me. It's 8:42pm and I have to get to bed. Tomorrow is my physical therapy session at 8:30 am and my uber ought to be picking me up about 8am. Nite all! Hey guys, my pastrami was epic and my fries were perfection! Thanks again! See you all next time! read more

The Hat - OMG, I'm getting quite full just from observing my portion... you know, this is quite tasty & delicious! - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

I always try to get pastrami when I am in California. I was visiting over the Christmas Holiday and my cousin reminded me about THE HAT which has been around since before I was born. It was EVERYTHING!! The Food is outstanding, the portions were still generous. The service was good! I wish I had take photos and I pray everyone at the Lake Ave store is safe and well. read more

It saddens me to write a negative review for the hat, whose pastrami and fries I like. However, the tuna amount I had today is one of the worst I've ever had. It says it's a hot sandwich. However, the tuna salad was cold. The taste was OK but the presentation leaves much to be desired. The fries which were supposed to be crispy were not. Oh well, back to the drawing board. read more

Good Pastrami..thoughI do like Johnny's Pastrami ( LA on Adams) Better. Very Good Onion Rings! Roast beef sandwich was good( please add meat ) Nice Staff!! Thanks Security guard who held the door open for Us!! read more

Well congratulations on being the absolute worst Hat location I've ever seen! Employees literally stop taking out order before we completed it and started helping someone else, finally the employee comes back to finish the order and by the time we get our food home nothing was right! They failed to give us half of the food we ordered and the food we did get was wrong also. There was chaos in this place, no sense of order or customer service at all. Never ever would I go back there. Unreal!! read more

Awesome food every time we visit Pasadena I enjoy the fries and gravy pastrami is great

Food was good. I feel like the portions became smaller. Service: this lady was so rude to us. The one who calls the food. Ambiance: was clean except the the bathrooms it has a smell and dirty read more

I can't say much other than I love the Hat. The portion size has decreased, but the pastrami is still the best.

I go there every Thursday for take out. Last Thursday was disappointing. I ordered three chili tamales the guy at the window only gave me two. No receipt no crackers. Not the usual nice friendly guy in the window brea location. I still will go every Thursday however there is no way to contact that location. I guess they have soo many customers they don't care. read more

One of the best things growing up in this area was the hat! I grew up on their pastrami and chili cheese fries. There are a few places for people who grew up in Pasadena that is just embedded into our memories and this place is one of them. It's like coming home every time I come here. As an adult now, one of the best thing is that they have their own parking lot! Also, there are tons of seats inside. They believe in tons of condiments - based on their giant display of condiments on the side. The place is always really clean, and the people are nice but honestly need to smile more. Chili cheese fries: the best! It is giant enough for a family! It is placed on top of a 4 cup holder container! Ok enough said. I dream of these fries! They are the best chili cheese fries in the world! Pastrami: it is very lean shockingly. I don't see a lot of fat on it so that's a bonus because this is enough calories on its own! Burger: this is not the best burger...however if you get the chili burger or the pastrami burger then of course it is better! The chili and pastrami makes this burger amazing! There are tons of items on their menu. I did not try everything because over my young years...only eat the same thing over and over. If it's not broken then why change is right?! I always get their chili cheese fries and burger and it will never stop. I get so happy and excited whenever I come here! Worst part is that I visit this place even after my doctors appointment....shhhh don't tell her read more

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Pastrami sandwiches were awful. Wanted to like this place but unfortunately (and I hate to leave a bad review) but I'm honest and fair. Got it to go so didn't know until we got home. Maybe other sandwiches are good but I'll never know. One and done for me. read more

The pastrami is so fresh and good there wet sandwiches are the best and I'll recommend this place to everyone who wants a great pastrami sandwich read more

This place has a nice old school feel to it the food was ok nothing crazy the pastrami sandwich was just jam packed with pastrami and the chilli cheese fries were huge they all tasted good but nothing crazy definitely gotta try something else from the menu the burgers looked pretty good also. read more

I went here last week after many years of hiatus. The Pastrami was mediocre at best. (Oinkster in Eagle rock has a great pastrami) I also ordered a Cheeseburger because one of friends said they had one of the great burgers in town. It was nothing special and lacked seasoning so making it one of the worst burgers I've had. I asked them if they seasoned their burgers and they said no. Q: So if I ask you to season the burger on the grill, will you? A: "No!" You can use the salt packet yourself! We don't put anything on the grill...! I don't see a reason to go back again. read more

Yum.. The Hut is still tasty lots of flavor in their Pastrami sandwiches. I tried the fries for the first time they were amazing. Next time I'll try the Pastrami loaded fries that's an entire meal by itself. I traveled from LA just for the Hut still one of the Best around after all these years. read more

I used to LOVE The Hat. I worked in Pasadena in the late 2000's and ate lunch here often. It was the best pastrami I had ever had. I went today for the first time since the Covid pandemic ended. My sister and I did our usual order 1 pastrami (split in half) with dip on one bread & chili cheese fries with extra cheese and diced onion (also shared) Nothing had the same flavor. If I ate a piece of pastrami by itself it had little to no flavor. The pickles and mustard were still tangy and good. When I had a bite of everything together, it was still good but not delicious. Same with the chili cheese fries, not a lot of flavor until I added black pepper, ketchup and the juice and seeds from the hot peppers. Worst part was the actual pastrami meat. It was not trimmed properly and one side of each piece had this sinew of string that was inedible. I had to pull it off of every slice and reconstruct my sandwich before I could take another bite. As I write this it still feels like some of it is sitting in my throat from my first bite. All in all... I'm no longer hungry but I don't think I'll be coming back anytime soon. read more

The Hat - Poorly trimmed pastrami. Sinewy strings had to be pulled off of every piece to be able to eat the sandwich. - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

This is definitely a place that knows what it is. Has that 50s/60s diner vibe. Order at the counter place. Huge portions. It's a pastrami place and they don't skimp on the pastrami. Their chili cheese fries portion is an entree in itself. read more

The Hat - Chili Cheese Fries - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I've been missing the pastrami sandwiches at Johnny's on Adams for yrs...what they serve there now ain't the same. Someone recommended The Hat...boom shaka laka this place didn't disappoint. That $11.99 sandwich was soooo good. And the small fries were enough for 2 people (lacked salt so no 5 stars). read more

If I was rating them just in their pastrami sandwiches then they would get BUT they serve much more and I'm rating them overall. If you are ever in southern Cali and you like pastrami ...this is a MUST stop. There is a chain of restaurants so you can find one to try. I like the throw back burger stand presentation but many of these establishments can use an upgrade. The menu prices have also gone up quite a bit but people will pay the dinero for their bomb pastrami. Thinly sliced, shredded pastrami with an au ju dip! AMAZIING. This is not a key friendly, weight watchers menu. All pretty hearty food on the menu. They are always pretty fresh and a bit a way from a heart attack. I eat in moderation but still indulge when I can. They give you decent helpings and many of their items are shareable (chili cheese fries). Lastly, customer service is typically quick and they are open late. read more

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Service was okay first time coming to this location asked the cashier what she would recommend. And she told me the pastrami sandwich . Defiantly alot of pastrami for those pastrami lovers . Sad to say the sandwich and specialty fries didn't sit to well for my boyfriend and i :( Immediately after finished eating we had to go to my local drug store for pepto and other meds to relieve my stomach pain and trips to restroom read more

A must try LA institution if you're ever in the area! My go to spot if I'm ever craving a pastrami sandwich. The meat inside is extremely juicy, tender and they always load it up. The bread is just perfectly soft and the mustard adds the perfect acidity to it. The combination of all this is to die for. The chili cheese fries and the wet fries are also top notch here. The fries are crispy and always fresh. Both the chili and the gravy on the wet fries are also very flavorful. I highly recommend trying one or the other if anyone goes. Just typing all of this out is making me hungry! read more

The Hat - Pastrami Sandwich + Chili Cheese Fries + Wet Fries - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Went to the pick up sign, they said I had to get in line. Went to "online and phone orders here sign", and cashier said I had to wait in regular line. Waited for 20 minutes. Got to the front and they sent me to where I first went to pick up my food. My food wasn't there, but they called my name after a few minutes. My food was out of reach, I said hello I'm Sean, and the lady said "wait a second" like I was bothering her. It was a sign from G.O.D. that I needed to stop eating this greasy, unhealthy crap. Thanks for understaffing and annoying me The Hat! You gave me a few years of my life back! read more

The Hat - American Near Me - Pasadena, California

Portions are ridiculous, doesn't need to be that big to justify the price at least have a size list (small,medium.large) fries weren't cooked all the way, chillicheeseburger was big but super messy and hard to hold and eat, MORE does not mean better! Had no readily available napkins, forks, spoons etc..... had to ask for them. No to go containers, came out paying $32 for the mid and mess straight pissed lol. People were somewhat nice tho so 2 stars read more

Wow!!! I've been going to the Hat for about 8 years, and the food quality has never disappointed me. The ambiance is old school which I liked very much. The pastrami sandwiches are heaven and the chili cheese fries are heavenly! The portion sizes are perfect, even for sharing. Make sure to save some for dinner or lunch the next day! Such friendly service. Friendly tip: get pastrami on the chili cheese fries. It makes the whole shebang better! I recommend highly! read more

Pre UCLA Rose Bowl pastrami! Located less than 10 mins away. Our family picks up pastrami dip sandwiches and onion rings to go for our pre game tailgate. Lines weren't long (5 people deep) and it went fast. We watched as ladies assembled the orders and saw the various pastrami combinations...with sliced cheese, shredded cheese, chili, etc Maybe I'll try with chili next time. Our order was ready in 10 minutes. The sandwiches were still warm as we enjoyed them as we tailgated at the Rose Bowl parking lot. read more

The pastrami and roll were fantastic! Portions are big so sharing is reminded! Love this place and the people working there!!

Everyone says the same thing. The fat of the pastrami is chewy and leathery. That fat should melt in your mouth like butter. It doesn't. I spit out half that sandwich. Small order of dries can feed 20. I wonder how much potato waste goes on there. How many fries do you think k people should eat? Ridiculous read more

The Hat is Always delicious! My go to order is the Pastrami Dip, Fries & Coke. Perfectly cooked pastrami and french fries that are crisp on the outside and soft and fluffy on the inside. Don't forget the banana peppers...so spicy and really complement the pastrami. Yum. First time eating inside a restaurant in over a year. They have limited seating inside. Tables are taped off for social distancing. Masks are required inside, unless you are eating and drinking. read more

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

Legit roast beef dip. For a solid roast beef get au jus. Hat is best option in Pasadena. Add onions

The Hat is a great pit stop. You can buy for one and feed two because there is so much food and it is simply delicious.

It's "The Hat" what else can you say. A Southern California Staple since 1951! A interesting note, not all stores have avacado like the Alhambra location. read more

This is THE spot for a good pastrami chili cheese fry!! After years of searching I have not found a better pastrami chili cheese fry in LA/OC. Their portions are also huge, so be prepared to share or to pack the leftovers for another day. The chili itself is very flavorful, well spiced, and a nice creamy texture. The pastrami is sliced as thin as can be, but they give you a good portion so you'll have some in each bite. I only wish the fries were a bit crispier and saltier. One thing I have to mention! No matter which Hat location I go to the quality of ingredients and preparation is always the same. As a customer I really appreciate the consistency. read more

The Hat - Pastrami Chili Cheese Fries - American Near Me - Pasadena, California