The Hat

Local burger chain with brightly-lit, clean stores. Huge burgers, very good pastrami & chili. Our meal was nearly $50 for 2 pastrami chili cheeseburgers and a chili fries - lots of fries - with pastrami. If we had gone for double cheese burgers, each would have been less than $10.

Classic southern California restaurant. Great food and super clean establishment. Excellent pastrami and the chili fries are fantastic. Be warned, the portions are big.

Hands off the best chili cheese fries in town! We tried their chili fries several times this year. Always the same and the best. The portion is huge! more than enough for 2 people. I love it with or without cheese. The fries are crispy enough, not mushy or over-crispy. The mexican cheese is just AMAZING. If you want a lighter version I am also obsessed with the tomato and pickles version as well!

Stopped in for a quick bite. Always clean and bright dining area. The shared pastrami was great as always. We were looking forward to sharing an order of chili cheese fries as well (huge portion suitable to share), but was disappointing. The fries were barely done and as a result turned to mush. Will try to remember to ask for "well done" fries next time. There was plenty of chili and cheese, however lacking in flavor.

If you're looking for subtle, delicate dining, keep driving. The Hat in Pasadena is where comfort food dreams go to get bigger, bolder, and absolutely better. This isn't just a sandwich shop—it's a Southern California institution dedicated to the art of excess. The Dish You Must Order: The star of the show, hands down, is the Pastrami Dip. Forget everything you thought you knew about pastrami; this sandwich is piled high with so much smoky, tender, peppery meat that you'll barely be able to close your jaw around it. It is pure, glorious indulgence. The Side Showstopper: Equally famous are the Pastrami Fries (or "Chili-Cheese Fries" if you're feeling wild). These aren't just an afterthought; the crinkle-cut fries are perfectly crispy and capable of holding up under a mountain of chili, cheese, or that signature sliced pastrami. A single order can easily feed a small army—or one very happy person. The Vibe: The atmosphere is pure, nostalgic old-school fast food—quick, efficient, and focused entirely on the massive portions. It’s a great, casual stop for lunch, dinner, or a late-night fix. In Short: The Hat delivers on its promise of "World Famous Pastrami." It’s an awesome, messy, and absolutely essential stop for anyone craving serious comfort food in Pasadena. Bring an appetite (and maybe a friend)!

Since my first visit as a kid in 1975 this place has never changed which is a comfort. We always get the Pastrami dip, onion rings, fries with chili and cheese on the side for better distribution and to make our own chili cheese onion fries. And whatever you do, don't forget to get an Orange Bang, also you get 1 refill free. From the first bite of food I'm transported back to being a kid. We go to the one on Lake.

I haven’t been to a fast food restaurant this clean… as far back as I can remember. It’s evident the owners take pride in this place. The food is very good, it’s clean and well lit.

Big portions for a great price. A place where you can get a loaded pastrami without breaking the bank, the sandwich is stuffed with delicious thin sliced portions of beef. Very popular place with great smiling staff and super fast service with a smile. Parking lot was full and it’s kid friendly.