The Hat

One Pastrami, One beef dip, small fry and two medium drinks. $40. No problem, we expect these prices. The pastrami was excellent! The beef dip was the epitome of the old commercial "where's the beef" It was a skimpy sandwich. The fries were under cooked and tasteless. After we ate a third of them, the fries began to shine with grease and they were limp. I returned them and showed them to the manager. I then ordered a small onion ring. The manager did not apologize or offer to credit me any refund on the fries. He must have thought I wanted something for nothing. I paid for the onion rings. No problem. He then starred at me with a grin of defeat. Okay, you win. I will not be back to this particular establishment in Temple City, CA.

As always, we ordered the chili cheese fries, and they never disappoint—absolutely delicious every time! Stopped by on a Thursday afternoon and was happy to find no line or wait. Great experience as usual!

Give it up for the classic. You will not be dissatisfied with the quality of your pastrami. Location is super clean and fast service. Was here for lunch on a weekday. Sandwich was not salty you could taste the spices. Fresh French fries with horseradish sauce (aioli) well call me a cab - I am done

The Hat have been around over seventy years making their world famous pastrami that everybody enjoy. My wife and I have been to the two Hats location in Monterey Park and the orginal in Alhambra both of them make awesome pastrami. I prefer my pastrami wet from pastrami and the bread and adding enough mustard to balance the juicy of the pastrami heavenly delicious. We came here the Hat in Temple city we notice the location is bigger than the Monterey Park location. The restaurant had pictures and history of Temple city and dining room is big and they have restroom inside the restaurant. The biggest surprise a self service fountain soda machine. The staff are very friendly and restaurant always clean when you step in the restaurant.

We had a great first-time experience eating pastrami chili cheese fries at The Hat. I was full after 8 bites, and the three of us could only finish two-thirds of it. Taste wise, the fries and chili could use a little more salt, in my opinion. But overall, it's just a big messy combination of carb and calorie unfriendly goodness. Pastrami sandwich was great, loads of Pastrami Location in Temple City was almost deserted when we arrived at 2 pm on a Sunday afternoon. Got busier afterward.

The Hat isn't just a restaurant—it's a part of my personal history. I grew up eating here, and during my college years, it became my go-to late-night spot. There's something about walking up to The Hat, smelling that unmistakable aroma of sizzling pastrami, and knowing you're about to dig into something unforgettable. Their pastrami is simply the best—no exaggeration. Piled high, tender, juicy, and perfectly seasoned with just the right amount of fat to melt in your mouth. The sandwich is served hot, with that signature mustard and pickles that cut through the richness just right. Whether it's the classic pastrami sandwich, chili cheese fries loaded with pastrami, or even the pastrami burger, it's always satisfying. And it wouldn’t be a visit to The Hat without an Orange Bang to wash it all down. That icy, creamy orange drink pairs perfectly with the savory flavors of the meal—it's nostalgic and refreshing all at once. If you know, you know. The portions here are generous, easily shareable (if you're feeling kind), and always freshly made. I’ve taken friends and family here over the years, and everyone always walks away impressed—and full. One of the things I love most is that they stay open late, which made them a lifesaver during long study nights and post-hangout food runs in college. You could always count on The Hat to deliver a consistently great experience, no matter the hour. This place has stood the test of time for good reason. It’s not flashy or trendy—it’s just damn good food, served with consistency and heart. The Hat will always hold a special place in my memories and continues to earn my loyalty with every visit.

The Hat at this location has been here since I was a little kid. They're located right on the corner and it's a very small store but the food they make is divine. Those chili cheese fries never disappoint especially with the pastrami! But be prepared for a sodium headache lol

As a T-Rex. The pastrami is excellent that I never eaten

Came back again but this time we ordered and ate inside. The place seems so nostalgic and still bright as ever, however the place has changed such as the seating area is renovated and the sauce stations are no longer there. We ordered our usual large chili cheese fries and onion rings, a pastrami dip, and added on a double cheese burger and two medium drinks (Since the drinks are free refills). It's always nice to know that the hat will still give out a large portion of onion rings, crispy and crunchy in the middle. It didn't look as much as last time but still a good portion. The chili cheese fries were still great, you need to eat it when it's fresh as it will get mushy and soggy after a while. The double cheese burger was good, I think it could've used more sauce. The pastrami had a good portion of meat, salty and a nice kick from the spiced ends. The drink cups were made of pretty thin wax paper material so it doesn't last long enough after a few hours, but that's more than enough time for lunch break. Overall, it's a great treat for a lunch time break. Restrooms were clean and no mirrors, but unisex and individual rooms.

I always pass by The Hat on my way to the nearby shopping center. Undeniably, their sign with "world famous pastrami" caught my eye. I decided that today was the day to try the famous pastrami dip. This location has lots of parking and a drive thru. The seats and interior were very clean as well. Staff were amazing, so polite and detail oriented. With the pastrami dip, you have the option to omit pickles. They call out your number when your order is ready. Everything is packed nicely in a paper bag with napkins and you get asked if you want any sauce packets (ketchup, mustard, ranch etc). On to the pastrami dip, I had high expectations for it being world famous. On my first bite, I was immediately disappointed. The taste felt one dimensional. The pastrami tasted like pastrami, nothing new here. The interior of the bread was dipped in the broth but it didn't add anything to the experience. The pickles and mustard did help with adding depth but I still felt it was bland. Overall, this was a simple sandwich, very generous on the pastrami but I don't think it's worth $13.

Food: Classic menu. Pastrami dip, cheeseburgers, hot dogs, tuna melts, it's all there. But you have to get the chili cheese fries, it's a must. The place also has Orange Bang and Horchata Bang. These drinks are incredible to go with your meal. Ambiance: Casual dining that is good for any time of day. I am glad that this place is still running strong in Temple City. And when you're there, say hi to Daniel Stern.

Plenty of parking here. Always folks here but never a long lines. The food arrives fairly quick. The staff have been great. Usually plenty of seating inside. The chili fries are always delicious. Are serving size that you'll definitely need to share or save for leftovers. You can even ask for pastrami added on. Definitely a solid place to visit for fast food.

The Hat is a ubiquitous Southern California fast-food restaurant chain specializing in pastrami dip sandwiches. There are 11 locations around Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties. This specific location is at the corner of Broadway and Rosemead blvd. They have a nice outdoor and indoor seats. Staff were professional and competent. They have a breadth of food items. If you're into good albeit unhealthy fast-food go for The Hat. Every store there always a long line just like InNOut Burger. Overall, it's a good joint for quick bite.

A classic spot in the area for a solid dip sandwich, known for its generous portions and consistent quality. When I'm in the mood for something lighter, I opt for their avocado and vegetable sandwich--it's simple but delivers a satisfying, flavorful bite.

The Hat doesn't play around -- that pastrami is stacked like a meat mountain . The fries? The fries are more thicker than an IG model. A delicious mess you won't regret. Iconic sign, classic flavor, and enough food to knock you into a nap. 10/10 would food coma again.

Always good! The place is a 50's diner style atmosphere... It's basically a burger stand and you order at the counter. I usually get the pastrami sandwich double dipped with extra pickles... You gotta eat it while it's hot and dripping hot juice... I also love their beef dip sandwich. I feel they are better than Philippe's in Chinatown. Lately, I've been getting their gravy fries which I enjoy a lot. Don't forget to try their chili cheese fries and the onion rings.

Fluorescent lights, vintage looking wooden interior with the newspaper clippings and framed art to match, classic rock that sounds muffled in another room, there's just something about The Hat that elicits a sense of nostalgia for something that we've longed for in our past. It's open decently late and the dining room has many seats, or if you'd like there's a drive thru outside. My friends and I got the pastrami burger and chili cheese fries. HUGE HUGE portions to the point of leaking out of the containers and wrappers that they were in. Burger was filled to the brim with pastrami that it was more like a side of buns to our order of pastrami. Big and juicy and went great with a little bit of mustard on it. The chili cheese fries had a generous amount of chili and cheese on top. Great ratio of topping to fries. Didn't get soggy or cold too quickly either. Was way more than enough for 3 adults, to the point of food coma, so this can be easily split amongst 4 or more people so they're not as uncomfortably full. Solid The Hat location.

The Hat have been around over seventy years making their world famous pastrami that everybody enjoy. My wife and I have been to the two Hats location in Monterey Park and the orginal in Alhambra both of them make awesome pastrami. I prefer my pastrami wet from pastrami and the bread and adding enough mustard to balance the juicy of the pastrami heavenly delicious. We came here the Hat in Temple city we notice the location is bigger than the Monterey Park location. The restaurant had pictures and history of Temple city and dining room is big and they have restroom inside the restaurant. The biggest surprise a self service fountain soda machine. The staff are very friendly and restaurant always clean when you step in the restaurant.

Great food and old school vibe.ordering was quick and there are plenty of seats for party's of all sizes. Went with a double cheese burger and chili fries with a side of gravy for the no chili covered fries at the bottom. Big time fat guy move but it was clutch. Now I didn't realize how big the fries are but it could easily feed two people. The burger was super nice and would be a perfect hungover bite. All in all I ordered way too much food but I wanted a taste of it all. They are famous for their pastrami's so I'll have to come back for one.

I throughly enjoyed my meal! I love the burgers, pastrami, and roast beef! I also recommend gravy fries with cheese! Always a local favorite! The place is very well kept, extremely clean and staff are friendly! Love this spot

As many know, The Hat is a Southern California tradition and institution. They are known for the pastrami, but yesterday I got a beef dip. It was DELICIOUS, if a little undersized - but in this economy who can blame them?? the Au Jus was excellent but the bread was truly EXCEPTIONAL. Big win. Every time.

The Hat is an SGV staple and for good reason. It is DELICIOUS. There are multiple locations around Southern California and this one in Temple city has lots of parking, it's roomy inside, and the food hits. We got here a little later at night, but the food was still delicious and served hot. The service was good and pretty quick. I would come back to this location for sure!

For some things, prices are a bit high. However, the portions are high to match! We paid just over $17 for a plate of chili cheese fries with pastrami. This fed two very hungry people with a small amount of leftovers. Personally, I would prefer to pay half the cost and get half the portion. Our food was out quickly, within about five minutes of ordering. You need to pick up your food at the farthest end of the restaurant from the indoor seating. There's not a lot to look at at The Hat, mostly old photos on the walls, but it's been clean every time I've visited!

Good pastrami. Tried the pastrami burger which is loaded on meat too just for $12 around there

Bought a roast beef sandwich with au ju. Decide to play salad, small french fry with a side of gravy. It was my husband's first time to try it, my son and I have tried it couple times before since relocated to Southern California. Service was a little slower this time through the drive-through. Overall, the, drive-through attendant is best to get everything as soon as possible. I did realize it was a lot of people inside so we were patient. But for the price, I believe the pastrami had more protein than the roast beef.

This location is really great! There's lots of parking available and a drive thru. There's also a lot of seating available inside and it's very clean!! The staff are efficient. I phone ordered and picked up my food all within 5-10 minutes. My favorite was the pastrami burger. It came with the works and the pastrami wasn't too salty and it was jam packed with it! The only thing was that bc of all the stuff inside, the bread fell apart bc it was too wet.

Celebrating 70 years! I got me their world famous pastrami sandwich! I was very satisfied with my iconic sandwich. It was hot and the meat was overflowing! (Don't forget to ask for a fork to eat the 'lil pieces of meat .) It was just as good as I remembered. Very clean and well kept location . ( Kudos to the manager and staff.) Also, cool touchless soda fountain station.

FIX THE INTERCOM and for the love of G-D guys, it's a TUNA MELT not a cold tuna sandwich with an unmelted overly sized sliced cheese. So why the 5 stars? Because the food was trucking delicious, okay? That dam cold cut tuna fish sandwich was the best dam non melted tuna I've ever had. The seasonings on the tuna alone is enough to make you want to steal the recipe and coupled with that orange bang, I could never give this place a bad review and while We're at it, quality costs. Have you felt how silky smooth and sturdy those dam to go bags feel? Bro, they're spending MONEY. And the staff are always so nice. I'm always going to come here Come to The Hat

Give it up for the classic. You will not be dissatisfied with the quality of your pastrami. Location is super clean and fast service. Was here for lunch on a weekday. Sandwich was not salty you could taste the spices. Fresh French fries with horseradish sauce (aioli) well call me a cab - I am done

We came on a late Sunday night after a long day and we were so glad we did. Food took a bit but was well worth the wait. Pastrami sandwiches are HUGE and can feed two. A little on the salty side but it was a great sandwich. But the orange bang... it's best kept secret, a poor man's Orange Julius. AMAZING.

The Hat is so good!!!! I love hot pastrami sandwiches and was immediately obsessed with this place. There's also drive thru which I've never seen for a sandwich spot. The employees who work here are so nice, it's literally the cleanest restaurant and I love that they fill the sandwich with a big portion of hot pastrami, it's perfect on a delicious french roll and the pastrami tastes amazing. I subbed mustard for mayo and paid -$15 for one of these bad boys.

The Hat is my go to when I lazy to make something for lunch. On a Friday afternoon in August, I was debating of sitting inside or drive thru so I decided to sit inside to enjoy free AC. Inside interior looked the same as I remember with several groups eating inside. The staff are nice and I ordered pastrami dipped sandwich w/chili cheese fries. I waited for several minutes and got my food. The chili cheese fries was yummy and I saved the pastrami sandwich for hubby's lunch. Overall good lunch, although I had a problem using the touchless soda dispenser.

I was craving pastrami, so I asked my boyfriend to stop at the hat to pick me up some chili cheese fries with pastrami. OMG... How I missed this place! The pastrami was delicious along with the cheesy chili cheese fries. The portions are huge for lesson than $20. Next time I wanna try the pastrami with gravy fries. If you have pastrami cravings... This place is a spot.

Parking~It's plenty of parking and it's a seating area to eat outside as well. Service~It was excellent our cashier was very polite made sure we had everything we needed and how we wanted our sandwich prepared. We may had sat down for 5 minutes and our order was ready at the pick up counter on the other side of the counter. Food~it was piping hot, flavorful, and it was so much meat it was falling out. I had pastrami, mustard, and extra pickles! I was absolutely delicious and so delightful to eat and, it's amazing how they dip the sandwich without it falling apart!!! I am definitely going to have go back to take a sandwich back home. My Godmother and I shared one sandwich because it's that big!!! Ambience~No music, but very calm and you can have a very peaceful conversation among yourselves! I would highly recommend this divey spot it reminds of a place that would be featured in a movie or tv show!!!

[ Food ] Their burgers are alright, I'd recommend their chili cheese fries, with or without pastrami. [ Service ] I order at the drive-thru and customer service is usually good. [ Restroom ] Yes, there's a restroom.

First let me say I've never been to a Cleaner burger place like The Hat in Rosemead and I've eaten at several burger joints before! As far as the food is was Fricken Delicious . Had the cheeseburger with pastrami in it wife had the pastrami sandwich and we shared a chili cheese fries,yes way too much for us. The staff was great they took very good care of us,I will definitely be returning to this place

As always, we ordered the chili cheese fries, and they never disappoint, absolutely delicious every time! Stopped by on a Thursday afternoon and was happy to find no line or wait. Great experience as usual!

Passed it up and decided to stop. I can only get one item... chili cheese fries or a pastrami. I went for the chili cheese fries and they were amazing! Definitely did not regret my decision. Serving was plentiful , the taste was glorious . And the service was fantastic !

The chili burger was great it was super messy though. The staff are nice. The place was clean and had A lot of people

This location serves a special place in my memory. I've also been to the one in Lake forest. You can't go wrong with their chili cheese fries with pastrami on top with Chiles on the side! So good and they give you a ton of pastrami on top! Sometimes the line can get busy (drive thru) but to be expected! Will always order their chili cheese fries with pastrami on top when I'm craving chili cheese fries :)

The place is always nostalgic and bring back memories of my childhood. My recent visit, I got my usual order of well done chilli cheese fries. Getting the fries well done allows the fries to be more crispy and to avoid becoming soggy when the chilli is smothered on top. The cashier is always friendly and usually does a good job instructing the cooks to get the fries well done. Typically order the food to go so I don't usually stay to eat. Overall the food is decent but the nostalgic feeling makes it worth coming back

I miss The Hat so much! Too bad there isn't one in Arizona, so I always make sure I make a trip for some pastrami dip when I'm in town. Although the food is always delicious, unfortunately portion size has suffered. I remember when the pastrami dip used to be packed overflowing with pastrami. Not so much now. Regardless, we always enjoy our guilty pleasure foods here.

Okay. They finally got a tuna melt. Bought one on rye. I enjoyed it. Should've asked for swiss. Next time. What more can I say.

Came over for late night dinner as they opens late. It locates in a corner of 2 busy streets. Lots of parking spaces were available when I got here. I ordered their chilicheese fries. The portion was huge, and it was good enough for 2 people to share. They are very genuine with their chili and cheese. I did not run out of chilicheese at the end of my meal. Air conditioner was strong and it was perfect for a hot summer night. It was busy even though it was late at night. I will come back again for more late night meal.

It is a travesty that when I got back into town I wanted to grab some fast food at the hat. It's been a cheap eats place for the longest of times, but the most recent trip yielded a non-existent drive through line, and a surprise 10-12% price hike across most of their food items. Why in 2024? Who knows. Perhaps the owners would like to chime in, but after all the hikes over the last few years, I'm curious why another 10-12%. Sadly, the at this price point I can go to any quick sit down restaurant and get a better meal for 2. Applebees, Chilis, and even red lobster. I likely will not be back for the foreseeable future.

Been here a couple times it's a staple in the SoCal with multiple location. I usually get the pastrami sandwich with au ju sauce and make sure you add cheese. I got a side of chili and gravy for almost $19. They have a drive thru option too if you want. Service is good and it gives you an old school diner vice

Pastrami was delicious! I would go there again but it's kinda far from my home. It's a special place when I go.

We were in the area and in the mood for some pastrami so decided to dine here. We had our dog Vinny so we had dinner outside since the weather was nice. I ordered the Turkey burger with tomatoes snd extra pickles. The burger was very tasty and hit the spot. My wife ordered a pastrami sandwich and it was delicious and best around. We also shared chili cheese fries, which were so good. This is a great spot if you're in the mood for some of the best pastrami in LA.

This Hat location now cheats customers when ordering the turkey sandwich. You might get 2 slices of turkey or scraps to equate to a single slice of turkey. Horrible how this location cuts back on the product but has increased their prices by 50%.

Wonderful service!! The pastrami taste the best over there!! I definitely will be coming back!! Five stars is exactly my total rating!!! Thank you all so much for everything!!!!

First time at this location. Got a turkey on rye with avocado. Phoned in the order. Service was great, ppl polite and efficient. The lot is medium sized and fairly full but still parking on a Thurs for lunch at about 12:30-1:00. The turkey sandwich is probably the only healthy/relatively healthy item here. Could have made the same or better at home for way cheaper, but was out running errands and needed to stop for lunch and wanted to try to get something relatively healthy. It was quiet to average nose level inside with many older customers. If in the same situation or wanting their comfort food, then I would stop by again.

I feel bad giving "The Hat" a bad rating but their food is terrible. I've been going here for 30 years and ever since 15 years ago they just suck. Every now and then I try them but this franchise changed something. Yesterday we went to this location and we ordered 2 pastrami sandwiches. To which the employee said they didn't have pastrami's. Then they told us they did have pastrami's and gave us roast beef instead. We didn't notice till we got home. Then we ate the roast beef sandwiches. And they were nasty. It's sad that we used to love this place. But now they are worse than a sandwich you would get at a gas station or something.

Ordered the chili cheese fries. So darn good. I forget to take a picture (sorry). The portion is enough for 3-4 people. Tons of fries with just the right amount of chili and they load it with cheddar cheese. I would definitely get it again.

It's been a bit since the last time I was at The Hat. They have THE BEST Pastrami Dips sandwiches!! I've been coming to this chain forever! They started 71 years ago and still going strong! I've been to 5 locations (out of 11) and they are all great! This location is great as it has plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, plus lots of parking! Located on a busier street but very convenient! This casual spot is always clean and organized. They serve up American burgers, hot and cold sandwiches, hot dogs, sides and drinks. World Famous Pastrami Dip - with pickles and mustard on a French roll - DEFINITELY MUST GET!! This heaping sandwich is not as big as it used to be, about half the size compared to the olden days, but they kept the prices in check. Piled high with their tender pastrami. It's a good portion for one person. It used to be so big you would have to share! I usually get extra pickles to help tame the saltiness of the pastrami. Very delicious and flavors are definitely on point! Chili - we just got a small cup of this and it had the weirdest consistency, like goopy... The flavors were ok, but the consistency was weird Large Fries - large cut potatoes and definitely a pile of it! The brown paper bag holds it all in place! These come in a big portion. We always have to share! Orange Bang - it's not everywhere that has this as a drink option. I crave it with my Pastrami Dip! The other food options are good, but come for the Pastrami! Service was quick and friendly. Parking is convenient in the private lot. Drive thru available. Not all locations have drive thru. Definitely recommended!

Good 'ol classic American comfort food. Giant and tasty portions. In love with the pastrami dip sandwiches here, greasy goodness! Clean large dining area inside. Quick and efficient staff.

I got the tuna sandwich and orange bang. I don't know why but the orange bang is off. It's not as tasty as I remember it. I did go to ricks (Garvey Ave in Rosemead) for there chili cheese fries because I think it's far better than the hats chili cheese fries.

Big fan! I've been here a few times. As well as their other locations. Always a good experience. Not a fan of their burgers. But the pastrami sandwich is good and the main reason I come, the pastrami chili cheese fries!!! So good. About $16. But it's enough for two. Service is good. They move fast and this place is always clean. Plenty of parking. The pastrami is really good because it's not over salted and not full of fat. I thought I made a review already. But here it is. Because this place deserves a shout out! Lee up the good work.