The Hat (The Original) — Restaurant in Alhambra

The Hat, I tip my hat to thee!

If you need fries in caveman proportions, then look no further. For The Hat, is where it's at!

The OG location that started it all, The Hat in Alhambra is an old school food stand, complete with walk-up windows for ordering & pick up, along with a covered patio dining area. For my inaugural visit, I pondered whether to order their famous pastrami dip or go with their wet fries. I've read how their servings of fries are quite generous, and being how I try not to eat bread, I thought an order of loaded wet fries was that particular day's calling.

Wet fries w/ added pastrami, tomatoes, pickles & mustard- Holy crap! It looks like a food challenge! I thought the chatter about portions were simply hyperbole, like a tall tale being altered with exaggerations until the details became comical. But, alas, I wasn't prepared for what lied before me. I watched my order prepared right before my very eyes. From thick fries fresh from the fryer, to the slathering of savory brown gravy, the addition of tender, juicy pastrami, to the addition of a pound of dill pickle slices & tomatoes, to the cherry on top being a delicious dollop of mustard, I saw the assemblage of this calorie-busting behemoth from birth to readiness graduation. The customers after me marveled at the huge portions of my loaded wet fries being prepared, which, like a proud parent, I boasted "Yeah, that's mine."

After laying claim to a table, I dug into my gargantuan meal. Each bite, wondrous & delightful. The fries had the perfect thickness to handle the weight of all that smothered them. The gravy salty & creamy. The pastrami wonderfully fatty. The amount of pickles seemed almost ridiculous. After 5 minutes of going at it, the loaded wet fries seemed like I hardly put a dent in them. They mocked me, saying "Is that the best you got, bub?" I did my best to devour the most I could, knowing I'd have to take this monstrosity home to await it's final fate later on for dinner.

Besides the usual condiments, all you can grab whole chili peppers are a must if you're a heat lover. They're a perfect compliment to the copious amounts of food at The Hat.

Service was good. Ordering at the window was quick, and I didn't wait long for my fries to be ready. Ample tables to dine at, with parking in a private lot. The Hat is conveniently located minutes north of the 10 freeway at the intersection of Valley & Garfield.

Hunger need not show it's ugly head here. The Hat serves ginormous amounts of food quickly for the famished masses. I managed to finish my loaded wet fries after 2 meals. This coming from a guy with a healthy appetite. I'd imagine some might go a whole day to accomplish that. Of course, sharing would be a good idea, but I'm not into that. I want this baby all to myself. My first visit here, and I see why The Hat is a beloved SGV institution. If I'm in the area again, and I don't care about calories & BMI, then I'm definitely dropping by for another go at The Hat.

Highly...

The Pastrami Dip Sandwich: A Revelation

As a long-time devotee of the classic French Dip, I approached the Pastrami Dip Sandwich with a mix of curiosity and skepticism. Could it truly stand up to its beefy cousin? One bite, and all doubts were gloriously banished. This wasn't just a sandwich; it was a revelation, a masterclass in flavor and texture that has permanently redefined my dip sandwich hierarchy.

The star, undeniably, was the pastrami. Piled high, glistening, and thinly sliced, each piece offered that signature peppery, garlicky, and slightly smoky cure that pastrami fanatics crave. It wasn't just warm; it was hot, meltingly tender, and bursting with aromatic spices. There was no skimping here; the generous portion ensured every single bite was packed with that unmistakable pastrami goodness.

But what truly elevated this sandwich was the au jus. It arrived steaming, a rich, dark elixir that was clearly more than just broth. It possessed a deep, savory complexity, hinting at slow-cooked meats and aromatic vegetables, with just the right level of saltiness to complement, not overpower, the pastrami. Dipping a corner of the sandwich into this golden liquid was like unlocking a new dimension of flavor—the bread soaking up the savory goodness while the pastrami intensified its smoky notes.

The bread played its crucial supporting role beautifully. A sturdy, crusty roll, it managed to be soft enough on the inside to yield to the tender meat, yet robust enough to hold up to the liberal dipping without dissolving into a soggy mess. It was the perfect vehicle for this magnificent cargo.

While the pastrami and au jus were the undeniable headliners, the subtle presence of melted Swiss cheese added a creamy, tangy counterpoint, creating a delightful richness that clung to the pastrami. And a touch of Dijon mustard within the sandwich provided a sharp, welcome zing that cut through the richness, balancing the entire profile.

This Pastrami Dip Sandwich wasn't just good; it was an experience. It’s a testament to how simple, high-quality ingredients, thoughtfully prepared, can create something truly extraordinary. If you have the chance, do yourself a favor and try this exquisite twist on a beloved classic. You...

Today I purchased about $60 worth of food at this establishment in Alhambra. I had placed the orders online via their website. It was a total of 2 separate online orders and when I arrived the employees told me it was 3 total. I then realized that one of the orders had been duplicated due to an online error on their website. I advised employee (Maria) that the first online order indicated that it hadn’t been processed. So I went ahead and placed it again. I requested for that duplicated order to be cancelled and refunded because once again their website wasn’t giving me this option. The employees then stated that they couldn’t issue me a refund and that it was my responsibility to cancel online. I explained to them several times that the website had an error and it caused the order to duplicate. I stated that it wasn’t my fault that this had happened to my order. The employee (Maria) looked at me and pointed her finger directly to me saying that it was my fault due to the fact that I had placed the order. I felt she mistreated me and told her that I would contact my bank to dispute the duplicated order for my refund. She then said that I can contact the establishment tomorrow and request to speak to the manager. This will be my first and last time ordering food from this restaurant. I felt mistreated and left without my problem...