The Hat — Restaurant in Brea

I love pastrami and going to the hat is a special treat for me. On Thursday July 21.22 I got the pastrami dip and a small fry. I parked to eat my dinner and when I opened my sandwich the meat looked grey and it was so crumbling no visible sliced beef. I took my food back. I stood there for some time before any one addressed me. I'm standing there with my sandwich and a receipt in hand no help a guy who actually looked like he was in charge asked me to move so he could get in the kitchen area. finaly a woman asked me what. I proceeded to tell her about my food she tells me there's nothing wrong with it. I desagreed with her. She walked away grabbed a dip that another employee was making. Threw it in my bag and said there. I have never been treated like this. I wanted to say I ordered my dip with extra mustard and pickle. But she gave me the most angry and scorned look like I was personally attacking her.i just left with a sandwich I didn't want. And by the way the second sandwich wasn't much better. I know that thing's are not great with the economy but if this how there going to deal with it . If there letting the quality of there food drop and bad service. There's no reason for me to go back. 17 dallars for a sandwich and a small fry isn't exactly cheap. I could have gone anywhere. And I think I'm done with...

I was very excited to try this place, because I've been a fan of pastrami since junior high school, when they used to serve pastrami subs for lunch on Fridays. It's been hard to find a decent one as an adult. I think I've only had one pastrami sandwich before my visit to The Hat in the last five or six years? Anyway, I made it a point to finally visit when the lockdown ended. Most of the reviews for this place are high, and it's not too far. Anyway, it was not busy since I went right when they opened. I'd fasted the day before because I read the portions are huge. I ordered the pastrami sandwich and a "regular" order of onion rings. They onion rings were meh/average and I won't be ordering them again, especially since their ranch dressing comes in plastic packets, but the pastrami was very good. Not great. It's juicy something is lacking. I want to bring my own mustard next time. And I feel a bit cheated, paying over $20 for a sandwich, onion rings, and a Coke. Maybe it's just that everything is very expensive now? I kept thinking "Louis Burgers in Long Beach is...

Visiting any location of The Hat is like taking a delightful trip down memory lane. Each visit brings back the essence of the original Hat I cherished in Alhambra during the 90s. As a high school student at Alhambra High, I often stopped by for some indulgent wet fries on my way home.

Every trip to The Hat evokes nostalgia, offering not just good food but a connection to simpler times when fast food hadn't yet succumbed to the pressures of commercialization. Despite its expansion into a chain, The Hat has remarkably maintained the quality that made it a beloved local haunt.

The chili cheese fries are a must-try, perfect for sharing with friends due to their generous portions. The gravy fries are another standout, delivering rich, comforting flavors. And, of course, the original pastrami double-dipped sandwich remains unparalleled – a mouthwatering treat that never fails to impress.

The Hat continues to serve as a comforting reminder of the past, consistently delivering the delicious, unpretentious fare that made it a staple...