The Hat

Lake Forest, CA · Sandwich shop

Rating
4.6/5
★★★★★ 4.6
Reviews
20
Rank in Lake Forest
#15
of 180 restaurants
City Percentile
79%
rating percentile
Address
The Hat, 23641 Rockfield Blvd, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Phone
(949) 586-9200
Website
www.thehat.com
Status
Open · Closes 11 PM

The Hat is a restaurant located in Lake Forest, CA. It is one of 180 restaurants listed in Lake Forest. Its 4.6-star rating is above the Lake Forest city average of 4.3 stars. It ranks #15 of 180 restaurants in Lake Forest. There are 10 photos associated with this location.

Hours

Friday10 AM–11 PM

Customer Reviews

★★★★★ 5.0 Pauline Steele · Jan 2026

Haven’t been to the Hat in a many years since I don’t live close. Went back recently and it still holds true that their Roast Beef Au Jus is my favorite pastrami sandwich here in California with its tasty flavors. Size-wise, it doesn’t look too big but it filled me up fast and was able to take the other half home. It does not come with a dip since it already comes pre-dipped. Also ordered a side of onion rings to split with my husband. The rings are huge, batter is nice and crunchy, and they give you a generous amount! Available for drive-thru and there are many indoor seats (diner style) and a few outdoor ones. We went on a Saturday night at 9pm and didn’t wait long for our food.

★★★★★ 5.0 Jim Priest · Nov 2025

Fod just "a sandwich shop" this place is top notch, the food was great, the propotions were insane, crazy value for what you pay. I got the chili fries and pastrami dip sandwhich both were huge! Food turnaround was quick, there was plenty of seating, definitely will be missing this place when I head back home.

★★★★☆ 4.0 Martin Roberts · Sep 2025

Dropped into 'The Hat' for a pastrami sub for lunch. Service was fast and the place has an American Diner, fast food joint, vibe, with booth tables. The pastrami was good, but not as good as what I've had in New York City. Fountain drinks, restrooms and background music. A good USA experience from a brand dating back to 1951.

★★★★★ 5.0 Tim W · Feb 2026

Loved this place! Insane portion on the chili cheese fries and their world famous pastrami dip was delicious!!

★★★★★ 5.0 Mark Absher · Aug 2025

The Pastrami sandwich was excellent and enough for 2 people to feel satisfied. The fries are voluminous. Now here’s the crazy additional observation: this restaurant is ridiculously clean for its age. The floor and seating area was noticeably clean, and the restrooms were exceptionally clean as well. The restaurant is obviously well managed. I got there early on a Saturday at 11 to beat the crowd, and by the time I left, the restaurant was full of people. I will unquestionably be back for more.

Accessibility & Amenities

✓ Wheelchair Accessible Entrance ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Parking Lot ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Restroom ✓ Wheelchair Accessible Seating

Services

Sandwich shopFast food restaurant

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This listing is informational. Contact the business directly to verify credentials, services, and availability.