{{short description|Fast food restaurant chain}} {{about|the restaurant|the city|Medicine Hat|other uses|Hat (disambiguation)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2020}} {{Infobox restaurant | name = The Hat | image = The Hat, Alhambra.jpg | image_caption = World Famous Pastrami | logo = File:The Hat logo.png | established = 1951 | current_owner = Joseph Conzonire | head_chef = | food_type = Pastrami, Burgers, Dogs, Sandwiches, Onion Rings, Fries, Chili cheese fries | dress_code = | rating = | state = California | zip = | country = United States | seating_capacity = | reservations = | other_locations = Multiple throughout Southern California, one in Las Vegas Nevada | website = https://www.thehat.com/ }} '''The Hat''' is a Southern California fast-food restaurant chain specializing in pastrami dip sandwiches.<ref name="DMN">{{cite news | first= Dan | last= Neil | title=Table Talk | work=Deseret News | date= 2004-11-24}}</ref> The eatery, once local only to the San Gabriel Valley,<ref name="OCWeekly">{{cite news | url= http://www.ocweekly.com/features/best-of-oc/brea/16903/?page=2 | title= Best of OC | work=OC Weekly | date= 2001-09-20}}{{dead link|date=October 2024}}</ref> has been offering its "World Famous Pastrami" to Southern California residents since 1951.<ref name="panda">{{cite web |url= http://www.chubbypanda.com/2007/03/hat-lake-forest-ca-eating.html |title= The Hat - Lake Forest, CA [Eating] |accessdate= 2007-11-21 |date= 2007-03-29 |publisher=chubbypanda.com}}</ref><ref name="PW">{{cite web|accessdate=2007-11-22|work=Pasadena Weekly |url=http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=5361&IssueNum=99|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130131004540/http://www.pasadenaweekly.com/article.php?id=5361&IssueNum=99|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 31, 2013|title=The Original Hat of Pasadena}}</ref> In 2000, it was stated that, in sum, its customers consume 13 to 15 tons of pastrami per week.<ref name="LADN">{{cite news | first= Andrew | last= Faught | url= http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DELI+MAY+SPREAD+TO+BURBANK-a083402199 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110520123402/http://www.thefreelibrary.com/DELI+MAY+SPREAD+TO+BURBANK-a083402199 | url-status= dead | archive-date= May 20, 2011 | title= Deli May Spread To Burbank | work=Los Angeles Daily News | date= 2000-10-04}}</ref>
==History== The original The Hat restaurant is located at the intersection of Garfield Avenue and Valley Boulevard in Alhambra, California. The Hat has been serving pastrami dip sandwiches since 1951. The current company has kept to its roots by keeping its retro neon signs featuring a chef’s toque and the words "World Famous Pastrami”.
In 1981, brothers Joseph (Joe) and Corky Conzonire purchased The Hat and became the new owners of the Alhambra location, which was the only The Hat store at the time.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=History |url=https://thehat.com/history/ |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=The Hat |language=en-US}}</ref> Joe Conzonire became the chain's sole owner following Corky Conzonire's death in 2021.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Team |first=Obits |date=2021-01-29 |title=Obituary {{!}} Ronald 'Corky' Conzonire |url=https://outlooknewspapers.com/sanmarinotribune/archives/obituary-ronald-corky-conzonire/article_c8001d22-f9c0-5696-899b-0473d76eb54e.html |access-date=2025-06-02 |website=Outlook Newspapers |language=en}}</ref>
On May 6, 2026, The Hat is opening its first location outside of California in Las Vegas.
==Menu== The pastrami dip sandwich is the restaurant's signature item. It comes on a French roll with mustard and pickle. The restaurant also serves burgers, dogs, sandwiches, onion rings, fries and chili cheese fries. The Hat may have been one of the first places to feature the pastrami burger.<ref name="OCWeekly"/> The Hat offers no table service, so all of the items are wrapped to go, but paper plates are given to customers who wish to "dine in."
==Locations== There are 12 locations. With 11 locations around Los Angeles, Riverside, Orange, Ventura, and San Bernardino counties, and one location in Nevada.
==Gallery== <gallery> File:Menu of The Hat in Lake Forest, CA April 2022.jpg |Menu of The Hat in Lake Forest, CA as of April 2022. </gallery>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Hat}} Category:Restaurants established in 1951 Category:Restaurants in California