Sometimes, you just have to escape your local surroundings, and that’s what happened yesterday when I drove up to Temecula to just wander around Old Town Front Street for a bit.

As I was getting ready to leave, I remembered that I had heard about a restaurant called The Hat that was known for its pastrami sandwiches. After doing a quick search of my saved restaurants in Google Maps, I saw that The Hat was only about five miles from where I was in Temecula, so off I went.

The restaurant is in a large shopping area with a Sam’s Club and a gazillion other shops and restaurants, located right off the Murrieta Hot Springs Road exit off I-215 (the first exit after the I-15/I-215 split going northbound). (There are 10 other locations scattered across the greater LA area, too.)

The large menu board shows all the options and you order at the counter and wait for your number to be called to pick up your food. I ordered the pastrami dip sandwich with mustard and pickles, a side of potato salad, and a medium soda ($19.56). Of course, they have other items including burgers, hot dogs, and cold sandwiches, too.

The sandwich was piled high with tender, flavorful, juicy pastrami that was a little on the messy side to eat. The potato salad was served in a plastic container that was about the same size as a small package of potato salad that you would buy at Vons. You could probably split that between two people.

It’s been a thousand years since I last had pastrami, so I’m definitely not a pastrami afficionado by any stretch of the imagination, and I really have nothing to compare it to. I enjoyed the experience and the food, but I think I’m more of a corned beef fan if I’m being honest.

So if you happen to be in the Temecula / Murietta area, and pastrami is your thing, you may want to check it out.

Explore San Diego and beyond.

What You Need to Know

Location:	40476 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd. Murrieta, CA 92563
Transit:	N/A
Hours:	10 a.m. – 10 p.m. daily
Phone:	(951) 304-2244
Website:	https://thehat.com/
Cost:	$$
Tips:	Go hungry. Large sandwiches and portions There is a drive-thru lane if you’re on the go.
Date Visited:	12 November 2024