A California invasion is reshaping the Las Vegas Valley dining scene, as a wave of beloved Golden State brands crosses the border to meet a growing population of transplants who have brought their appetites with them.
The most talked-about arrival is The Hat, the 75-year-old Southern California institution known for its pastrami dip sandwiches and cult-favorite Orange Bang drinks. The restaurant, which originated in 1951 in Alhambra, California, is building its first Las Vegas location, and its first outside California, along South Rainbow Boulevard near Sobb Avenue. The menu centers on loaded pastrami dip sandwiches, pastrami chili cheese fries, and the Orange Bang, a whipped citrus-and-vanilla drink that has drawn comparisons to a liquid creamsicle since its introduction in 1971…