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    Mel's Diner

    3.8 (228 reviews)
    Closed 7:00 am - 1:45 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Mel's Diner Photos

    Business Info

    MEL'S DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Good for working

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    Recommended Reviews - Mel's Diner

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    Liza G.

    Stopped here for breakfast on our way back home to CA. My husband asked me if I remembered Mel's Diner from TV. Finding out how close it was to our Airbnb, we had to stop. I am pleased to say, this is solid, fresh diner food. We both got breakfast. I opted for the veggie omelette with home fries and a plain biscuit. Everything was fresh and delicious. I highly recommend the biscuit. I ate it so fast, I forgot to take a picture until it was almost gone. Iconic place. So worth the stop. Cute decor and big portions.

    Kristina M.

    I've been wanting to try this place ever since I saw it. I never knew it was actually I'm Phoenix. I loved the show growing up. As most pointed out its more nostalgic on the outside. Not so much on the inside. It was still cool. Food was good. I didn't get any pictures of the food unfortunately. We were too were hungry to remember. Portions were big. Friendly service from everyone. Prices were normal. Nothing outrageous. We'll definitely be back.

    Menu
    Edgar D.

    The is a classic American style Diner. Everything you'd expect it to be it is. Nothing more and nothing less. This would be considered a local Dive to most, however there is Television history attached to this diner. The tv show Alice. The show aired from 1976-1985. The show followed Alice a N.Y. transplant with dreams of becoming an entertainer in Los Angeles. But gets sidetracked in Phoenix, and takes a job at Mel's Diner. It was a great show with funny characters. It was perfect for its time. Anywho, back to the actual Diner. The staff is super friendly and long standing. Thank you to Kadence for being my server and wonderful conversation. You can tell that Mano (the owner) treats them right. You'll find Lots of regulars within the hours of operation. Which are limited to 7am-1:30pm daily. That being said you never know who you might see filming their experience at the diner. Lots of Vloggers and tv historians are to be expected from time to time. The food is hearty, satisfying and tasty. The coffee is made to perfection. Nothing fancy or high end ingredients are needed. The food and ambiance is perfect.

    Today, 03/02/25, Breakfast Specials.
    Valerie M.

    First visit. YuMMmmm. A pretty straight forward, vintage diner. Simple layout, decor, menu, darn near everything here. Located very close to the Arizona State Fair & Exposition. Apparently the Mel's Diner show was filmed on location right here. There are plenty of good menu options and what we've had so far receives two thumbs up and high praises as we discuss our meal along the drive across town. On this occasion we both went with the Double Cheeseburger. I chose onion rings and my friend had the French fries. Both of us opted to pass on the soup. No regrets with that decision because honestly we could only get through half of our Hamburger. And the burger was fantastic! Thick, juicy, cooked to order, cheese melting, pickle, lettuce, tomato, and onion for topping were placed on the side and the French fries were the perfect accompaniment. Our server was pretty, sweet, and efficient. Third visit. Different server, new or less familiar with placing order on their little contraption which seemed to cause her some challenges when I asked for half & half along my burger for the side -half fries, half onion rings. After sensing this was possibly a problem I said O-rings was fine. What's on the menu? Ranges from breakfast, with the usual suspects of eggs and such but I did notice corned beef hash AND pork chops too. List of lunch options include chicken, pork tenderloin, Reuben, BBQ pulled pork, the classic tuna, blt, grilled cheese, ham & cheese, club sandwiches, open face sliced beef or pork tenderloin, along with chicken breast, 2 types of Greek, and Chef salads. And it continues with appetizers, Mel's Special Plates, the (BEST) Handmade Burgers & More, lunch sides and finally the beverages. The ONLY thing I don't see on the menu is a shake or malt option. Well heck, I just found out from the server that they actually don't have any dessert options. Well no worries there cuz I don't think I could eat much more.

    Brian B.

    Finally made it to Mel's Diner! They have been here a long time, I have driven by for 20 years as a resident and even more as a visitor. The food is classic diner food that hits the spot. The servers were friendly and understanding of our kids. Pretty chill spot, not too loud for table conversations. We split a farmers omelette and had a biscuit with gravy. The gravy could use some sausage, otherwise it's pretty good. The omelette was meaty, just the way we like it!

    Chorizo with three eggs any style with a side of beans.
    Michelle D.

    I had a BLT and my husband had the three eggs any style with chorizo and a side of beans. He was so ecstatic! Food was fantastic, service was amazing and I think this place is really underrated from the outside. If we ever are in Phoenix, we will definitely return!

    Amber Z.

    It has been a while since I stopped in, and this time around, I brought company who was just as excited as I was. We both ordered the all-you-can-eat fried cod with fries and coleslaw. Freshly prepared and fairly priced, we got our money's worth. Services are always top-notch, and the staff is readily available, whether it be to answer questions about the menu or to top off your beverage. The atmosphere is always fun and relaxing while also being nostalgic.

    Finally made it here for lunch.
    Matt G.

    As a Gen-Xer, I grew up watching the TV show Alice with my parents. The funny thing is, I've lived in Arizona for almost 17 years and it never dawned on me that Mel's Diner was in Phoenix until I saw a random new clipping about it. Of course, I had to check it out. I went there late morning to avoid the early morning breakfast rush. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I pulled into the parking lot and saw the Mel's Diner sign. I knew they closed at 2 pm, so I figured that 11 am would be plenty of time. They were moderately busy when I got there, but there was still plenty of seating. I was greeted immediately and asked if I'd like a table. I opted to sit at the counter since it was just me. If you're expecting to see waitresses in uniforms like the TV show, you'll be disappointed. I didn't expect this since this isn't a commercialized tourist attraction where the staff dresses up. Other than the menus, I didn't see any other memorabilia. I like that the charm of this diner isn't tainted in that regard. I ordered the Reuben sandwich with fries simply because I've been craving a Reuben for a while. I was tempted to order one of the burgers. My order came with a cup of soup. Chicken Noodle and Hamburger Macaroni were the choices. I'm anti-chicken noodle soup due to childhood trauma, so my choice was easy. :) The soup was flavorful and delicious. My sandwich arrived shortly after finishing my soup. The sandwich was piping hot and the grilled Rye bread was crispy and not soggy! The sandwich was awesome. I will admit that I would have liked it a little more if it had some Thousand Island dressing on it. The fries had very little salt on them, which was fine with me. I thought that they were good. They weren't the battered trash that a lot of places serve these days. The service here was fantastic. The waitresses were very attentive and my iced tea never went empty. You can tell that they enjoy working with each other as the playful humor among coworkers was present. I've read other reviews that cite that the TV show was filmed here. That is incorrect. The exterior shots were used for the show. The show itself was filmed in studios in California. If you like the nostalgia and feel of old diners, this is a place to check out. It's tie to TV history as well as the good food that makes Mel's Diner worth checking out. I do plan on returning so I can try their burgers, jumbo shrimp, omelets, chicken fried steak, and pancakes. Hahaha!

    Outside! Fans of the show should recognize this?
    Edward M.

    Well, as a Gen Xer who grew up with the show, Alice and being married TO an Alice we HAD to stop here for lunch!!! LOL As much as it was a nostalgic stop for us, it was also a great stop for lunch, food-wise! I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries and Alice ordered the gyro sandwich with fries. Both were outstanding! The burger was huge, almost a half pound, so it is very shareable. The fries were good and in my favorite style but I wouldn't describe them as great. I'd probably try one of the other sides, if we went again. They also give you a cup of soup with your meal! I tried the charro bean, which was super tasty! Alice wanted the vegetable, but unfortunately we were there very early for lunch and it wasn't ready (she didn't want the bean soup!) ;-) Alice really enjoyed the gyro but had the same opinion of the fries. As usual, my final focus is on the service which was outstanding! We were served by a a super pleasant lady (Marianna). She was not only super nice but her skills as a waitress were top notch. Just the right amount of attention to make sure my coffee and our waters were never empty. My only disappointment was the waitresses were not wearing the classic pink uniforms with the crazy large handkerchiefs on the lapel! LOL

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    3 years ago

    I loved it the place is truly an antique the food was surprisingly Excellent I ordered the chopped steak and eggs and hash browns

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    2 years ago

    Food was delicious and the servers were really sweet best to see the old memorabilia from the show

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Consistently good service and food. Atmosphere A+. Been going there for years and always happy.

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    4 years ago

    It's ok. Was busy fir breakfast so we got just one cup of coffee. She never came back with it. Food was ok nothing to brag about

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    7 years ago

    If you have ever seen the show Alice here you go. Awesome friendly service great specials and very good food.

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    Page 3 of 6

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    MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain - BLT Sandwich

    MacAlpine's Diner & Soda Fountain

    4.2(559 reviews)
    2.0 mi
    $$

    What a fabulous little diner spot! Nothing better than an…read moreantique store and classic American diner merged into one. The soda floats here are INCREDIBLE. We arrived just in time for lunch and saw some good things about the burger here so decided to give it a go. Everyone working here was so kind and you can tell they are all like family, which was so sweet, I love mom and pop shop's like this. The burger was simple and delicious, it was very retro, i had the classic cheeseburger and then my guy went for a gluten free option, which were toasted pieces of gluten free bread instead of a bun. The carrot raisin salad was a fun side to order! almost reminded me of coleslaw without the cabbage, it was sweet and yummy. Made me think of all the fun ambrosia-like salads people used to eat all of the time. The soda float we had was definitely the star of the show. I can't remember the exact name of the drink but it was cucumber and melon soda with vanilla ice cream, it was so unique and refreshing and the perfect combination of flavors. I want to try every soda float there now! Will definitely be coming back next time I'm in Phoenix. It's places like this that make the world go round.

    My nephew and I stopped in to try their shakes and it was an amazing experience…read more Staff was warm, friendly and most of all caring. There is a real sense of community there and a place that deserves to be visited. In a world of bland, homogenized, cookie cutter homes and buildings and corporations telling us what we want, it is good to go somewhere that sparks imagination (all those flavors), creativity and a sense of nostalgia. Kudos!

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    Nana Dee's Diner - Steak & Eggs

    Nana Dee's Diner

    4.2(308 reviews)
    23.8 mi
    $$

    Instant nostalgia walking in as this location used to be a 5 & Diner that I'd been frequenting…read moresince the 1990s with my Nanny (British for Grandma). I'd been meaning to try this location after seeing a few of my fellow Yelper friends review this place. Just like they said, this place did not disappoint! Serving up quality diner food with friendly service, classic hits, and blast from the past decor. What We Ordered: - Steak & Eggs: Under $20?! Count me in! Seasoned well and cooked perfectly to order for both the over easy eggs and medium rare steak. Breakfast perfection! - Patty Melt: My boyfriend said it was delicious, and the small bite I tried was great. You can tell they season their burger patties. Honestly, we both left very impressed as all the food was seasoned well and cooked beautifully. Who says diner food can't be done well?! Nana Dee's has set the standard for diner food!

    Thanks Nana Dee's and our wonderful waitress, Valerie - that's 3 gentlemen extremely well-fed and…read moretaken care of. Delicious and plentiful food, recommended by Valerie - difficult to get out of our seats to close out and get back on the road, truth be told. I had the burrito special (ginormous and the salsa on the side with hash browns was excellent); my two colleagues had Ultimate Lumberjacks that did not disappoint. Lovely, well-kept and bright American Diner experience with vibrant decor to keep your eyes busy while you have a short wait for your food. Valerie was there every step of the way to ensure our needs were met and our questions were answered. First Class experience - thank you

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    Dick's Hideaway - Carne Adovada Eggs Benedict

    Dick's Hideaway

    4.3(1.4k reviews)
    5.1 mi
    $$

    Absolutely love this hidden little gem ! Shhhh! Service, atmosphere high end bar experience. Food…read moreand drinks are all amazing! !!! I love restaurants like this! Totally made my mother's da!

    Probably not going back to Dick's…read more.. We were visiting both Phoenix and Scottsdale with friends and decided to meet up at Dick's Hideaway for dinner after hearing good things. There were six of us, and we were quoted a 45-minute wait, which seemed reasonable at first. However, their system for managing waits is honestly pretty frustrating. There are no reservations, no text notifications, and no call when your table is ready. You're basically left hovering and guessing. We did make it back in time for our table, but a simple "hey, your table's ready" system would go a long way in making guests feel valued. We were seated around 8 PM after waiting and taken to a large corner booth in the back. Unfortunately, there were still two people from the previous party lingering at the table even after they had paid and the rest of their group had already left. I understand finishing drinks, but it felt inconsiderate given how busy the restaurant was and how long people were waiting. After being seated, it took about 15 minutes before anyone came to our table, and even then, not everyone in our group was acknowledged right away. Things didn't improve much from there. It took over 30 minutes just to place our food order. From what we could tell, there was only one server handling the entire restaurant. I can definitely empathize with how difficult that must be, but at the same time, when we first arrived, she appeared to be standing near the entrance rather than actively managing tables, which added to the confusion. When the food finally came out, it was very staggered instead of arriving together. I ordered the Taos tenderloin with green beans and fries. The sides were actually great--probably the highlight of the meal--but the steak itself was disappointing. I ordered it medium, but it came out with an overly charred, almost burnt crust that completely overpowered the flavor. The whole dish really needed basic seasoning like salt and pepper to bring it together. The atmosphere also didn't do much to help the experience. It's extremely dark inside--so much so that it's hard to see your food--and the space feels cramped. The layout is also pretty strange and honestly a bit off-putting. There's what appears to be a kitchen area right behind the bar, and then a full kitchen in the back--but what really stood out was the lack of separation near the restroom area. There's no proper door between the kitchen and the bathroom space, and from a small step down off the dining area, you can basically see straight into the kitchen if you wanted to. It just didn't feel very private or well thought out. Another thing that stood out was the portion sizes. While some people might see that as a positive, they were honestly too large--especially for those of us traveling who couldn't take leftovers with us. Slightly smaller portions might not only reduce waste but also help the kitchen keep up with demand and improve overall service speed. Overall, this ended up being more of a one-time experience than a place we'd return to. Between the disorganized wait system, slow and inconsistent service, and underwhelming food, it just didn't live up to the expectations we had going in.

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    Mel's Diner - diners - Updated May 2026

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