Food: I had an outstanding, buttery clam chowder and a refreshing watermelon and beet salad Service: everyone from the host to the servers and busser were friendly and attentive Ambiance: the retro look and feel of the diner was welcoming and nostalgic read more

Mel's Drive-In - Mel's diner menu - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

I stopped by Mel's Diner and ordered the corned beef hash with a freshly squeezed orange juice. The corned beef hash was okay, but honestly, it's not one of my favorites. The orange juice, however, was amazing definitely fresh and one of the highlights of the meal. The service was good. The staff was friendly and consistently checking in, which I appreciated. Unfortunately, what really turned me off was what I witnessed regarding food handling. I saw staff members come back from bussing tables and go straight to handling bread and putting it into the toaster without washing their hands or putting on gloves. Watching someone go from handling dirty dishes to preparing food without washing their hands was extremely unsanitary and honestly disgusting. That completely changed my impression of the restaurant. The price was also outrageous for what I received. My corned beef hash, orange juice, and a $6.50 tip came out to around $43 for one person. I just don't feel the food and overall experience were worth that price. The good: great freshly squeezed orange juice and attentive service. The bad: questionable food handling practices and very high prices. Unfortunately, I won't be returning. read more

I remember this place being significantly better. We came after a late night Giants game because nothing is better than good ole fashioned diner food. Greasy, salty and fatty. Here's what we got: 1. Banana milkshake 10/10 2. Coke float 10/10 3. Beef dip 2/10 4. Smash burger 6/10 Service was still great! There was only one server and the place started to get pretty packed so that's the good news. Also, forgot how nostalgic it is at a diner and one that still has a juke box. Come for the vibes and milkshakes. read more

Ol faithful especially when you're fighting a cold! So I ordered a soup and sandwich from Mel's via doordash to my hotel. I thought maybe this time the soup wouldn't be greasy and salty. Well the soup was not greasy but it was salty. Very hearty and flavorful but too much salt for me. The grilled cheese was really good and of course the fries were good too. I love the soup I just wish it wasn't so salty. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Chicken soup - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Loved the vibes of this place! Came in only for a milkshake and apple pie (was in the mood for some dessert and it was kind of late, this was only one of the only places open) and they were both super yummy. Our waiter was very nice and kept checking in too. Would highly recommend. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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As soon as we walked through the door Saturday morning, we were guided to a table. The layout and decor was nostalgic and educational. We ordered the Elvis Scramble and Huevos Rancheros. Food was fairly straightforward, as was the service. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Elvis Scramble - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not a lot of people and yet service was very slow today. Sat at the counter for an iced coffee and watermelon juice but didn't get served our food until after 10 minutes of it sitting on the serving dock. The watermelon juice was warm when I got it and did not taste good at all. It was watery but had no ice nor did it taste like watermelon. It tasted like a lemonade. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Mel's Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic spot that's definitely worth visiting--especially if you enjoy that classic retro diner vibe. The atmosphere really stands out, with a cool 50s theme that makes the whole experience feel unique and memorable. The burger was the highlight of the meal--juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. It's exactly what you'd hope for from a place like this. The fries were decent, but nothing special--good enough, just not as standout as the burger. The cheese sticks were tasty and cooked well, but at around $18, they felt a bit overpriced for what you get. The restaurant was clean, and the staff were friendly and kept things moving smoothly. Overall, it's a great place to visit for the experience, solid food, and fun atmosphere. Not perfect across the board, but definitely a spot I'd recommend checking out at least once if you're in San Francisco. read more

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Quintessential retro diner. We were in town for a tech conference and every year we make the trek over for a comfortable sit down breakfast. The service is outstanding even when the line is out the door and down the street. read more

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It's been over a decade in a half since we were last here. Felt a little nostalgic, I missed the old school diner vibes so dropped in for lunch. My hubby ordered the burger and curly fries. I ordered the Taco Salad and a strawberry milkshake. The food was 3 stars. My hubbys burger was great but my chicken was rubbery and raw in some areas in the middle where the meat is thicker. The salad was supposed to come with beans but it was smeared at the bottom of the bowl. I was hoping for a bunch of beans not just a few smashed smears. A fountain coke was $5.50!! Very overpriced. I would say, food quality and prices are 3 stars. As with most places nowadays, it's just overpriced for what you get. read more

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Let's start with the good. They move very fast here and even on a busy day, they were able to get us seated within 10 minutes and the table service was relatively fast. Now with the bad...the food was honestly incredibly mid. The most disappointing piece was that the pancakes I got were the driest pancakes I've ever had. It's like they made it a few days ago and just left them out. They were not soft, not fluffy, hard to tear through, and dryer than the Sahara. Their overall breakfast combo was just basic and extremely overpriced. Ultimately, I'd only return out of convenience, but would not make it a "destination" stop. There are so Many other great diners out in CA, let alone SF, for the food.... this place is not it. read more

A fun retro diner vibe serving American diner food. The restaurant has many fun drinks to choose from, though I personally felt that they were a bit pricey. Service took longer than expected but this may be due to understaffing. 5/5 - Jalapeno Cheeseburger - This burger dish was quite juicy and served with a soft brioche bun. The jalapenos were not overwhelming and the texture profile was pretty satisfying with the shoestring fried onions. Smash burger patty was also very well-seasoned and very tender. Fries and other complementing items were generous, and I was left quite filled! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Jalapeño Cheeseburger - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was just ok, the interior gives off an old school diner vibe. Service was ok, they checked in on us once. Food was mediocre for the price. We got burgers that were just ok and overpriced for what it is. I've had better burgers for cheaper. We went just for the old school vibes, everything else is just ok. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Big retro diner vibes, ok food. The milkshake was pretty good and saved the day. Nice and creamy with oreo crumbles. Good consistency and flavor. The food was alright, kinda mediocre taste (we got breakfast, perhaps sandwiches are better??). The flavor and texture of the pancakes had a weird aftertaste feeling on my tongue, so I wasn't too impressed with them. They were eh. The sausage was not very good either. Weird chew to it. The egg was fine; cooked to my request. read more

Mel's Drive-In - oreo milkshake - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If you're looking for a real burger, not something over styled or trying too hard, this is absolutely a spot to stop by. I ordered The Famous Mel's Burger, well done and it delivered exactly what you want from a classic diner burger, big, juicy and packed with flavor. The patty held up beautifully even well done, the bun was soft with a nice sesame crunch and everything tasted straightforward and satisfying. The fries were another win, crispy, crunchy and well seasoned, with that perfect balance where they're golden on the outside and fluffy inside. Simple, but done right. Now the real standout for me was the apple pie. This isn't one of those overly sweet, mushy pies. You get real, generous chunks of apple, a noticeable cinnamon warmth and a nice, flaky crust. The portion size is solid for the price and it's especially perfect during colder weather, comforting without being heavy. Overall, this meal hit exactly where it should. Classic diner food, done with care. read more

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My experience dining at this location was mediocre. The waiters/waitresses were also mediocre. Their food were somewhat "Skimpy"

Food was delicious and consistent. Plenty of good options and great setting. This is a good option when you're looking for variety. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Side Salad was quite delicious - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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First day I came to Mel's dinner for a late lunch and I just wanted a plain hamburger with no cheese and only lettuce but the waiter I had clearly didn't understand and didn't know how to fix it until I explained it so the service was not good the food was mediocre at best and now just came for breakfast got the French toast again it was mediocre but the waiter this time was pretty good and while eating I waited 5 mins for a refill on my drink and only did he sit a couple next to me is when the waiter noticed I needed a refill. So the food and service is a hit or miss. read more

Mel's Drive-In - French toast - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Just wow! If you want to time travel, this is the place to go. So efficient, so pretty and very clean, even the bathrooms! The food was so good, but lacking on the saltiness that you should expect, so one less star. I definitely recommend everyone to try the root beer!!! Soooo good, we had to take some for the go and a chicken wrap for my husband. Vegetarian friendly! Lots of options on the menu. read more

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First time trying Mel's Drive-In. The food is delicious, and the portion is great. The service could have been better. The ambiance was okay; it probably would be better if it's a different time of the day. read more

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When I came to Cali it was my big dream to go to an OG American Diner... I did some research and found Mel's. At first I was a bit skeptical because it seems to be a chain(?), but when I walked in, I got super excited because it looked just like in the movies. Our waitress was incredibly friendly and the menu was just what I was looking for! Ordered the patty melt and mac and cheese. Both was very delicious! The milkshake I had was also served in a vintage style with a cherry on top (LOVE) Will come again! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

After a day of traveling, I stopped in for dinner at Mel's, a solid, historic diner with many locations. I ordered the R-66 Burger and thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

Mel's Drive-In - R-66 Burger and fries - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Okay, I stopped here for lunch and decided on the Famous Melburger with fries and an Ice Tea. The burger was good as were the fries and Drink. The service was very good. But nothing really special. I will stop here for dinner and see if my score goes up read more

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Stopped in for a late lunch after a museum visit one afternoon. Greeted nicely, friendly efficient service and good diner food. I had a full turkey dinner with plenty of leftovers to take home! My husband had the French dip, which he enjoyed. Would definitely go back! read more

Attentive staff Fast service. Good classic American food. I ordered the smash burger. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Classic dive style diner. Service is solid and the french fries are good. Ive eaten here twice this week though and both times the sandwiches were on the dry side. Had to ask for additional mayo/sauces. Overall though I enjoy eating here. read more

This place has gotten ridiculously overpriced for mediocre food. Granted I only went there late at night after hours and haven't done so in a while however we spent $88 for breakfast for two! We ordered a bfast burrito, a bfast egg plate (basic!), orange juice, latte & side of toast. $88 for a diner bfast sounds ridiculous and the only reason we chose that place was so we don't spend so much on our breakfast but looking back at it we could've gone to an upscale buffet and spent the exact same amount. Very disappointing! read more

Watch movies at AMC union square then Mel's drive in old time ..American graffiti ..mom I'm happy ..eggs ham cheese bread side ..Mel's at union square ..old times ..movies read more

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I have always loved Mel's for their meals at a reasonable price. I ate at the Mel's on Mission/4th St on New Year's Day. I didn't pay attention to the prices since I was familiar enough with them. When the check arrived I couldn't hold back from complaining to the waiter (I didn't blame him). Sure the wrap and patty melt were $22/$25 respectively but what caught my eye was the $5.50 Diet Coke and $9.00 chicken soup. This was not a bowl but a cup. I will return but be selective in what I order. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

We first came across Mel's diner 36 years when we shared our first milkshake. Today we had a humongous fresh turkey club sandwich on sourdough bread. I opted for a sirloin steak sandwich which was awesome. total with Tip was $77.00- a lot pricy for two sandwiches & a milkshake but it is what it is. read more

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Definitely worth stopping by at Mel's for an early breakfast or late night snack. Highly recommend the burger, espresso shake, and grilled cheese. The vibes were really nice with old diner decor everywhere. Pretty empty when I went. The service was quite fast too! read more

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It's been 26 years since I stopped by Mel's. Was in SF for my son's baseball training and we decided to stop by for lunch. I grabbed the All American Smash Burger with Swiss cheese with a side of Onion Rings and the kid ordered a Short Rib Grilled Cheese with a Strawberry milkshake. Service was friendly. Food arrived hot and fresh tasting. This location is setup like an old school dinner with oldies playing. Place was clean and spacious. Would definitely comeback read more

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Genuinely some of the nicest people I've ever met, and the food was absolutely fantastic. I loved my vegan milkshake, and the burrito was delicious as well! 10 out of 10, plan to go back every time I'm in town. read more

Mel's Drive-In - *Vegan Oreo Shake - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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They brought us the wrong food and then the wrong check when we tried to cash out. That would be ok if they weren't also extremely rude to us when we were trying to check out. read more

We sent last night for dinner and while I believe the staff base their service on first impressions, which is just judgemental, we both had some form of meatloaf, I the dinner, my guest the sandwich. Their version of the ketchup sauce under beef gravy was different yet still good. The pricing is, well, typical SF diner prices. I'd advise to do breakfast there with mimosas, it's a much more pleasant experience and the same price as dinner! Server was ok, didn't do anything wrong nor anything special so just typical overworked employee service. All in all, it's an ok place with that sort of price tag. read more

Great place to stop by and have comfort food on a cold night. Service was great and the food arrived fast. I had the clam chowder bowl and it was delicious. The soup was filling and sourdough bowl was perfect. The portions are large here so come hungry. They are open late so it's perfect after night out. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Bowl Clam Chowder - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was OK! My biggest complaint was about the waiter's reluctance to serve a large group and made it painfully apparent with his scowl of disdain as we were being seated and served. Multiple dishes and drinks were missing and had to be requested multiple times. Food was OK as to be expected by a diner, but service could be better. read more

We came here Sunday night for dinner. Place was about half full when we got in. Got seated right away and ordered a couple of burgers, fried chicken sandwich and a fried chicken plate. Food came out in about 15-20 minutes which was fine. The ambiance inside was very nice. Staff here was working hard but overall experience was good. Food was good read more

I stopped in for breakfast and sat at the counter. The ambiance was exactly what I was looking for from a diner. Service was quick which is part of the allure of counter service. Serving sizes were big and food was flavorful. No complaints. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Bacon Egg and Cheese - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was the first Mel's Diner opened in 1947. We thought we would stop for some burgers and history! Overall, the food was okay. Henry our server was wonderful. He was kind, funny, and quick! This is an older resturant so it has that charm keep that in mind when you want to know the vibe. Still a fun experience although we probably won't be back. read more

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