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    Mel's Drive-In

    3.0 (875 reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)
    Updated 1 month ago

    Order Mel's Drive-In Takeout or Delivery

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    MEL'S DRIVE-IN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Bowl Chicken noodle *Bowl Chicken Soup
    Angela K.

    The place has old retro diner vibes, very homey and cozy especially for the holidays. Service was fine and definitely an older crowd inside. Coffee is refillable, I had 3 cups. The chicken noodle soup was really good, lots of chicken and veggies. This was my favorite and I will be coming back for it. Arnolds high protein breakfast included egg whites, chicken breast, mushrooms and asparagus. This was pretty plain and unsalted. Don't think I will be getting it again but it's definitely a filling and healthy option. The total bill was over $80 which I thought was a bit high for the taste and service.

    Chicken Pot Pie
    Julie V.

    It's been years since I've had a chicken pot pie. My only reference ever was the frozen ones from Walmart so I'm not quite sure how credible I am. However, trust me when I say, the chicken pot pie here is amazing. It's so comforting and warm and perfect for a cold SF day. The filling has a lot of potatoes and chicken, they really don't skimp out on you. My sister and I stopped here after doing some shopping and made the mistake of getting our own pot pies because I assumed it would be small. Nope. It can definitely be shared between 2-3 people! The server was very friendly and so shocked when we wanted our own. I would come back just for this.

    Mac and cheese
    Nikita K.

    This diner is super cute inside and the service is good but the food was not. The mozzarella sticks tasted kinda stale and rubbery and the tomato soup was off too. The Mac and cheese was not bad I'd probably get it again. The mimosa also tasted not fresh to me. Nice that there's a parking lot here though.

    Quinoa kale salad ($13) w/ additional salmon ($18) great sear
    Helen L.

    A bit more noisy than the one at Geary Blvd. Maybe it was full. Having parking is a plus. I got the quinoa kale salad ($13) with additional salmon ($18). It came with a bow ofl additional vinaigrette. The salmon was excellent, nicely seared and crispy. My eating mate got the breakfast burrito and this was better than Geary. Our food took awhile since we came at the tail end of a crowd. Service was great. There was a security guard watching the car and front. Manager was at the door when we came in and out. The place was decorated with balloons of Thanksgiving.

    Nice day one breakfast!
    Terri B.

    Great breakfast on our first morning in the city, so good we went again the next morning. Unfortunately, day two was not as good as day one. Cold pancakes...boo! Oddly enough, our waiter was great on day one and on day two not so much. Likely a good after evening of vibrations spot! Ambiance was very fun...enjoyed the movie throwbacks.

    Diner atmosphere!
    Rosie S.

    Mel's diner is a cute retro diner! The ambience is amazing. Service was great. You get a feel of the 50s diner and food and drinks. Cute little touch having your own personal little jukebox next to you. Definitely a must add to your bucket list or stop in San Francisco is very friendly.

    Mel's
    Michael P.

    Can't pass up stopping at Mel's. The food and staff are amazing. Super fast service and the place has great vibes. Anytime you visit SF take a stop at Mel's. Plenty of parking in the lot. Pro tip: The shakes and breakfast are amazing

    Sean B.

    I really enjoyed breakfast here! I ordered the avocado toast and the eggs were poached perfectly. The prices were very reasonable, I think I paid more for fast food elsewhere in San Francisco, haha. The coffee was warm and flavorful, and our server was very attentive. The old-school diner vibe really added to the overall experience.

    Turkey Pesto sandwich- excellent with freshly carved turkey
    Jennifer O.

    I love this small Mel's Diner, all booth seating and large blow up black & white photos on the wall of George Lucas directing "American Graffiti" where Mel's is prominently featured. If you're in the mood for hearty American diner fare, this is your spot: Chicken pot pie, meatloaf, hamburgers and thick shakes. It's a little pricey (always has been) but it's quality food made right. Unfortunately, service was way off at this location: They were extremely polite but slow outta the gate bringing water and taking our order. Then our entrees came after a substantial wait with fries barely warm, the pesto turkey sandwich, very soggy and gravy congealing on my son's main, short ribs and mashers. They rushed an extra plate of nuclear hot fries to our table. Now that's what I'm talking about- hot and delicious. Everything was pretty tasty though my sandwich was falling apart in my hands and would've been better hot. I'd forgotten how much I like this location, more intimate and diner-cozy than Geary. I'd go again - and hope they have their eye on the tables and not just third party delivery orders going out the door.

    Reuben Sandwich
    Eden C.

    Went with my friend for the vibes. A super cute restaurant-- I love the booth seating & jukeboxes on the center counters. Service was actually great. They were attentive and quick, although the food took a tiny bit long to come out. I probably should've gotten something else, but their reuben was just okay. It had essentially no sauerkraut or other sauce but it was a good portion. I subbed for sweet potato fries which were solid. I'd go again and try something else.

    Harlee S.

    It was such a pleasure having breakfast at Mel's Drive-In. The old diner and jukebox vibe was just what I needed. And just like the good all days (if I was alive), you can put a quarter in and pick a song to play. Of course, we had to choose Benny and the Jets by Elton John. Such a classic! The food was fantastic and they had $6 mimosas, which you could choose either cranberry, orange or pineapple. All three were delicious! I had the huevos rancheros and it was the perfect meal to start the day. I ordered fruit, as well, and got all the good stuff, not just melon and cantaloupe! The service was great and friendly!

    French fries, onion rings, milkshake
    Massimo B.

    Great food, great service, great ambiance. Maybe fix the jukebox boxes that lets you chose the best song, I've been scammed out of quarters

    He got a cheeseburger w American and curly fries.
    C Z.

    Ambiance is top notch, nostalgic and fun! Classic everything. The burgers are big and tasty and they have something for everyone, regardless of age or food preferences. Service was great- the old guy that helped us was incredibly busy but he was so attentive and kind. We stop by here every time we go to the city! Cant wait to come back -!: get a big'ol' milkshake!

    Place setting & menu

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    Consistently mid but sometimes you end up here. Burgers and milkshakes are alright. It's not a bad place to sit and chat with friends

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    Page 1 of 22

    Mel's Drive-In Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mel's Drive-In

    Do we take reservations for this restaurant if we have more than two guests in our party?

    No they usually seat you as soon as you walk in. If they are super busy they will tell you how long but I never had to wait.

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    Flores San Francisco

    Flores San Francisco

    4.0(1.2k reviews)
    0.3 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    Going back to Flores in SFO feels like going back home…read more It's the kind of place where food isn't just served... it's felt. That perfectly made pozole; rich, flavorful, and hearty; with the right balance of seasoning, tradition, and soul. The red Mexican rice, fluffy and full of flavor, paired with sweet fried plantains; or tajaditas amarillas, as we call them; creates that beautiful sweet contrast that embraces every bite. The atmosphere is simply spectacular. Warm, authentic, welcoming. It's one of those places where time slows down and you truly enjoy the moment; the food, the conversation, the music, the energy. Everything flows naturally. And the service... beyond expectations. Professional, attentive, and genuinely heartfelt. Because when hospitality comes from the heart, you can feel it. Antonio (Tony) is not only an excellent bartender with full command of the bar; he is also a great server. He has that rare ability to read the table, anticipate needs, and make every guest feel valued.

    Overall, a decent spot with a nice atmosphere and vibe. We sat at a great corner table outside, and…read morethe location is on a lively block with TVs in the bar area, which added to the energy. The food was good but nothing especially memorable. The guac was great. The queso came out a little different than we expected, and the veggie taco wasn't our favorite, it had long pieces of mushroom, nopales, and avocado. They did have margarita pitchers though, which were a fun option for groups.

    Photos
    Flores San Francisco - Bar

    Bar

    Flores San Francisco - ENCHILADAS DE POLLO

    ENCHILADAS DE POLLO

    Flores San Francisco - Vegetarian tacos

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    Vegetarian tacos

    Wildseed - panzanella salad

    Wildseed

    4.5(1.8k reviews)
    0.3 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    Overall very tasty! I really enjoyed the Mushroom Bao - definitely my favorite dish we ordered. The…read morebao was warm, the mushroom was crispy, and I enjoyed the pickled toppings. It was a bit spicy. The beet poke was an interesting combination - I'm impressed they were able to capture the essence of poke! The spicy sauce pizza was good - you can't tell it's vegan at all. The restaurant was very cozy and intimate. The staff were all really friendly! The food came out pretty quickly.

    This is a really beautiful, upscale vegan option in San Francisco near Fort Mason. I took my mother…read morefor Mother's Day. I realized I had not added seating accommodation to my reservation and tried to call, but no one answered. When we arrived, the hostess told us we would not be able to sit in any of the currently empty booths because reservations were coming in later. We were seated at a table off the dining space near the kitchen, my mom was a little too chilly and the booth didn't have enough neck support. I expressed to the host that though I was sorry I had forgotten to add accommodation, that this was just not the way to handle the problem. I was able to speak to the manager, who had been outside taking orders and was clearly working very hard that day. (Her name is quite uncommon so I'm just going to call her M, but I really appreciate your help!) She asked me what my concern was, and I told her, at which point she asked me to wait nearby while she figured out if she could rearrange some tables for us. The bartender was incredibly kind and served me while I waited, and distracted me from imminent tears by sharing intricate details about each drink he was making. I learned do they have a myriad of health oriented cocktails, with ingredients like turmeric, ginger, and aloe liqueur. The manager returned and said that she had already seated my mother in a new space and escorted me to the table, which allowed me to relax and enjoy the meal. At the beginning of the menu, they list the ingredients that are currently in season, and at the back of the menu, there is a color wheel, telling you the benefits of the colors of food. (Purple foods can assist with memory and brain function!). We ordered the asparagus, which was in season, spicy cucumber, and the Aji grill for two. The tofu that came with the grill for two was my favorite thing that we ate. I think you can judge a vegan / vegetarian restaurant by their treatment of tofu. Perfectly seasoned with a crispy outside and I would come back just for this. The cauliflower steak was also pretty tasty. The cocktails are excellent, we tried the BLACKPINK and my mother tried the espressotini and we were really happy with both. I don't know how popular their bar scene is, but I imagine it would be a nice way to meet other vegan and vegetarian folks over light bites. Our waiter Daniel made sure to give us the Mother's Day special dessert the restaurant had created, which was an avocado Grenache with fresh berries. If the experience had started with less stress, this review would be five stars, but I'm very grateful to the staff for doing what they could to correct it and ensure that we had a great Mother's Day! I would love to visit again and update my review :)

    Photos
    Wildseed - Restaurant inside

    Restaurant inside

    Wildseed - Heirloom tomato bruschetta

    Heirloom tomato bruschetta

    Wildseed - Caprese girl

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    Caprese girl

    Uncle Boy's at Union Street Ale House

    Uncle Boy's at Union Street Ale House

    4.3(16 reviews)
    0.3 miMarina/Cow Hollow

    Went in during lunch for pick up. Clean, nice, games were on. Man behind the bar super sweet and…read morenice! Onion rings and fries were tasty and crispy! Loved them! Burger was good in my opinion. The bun was sturdy burger was tasty. Will try the specialty burgers next and veggies burgers! The office will come by more often for burgers and fries/onion rings. Also, UB sauce was like a tangy bbq ketchup all dressing sort of sauce! It was good! Don't hesitate to try it out!

    I wanted to like the food, but something about it will probably keep me from coming back…read more It was a downstairs bar that had football all around. We got here shortly after opening. They were out of a few things we wanted, which I could live with, but the food is what got me. Most of the reviews say the burgers were really good and the buns were good as well. I felt the buns might have been at the point where they were almost going stale. Like they wanted to be fresh, but something was holding them back from being fresh. Maybe if the buns had been warmed a bit, it would have helped. The onion rings weren't bad, a bit crunchy, more so than your average beer battered onion ring, but I suppose I would have to try them again to really say if I like them or not. I know it was early and it was a bar setting, but having to sit, not be given a menu, had to grab from a different table along the wall, go up and order, didn't sit well with me. Maybe it's just how the bar is? Not sure as I've never been. The bartender that took my order was nice and friendly. Decent place to watch a game? Sure, looking for a lunch spot for a quick bite? Probably not.

    Photos
    Uncle Boy's at Union Street Ale House - Happy hour

    Happy hour

    Uncle Boy's at Union Street Ale House - O.G. Burger w Egg

    O.G. Burger w Egg

    Uncle Boy's at Union Street Ale House

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    Causwells - Americana Burger

    Causwells

    4.1(1.2k reviews)
    0.3 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    The Marina/cow hollow area in SF, gives off small college town vibes!…read more The streets are lined with a variety of different restaurants, shops, and so many places to explore. Causwells is one of the restaurants definitely worth exploring. First off, everyone on staff is so incredibly kind, generous, and welcoming, you'll never want to leave. There is a small bar area immediately to your left when you walk into this intimate feeling Restaurant. The bartender makes you feel like you're walking into chairs. Yes he's busy, but he acknowledges customers walking in. Very cool! We were immediately seated, and while the tables are on the smaller side and fairly close to one another, it's still created a very cozy experience. They have a nice menu that with a variety of items. The people seated next to us were enjoying the salmon and it looked absolutely delicious. We went for the burgers, because it's one of their must try items on the menu. It's a Smashburger with gooey cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and this delicious deliciously soft tasty bun. Diners tip: the burger comes with onions, and we both asked for them to be grilled. This is definitely the way to go. The burger is very generous in size, snd delicious. Perfectly seasoned, well-made, and it is that taste sensation that we all crave when eating a burger. The fries were tasty and lightly seasoned, and if you can get through the entire burger and the fries, you get a gold star. I did my usual two bites and I was done and yes, I took the rest home with me. This is a great restaurant and definitely should be on your list of places to try!

    Excellent people-watching seating outside in a well covered parklet. We stopped by just before 5pm…read moreon a Tuesday and were easily seated. Empty inside, but patio seating filled in. Have a small happy hour 3-5pm. Pros: - Food is decent. Burger was a strong 4/5 (though i asked for my onions grilled, and they were sadly raw and difficult to pull off). Salad with sunchokes and citrus was a nice bit of roughage, nice bitterness in the lettuces. - Banana bread 'grilled cheese' is an epiphany. Must try. - Cocktails were fun & IGworthy. - Vibes & location feel so perfect on a sunny afternoon. Cons: - 1 bathroom stall, can only imagine how rough this gets when during a busy dinner service. - Service was friendly, but often multiple asks for the same item, and long waits between check ins. Overall, a decent spot in an area flush with choice. Probably more of a 3.5 than a 4, but well round up here!

    Photos
    Causwells - Ube eggnog

    Ube eggnog

    Causwells - Deviled Eggs

    Deviled Eggs

    Causwells - Espresso martini

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    Espresso martini

    Casaro Osteria - Funghi: Mushrooms, mozzarella, shaved truffle, parmesan wafers, hazelnuts | $22

    Casaro Osteria

    4.3(374 reviews)
    0.2 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    The service is OUTSTANDING, i called ahead about an accommodation regarding my reservation and the…read moreserver who answered was delighted to help. Not only that, but when I arrived they recognized me as the one who called and treated me with so much enthusiasm and respect. I never caught his name but he was African American. Kudos to him!!! The food was amazing, this was actually my second time coming here. I've ordered almost everything & it not only looked beautiful but tasted amazing! My faves were definitely the cacio e pepe and pizzas! Beautiful service, vibes, and food :)

    Made a reservation for a Saturday at 7pm. The website said they are open for reservations on…read moreSaturday, but OpenTable said they don't do reservations for Fridays and Saturdays. Luckily, they did take reservations, so OpenTable just needs to be updated. We were sat outside and provided some blankets, as well as turning on the heaters above. Our hostess and server were very very nice and attentive. For how much the brussels sprouts were, the serving was huge! Our main course came out, and we could tell they waited for all of our food to be ready before bringing it to us. It was a game of Goldilocks. One person's food was cold, others were lukewarm, and others were super hot. The cold one was so cold we had to ask them to reheat it, which they were kind enough to do. We didn't order any dessert, but they gave us sort of a lemon sorbet palette cleanser which was good. I would love to come back and try other things on the menu.

    Photos
    Casaro Osteria - Exterior seating

    Exterior seating

    Casaro Osteria - Tagliatelle Bolognese - just okay

    Tagliatelle Bolognese - just okay

    Casaro Osteria - Affogato

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    Affogato

    Roam Artisan Burgers - Fry-Fecta ($15)

    Roam Artisan Burgers

    4.1(1.7k reviews)
    0.5 miMarina/Cow Hollow
    $$

    Best burgers on Union St and even available in the healthy low-carb variant (lettuce wrap), like…read morerecommended in the newly rotated food pyramid!

    It's a good burger spot! But not the greatest I've had in the Bay Area. The pluses of going here…read moreare that you can choose your type of bread for the bun (sesame seed, wheat, brioche +$2, and gluten free +$2) and the protein for the patty (chicken, turkey, beef, and bison!) For the price point there are better burger places. F O O D: My partner had the classic beef burger and said it was good with a perfectly medium well sear on the patty. I had the heritage bison burger and while I couldn't tell the difference between bison and beef in this patty it didn't detract from the white cheddar cheese and bacon. The fries were disappointing but the zucchini and onion haystack was fantastic! Light, thin, crispy with a touch of salty seasoning. D R I N K S: My partner had the prickly pear roam soda which was one of the best house made sodas I've ever had. I would totally prefer this over mainstream brand sodas! Super refreshing, crisp, bubbly, and tasty. Not too sweet either! The coffee shake with the roasted marshmallow on top was great too. I wish they would use a bigger marshmallow so it actually tasted different than the regular shake. S E R V I C E: Food is brought out quickly but the service is lacking. We were unable to catch the attention of a single staff member for roughly ten minutes to get a to go box so we just wrapped it in napkins. #awkward If you are into burgers, try local non-chain burger spots. See below for my personal rating order: Non-chain local burger places then Shake Shack then Roam then In-n-Out then fast food chains like McDonald's & Burger King & Carls Jr etc.

    Photos
    Roam Artisan Burgers - Bar looks nice

    Bar looks nice

    Roam Artisan Burgers - FRY-FECTA - Russet Fries, Sweet Potato Fries & Zucchini Onion Haystack

    FRY-FECTA - Russet Fries, Sweet Potato Fries & Zucchini Onion Haystack

    Roam Artisan Burgers - The Classic

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    The Classic

    Mel's Drive-In - diners - Updated May 2026

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