I pass by Mel's Drive-In in Santa Monica ALL the time, and now I'm mad I've been cheating myself! Finally stopped in for an early dinner with a friend and my daughter, and we really enjoyed it. My daughter cleaned her plate of chicken nuggets and fries, while my friend and I split the Chicken Caesar Avocado Wrap and Creole Chicken Sandwich. Both were good, but that Creole chicken sandwich was something else! The seasoning was on point, and the chicken was cooked just right. Sometimes you just want some good comfort food, and this hit the spot. Loved the old-school diner feel. It wasn't crowded, our waiter was patient and pleasant, and the place was clean, including the bathroom. Now I'm hearing they may be closing?! If the rumors are true, mind your business if you see me a few more times. lol read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

I got the patty melt It's actually good and worth it overall An iconic spot Good parking I went on a Monday night and it was buys They have places to charge iPhone too read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Mel's is a very pretty place. I have been looking forward to trying it because I pass by whenever I go to the nearby AMC. The vibes are very classic oldies diner while still holding onto a modern look. Our server was very kind. I am not sure if they were short staffed when my group and I ate there, but service was quite slow. There were very few check-ins and no refills on my water. During our approximate hour there, our server stopped by twice, and we had to keep flagging them down afterwards. They were very warm every time we got their attention, though. Lastly, the food was very unremarkable. I ordered a Caesar salad and tried the Mac and cheese. The salad was fine, but the Mac was extremely bland. It needed significantly more seasoning for any oomph. We did not finish the Mac. Also, the prices are pretty high for the quality and flavors they offer. My chicken Caesar salad was 23 dollars! In short, mid flavors for their food, and slow service. 2/5 would not recommend. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Mac and Cheese - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Mel's Drive-in is a total LA classic spot. This location in Santa Monica may not be as flashy as the one on Sunset Blvd or off of Hollywood Blvd, but it still has the cute Cali diner vibes. With a free, private parking lot. Started in San Francisco in 1947, this Santa Monica location opened much later in 2018. It is in a historic building though originally built in the Googie-style (SoCal 1960s futuristic style) in 1959 that was Penguin Coffee Shop. Love that they brought back the old diner style to Santa Monica, it's so cute! I love a theme! Some must get items are the viral Lana Del Rey Shake, the famous Melburger, and their crispy Short Rib Fries but I also think you can never go wrong with the Very Berry Salad, Patty Melt or a cold Arnold Palmer. And they of course have old-fashioned tabletop jukeboxes at almost every booth that can play some beebops and weewopps if you're in the mood for a quarter! Bring quarters! Diner vibes done right in Santa Monica! read more

Cute corner diner in Santa Monica. Stopped by as I was waiting for my car to be serviced. Each of the tables had their own jukebox. Super cute. The food was your typical diner dishes. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options all available. Spotted the corn beef hash, which I haven't had in eons. Comes with a side of 2X which I had requested to be done over easy. Everything was perfectly cooked. But have to say the flavor was not what I remembered. I suppose my pallet has changed over the years. Also order their mixed berry pie. This is also decent. Overall, this place was nice. The food and facility was much more tastefully done than Denny's. read more

See all

I'm an Americana fan, so I was excited to learn that Route 66 turns 100 this year. That's when I discovered that the historic western end of Route 66 is right here in my neck of the woods--Mel's Diner in Santa Monica. I finally visited earlier this week with one of my nieces, who was in town from Kauai. For a Monday evening, I was pleasantly surprised to see the restaurant had a healthy crowd. AMBIANCE This isn't a cozy, homey diner. The concrete floors and walls give it more of an industrial feel. That said, each table has its own jukebox, which instantly gives the place that classic American diner atmosphere. SERVICE Our server reminded me of the old-school diner waitresses from movies set in the 1950s and 1960s--efficient, brisk, and focused on getting the job done. I was curious whether that image reflected reality or was simply a Hollywood stereotype, so I looked it up afterward. It turns out that traditional diner service really was known for being fast, efficient, and no-nonsense: seating customers quickly, taking orders, serving hot food promptly, keeping coffee cups full, collecting payment, and moving on to the next table. Our server was certainly speedy, but he was also more accommodating than those classic diner stereotypes. He pointed out to my niece that ordering fries with her sandwich might be too much since we were already ordered a type of fries as an appetizer. He also patiently answered my questions about the Slow-Braised Short Rib Dinner, which I had my eye on. At the end of our meal, my niece mentioned something about her own experience as a restaurant server. By then, though, he was clearly ready to move on to his next table. Fair enough-- it made the experience feel even more like an old-school diner. Haha! DRINKS One pleasant surprise: they serve Spiked Milkshakes. My niece was thrilled! As for me, I ordered a glass of Chardonnay, and -- it easily held its own against glasses I've paid considerably more at upscale restaurants. APPETIZER Bacon Ranch Cheese Fries -- Need I say more? MAIN COURSES Reuben Sandwich (with colesalw instead of fries, thanks to our server's suggestion). My niece loved it. Slow-Braised Short Rib Dinner -- Absolutely delicious! The meat was incredibly tender. I ordered the demi glace (sauce) on the side because I wasn't familiar with it. I asked our server whether it was sweet, and he said kind of. So I decided to try it separately and requested it on the side. It turned out to be rich, savory, and the perfect complement to the short rib. I'm glad I ordered it that way. I highly recommend the Slow-Braised Short Rib Dinner. DESSERT We skipped dessert because my nieces' spiked milkshake was practically dessert on its own. PARKING The restaurant has its own parking lot immediately next door. I got lucky and found an open space as soon as I drove in--just a few steps from the entrance. It reminded me of those movie scenes where the main character somehow always finds the perfect parking spot right in front of where they're going. BOTTOM LINE Overall, we had a very enjoyable dinner. If you're looking for a classic American diner experience -- especially if you're a Route 66 enthusiast -- Mel's Diner is definitely worth a visit. read more

See all

Every bit as good as the many other reviews you've read. We stopped here at the end of our Chicago to Santa Monica Route 66 journey and it was even better than we expected. Besides the rewarding feeling of a chocolate malt sitting at the counter, the staff made us feel very welcome and special. They gave us our Certificate of Completion, took photos and otherwise made the conclusion of our journey feel even better than it already did when we pulled into the parking lot. It's clean, well maintained, open, airy, nostalgic and loaded with references to the past and, of course Route 66. We are very grateful to way we were treated and will definitely return when we are back in the area. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Mark, our waiter, couldn't have been sweeter or more accommodating. The food was delicious, high-end diner fare. Love the chocolate milkshake. I would go to Mel's every time I go to LA! read more

See all

Stopped here to eat a late lunch when we were visiting the end of historic Route 66 (2026 is its 100th birthday). This restaurant is located up a short driving distance from Santa Monica Pier and located on the end of the Route 66 Highway. The restuarant is quite unique inside and out, and they even have an outside tented area so we could eat there with out pup. The menu selection is huge. We tried the chicken noodle soup, turkey dinner and pumpkin pie which were all good and good size in portion. We also had a couple of their vanilla malts which were our highlight along with the very friendly staff. Just the history inside this restaurant makes it a must see if you are a Route 66 buff. Overall, we had a great experience. read more

See all

Had the eggs Benedict and a mimosa. Enjoyed the bfast and the casual atmosphere. The service was a bit slow. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

I have been wanting to visit this Mel's Diner ever since it opened a couple of years ago. It worked out as a good friend of mine was working nearby so I drove all the way up from the OC. It brought back great memories of going to the Mel's off Sunset during my college years a LONG TIME AGO. Great service. Got one of their scrambles I forgot which one. Simple black coffee. Great breakfast meal. It's a fun experience. Will probably make this our annual meet up spot. Thank you Mel's read more

Mel's Drive-In - Something scramble with hashbrowns. - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Came here while having friend from out of town visiting and we decided coming here based on the cool ambiance and location. Service was top notch and the food was delicious! read more

See all

Iconic American diner with good service and tasty diner food. It's like you stepped inside the American Graffiti movie. We stopped in about a half hour before closing, but never felt rushed by Leah, our server. We started with a couple milkshakes: a Vanilla Caramel ($10.25) and a Chocolate Malted ($10.75), both delicious. We also ordered a couple burgers: Melburger ($19.95) and fries, and a Sunset Burger ($24) with onion rings (+$3). The burgers were well-seasoned and very tasty. Fries and onion rings were crispy on the outsides and soft on the insides. Overall, a fun diner with good food and service. We'll definitely be back. read more

See all

This restaurant is like the ones you would have found in the 50s. They are playing oldies, so I like the music. Prices are really high compared to regular places that you would go, but it has a 50's theme and it's interesting. $58 for 2 burgers, fries, and a soda with tax. Waitress was very busy. read more

See all

My first time at this place, I had the Mills famous burger with their fries and a Andy Palmer drink. Our server was great. The food was great right on historic route 66. I highly recommend this place. It was my first time it will not be my last time at this place they do offer military discount in the ambience was great. Staff was great. We got our food pretty quick. I would definitely come back to this place. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

I have been to many other Mel's locations around Los Angeles and in San Francisco, but I would say that this is probably the most famous location given the fact that it sits on the terminus of the original Route 66. Now the end is listed as the start of the Santa Monica Pier, however this was the original end. This location is just like the others, it's a traditional retro diner complete with a large menu and fast service. Inside is very large with counter and booth seating and it's consistently good every time I visit. This location has a large free parking lot attached in the back and on the side so parking is pretty easy. Our server was very polite and everything that we ordered came out very fast. Every time I come here, I get the tuna melt with avocado, which is what I did again for this visit. I did mix it up a bit and got the curled fries and added chili cheese on top and honestly really enjoyed that as well. You can't go wrong with their tuna or patty melt and honestly everything else I have tried here has been really good too. I also often get the club sandwich so can recommend that as a good option as well. Mel's is a great diner option for any age and I plan to be back again in the near future. read more

See all

I hate surprise bills! When restaurant owners understand that patrons might be out-of-towners or tourists, and decide to sneak in surprise charges, I find the trend distasteful (pun intended). To note: the ice tea, an item costing pennies to make was $5.50! Again, $5.50 for an ice tea. So when the bill arrived imagine my surprise! Pancakes, the reason for me coming there were burned and had an off putting burned taste. Server replaced them, but the new batch, albeit "blonde" looking, still had burned flavors probably, I'm assuming, because the griddle wasn't cleaned between the burned batch and the new one, and this time the batter was raw in the middle. Retro ambiance was nice and the retro look and music were fun. Do better Mel's! read more

See all

Decided to go back after many years and instantly wondered why I'd not been back! Nostalgic decor and working tableside juke boxes make it a fun place for locals and tourists. The food is classic diner, but made with good quality ingredients and by people who know how to consistently turn out the perfect doneness of eggs and meat. Service is top notch with people who have obviously have experience dealing with various groups of all ages. My favorites lately are the sunset breakfast, jalapeño burger, tuna melt, club sandwich and meatloaf. I found the fried chicken a bit too salty and not that crisp, but it was juicy. I love the coleslaw so much it's always my go to side. Portion sizes are huge so I always end up taking some food home. Bring quarters so you can play with the jukebox! read more

See all

We enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner after sightseeing. Delicious food and excellent service provided by Mark. This was our second time here and we will be back! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Enjoying burgers and shakes. - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Mel's Diner located at 1670 Lincoln Blvd right at the 10 Freeway exit is an iconic diner style venue for a tourist or local. This location opened about 6 or 7 years ago and has all the style of an authentic, 1950's diner with jukebox music and a traditional menu of burgers, sandwiches and dinners along with breakfast and desserts. Our server was Samuel and he seemed new at the job and was nice enough, but had to be reminded about water and my Arnold Palmer. I had the chicken soup and the Steak & Eggs and my guest had the Grilled Cheese with Tomato Soup. I subbed the potatoes for mushrooms and my one problem with this place is that the food is never really hot which is bothersome. How do you not offer soup once poured into the bowl? Their prices are not cheap as the chicken soup was $9, the steak & eggs $32 (this was off the breakfast menu), $16.50 for the Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup and $6.50 for the Arnold Palmer which is a complete rip-off. The total bill was $70.54 with Tax and a cash Tip of $15.00 which was generous given the service and the fact the place was empty. Their food would be better if I received it when it was hotter, but overall was fine since at 10:26 PM there are little in terms of options to eat. While not my first, second or third choices (George's closes early which is down the block across from Whole Foods), it's has some entertaining features like a gift shop, plenty of parking and a friendly staff. RECOMMEND CONDITIONALLY. read more

Pretty cool classic American diner. There is a parking lot to the rear of the business. I'd recommend the smash burger or the meatloaf! Awesome waiter! Food came out relatively fast. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Smash Burger All American Meat Loaf - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Today I took my wife and collage friend to lunch at Mels Drive In. It used to be called Penguins and the Penguin is still at the top of the sign. Since moving to the Los Angeles area in 1986 I never ate at Penguins or Mels and this is the first time. This place is another slice of the Americana Diner Scene. It is well furnished with cool, kitchy paraphernalia from days gone by. It is a really great place to eat. The food was really good. I had the pastrami sandwich with sweet potato fries and my wife had. The Aji tuna sandwich with a side of coleslaw. Both our sandwiches were very good and had an ample amount of filling. My sweet potato fries were a little bit on the soggy side and her coleslaw was not anything we were used to. The sandwiches were both really good. Service was with a smile and our server was extremely bubbly and nice. We arrived for lunch at about 2 PM and the restaurant was pretty quiet so we were able to talk and hear each other. I think the spot is good to have a casual meal at . I had heard that they only take cash but they actually took my credit card. read more

See all

Why go to those over priced modern cafes! Come here for a traditional diner experience. Fresh friendly and fantastic food. The music the old disco boxes and stools. Nothing like an 80s breakfast. Come and great real food Ba those Santa Monica phony glamorous over priced foods! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Killer huevos rancheros!! - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

"This is your classic 1950s diner with some unexpected high quality food! There's plenty of parking in their lot and the inside is well maintained with lots of memorabilia that transports you to another time. Well worth the stop for a historic end of Route 66 experience. Our server was amazing, checking in on us frequently to fill our waters and our food was delivered quickly and piping hot! The shakes are crazy sweet, but satisfy the craving for a classic milkshake, though I recommend splitting it because it's a lot to consume on your own along with a meal. They even bring you the actual metal shaker full of the leftovers that didn't fit in the glass. I ordered the Lana Del Rey and LOVED how much chocolate and oreo chunks were in it. For my meal, I got the Short Rib Grilled Cheese and appreciated the balance the sauce on the side added to the sandwich as that much cheese and meat can be heavy, but the acidity really balanced out each bite, cutting through some of that dairy and meat grease. The sourdough was buttered and toasted, and the fries were really crispy and well seasoned. read more

See all

Mel's Drive In at the end of Route 66 is a classic blast from the past and not just because of the jukeboxes. Walking in, the open, airy space hits you first, whether you grab a counter seat or cozy up in a booth. Easy parking in the lot means you can roll in stress free, which is perfect because you're about to commit to the short rib sandwich. Juicy, cheesy, and packed with flavor. that's worth every bite. Nostalgia never tasted so good! read more

See all

American Classic! My daughter has a new found love for old-fashioned diners. So every chance we get, we try to visit one. On our recent trip to LA, we stopped by the Mel's Diner in Santa Monica. We visited a little after 7pm on a Saturday night. There was a good amount of people in the restaurant but we were seated immediately. This place was great. From the moment we walked in, the staff was so nice and had all the diner vibes we were looking for. Very clean all around. The rest room had a check-in log on the door that shows when it was last cleaned. The paper was current for the day, and every hour up until 4pm was initialed. It was after 7pm when I went. So they were a little behind, but it was clean and knowing that it was being checked was a good sign. Most places I have seen the check-in log with the wrong date! So a couple hours behind on a weekend...I can give grace. The food was fantastic and came out SUPER fast. I was shocked at how fast food started coming out after we ordered. But everything was hot and fresh!!! Food quality was good and is what we were expecting for a diner. It's not gourmet food. It's fast, quick, comfort! Exactly what we were looking for. read more

See all

I went to Mel's Drive-In in Santa Monica recently. I dined in. I had the Nutella French Toast along with a Thick Old-fashioned Strawberry Milkshake. I enjoyed the food and drink. The service was good. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

I finally made it to Mel's Drive-In!! I've become a fan lately of the classic California diners so I had to check out Mel's! I tried their Nutella French toast and hash brown, crispy! The French toast was great to share unless you're really hungry! I asked them to hold the power sugar because it just makes it too sweet. The staff were super friendly and nice. From the parking valet attendant to the host. The ambiance it's what makes Mel's! If you're lucky to get a booth, ask one with a juke box. It takes quarters to play a song! If you need change, go up to the host and they carry a bunch of quarters! I can't wait to come back and try more of their food :) Good amount of parking in the lot surrounding Mel's but just in case there are no spots, free valet is available. Make sure you tip the nice attendant. read more

See all

We recently went, I really enjoyed it. I had the club sandwich, dinner salad, and scambled eggs & bagel to go. My friend had the tuna salad & lemonade. Fun, great air conditioning, & good atmosphere & parking. Maybe if we all go, we can stave off their rumored closing! read more

Horrible service with no smile and zero customer service. A male worker with red hair had me waiting at the register for 9 min and not even I'll be right with you. He was making one drink and couldn't be bothered to take my order. A female with glasses then walks over with a bad attitude and takes my order. Throughout the time there, no worker is smiling or friendly at all. This place has zero customer service and a bad attitude! Avoid at all cost! read more

Came in on Saturday for my brothers bday and the service was top tier . The host was very welcoming and helped me make his day very special , thank you! We also had great service from our server & Mr. GG . We def recommend this place for a yummy breakfast and clean atmosphere. Really appreciated the service . read more

See all

Mel's Drive-In on Lincoln Blvd is one of our favorite spots, and we visit often. On this visit, I ordered the steak and eggs, and my girlfriend had the French toast with bacon and eggs. Everything was delicious, and the breakfasts here are always incredible. We definitely recommend this restaurant to anyone craving classic American food. It has easy parking, a welcoming atmosphere, and good accessibility, which makes the whole experience even better. Coffee never runs out! read more

See all

Mel's Diner was one of those experiences that wasn't bad, but it wasn't particularly good either. I'd describe it as hit or miss. Our server was attentive overall, though at times seemed a bit impatient with the kids, which stood out since diners are typically family-friendly spaces. When it came time to pay, a comment along the lines of "if you want to leave a tip" felt unusual and a little awkward, and it took away from an otherwise routine checkout experience. On a positive note, my grandchildren ate everything on their plates, which genuinely surprised me and speaks well to the food. As for ambiance, the diner feels dated and could benefit from a refresh, which might help improve the overall atmosphere. While the visit wasn't terrible, something about the experience didn't quite click for me, and for now, I don't see this becoming a regular stop. read more

Pleasantly surprised. Cost was on the higher end. Steak was medium rare and eggs were over medium per my request. Hash browns were good to go as well. Service was good - on brand with a diner. Ambiance was on brand with diner type environment and feel. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

See all

Very 80's themed diner, waitresses are super attentive, and food was ready in no time. Price is average $20 a plate. I ordered the charbroiled chicken sandwich with their fries, and I have to admit ; this was the best chicken sandwich I've had. It is full of flavor , just charred perfectly . The fries are fresh and hot , I was not expecting such delicious fries in all honesty; pictures do no justice. The music in the background definitely adds to the ambience. I will be coming back when I'm in the area , for a diner ; IT DID NOT DISAPPOINT. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Chicken charbroiled sandwich - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

This is the best of the Mel's Drive-in restaurants! Service was spot on and the food filling and delicious. I was particularly happy with the environment and atmosphere of the restaurant. It was lively and moving with both children and older adults equally represented among the patrons and visitors. Remember to bring quarters for the working jukebox or directly from your table! read more

See all

Today wasn't the greatest but still worth the drive. I got the J's Jalapeño burger, medium, which came out charred. The burger tasted ok but could have been better. Ruben sandwich was dryer than expected and could have used more sauce. The chili dog was flavorful but have had better chili in LA. And... they don't have chicken fried steak!!! That needs to be added to the menu. Will say though, the strawberry shortcake desert was quite delicious. Service was a bit rushed but he brought everything out promptly. The Dodgers are losing, so everyone is sad :( read more

Mel's Drive-In - Strawberry shortcake - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

We came in after a long day of touristing and the place and food felt heavenly. I ordered the sunset burger and it was HUGE, proportions are so big and generous. They also had pies, which aren't my thing, but my friend really enjoyed it. Would go back 100% read more

Mel's Drive-In - Sunset Burger - Diners Near Me - Santa Monica, California

Been here a couple of times now and it's become one of my go to diners in the area. The food is good, the atmosphere is relaxed, and the portions are generous for the price. I ordered an omelette sandwich while my gf went with the ham steak breakfast, and we shared a peanut butter milkshake that was surprisingly good. I can see this place getting pretty packed during the breakfast rush, but we stopped by for a late brunch and had no trouble finding parking. It's conveniently located near the 10 freeway, though traffic around the area can get a little hectic read more

Great food! Great service! Great ambiance! Oh my gosh!! Originally we were in our way to another restaurant BUT I live in Santa Monica a couple blocks away from here and it looks so aesthetic and cute from the outside, we had to stop to try the food We came for dinner And we're NOT disappointed!! The grilled cheese and tomato soup incredibly delicious. The cheese and the bread were cooked very nicely. The tomato soup was full of creaminess and spices. The brisket grilled cheese was incredibly delicious as well. The brisket was cooked very well and it was very juicy. The fries were even amazing! They were cooked and seasoned very nicely and were not soggy and we're made fresh. We also got a strawberry Oreo milkshake, which was incredibly delicious and fresh as well. They gave us the extra amount in another cup, which was nice because you really got the amount that you paid for! Overall great experience and we have to go and try their breakfast !! read more

See all