Cancel

Open app

Search

Mel's Drive-In

3.5 (1.2k reviews)
Open • 7:00 am - 3:00 AM (Next day)

Order Mel's Drive-In Takeout or Delivery

Mel's Drive-In Photos

Business Info

MEL'S DRIVE-IN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Touristy
Moderate noise
Good for kids

You might also consider

Recommended Reviews - Mel's Drive-In

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Oreo coffee milkshake
Kaylee P.

If you come to Mel's drive in for the Hollywood, American diner experience you'll likely really enjoy it. Food was good and vibe was even better! The patty melt and coffee Oreo milkshake were exactly what I wanted from a diner like this. I will say, it is very pricey for what you get. If I am paying over $40 per person, I prefer something higher quality! Our server was friendly and knew the menu well which I always appreciate. Definitely keep this spot on your list as a great "touristy" option!

Sky T.

This place was much needed for our group after a long night! Classic diner type of place with straightforward food. It hit the spot and was good for our group. The service was really good to us too and friendly. Just got Chicken Tenders with Fries and a Turkey Burger. Nice and crispy and just what we needed. Overall, good for groups and if looking for classic and simple food!

Split plate of eggs Benedict & fruit
Alice A.

We have eaten at Mel's a few times. It does not disappoint. We typically have little or no wait and the staff is very attentive. We were in the area recently and didn't want a lot of fanfare for breakfast, so Mel's it was. There were 4 of us and we had great meals with plenty to eat. They have the standard breakfast menu, and I particularly like their hashbrowns and fruit choices. The place is very cute and gives a blast from the past vibe. I love the juke box at the table. It wasn't working that day but we typically enjoy loading our quarters for our choice of music. Cute, fun, delicious place!!

High protein breakfast
Brenda A.

Diner food, quick attentive service and great options. This location offers parking in the back as well as street parking. They sell Merchandise and do special events from time to time. This location is a tourist destination but there's usually a table available. They also have a variety of milks which I appreciate.

Brightly lit & clean!
Terrence T.

What an awesome classic place to dine! My friends and I to Mel's Drive-In on the Sunset Strip in West Hollywood for a late lunch/early dinner. The restaurant is nostalgia with a modern kick to it. Tons of booths and tables to sit in. There's a sign that says please seat yourself. The servers and staff have a cool retro wardrobe and fun hats. Our server was friendly and very quick! We ordered our drinks and food. She gave us a quarter for the mini jukebox. Yes, three booths have mini jukeboxes boxes! So cool. Our food arrived and was very delicious. We had classic American cuisine: sandwiches, fries and one friend even had breakfast for their meal! Before leaving my friend wanted a milkshake and he got it to go. It came in a cool to go cup with a lid. There are a few food items I definitely want go back and eat!

I thoroughly enjoyed the Chicken and Waffles here! It was a huge portion and enough to keep me full for a while. They have other options on the menu that I must try when I return.

Cool "Googie" architecture
Daniel W.

Mel's is the quintessential American diner. Housed in a classic 1950s "googie" architecture building, it's a great place to get comfort food in a cool environment. There's also outdoor seating so you can sit on the famous Sunset strip (and watch traffic and billboards). The food is uniformly excellent, but not inexpensive (this is an upscale diner). Breakfast is always available and their pancakes are especially good! The service is friendly, attentive, efficient, and the servers have real personality! There's FREE valet parking in the back ( a pleasant surprise in LA). It's also one of the rare restaurants that's open late, Thursday and Friday it's open till 3:00 a.m. And it's 24 hours a day over the weekend. Tourists and locals alike enjoy this old fashioned slice of Americana. You probably will, too!

Exterior
Taylor J.

I'm kicking this popsicle stand (LA)! So, i'm going on a hobo tour of hanging out with all my friends before I go. Mel's diner was the perfect place to enjoy breakfast with them. Arrived around 10am and was surprised by how available it was to find a table. Totally amazing for peak brunch hours. You're able to seat yourself, so we walked right in and grabbed a seat. My friends got pancakes + waffles while I was craving something meatier...so I opted for the patty melt. Everything was incredible! It was great hanging with the girls, having a nice cup of coffee, eating some yummy food, and enjoying the fun morning at Mel's.

Lana Del Rey Shake
Olivia H.

One of the best late night diners in my opinion! Always great service, food comes out fast and they have all the diner classics. I love the retro decors and ambiance, the details really make it! Their pancakes are perfect and if you visit you have to get a milkshake (they always give the extra leftover shake in another cup). The prices might seem a bit high but it's nothing out of the ordinary for LA. Will be back when I'm in the area and craving a late night bite!

Emi G.

Mel's Poem Milkshakes that make u feel 7 years old again Everlasting classic 50s diner aesthetic Love the staff, sweet even at like 1 AM Short rib grilled cheese w/ soup is reliable af

Machine gun Kelly collab Lost Americana Grilled Cheese Sweet Potato Fries
Nicolas J.

The the lost Americana grilled cheese sandwich. Paired it with a pineapple mimosa. The restaurant had a collab with machine gun Kelly for a day for his new album. The sandwich had turkey on Texas toast. Staff was friendly. Sadly the coffee cup merch was sold out. They offered free valet parking which was a nice bonus

And here's my pink burger
Christina A.

My Boy's and I made the hour and some change drive here from Rancho Cucamonga. My Son Greg loves 50's diners so it was a must try for us. I will get the negatives completely out of the way first. Please be aware of the crook parking attendant outside in the parking lot. I told him I was dining in the restaurant and asked him if this is the only restaurant parking. He said you can park anywhere you want I said well that's the restaurant so I would like to park here. He said OK it's $20. Which I thought well we've already driven an hour and a half and it was very busy in the surrounding areas so I'll just pay the $20. Inside it was clean and there's a complete different ambience than there is outside. Everyone seems happy to be there including 99.8% of the employees. We were seated in a cute little booth. Our serve server was Jimmy. He was absolutely delightful. I asked my son if he wanted a shake and he said no so I had a shake and the boys had cokes. When we were ordering our food, we did ask for our burgers to be extra well done and Jimmy said "all our burgers are well done, They are thin smash burgers". I cannot eat pink. I usually refuse to eat pink. Unfortunately, both of our burgers were pink on the inside but charred pretty good on the outside so my son Geoffrey and I both did not finish ours but we ate most of it. I didn't want to send it back because everything else was going so well. My shake was the best shake. I've had in my entire life. I order shakes everywhere I go & typically my son Gregory does as well. I let him have the remainder of my shake that was in the metal cup and he knew he needed to order one too. So he ordered one after he finished his meal and Jimmy brought us drinks to go. I've made shakes at home that haven't been better than this and I too am also a chef. Hands-down, this was the best shake I've had in my almost 50 years and although I won't be back to this location because the surrounding area was not my vibe. My son's will probably come back when they're grown and remember this place. As my son Gregory is a professional skateboarder. He said the best most amazing skate place set behind the restaurant, but he didn't bring his board so we didn't go. I will try one of the other locations. Overall, besides the pink burger and the parking attendant that argued & cursed at me outside after my meal when I attempted to get my parking ticket validated which he refused.... we still had the best time ever. Jimmy was wonderful and we asked for a lot of things for the table and each time he came by, He always had a smile! Jimmy thank you so much. Be prepared to spend almost $200 with gratuity and parking. For My Boy's to have a memory it was priceless!

Richard V.

if you are ever catching a show at the comedy store and looking for food after, go to mel's dinner. the service is great every time we come to this place. the banana split was jaw dropping (i mean look at the picture). the fries are good. the entire menu is to die for. plus you may never know who you will run into.

See all

Reviews are mixed. Many enjoy the retro diner ambiance, excellent milkshakes, friendly staff, and large portions.

Read the full review summary in the app

1 month ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 month ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 day ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 days ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of John Y.
0
108
48

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 5
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 5
Thanks 1
Love this 5
Oh no 0
Photo of Laura C.
43
276
293

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

4 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

1 year ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 2
Love this 3
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 2
Thanks 1
Love this 2
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

9 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 3
Thanks 0
Love this 2
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 6
Thanks 2
Love this 4
Oh no 0

Page 1 of 31

Mel's Drive-In Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Mel's Drive-In

How pricy is it to go on a date here?

Expect to pay between $50 to $75, depending on what you order. Groupon has a $20 off Groupon you can purchase.

Do they serve delivery?

Yes, they use Door Dash I believe. I looked it up and yes, they do. This is from their webiste. They have a take-out menu on the website also. Order MEL'S DRIVE-IN - West… 

How is the parking? Is it easy to get in and out. Thanks!

There is free valet parking during busy hours. I haven’t ever had any difficulty. There is also a number of metered spots on Sunset.

Do they take reservations?

I doubt it, but there always seems to be tables available.

Do they have a public restroom?

yes, public restroom. I even went there during pandemic, ate in the parking lot but was allowed to use the restroom

Are they still doing car hop service at this location, or is it Sherman Oaks only as of 3/25/2021?

No, sorry, no carhops at this location.

Do they serve breakfast all day?

Yes, they do and very good!

Is there happy hour, and if so what time?

No happy hour at Mel's.

View All 9 Questions

You might also consider

Verify this business for free

People searched for American 52,100 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn - Sunny Saint Jacques - Scallops  caper beurre blanc and blood orange sauce.

Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn

4.3(134 reviews)
2.2 mi

I made it back for dinner and this is for Fall 2026 menu. I found out there was tasting menu (must…read moreallow 24 hr notice) but it looked fabulous. Our server and all the fabulous folks that helped us for dinner service was wonderful. Appreciate our server Elizabeth for triple checking that the dishes doesn't contain seafood. We did find out for the majority of the dishes contains somesort of seafood seasoning except for the chicken salad. The drinks were fabulous as well, my friend had the non alcoholic Montaigne. It was very tropical and had a great presentation. I had the J'Adior and it was absolutely wonderful. Very light and crisp. Second round I had the very alcoholic DiorAmour and she had the L'Evasion Dior which was also non alcoholic. We also got the off menu green goddess salad with coconut yogurt dressing that was fabulous and tasted so good. I believe it was from the summer menu. That did not have any seafood in it. The bread and butter is always a fun experience. We had it during our afternoon tea, and butter is fancy and well presented. Mains: my friend's only option was the Water Lily Salad because everything had some sort of seafood component in it, which you won't taste whatsoever, but she doesn't like it and tell people she's allergic so she missed out on some good stuff including the steak medallion that she really wanted. I am simple, I love fish and seafood so I had the trout. The sauce, the presentation, honestly so Michelin! Dessert: We got the chocolate cannage and it was really wonderfully presented in the pattern of a dior bag with a chocolate golden bee. Just to note they add 4% health benefits fee. No big deal just wanted to flag.

4.5 Stars dineLA…read moremenu $95/person (Wine Pairing +$75/person) First experience with this fine dining restaurant. Elegant décor, colorful artwork, and fabulous Dior plates, glasses, and cutlery. Bar, indoor, and terrace seating is available. Valet parking is available, which is very convenient unless you use ride share. Service was very good (4 stars), however we had at least five different people come to the table within the first couple of minutes and that was a little overwhelming. Mathew waited on us throughout the evening, and he was excellent. Unfortunately, their wine Somm wasn't up to the standard I would have expected, but I also heard that this person may have been brand new to the position. The cocktails, food presentation, and flavors/taste were 5-star! Overall, we had a very nice experience, and I'm sure we'll be back for more. NOTE: They added a 4% "Health & Benefits" charge to the check.

Photos
Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn - Dining area

Dining area

Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn - Bread service

Bread service

Monsieur Dior by Dominique Crenn - Dior store shoes

See all

Dior store shoes

Pura Vita - Carbonara

Pura Vita

4.6(1.3k reviews)
0.6 mi
•$$

One of the BEST fully vegan restaurants in LA!!! No fake meat; just nutritious Italian vegan food…read morethat is fully of veggies. The plant-based cheese is SO good, you don't even realize it's plant-based. It feels fresh and healthy. Plenty of gluten-free options as well. We absolutely LOVE their menu, cute ambience, attentive service, and how flavorful the food is... the calzones are HEAVENLY. No substitutions possible but you can remove ingredients if required. Both dinner menu and brunch menu is amazing. Oh my god, that brunch calzone.... I'm hungry just thinking about it. Please support this incredible restaurant!

Pura Vita deserves to be a destination -- not because it's a vegan restaurant but because the…read moreingredients are quality, the food delicious, the menu is creative. My husband has type 1 diabetes so we very rarely eat at Italian ristorantes. Chef Tara has helped us rediscover a new world of flavor without negative impacts on my husband's blood sugar and cholesterol. (Thanks for the variety of non-dairy cheeses!!) Tip for first-timers: go when you can have the brunch or the lunch menu. Then you'll have so many options that you'll have to return! Round 1 Polpettine (meatballs) are made from lentils and texture similar to the real ones; lovely marinara sauce and ground macadamia nut instead of parmesan. Complement this with the citrus notes that highlight the sauteed swiss chard with earthy Italian butter / gigante beans. Round 2 The same beans are in the Greek goddess salad: rich with tomatoes, kalamata olives, and fresh red onions. This was a visually stunning and paired well with the Sicilian almond 'tuna' melt. The tuna is by far the most imaginative. Again, Chef Tara and the back of the house nailed the texture and I loved the hints of crunchy celery. The capers injected tiny bursts of salt and tartness. The only moderation I'd consider is slightly crisping / toasting the sandwich bread -- but the tuna melt sando is great as it is. Pura Vida is a diamond in the rough especially because the storefront is pretty discreet. I sure wish that we lived closer. We'll be back for special occasions in our life!

Photos
Pura Vita - Antipasti & Verdure

Antipasti & Verdure

Pura Vita - Caprese Insalata

Caprese Insalata

Pura Vita - Black Magic Lasagna

See all

Black Magic Lasagna

Zinqué - Exterior

Zinqué

3.7(1.2k reviews)
0.8 mi
•$$

Usually come for their great breakfast but finally came for dinner. Tried tbe cheeseburger!…read moreExcellent one of the BEST hamburgers in LA. Great quality meat with good quality cheese, red onion and on brioche bun. So huge that I split it with a friend. Came with wonderful thin crispy fresh fries.

I will never go back. I haven't received such horrible service in years- IF ever. Our server was…read moreHORRIBLE. When we sat down our table was dirty. We asked for a quick wipe down and the server acted as if he was too good to wipe a table. He took forever to get a rag, over dramatically wiped the table, stormed off to put the rag back and took forever to return. He had a smug attitude when we asked a few questions about the menu items. The most forced fakest smile as we thanked him for answering question and taking our order. He forgot half our menu items, Never returned. Both my friend and I had to get up, walk to the bar to get some help. We sat so long for our order to be corrected, our food got cold. The food was disgusting, unoriginal and way way way over priced. But the way we were treated was the worst part. I've never seen a server SOOOO put out by being asked to wipe a table and answer some questions. I live up the street, I will never give this establishment a cent again There are a million places to eat where the food is good and you won't get treated like shit. Horrible horrible

Photos
Zinqué - Burrata & prosciutto

Burrata & prosciutto

Zinqué - Le Bowl

Le Bowl

Zinqué - Burrata Pizza Bites

See all

Burrata Pizza Bites

Republique

Republique

4.2(8.1k reviews)
2.8 mi•Hancock Park
•$$

What a fantastic place! It took me working with an…read moreex-employee of Republique to even find out this place existed. His advice: "go in the morning, their cakes and pastries are killer; a long line forms even before they open, it will be worth it" it's hard to not go broke here, they have sometimes unusual combinations of pastries that are always incredible! Their chocolate + salted caramel cake is my husbands fav. its a bit much for me but I cannot deny its beauty and quality. I love all the passion fruit desserts, their danishes, anything with Caramel. Come hungry, eat something here, take some home. When dining in I've loved a slice of their quiche of the day, they give you a nice side salad with a zesty dressing, I also love ordering the baguette with salted slow-churned cultured butter (Rodolphe Le Meuiner Beurre de Baratte) and jam - simple but WOW! Fantastic place for those coming to LA for the first time, the building is just gorgeous, and for those who live in LA: you should come! I love a good french pastry, I don't come in often but when I do I am always satisfied

The French toast is out of this world!…read more I first visited République about 5-6 years ago for brunch, and the food was pretty bad. I recently went back to try their famous French toast, but they were sold out that day. We ended up ordering a burger, kimchi fried rice, and adobo fried rice, and all three were mediocre at best. A few weeks later, I gave them another shot, and OMG, the French toast was so good! It was crispy on the outside and very soft on the inside. Hands down, one of the best French toasts I've ever had! The other dishes I tried were disappointing, but the French toast alone made me glad I came back. Just make sure to get there early before they sell out!

Photos
Republique
Republique
Republique

See all

Bacari W 3rd - Garden Dining

Bacari W 3rd

4.5(1.7k reviews)
1.7 mi•Beverly Grove
•$$
Happy hour specials
Outdoor seating

We already loved Bacari for regular dinners, so choosing it for our wedding felt incredibly…read morespecial, and somehow they made us love it even more. Our wedding was absolutely amazing. The entire team was so kind and accommodating, and they truly went above and beyond for us. My husband and his mom both have celiac disease, and being able to have a completely gluten-free wedding menu was such a priority for us. The team took it incredibly seriously. They deep cleaned the kitchen beforehand, including the fryer, and changed the fryer oil to help prevent cross-contamination. That level of care meant SO much to us and allowed everyone to just enjoy the night without having to worry about the food. The food, drinks, atmosphere, and service were everything we wanted, and the space made for such a beautiful, intimate celebration. A special shoutout to Eddie and Celina as well. Their communication throughout the process was fantastic and made everything so easy. We've loved coming to Bacari for dinner, we loved getting married there, and I would absolutely host another event there in a heartbeat. It will always be such a special place for us!

Bacari is located in a prime area in mid city. At night there is plenty of street parking…read more We made a reservation for 4 on a weekend night and when we arrived it was pretty empty. We were sat immediately and the manager was attentive to us. We ordered some water while we browsed the menu. We ordered the salmon and steak which were delicious, but I would opt for the steak if you had to choose. The wings were enjoyed by half the table and the others didn't like the flavor. We also ordered the crudo and ceviche which were my personal favorites! The food was overall good, but very tiny portions. So make sure to get multiple items. The only downside was we wanted to order drinks and it took a while for someone to come by and follow up on our order. Ultimately, the waitress came by and we were able to submit our drink order. Overall 8/10, I think the Long Beach location is better in terms of ambiance and service.

Photos
Bacari W 3rd - Indoor Lounge Seating

Indoor Lounge Seating

Bacari W 3rd - Green Falafel - Dinner Tapas

Green Falafel - Dinner Tapas

Bacari W 3rd - Best Espresso Martini in LA - "Espress Yourself"

See all

Best Espresso Martini in LA - "Espress Yourself"

Met Her At A Bar - Calais Campbell is in the house!!

Met Her At A Bar

4.4(2.9k reviews)
3.0 mi•Mid-Wilshire
•$$

Finally got to try this popular brunch spot, and I'm glad that it lived up to its hype!…read more My friend and I got khai jiao (Thai omelet), Nutella waffle, a Biscoff latte, and a breakfast burrito. Khai Jiao was soooo delicious! I loved the crispiness of the fried egg, which paired well with the amazingly soft & fluffy bed of rice. Definitely a classic, hearty Asian-inspired breakfast dish! I think it got a bit salty toward the end (maybe they used a bit too much fish sauce or whatever seasoning they use). Still, it was so savory and rich in umami! So tasty. I got a bite of the breakfast burrito, and wow, it was delicious. The tortilla was warm, the eggs were fluffy, and the savory chorizo was amazing. Definitely another delicious option! The Nutella waffle is a must-try! The waffle was so crispy, and the fruit was so fresh. The Biscoff latte was also a nice treat. The service was quick and friendly (we went on a Friday morning), and the space was so cute. I'd highly recommend coming here!

I've been meaning to try this brunch place and I was really excited to get a chance to visit!…read moreUnfortunately...it was not all it was hyped up to be I went a group so everyone got different items but the overall consensus was clear - it is not all people rated it to be I got the eggs Benedict on waffles with a side of potatoes - a unique taste on a brunch classic. The waffle was a huge miss for this dish - the waffles were very sad making everything texture wise all feel the same. A crispier waffle would have helped this dish instead it felt like eating soggy bread on an eggs Benedict. The poached egg and sauce was nothing special. One of my friends also got a poached egg..but it was extremely overcooked no runny yolk :( so it looks like their technique could use a little work - not what you expect from a famous brunch place The French toast we got to share for the table and it was very boring - it's as it sounded like a French toast with Nutella and some whip cream and fruits on the side. The bread was just ok. Maybe I should have gotten the chicken and waffles but I don't think I'll be back - there are better brunch options that are more fairly priced in LA with more parking. Maybe it was an off day but it's too popular for what it is

Photos
Met Her At A Bar - Such an honor to serve the legend, Stevie Wonder and his family!

Such an honor to serve the legend, Stevie Wonder and his family!

Met Her At A Bar - Myles "Flash" Garrett is in the house

Myles "Flash" Garrett is in the house

Met Her At A Bar - Always fun when Angela Kinsey comes and hang!

See all

Always fun when Angela Kinsey comes and hang!

Mel's Drive-In - tradamerican - Updated October 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...