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    The Original Mels

    3.9 (248 reviews)
    Open 6:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Original Mels Takeout or Delivery

    The Original Mels Photos

    Business Info

    THE ORIGINAL MELS ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - The Original Mels

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    Reviews With Photos

    Front
    John F.

    I was feeling nostalgic for Mel's and how it used to be when I tried it as a kid. Nowadays, it didn't taste as fresh as I remembered. Maybe everything just tasted better when we were kids? Although the food was so-so, the service was pleasant and quick! I would come back just for the great service. I ordered the chicken fried steak with eggs over easy and hash browns, which came with a side of buttered toast of your choice. The ambiance of the restaurant takes you back, with that old school diner vibe that feels familiar and comforting. Overall service was great with ok food.

    Theodore W.

    We have visited several different Mels Diner locations over the years from Lombard Street in San Francisco to Roseville Douglas Blvd to Rocklin Lonetree. The Folsom location is BY FAR the BEST quality food, the CLEANEST, and the BEST customer service.

    Toast
    Monisha M.

    Mel has the your basic diner vibes. The food was okay and the customer service was good. They do have great milkshakes and fries .

    Philly cheese
    John D.

    Can't go wrong with a Philly cheese from Mel's. Super cheesy sandwich. Good service open late is a plus for a late night mission

    Side salad

    Just left Mel's diner with a happy & full belly! From the moment we walked in everyone was friendly! My friend and I were very impressed how clean the place was! I ordered the Philadelphia Cheese steak and will say it was one of the best I've had in California! My friend ordered the French dip and enjoyed that too! My only complaint was I had no room for a hot fudge sundae! Looking forward to returning!

    Mels Original Cheese Steak Sandwich
    Myla A.

    All the employees were all very friendly, with excellent service. The food came out fast and fresh. The sampler I had was delicious, crunchy, light, delicious, and not heavy nor greasy. My wife had the cheese steak she liked it but it definitely needed cheese sauce. We are definitely coming back to try other food items. Inside was inviting, clean, so many things to look at.

    Milk Shake or Malt
    Kayla S.

    Mel's Diner always delivers! I ordered DoorDash and my order arrived in under 30 minutes. The Mel burger was cooked perfectly (slightly pink), with a soft, buttery bun and fresh produce. The Mel fries had the right balance of softness and crunch, still hot from the fryer. The banana milkshake was delicious and generously filled. Highly impressed with the quality and portion sizes!

    Kids meal (burger & fries)
    Mel J.

    Our family visited here around 10am on Sunday. The restaurant was starting to get crowded but we managed to get a table. We had to wait for awhile for a waitress to put our order but the food came out relatively fast (around 15 mins). - kids meal - burger with fries and oreo: my kid liked it and finished all the burger and fries. I tried a bite of the burger and it tasted good. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. - chorizo skillet: the portion was smaller than I expected. The flavor was on point but I wish they put more chorizos. The hash brown was tasty & crispy. The sunny side up eggs were cooked perfectly. We had good experience and good food. We would come back to try different menu. Tips: do come early for breakfast as there was a line when we left the restaurant around 11am.

    Fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, veggies, cornbread and salad.

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    1 month ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    2 months ago

    I love the old time vibes here. Food is okay but the shakes and malts are yummy. The service is always great. They're fast and friendly.

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    9 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    1 month ago

    The best place ever service was very kind And help full the food was amazing like super good

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    2 months ago

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    5 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    3 years ago

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    10 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    6 months ago

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    8 months ago

    I have become a regular customer. The staff are very nice. accommodating. I don't eat rice or potatoes and I get a salad instead.

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

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    7 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Food is always consistently good. Always hot fries always crisp! The staff is so welcoming and friendly!

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    4 years ago

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    3 years ago

    Fun retro decor, good food, generous portions, good service, fair prices, clean, and friendly. What more can you ask for?

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    Page 1 of 7

    The Original Mels Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Original Mels

    House Of Mules

    House Of Mules

    4.3
    (137 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Sabrina was absolutely fabulous. Food was amazing and great drinks. Very quick service and good musiread more

    I recently had a Yelp event in the area and we decided to pregame at a happy hour in the area…read more After looking around a bit online for a spot,we chose the House of Mules on Folsom Blvd. This spot is not located too far off highway 50 and shares a lot with many businesses,so plenty of parking spots to be had. The happy hour at this spot is pretty great with all draft beers priced at $5-While also having Jameson-Tito's and Cazadores priced also at $5 There are many discounted foods available during happy hour, prices anywhere from $5 to $12. These foods range from pretzels to BBQ meatballs, Fish tacos and pizza. We tried the BBQ meatballs ($6.00) and they were extremely tasty. We also tried some beer from Urban Roots and a few Jameson shots-they both hit the spot. The service at this bar was great,the waitress was super friendly and checked on us multiple times. This place is a typical sports bar scene,with TVs in every direction and many sports to choose from for your viewing pleasure. The waitress told us that on weekends they do show UFC events live,which is always an added bonus. Overall I think this is a stellar sports bar and a great addition to the Folsom area providing an incredible spot to hangout with friends and root for whatever team makes you happy. PS-This bar also features "All-Day" Happy Hour on Sundays-so I can just imagine how incredible that must be on football Sundays in the fall-See Ya Soon.

    Photos
    Bar Area
    Bar Area
    Churro donuts
    Churro donuts
    PB&J Mule

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    PB&J Mule
    Qamaria Yemeni Coffee

    Qamaria Yemeni Coffee

    4.6
    (239 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Qamaria is hands down my new favorite coffee shop in Folsom. As soon as you walk in, you're…read moretransported into a very middle eastern themed cafe. There's great lighting, plenty of seating, cute decor and spaces to sit whether to hangout with friends or study. The outside patio is also really cute and perfect whenever the weather is warm. They have a mix of cultural coffee drinks and more modern selections such as matcha and flavored teas. My favorite drinks are the date latte (a seasonal drink) and the pistachio latte. They also have a variety of snacks and desserts. The honeycomb is super yummy. The service is always great and there's plenty of parking.

    Late night coffee runs just hit different at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.. Came here after a Yelp…read moreElite All-Star event and an after hangout with some of the All-Stars, and somehow this place still had the energy cranked all the way up at 10pm. The place was packed with people laughing, talking stories, and just soaking in the vibe. Even with how busy it was, the place stayed clean, the line moved smooth, and the baristas were awesome the whole time. Friendly, welcoming, and still keeping the energy up late into the night. I grabbed the iced Mufawaa and a baklava roll, and both absolutely delivered. That drink gave me the perfect boost before heading up the hill to my partner's house in Cameron Park, and the baklava roll was the little sweet knockout punch I didn't know I needed. Qamaria just gets it... good drinks, good people, and somehow always the right stop when you need that extra push to finish the night.

    Photos
    Qamaria Yemeni Coffee
    Spinach Feta Croissant
    Spinach Feta Croissant
    Qamaria Latte with cream top

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    Qamaria Latte with cream top
    Samuel Horne's Tavern

    Samuel Horne's Tavern

    4.3
    (741 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Great little hole in the wall tavern in old town Folsom. This place always finds great beers and…read morehas fantastic food! When you enter, just proceed to the back near the register. The menus will be near you - just make your food selection of food off the menu and select your beverage off the wall on your right! The Steakhouse Dip is my go too - along with an IPA which I usually ask the great staff to select. I tried the Urban Roots Juice Rush and I think is the best IPA I have ever had - give it a try. Great place to stop in and enjoy the food and beer. It can get busy in the evenings with limited seating - they do have some seating outside to help!

    This one hurts to write because this has always been one of my favorite little old bars. I've been…read morecoming here for years and the Johnny Burger was always my go-to. Unfortunately, this last visit was a total bust. The burger was not the same flavor or quality it used to be. Not sure if there's a new cook or what changed, but it was disappointing for the first time ever. That said, I still love this place and the atmosphere -- it has such an old-school local charm. I honestly miss the old staff and the consistency it used to have. Hoping this was just an off night because I'd really love to see it get back to what made it so great.

    Photos
    Back of the tavern - make your orders in the back near the cash register.
    Back of the tavern - make your orders in the back near the cash register.
    Peanut butter burger
    Peanut butter burger
    Hot dog , side of tater tots

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    Hot dog , side of tater tots
    Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

    Lazy Dog Restaurant & Bar

    4.0
    (2.2k reviews)
    3.5 mi
    $$

    After a few disappointing visits, I wasn't sure what to expect this time, but I'm so glad we gave…read morethis Lazy Dog location another chance! This visit was a complete turnaround. Our waiter, Troy, was outstanding. He was friendly, attentive, and made us feel genuinely welcome from the moment we sat down. He checked on us throughout the meal without ever being overbearing, made sure we had everything we needed, and provided excellent service with a great attitude. He truly made our dining experience enjoyable. The food came out quickly, was fresh, hot, and full of flavor. Everything about this visit was so much better than our previous experiences. It's great to see such an improvement because we've always wanted to love this restaurant. Thanks to Troy and the exceptional service he provided, we'll definitely be coming back to this location. If possible, we'll be requesting him as our server every time. He made all the difference, and we truly appreciate the wonderful experience!

    visit this location recently with my dog. the waiter never…read moregave us a refill mind u she was giving the other tables around us a refill before their drinks was empty. we seen multiple tables with pitchers of waters to fill up their dogs bowl for a drink so we asked for one also and just got a bowl we just had got tired of waiting for refills and a pitcher of water so we just paid the bill left a tip regardless of the shitty service. 2 do not order the ribs they are not tender at all, they are dry and just not appetizing to eat

    Photos
    Sauces
    Sauces
    Brunch Menu
    Brunch Menu
    BBQ Bacon Burger

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    BBQ Bacon Burger
    The Fat Rabbit Public House

    The Fat Rabbit Public House

    4.0
    (500 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Went back for another lunch and it didn't disappoint. Yes, this place can be confusing because…read morethere are no servers and you have to order at the bar. I've watched many people seat themselves at tables and leave 10 minutes later because no one asked them what they wanted. Yes, the decor is stuck in the 90's, but I actually like it. The double smash burger I had was excellent. The bun they use is awesome and they charred the patty perfectly. It tasted way better than Fleming's Prime Steakhouse burger I had last week, that's for sure. The thick steak-cut fries are awesome, too. Over salted but nothing a cold beer can't cut through. Highly recommend their smash burger.

    I dropped by with a specific mission - to check out the Smashburger (as part of a burger…read morecompetition I'm participating in). If it wasn't for this "mission," there's a good chance I wouldn't have wandered in. I LOVE Sutter Street, but honestly I don't live nearby and don't have many reasons to come here. That said, I'm thankful for the mission and glad I dropped by. It's a super cute place and the bartender had a nice relaxed chill vibe to her. This is where I'd normally drop her name and give her kudos - but I didn't get her name. I thought her name would be on the receipt, but it wasn't! I assume her name isn't "Shift Night N" anyway, which would be weird - but that's what is listed for "server". Anyway... the burger... I liked it. I liked it a lot. I was not asked how I wanted it cooked (not expected or demanded by me) - but an observation that I toss in for comparison purposes. It was cooked to a solid medium, which is fine with me. Caramelized onions were standard - nice - but the tomato and lettuce were listed as 'optional' - and the bartender (Shift Night N) asked me if I wanted them. I opted in. The bun was above average - definitely a notch above the typical mass-produced buns often used elsewhere. I opted for sweet potato fries. They had good flavor. Personal preference-wise... I would have liked them to be cooked a smidge more. If/when I come back, I'll probably ask them to be crispy-er. Overall, thumbs up! I wouldn't hesitate to come back and try other things on the menu. #burgers

    Photos
    Cute place! Bartender is there, just being shy.
    Cute place! Bartender is there, just being shy.
    Fish n chips
    Fish n chips
    White teas! (Not green teas since they're made with vodka).

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    White teas! (Not green teas since they're made with vodka).
    Corner Tavern & Grill

    Corner Tavern & Grill

    3.9
    (354 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I love Corner Tavern & Grill. It's close to my Mom's hood. The food never disappoints. I got the…read moregrilled chicken BLT sandwich with a side salad. The chicken isn't a huge juicy chicken breast, just so you are aware. It's the thin, flattened kind. Perfectly fine with me since I didn't want something overly heavy. It comes with housemade chips. I'm really impressed by their salads though. I know, so simple, but most restaurants provide boring iceberg lettuce with nothing really exciting. Here though they provide red onion, cucumbers, slivered almonds, tomatoes, etc. I also love their house vingerette. I think next time I'll order a bigger one and add chicken :-) My mom enjoyed her carnitas street tacos. The crack pie is to die for! My Mom was so impressed, she ordered a 2nd one to go haha. It does take awhile to get your food, just a FYI. But worth it.

    I've driven by the Corner Tavern & Grill many times and thought I should give it a try. My husband…read moreand I stopped there for dinner tonight and we are so glad we did! It was busy, but our server Courtney was fabulous! She had several tables inside and on the patio, but was friendly and attentive to all of them. Our food was delicious. I had a pastrami sandwich on rye. My husband got a pizza & a bowl of clam chowder. Everything was fresh and flavorful. We shared a gelato for dessert. There's a full bar and a large selection of beers & ciders as well. Several parties came in that I could tell were regulars. The vibe was relaxed and friendly. We will definitely be back! Thanks again to Courtney for the outstanding service on a busy night.

    Photos
    Looking at the bar
    Looking at the bar
    Clam chowder delicious
    Clam chowder delicious
    Calamari

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    Calamari

    The Original Mels - diners - Updated July 2026

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