We stopped by Mels on a busy Saturday and were promptly sat at a very clean table. In fact, the whole restaurant is incredibly clean! Our server was attentive and took very good care of our table. We had a variety of delicious food options. I got an egg sandwich, no meat, add avocado. It was so filling I could only eat one half! So delicious though. I still think about it. My husband got the chicken fried steak with two sunny side up eggs. He said he really enjoyed his meal. My father got a blue cheese burger and made it buffalo hot! He really liked this burger. All of our food was super good and very filling. I would highly recommend Mel's for a delicious breakfast/ brunch. I can't wait to come back and try some of their other dishes and even the lunch menu! read more

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Stumbled across this place while visiting Sac, it was a very retro 90's style diner. I thought the place looked really cool and really puts you back in time. The chicken parm sandwich was decently good, the fries were okay, like the flavor slowly disappears the more you eat. That tater tots were nice and crunchy but a little too greasy for me. Oh, also the portions are big here. The banana milkshake was probably the best item out of them all if I'm being honest. The service was normal for a diner or sit down, nothing that really stood out. Looking to come back in the morning for some mimosas or their breakfast. read more

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Don't go to this Mel's location. Portion sizes are small. Also, the place smells like dog and poop. This was a take out order but the guy taking our order was nice. He's the only reason why there are any stars in this review. Again, don't go to this location. Go to a different Mel's. read more

The Original Mels - Chorizo Skillet - small portion - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

We wanted something within a walking distance from Sutter Hospital so we came here. I ordered the turkey club sandwich with curly fries. My sister ordered spaghetti with meatballs. Portion was huge for both. Club sandwich was good. Curly fries needed a bit more seasoning as it was a bit bland. Spaghetti meatballs were a bit salty. Our server was nice but service was a bit slow overall. read more

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First timer at this location and I was not disappointed. My server was incredibly friendly, even arriving 15 minutes before an early afternoon closing time. He didn't rush me, which I thought was great. I got the Denver Omlette with egg whites & added mushrooms. It came out fast, hot and as ordered. The Mel's Potatoes were grilled perfectly. Inside was clean & pleasant. read more

The Original Mels - Denver Omelette and Mels Potatoes - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

This place was sooo cool and the food was delicious! We went to Sacramento to watch the California Airshow and visit some family. My family took us to have a late dinner at this place. It kind of reminded me of a diner we went to dinner at in read more

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My wife and I have been dining at this location for a few years, love the staff and the new owner has made some great upgrades, but the best upgrade is the longer hours. That really saved us. Recently, the cheese sticks changed. This is a menu item I order 2-3 times, a week. They didn't need to be changed. The new flavor is not the same and for the first time in years, I actually left one in the basket. What the heck? I'd love to have the old ones back. Shout out to Ryan, Kai, Kai and Miranda. Great service folks. read more

This place seems like a hidden gem in Sacramento. We happened across Mels and happy we did because the place was clean and the food was delicious. The kicker are the little jukeboxes on the tables that actually play music for .25. The servers were attentive and nice. I would recommend this place for food and a nostalgic atmosphere. I will be returning. read more

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The food here was good standard diner food. The French dip was good. On a Sunday night there were another 10 tables being served. They appeared short staffed but everyone was friendly. I did have to ask if someone could talenour order after waiting for about 10 min. Our food came out promptly and hot. My wife had the cheese and bacon Melburger. It was very juicy and good. This is a good place to have good food and decent price. read more

The Original Mels - French Dip - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Came in on a Thursday around 9pm. We were looking for somewhere to do take out. This was one of the places still open at this time/day Ordered the bleu burger and classic appetizer combo to go. The restaurant was bright and clean. Marcus our server was friendly and helpful. We sat at the bar while waiting for our order. read more

The Original Mels - Bleu Melburger- Make it HOT or Not - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I haven't been here in 10 years since I interviewed for my current job. The place looks the same with 50's diner decor. The server was very friendly. My corned beef hash and eggs plate was one of the best I've had in Sacramento. I look forward to coming back and trying some pancakes and maybe a milkshake. read more

The Original Mels - Inside - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

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My husband and I have been on a Mels kick lately. We've gone to a couple of locations (Roseville) and this Sacramento one being the closest one to us. We have attended during breakfast and dinner. All of our visits at this location were good. I enjoyed the service from our servers. I enjoyed my meals and drinks. The restaurant is clean inside. There's plenty of parking in the lot and there's two access points, one on J street and one on 30th. If you want a nostalgic feel and good bites to eat, check out The Original Mels. read more

The Original Mels - Egg-White Omelette - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

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Such nice people work here. The decor was outstanding- real classic diner. Large menu. I got a salad and poached eggs to be healthy but the pastries looked really good. read more

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My 5 year old Grandson really wanted some chocolate chip pancakes. We also ordered chicken strips which came in a little Ford Fairlane model paper car. Really cute. Pancakes (3) good sized, golden brown and tasty. . He was excited and ate most everything. Usually he doesn't. I ordered fish and chips. Pancakes and Chicken Strips fantastic for kids. I've had breakfast here before, I would recommend eggs, hash browns, bacon toast. read more

The Original Mels - Paper model car that comes with chicken strips. Dinosaur not included. - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

Surprising good breakfast, great server, except he went on break and no one checked to get more coffee. 10 minute wait for coffee?! oh no! Steak and eggs were a nice portion size, hot and very good. Saturday morning, no wait, good size parking lot. (They have signs parking only for them). I had gotten my hair cut next door and this place had all the parking. The server was very nice, polite, attentive. Next time I get my haircut I'll have a meal here. read more

The Original Mels - Ribeye Steak & 2 Eggs - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

Hungry? Why are you still reading this? Go now have your breakfast lunch or dinner. There's a lot of of selection for breakfast lunch brunch dinner or whatever you wanna call it from omelettes to pancakes to chicken strips and hamburgers and potatoes and hashbrowns and rye bread and it's delicious. Don't forget the shakes, was too early for me to have some but you gotta get it OK. Service it's good. It's so clean and it is so nostalgic. Ok put down the phone and head down to Mel's. read more

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I came in twice at night and my food was so delicious. I usually get skillets , mozzarella sticks & French toast. The service at night is excellent as well. I came in today for lunch to get the French toast again & it was horrible so was the service. Very eggy, no flavor and I sent them back. They remade them and they were still horrible. read more

The Original Mels - Horrible - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

We had a party of 9 on Saturday at 10 am, the staff was very kind and helpful. The food was delicious, the staff helps each other out. Jose was on it. Thank you Norma for the great customer service read more

Came here for dinner. Customer service was great. The location and vibes were good. Ordered chicken and waffles. Which was good. The chicken tenders were above average. While also being nice and crispy. The waffles were really good. read more

Great service and good. We had cod dinner and my picky friend said it was delicious, my husband got steak and shrimp dinner. He said we have to come more often. Clam chowder was really good. I got French dip with extra meat. It was yummy. I substituted salad and the blue cheese dressing was yummy. Salad was a little wilted, but the cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and croutons more than made up for it. Everything was reasonably priced. I have the pineapple milkshake and it was a surprise. Fresh pineapple and yummy ice cream. Give them a try. read more

First impressions make a big impact. The restaurant is so cute from the outside with its decorative black and white checkered tiles and neon sign! There is plenty of parking in their lot and on the street. The diner looks clean both inside and out. I was greeted within seconds by not one, but two friendly servers. The excellent customer service continued throughout my meal. I ordered the mushroom Swiss burger. It was cooked to perfection. The burger was the perfect density. The Swiss cheese was stringy in that good way where you take a bite and pull away with a cheese trail. The first were crispy and tasty. I saw several shakes being made and they were gorgeous. I was envious! None for me this time. Gotta catch a flight. Until next time... read more

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Terrible service called 3 times they pick up and then hang up would not ever call them

Food and service have always been great! But the late night service of dining in is no longer available. Went to grab a bite to eat after an outing and they were closed. Sad to see a late midnight staple like Mel's no longer open. read more

I made the decision to split the chocolate chip pancakes and the breakfast burrito with my sister, and let me say absolutely no regrets. I got both my sweet and savory fixes! Hot chocolate was good as well! Also the place is such a fun atmosphere, feels like I time traveled read more

The Original Mels - Chocolate Chip Hotcakes - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

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This is my second visit to Mel's, and I tried their Strawberry Belgian Waffles this time! They were delicious, I ate it up. This spot is perfect for grabbing a meal and hanging out with friends. The retro aesthetic adds to the vibe, and you can even play a song on the jukebox with some quarters! I've included pictures of what my friends ordered: * The Regular Mel * Chicken Mel Burger * Hash browns with corned beef * Chicken & waffles. I looked up, and my friend who got the Chicken Mel Burger had already finished, that boy cleared the plate! My other friend usually gets the chicken & waffle and loves it, a classic! My friend that got the Regular Mel said it was a decent burger. The one that got the hash browns with corned beef said they were not too bad. Workers are nice! Overall, I'd definitely recommend coming here with friends to catch up and trying their strawberry waffles or french toast! :) read more

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Amazing. The Breakfast choices are wonderful. THE place for family and friends to share a happy meal together. You can expect these: Parking. Affordable. Clean. Decor. Menu. Hospitable. Dependable. Unpretentious. GO. read more

Food was awesome, ordered 2 burgers for dine-in upgraded both sides and everything came out fresh and fast. Our server was Miranda and she was super nice and patient with taking our order. Lots of cool bright neon lights and jukeboxes at every table. Would definitely come back! Thanks again! read more

Second visit to a Mel's Diner. Earlier this year, I visited Folsom location. Both great. Parking at each was just enough. I loved the service at Folsom, but they took care of us fine at J Street today. Too bad my diagnostic work went a little long and I missed the steak and eggs special price by a few minutes. NY steak (6 oz) and eggs comes with potatoes or hashed browns and bread, $15.99. M-F from opening (7:00) to 11:00 is $11.99. It's fantastic. My friend enjoyed his plate, "Wolfman." I tried the pancakes and they were great. I'm a little creeped out by gloves being worn by some employees. In my experience, people wearing gloves have worse habits than those with ungloved hands. For instance, one employee grabbed trash on the floor with the gloves on. But I doubt the hands were washed (like that'd work with blue surgical gloves anyhow) nor gloves replaced. However, the person's plate/glass handling was good, at least. Please nix the gloves. Otherwise, keep up the good work and thanks for the delicious steak! read more

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Mel's diner is a consistent casual place to dine. Breakfast items are filling. Entree salads are large portions. read more

The Original Mels - 2 plus 2 platter ( 2 pancakes, 2 eggs, 2 bacon) - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I'm a fan of the Mel's on Howe, but I recently visited the J St. location for the first time. Pros: they have generous, delicious, and reasonable daily specials. Service was very prompt and the food came out quickly. I got the eggs florentine which was delicious and a massive portion that kept me full most of the day. One thing I noticed was that I didn't hear any music for a while until I think someone at a booth used their jukebox--this created a bit of a cold ambiance in comparison with the Howe location. We also were not offered refills on any of our drinks until the bill came. If I am in the area again and need breakfast I will probably return just because it is a great value. read more

The Original Mels - Eggs Florentine with Mel's potatoes - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

I've been in several times already as it is close to work and when I need a hearty breakfast, this is one of my go to spots! Parking isn't to bad most days. The ambiance is a classic style diner car theme. Classic rock music with checkered floors, classic cars and memorabilia on the walls. It's like going back in time! The staff here is good here. After coming here 2 other times with the same server, on the third time, he recognized me and asked if I was getting the usual set up. Ribeye with eggs. Medium rare with potatoes and wheat toast. The kitchen staff always so perfect cooking the steak to the tenderness I want. The eggs are buttered heavily that give it a beautiful glossy shine in the picture. The potatoes are seasoned well topped with green onions. It's safe to say that I won't be leaving this place anytime soon! read more

The Original Mels - Ribeye steak & eggs - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

I visited twice for lunch during my week-long stay in Sacramento, which is high praise since I usually want to try a different place every day. But I loved this place so much and I had to come back two days in a row! The service was exceptional- so friendly and attentive. My server offered to re-fill my Diet Coke a few times and even when the other person came to clear my plate at the end, he still offered to re-fill my drink. The food was awesome! Definitely order a side of fries with whatever you get. The jukebox on the table was my favorite part. Bring quarters. It is only 25 cents per song. I had a coin purse full of quarters as I'd planned to do my laundry later that day, but spent them all at Mel's playing Johnny Cash and vintage 80's pop tunes (Adam Ant!) on my own personal jukebox!! I smiled the whole time. I will definitely come back next time I'm in Sacramento. read more

The Original Mels - Jukebox! - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

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I wanna say shout outs to Christian at Mel's! I was super confused with my online order and he was so patient and knowledgeable about the way things work. I will definitely be returning!! read more

Came here on a Friday night after flying into town. My grandma wanted to eat something and suggest we come to Mel's. It was pretty crowded when we came so be prepared for a wait and to look for parking. Our sever Miranda was absolutely amazing! She is a great server. What we had to eat, sunrise Sandwich, pick 2, and cheese fries (I forgot to take pics ) but we all thought our food was great for "diner" food. read more

The Original Mels - Specials - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

The decor keeps you entertained while you wait for your food. I love their chicken tortilla soup and country fried steak. THeir staff is always pleasant. read more

Food was tasty, hot and fast. Ryan was an awesome server! Great energy and good humor while working the closing shift at a diner is impressive. read more

Been coming here for a decade. Never had anything less than good customer service, and a delicious burger! I love the jukeboxes on each table - I have been known to subject the restaurant to Hank Williams! read more

Earlier tonight, my partner and I sat down to have our dinner. I saw the driver of a Dodge Ram parked next to my truck that was TOO DAMN close. When I saw this driver walk into the restaurant, which was one of the cooks. When it was time for us to pay for our dinner and leave, I knew I couldn't get in my truck and had my partner come back inside to ask a manager to find out who drives that truck and request to move, please. After 5 minutes, still did not come out to move his truck. My partner is hearing and asked multiple times. It's in the customer parking lot in front of this restaurant. I am Deaf and have bad knees that I am required to make some room to get in my truck, eventually, I am 6'7" and like a football player, a stocky body here. What kind of customer services does The Original Mels serve? POOR, NEGATIVE, and they are not respecting the disabled in the community at all. This cook should be disciplined or let him go. I am eventually going to file the BBB on this restaurant. WE WILL NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN read more

This day I guess they had were in 50's mode since it was cash only. I went with the Mel's burger and fries. The burger was juicy, not frozen meat, cooked to perfection. Let's just say I used a lot of napkins. The fries were good as well. All in all a good meal. read more

The Original Mels - Mel's burger - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California

Good clean family environment. It was a a full house, so it's incredible we had super fast service. We were seated immediately, our waited gave us just the right amount of time to look over the menu, took our order, got our orders in no more than 15 mins, and what I appreciated most was how our server made sure to check on us throughout our visit. Great hospitality, and overall just good vibes. The food was tasty too! Two thumbs up. read more

The Original Mels - Wolfman Jack - Diners Near Me - Sacramento, California