Mel's Diner transports you back to the time of poodle skirts, juke boxes, and thick, ceramic diner mugs with the perfect diner coffee (if you know, you know). All of the food and service was wonderful, but I really feel the stand out was the fluffy pancakes! This is definitely a must stop if you're looking for the classic diner breakfast. read more

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This is pretty run down and could use a freshen up. However service was wonderful. Very attentive and friendly. I had breakfast that was filling and tasty. The strawberry waffle was so good it didn't need syrup. That's a 1st for me. read more

Good diner style food. I ordered the chopped steak with hash browns and 3 sunny side up eggs and it was good. Not earth shattering, go tell it to the mountain, but the food was good. It's exactly what you think diner food should be. The service was exceptional. They were very courteous to us and made us feel welcomed. read more

Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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A bit of nostalgia coming to Mel's Diner serving American food. We were greeted upon entry and seated quickly in a booth with menus and a request for beverages. This location became famous in the movie American Graffiti. We ordered a regular omelette with hash browns, veggie omelette with home fries and an egg over medium with home fries. We all got a biscuit sans gravy with our meal or you may substitute toast. Service was excellent with the food arriving quickly. The order is a very large portion of food. Prices are reasonable. The food was filling and good. We all finished our plates! There is still counter seating here and many booths. The upper walls are lines with coffee mugs. Service is fantastic. The servers check on you often and offer drink refills. They have their own parking lot. read more

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The food is fantastic and the atmosphere is retro and fun. If you go back a couple of times the servers quickly know who you are. They have the BEST chorizo and eggs in Arizona. The pictures on the walls are of "Alice" if you are old enough to remember the show. Quaint, a typical diner. Cannot beat the great food and friendly service! read more

Stopped here for breakfast on our way back home to CA. My husband asked me if I remembered Mel's Diner from TV. Finding out how close it was to our Airbnb, we had to stop. I am pleased to say, this is solid, fresh diner food. We both got breakfast. I opted for the veggie omelette with home fries and a plain biscuit. Everything was fresh and delicious. I highly recommend the biscuit. I ate it so fast, I forgot to take a picture until it was almost gone. Iconic place. So worth the stop. Cute decor and big portions. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place ever since I saw it. I never knew it was actually I'm Phoenix. I loved the show growing up. As most pointed out its more nostalgic on the outside. Not so much on the inside. It was still cool. Food was good. I didn't get any pictures of the food unfortunately. We were too were hungry to remember. Portions were big. Friendly service from everyone. Prices were normal. Nothing outrageous. We'll definitely be back. read more

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Compared to several other diners for breakfast chicken fried steak, Mel's is one of the best. Tasty gravy, eggs cooked as requested over easy. Asked for hash browns crispy, they were not. Pancakes were above average. I like the homey, dated ambience. Prices are not outrageous. Will return. read more

The is a classic American style Diner. Everything you'd expect it to be it is. Nothing more and nothing less. This would be considered a local Dive to most, however there is Television history attached to this diner. The tv show Alice. The show aired from 1976-1985. The show followed Alice a N.Y. transplant with dreams of becoming an entertainer in Los Angeles. But gets sidetracked in Phoenix, and takes a job at Mel's Diner. It was a great show with funny characters. It was perfect for its time. Anywho, back to the actual Diner. The staff is super friendly and long standing. Thank you to Kadence for being my server and wonderful conversation. You can tell that Mano (the owner) treats them right. You'll find Lots of regulars within the hours of operation. Which are limited to 7am-1:30pm daily. That being said you never know who you might see filming their experience at the diner. Lots of Vloggers and tv historians are to be expected from time to time. The food is hearty, satisfying and tasty. The coffee is made to perfection. Nothing fancy or high end ingredients are needed. The food and ambiance is perfect. read more

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First visit. YuMMmmm. A pretty straight forward, vintage diner. Simple layout, decor, menu, darn near everything here. Located very close to the Arizona State Fair & Exposition. Apparently the Mel's Diner show was filmed on location right here. There are plenty of good menu options and what we've had so far receives two thumbs up and high praises as we discuss our meal along the drive across town. On this occasion we both went with the Double Cheeseburger. I chose onion rings and my friend had the French fries. Both of us opted to pass on the soup. No regrets with that decision because honestly we could only get through half of our Hamburger. And the burger was fantastic! Thick, juicy, cooked to order, cheese melting, pickle, lettuce, tomato, and onion for topping were placed on the side and the French fries were the perfect accompaniment. Our server was pretty, sweet, and efficient. Third visit. Different server, new or less familiar with placing order on their little contraption which seemed to cause her some challenges when I asked for half & half along my burger for the side -half fries, half onion rings. After sensing this was possibly a problem I said O-rings was fine. What's on the menu? Ranges from breakfast, with the usual suspects of eggs and such but I did notice corned beef hash AND pork chops too. List of lunch options include chicken, pork tenderloin, Reuben, BBQ pulled pork, the classic tuna, blt, grilled cheese, ham & cheese, club sandwiches, open face sliced beef or pork tenderloin, along with chicken breast, 2 types of Greek, and Chef salads. And it continues with appetizers, Mel's Special Plates, the (BEST) Handmade Burgers & More, lunch sides and finally the beverages. The ONLY thing I don't see on the menu is a shake or malt option. Well heck, I just found out from the server that they actually don't have any dessert options. Well no worries there cuz I don't think I could eat much more. read more

Mel's Diner - Today, 03/02/25, Breakfast Specials. - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Tried this with our car club, it was exactly as promised! No frills, huge portions and very good service. Always hard hosting a huge group but the servers were on top of everything. All of the orders came out together and correct for the most part! Not an area we are normally in so it was fun that it got us to try something different. read more

Finally made it to Mel's Diner! They have been here a long time, I have driven by for 20 years as a resident and even more as a visitor. The food is classic diner food that hits the spot. The servers were friendly and understanding of our kids. Pretty chill spot, not too loud for table conversations. We split a farmers omelette and had a biscuit with gravy. The gravy could use some sausage, otherwise it's pretty good. The omelette was meaty, just the way we like it! read more

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If you want an old school greasy spoon, this is the place. Get a great breakfast or a sandwich for lunch while sitting at the counter just like your grandfather used to do. The service is what you would expect from a greasy spoon. You're not gonna get 5 star service but you'll get treated well. I mean, this isn't a 5 star place but it's worth visiting, especially for breakfast. You're not gonna get gourmet food and the counter may be sticky but you will come back over and over again. read more

I had a BLT and my husband had the three eggs any style with chorizo and a side of beans. He was so ecstatic! Food was fantastic, service was amazing and I think this place is really underrated from the outside. If we ever are in Phoenix, we will definitely return! read more

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It has been a while since I stopped in, and this time around, I brought company who was just as excited as I was. We both ordered the all-you-can-eat fried cod with fries and coleslaw. Freshly prepared and fairly priced, we got our money's worth. Services are always top-notch, and the staff is readily available, whether it be to answer questions about the menu or to top off your beverage. The atmosphere is always fun and relaxing while also being nostalgic. read more

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The food is pretty good and the service was excellent. I recommend it for those in the neighborhood and those who have nostalgic memories of the film/series. read more

What can you say about a diner that is exactly what it is. Diner. It's not fancy, it's old. Dingy in some aspects, but I've never had a bad meal here. Sure I may add some salt and pepper, and Tabasco to some of the items, but that's because I'm making it to my liking. Service is a hit or miss. Today was a hit. Perfect in every way. Rebecca is a gem. Friendly to the perfect point. Stopped by intermittently right on time. Never a want or need. Prices are more than reasonable for the amount of food that you get. Also great for people watching. So many different cultures, subsets and what not. Truly a Phoenix gem. Now I must go nap. read more

Food was great and so was service. This is the Mel's Dinner from the old TV show. The only things missing was the cast!

absolutely stay away from this place.. The area is not the best, and the manager does not like customers. He will scary you away. Also the place is not that clean... read more

As a Gen-Xer, I grew up watching the TV show Alice with my parents. The funny thing is, I've lived in Arizona for almost 17 years and it never dawned on me that Mel's Diner was in Phoenix until I saw a random new clipping about it. Of course, I had to check it out. I went there late morning to avoid the early morning breakfast rush. A wave of nostalgia washed over me as I pulled into the parking lot and saw the Mel's Diner sign. I knew they closed at 2 pm, so I figured that 11 am would be plenty of time. They were moderately busy when I got there, but there was still plenty of seating. I was greeted immediately and asked if I'd like a table. I opted to sit at the counter since it was just me. If you're expecting to see waitresses in uniforms like the TV show, you'll be disappointed. I didn't expect this since this isn't a commercialized tourist attraction where the staff dresses up. Other than the menus, I didn't see any other memorabilia. I like that the charm of this diner isn't tainted in that regard. I ordered the Reuben sandwich with fries simply because I've been craving a Reuben for a while. I was tempted to order one of the burgers. My order came with a cup of soup. Chicken Noodle and Hamburger Macaroni were the choices. I'm anti-chicken noodle soup due to childhood trauma, so my choice was easy. :) The soup was flavorful and delicious. My sandwich arrived shortly after finishing my soup. The sandwich was piping hot and the grilled Rye bread was crispy and not soggy! The sandwich was awesome. I will admit that I would have liked it a little more if it had some Thousand Island dressing on it. The fries had very little salt on them, which was fine with me. I thought that they were good. They weren't the battered trash that a lot of places serve these days. The service here was fantastic. The waitresses were very attentive and my iced tea never went empty. You can tell that they enjoy working with each other as the playful humor among coworkers was present. I've read other reviews that cite that the TV show was filmed here. That is incorrect. The exterior shots were used for the show. The show itself was filmed in studios in California. If you like the nostalgia and feel of old diners, this is a place to check out. It's tie to TV history as well as the good food that makes Mel's Diner worth checking out. I do plan on returning so I can try their burgers, jumbo shrimp, omelets, chicken fried steak, and pancakes. Hahaha! read more

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Well, as a Gen Xer who grew up with the show, Alice and being married TO an Alice we HAD to stop here for lunch!!! LOL As much as it was a nostalgic stop for us, it was also a great stop for lunch, food-wise! I ordered a bacon cheeseburger with fries and Alice ordered the gyro sandwich with fries. Both were outstanding! The burger was huge, almost a half pound, so it is very shareable. The fries were good and in my favorite style but I wouldn't describe them as great. I'd probably try one of the other sides, if we went again. They also give you a cup of soup with your meal! I tried the charro bean, which was super tasty! Alice wanted the vegetable, but unfortunately we were there very early for lunch and it wasn't ready (she didn't want the bean soup!) ;-) Alice really enjoyed the gyro but had the same opinion of the fries. As usual, my final focus is on the service which was outstanding! We were served by a a super pleasant lady (Marianna). She was not only super nice but her skills as a waitress were top notch. Just the right amount of attention to make sure my coffee and our waters were never empty. My only disappointment was the waitresses were not wearing the classic pink uniforms with the crazy large handkerchiefs on the lapel! LOL read more

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Learning this is the Mel's after the TV show from the past, had to go. Little run down, not the best looking from outside. Walk in and greeted by a smiling face. Inside also dated. As for the food, Fantastic! Omelet amazing and large, coffee good, home fries done right, crispy for me. Bacon. I would go back as good food and people. read more

Great American food & service. Great breakfast & lunch destination. Yes it's Mel's Diner from TV read more

We just love this gem! It has the cutest diner atmosphere, wonderful food and the most friendly staff! Great start to our Sunday! read more

Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Loved the tv show and l've been wanting to eat here for a long time. Didn't make it last time (from CA visiting family) but made it for breakfast. Everyone was friendly and very welcoming. The service was great and the food was delicious-reminded me of homemade food from my childhood. I love the Alice tv show pictures on the wall and menu. I will definitely be going again when in the area again. Didn't catch anyone name but everyone made sure we were well taken care of. Our waitress has purple (streak) hair(?) she was amazing read more

Excellent good food,, service and atmosphere. Everything is fresh, homemade. Highly recommend. read more

The service here was okay nothing crazy seems they give the regulars more attention, the food was complete trash it arrived quickly but nothing was hot just barely warm, I had chicken fried steak with home fries and a biscuit on the side with gravy, my girlfriend had the French toast with bacon sour dough toast and eggs. To start the gravy was super watery and tasted like nothing the chicken fried steak was decent home fries were whatever and the eggs were eggs , the toast was hard and tasted stale, bacon tasted like a dirty griddle, the biscuits and gravy was just sad little flat square thing swimming it water gravy on a giant plate, as for the inside its just and old diner nothing crazy, for sure wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, Overall food sucks service was okay and the place is just an old building read more

I was craving a Greek omelet with meat. So, I choosed Mel's Diner. After sitting down I asked the waitress who didn't introduce herself if customers who happened to be named 'Mel' received any special treatment. She said no, then said her name was Melanie. So, I ordered a Greek Omelete with Hashbrowns and a Lemonade. The Omelete had feta cheese, tomatoes, onions and Gyro meat. It looked amazing. The ingredients did not compliment each other, so it was not that appealing. Also, I wasn't offered any ketchup for my hash browns and the waitress brought me the check before I started eating and did not ask how I was doing until I was nearly finished. As for the Alice/theme of the restaurant, if the owner isn't going to upgrade the interior and fix up the entrance to the place or have it totally related to that classic TV show they should refurbished it into something else. For you see, I arrived wearing my scrub uniform from my job and that still didn't help to be and feel welcomed. Maybe the waitress had trouble getting over an elderly man with his other half leaving disgruntled that was sitting across from me. The lemonade was good. read more

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Definitely a tourist attraction. Good quality diner food. Great 70's diner atmosphere, prices are very reasonable especially in view of recent price increases on breakfast items. Definitely will be back. Guess what! They know how to do eggs over easy, not upside down. read more

Very fast service and good was great. Kinda of cool old school atmosphere and there are a few pictures from the filling of Alice. read more

Mel's Diner - Nice dinner and was fast and good. Dropped in after a VA Dr appointment as it is close - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Worst service today I'm a regular Costumer I was having my food when I Hear a convo by accident waitress talking to another employee About a Coustemr who had just walk in and waitress calling the costumer who had just walk in by this horrible nick name and both laughing now I wonder what nick name they call every regular customer? That was none call for read more

Tried the Country Fried Steak, Eggs, Hash Browns and Pancake combo. This place did not miss, everything was made to perfection. Pancakes were legit and the portion sizes were generous. $16 for everything, not bad. Overheard others in the diner mention the Pecan Pie, if I wasn't so full I would have indulged. read more

Not good just plain, country fried steak batter was stil raw, pancakes over cooked no flavor on anything. Service was good. Diner smells funny and lack luster. read more

Just a quick note. This not a new and shiny building. This is the place where the TV show was filmed. A Cozy Gem with Generous Portions - I recently had the pleasure of dining at Mel's Diner in Phoenix for lunch on a Thursday, and I must say, it was quite the experience. This charming mom and pop establishment exudes a quaint and quiet atmosphere that instantly transports you back in time. Upon arrival, I noticed that the restaurant seemed a bit understaffed, but this minor setback was overshadowed by the exceptional service we received. The staff, despite being stretched thin, were incredibly friendly and efficient. Their dedication to providing fast and attentive service truly left a positive impression on me. The highlight of the dining experience had to be the portion sizes. I ordered the Pork Tenderloin, which turned out to be a behemoth of a dish. The sheer size was astonishing - it could easily satisfy two hungry appetites. The tenderness of the pork combined with its flavorful seasoning made it an absolute delight to savor. My dining companion opted for the Hamburger, and let me tell you, it was a hot colossal creation. The patty was so generously proportioned that even the heartiest of eaters would find themselves taking half of it home. As for the fries, they were your classic, no-frills French fries - nothing exceptional, but they served their purpose well. What truly surprised me was the affordability of the meal. With just $32, both of us were able to feast to our heart's content and even had enough left over for a doggie bag. The value for the price paid was truly impressive, considering the size of the portions and the satisfying flavors. For fans of the iconic show "Alice," Mel's Diner is a nostalgic haven that brings back fond memories of the series. The diner's ambiance and character seem straight out of the show, adding an extra layer of charm to the experience. In conclusion, Mel's Diner in Phoenix offers a memorable dining escapade. Despite being slightly under-staffed, the service remains top-notch, with a fast and friendly demeanor. The portions are astonishingly generous - both the Pork Tenderloin and the Hamburger are meals that could easily feed two. With reasonable pricing and a touch of nostalgia, Mel's Diner is a must-visit for those seeking a hearty meal in a cozy and timeless setting. read more

Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Loved Alice when I was a kid growing up in Texas. Never paid attention to the fact it was in Phoenix. Now I've lived in Phoenix for 22 years I didn't even know it was a real place until about 5 years ago, and today I finally got by to try it. I had the chicken-fried steak and eggs with a biscuit and gravy. I'll start with a very minor nitpick. This place is on some Yelp list of best biscuits and gravy in Phoenix. Don't get me wrong, they were very good, but honestly the biscuits could have been a little better. At home I use some flaky Pillsbury biscuits, but I make terrible gravy... End of minor nitpick. The chicken-fried steak was great. Wonderful crispy hash browns, and the eggs were just how I like them, scrambled with cheese. My mother had eggs, bacon, and pancakes. She said it was all very good. It certainly looked good. Where Mel's really shines is the service. Multiple friendly hellos when you come in the door. Our waitresses (one was in training) were super attentive and friendly. I usually spend most of my meal trying to flag down a waitress and they suspiciously never look towards me. Here at Mel's I barely had to twist my neck and BAM, there she was. Also, most places you go the salt & pepper shakers, condiment bottles, etc. are often a bit grungy. Everything here was super clean to the point that it was noticable. This is a place worthy of making it one of your regulars. read more

Mel's Diner - Chicken-fried steak and eggs, with hash browns. - Diners Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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The food was great and the service was excellent. We had a large group and the manager was nice enough to open up another room so we could sit together. read more

If you're going to take on a Famous name like Mel's Diner, do it some justice. How hard is it to tenderize your own meat for chicken fried steak? Frozen food is nasty. There are restaurants within a mile of this place that make their own food. Scratch kitchens are the thing now. Heating up U.S. Foods frozen foods from their big truck is lazy. Come on Mel, work harder if you want my business. read more

This is my every Sunday spot! The food is very diner and exactly what you would expect. The staff is fantastic. When we have guests in town Mel's is one of my 4 must-go to spots. read more

This was our second trip to Mel's The pork chops are always on point for flavor The home fries are delicious, and my wife can enjoy them because they don't have green bell pepper I enjoy the scrambled eggs but they're a bit firm for my wife All the staff are lovely, and it's such a welcoming environment 10/10 would recommend, will return read more

We love diners and had passed by here a few times on the way downtown. It was before my time but the show "Alice" was filmed here. It's a greasy spoon no frills diner. We ordered an Arizona skillet which is potatoes, with peppers, sausage, bacon, cheese topped with your style eggs. We also got 2 eggs over easy with bacon which came with their home fries and toast. The food was decent, nothing to write home about but not horrible. The toast had a orange cream looking butter. I'm not sure if it was margarine or butter but it wasn't pretty looking and we didn't eat it. Don't need the extra carbs anyway. The prices were on par and service was quick and friendly. Overall, nice to try out a new spot but plenty other diners that have amazing food closer to home. read more

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