It was very refreshing to walk into Mel's Diner after a long road trip. Excellent decor, right down to the staffs uniforms. The staff were all very friendly and prompt. Then there is the menu and the food- large selections, large portions and fresh, good looking and great tasting! This will become one of my regular stops when we travel through Yakima! read more

"Kiss My Grits!" I couldn't help but think that phrase from the saucy red head of the old 70s TV series, "Alice", which I watched as a kid (http://youtu.be/wedrJdHGHFM). That old show took place at restaurant called Mel's Diner. I'd have to say this place was way better! The servers here are surprisingly super nice to late-night patrons looking for food after nights of salsa dancing. They always made us feel at home and made sure everything was aces. In true Cannuck fashion, I saw that they had fries, and also gravy, so I asked if they could give me some fries and gravy---they did without batting a lash (or telling me to kiss their grits). It was pretty good, but it was a HUGE plate, and I couldn't finish it. I also like that they serve breakfast all the time. I've had a nice breakfast for dinner here, too. All in all, this place is the bomb, and it is an excellent joint for late night sustenance, but I'd stop by here anytime I have the munchies in the Palm Springs of Washington. read more

This is another greasy spoon. There is certainly no denying of this, but this isn't necessarily a bad thing. The food had flavor other than 'deep fryer oil', and it was served in proportions that were large enough to satisfy, but not so big you don't know how you can fit it all in your fridge. The real killer here, that seals the above average rating, is the decor and the staff. From the moment you step into the diner you feel like you are in an actual 50's diner (sans poodle skirts, and roller skates, as my waitress reminded me). The environment is clean, but scented with chocolate, deep fried meats, and shakes, like any diner should be. The colors pop with that beautiful pink, teal, red, and chrome, that defined the 50's, and the service is good to match. The waitress I had was incredibly friendly, talkative but not overly chatty, and helped to explain the menu as it was full of options. I ended up going with a Beefalo chili burger, and am glad that I did. The chili was rich and tomatoey, but full of beans and ground beef like a classic chili should be. The cheese and fresh onions on top added good crunch and a bright bite to the plate. And the burger, made from a combination of ground buffalo and beef, was leaner than a traditional burger by far but full of as much flavor as the best of them! I suspect by adding in the beef they are able to reintroduce some of the fat, where the flavor really builds, but still keep it healthier than one would expect. Five out of five stars for a job well done. read more

One of the few things I miss about Yakima. It's not the best food in the world. It's not the best service ever. But everything you could want at a diner, they've got it. The prices are reasonable. Everything you get tastes as good as you'd expect it to and I like that they make attempts to make things healthier. It's relaxed, and nobody expects anything from you, which is nice. It' a good place to come with your family. The breakfast is nice and greasy, but not bad enough that you'll feel out of sorts all day (and I'm really sensitive to greasy foods). I miss Mel's. I wish we had a diner like this in Seattle. read more

Wonderful food!!! The biscuits and gravy was amazing. Probably the best we've ever had. However the waitress appeared grouchy and unhappy to be serving us. The serve in general was subpar, waiting quite a while for the waitress to check on us. The diner itself is outdated and smelly, but the food makes up for this! Would go again! read more

Back in the day (four years ago...), when the Zone was open downtown, a bunch of us would get together in a rather substantial group of people and drive down to Mel's to eat and hang out, because it was the only place open. The waitresses were always cracking jokes with us, most of them let us do our thing and be quite loud, but there were a few that would tell us to basically shutup, and you could tell they wanted us gone. It used to be basically a truck stop, and the only people other than the freaky looking kids from the metal show, were the old men in baseball hats, grease on their faces and tight T-shirts with suspenders. But God, you have to love it. I've since moved out of Yakima, and came back this summer to visit friends and family. When driving past Mel's, I did not recognize it at all. It's all...shiny.... It's not covered in dirt and grime anymore. Oh woe. read more

Great place for a quick cup of coffee or a short meeting. Prices are fine and the food has been good. read more

We were referred here by some locals as a great greasy spoon breakfast spot and that is exactly what it is. The bacon was good, the pancake was huge and the service was quick. What more can you ask for? As advertised by our friends, we would come back for breakfast again. read more

Food is always reliably the same and delicious. The staff is fantastic and they get to know regulars who eat here often. They remember my preferences and always engage in friendly chatter with everyone. Mels is an iconic staple in Yakima. read more

Mel's is a repeat stop for our Seattle based motorcycle club. We find ourselves either making Mel's a day-ride-from-Seattle destination or a stopover for a good meal on our multiday rides. Mel's is really convenient to get to, as well as getting in and out of. We normally arrive with anywhere between 10-15 bikes/riders and normally find a minimal wait if any. They're great at getting the food out all together (and fresh) and they keep the hot coffee coming! Solid diner food is what you'll find here with big portions. The servers are very business like in their approach, some may find them "rude" but I kind of enjoy the experience of not having a phony server ask me how my day is going, etc. Just take my order, serve it correctly, keep the coffee coming, and be efficient. Mel's is all of that! read more

New to the area I we relied on Yelp to help find a restaurant to go for my birthday ... much research and so many positive reviews lead us here.... This was our first ( and last) visit to Mel's ... the service was wonderful but the food ... sorry but I can't remember EVER having worse !!! that's all I'm going to say ! read more

Mel's Diner - Beef & Barley soup ??? REALLY ???? YUCK !! - Diners Near Me - Yakima, Washington

Walking back in time to Happy Days show. Large portion of home cooked meal. Clean and very friendly. Coffee was weak but everything else was great. read more

I ordered an omelette, hashbrowns and toast. The menu has a huge selection to choose from. The food was delicious and the service was great! The atmosphere is fun. I will definitely be back. read more

Retro, 1950's inspired diner from head to toe. The decor transports you to a simpler time and the food to old school diner cooking and comfort. I am a big breakfast person so ofcourse i had to have the biscuits and gravy for lunch. The serving was more than moderate and not bad for the price. I enjoyed that the country gravy completely smothered the biscuits which is a great plus in my book! The service was not its best but I am going to blame that on the lunch rush hour and our waitress being at a retro age. Over all, good place for good old fashioned food. read more

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It's a diner, with all the basic requirements covered: Burgers, breakfast served all day, and a 1950's theme. They have it all down. Mel's is a little beaten up around the edges, which is fine for the type of place it is, and not so much so that it feels worn out - more like well loved. There are big comfy booths surrounded by lots of chrome and neon. The waitress attended to us quickly, and was very friendly. I had a french dip that was okay, with a side of onion rings that were all kinds of awesome - battered and deep fried to a perfect crisp, very fresh. I'd come back just for the onion rings. Others at the table opted for the breakfast for dinner choices; my daughter's order was so big she had to take some of it back to the hotel to finish later (bacon is a great midnight snack, so no complaints). Everyone liked their meals and the price was about right for what we got. read more

I really hate to give out one-star reviews, especially for a place that was one of the few to be open on July 4th, but this place was awful. So I walk in, it's a '50s-style diner, and they offer chicken fried steak. I'm thinking - "ok, it's a diner, they have to do this well", and the waitress said it was a popular dish. But frankly, it was awful. The cube steak was pretty small, the gravy had a decent amount of sausage but wasn't particularly flavorful, and the vegetables that came with it were the frozen vegetable mix you get out of a can or freezer (you know, the one with lima beans, corn, peas, carrots, etc.) Stay away. read more

I only had one thing: a chocolate milkshake. Very few places make a good milkshake any more. Theirs was exactly what I wanted. The decor is a bit cheesy, but no worse than I expect from someplace named Mel's. Definitely will try again should I find myself in Yakima. read more

As busy as the restaurant was this morning at 9:30am I was still able to find an open seat. I had an amazing Denver omelette with fresh salsa and a side of pancakes which was an incredibly large proportion. All I can say, Mel's Dinner makes the very best comfort food in the area, check it out. read more

Mel's Diner - Wow was this place busy this morning. The service was great and the food was off the charts. This just made my ATF Resturant. - Diners Near Me - Yakima, Washington

My family and I are from the other side of the state (seattle area).. We stopped off at this restaurant even after looking at the reviews... thought we'd give it a try... this is my 1st review because I haven't had a great experience like this YET.. Food was amazing. I ordered the country fried steak.. perfect... I have ordered this at almost every restaurant for the past year, and have not found one better than this.. we did come on a Tuesday at 2pm.. don't know if that had anything to do with it... but very pleased to say the least... Kids loved the 50s style.... my kids are 15 and 10 to give a good reference too...will be stopping here every time we pass thru....thanks for the fast service prompt food and pleasant experience.... read more

Mel's is a late night Yakima tradition! The steak tips and eggs has been a favorite for 20 years. They have a great staff for the most part everytime we go in. read more

Mel's Diner - #1 breakfast steak tips and eggs! Awesome anytime! - Diners Near Me - Yakima, Washington

we were sat at a table and we immediately got our drinks and everything. our waitress made eye contact with us multiple times and told us she would be right back to take our order but didn't come back for over 20 minutes. we watched 4 other tables be sat after us and orders taken from those tables well before she even came back to us. she was on her way to our table and noticed a table of people she knew and changed course to them over coming to take our order. it was a very disrespectful experience and I would not recommend for people who are visiting or trying a new place as they will pick familiar faces over you even when you've been patiently waiting. never even got our order taken. very disappointing. read more

Awesome place ! Wonderful staff ! Great food ! The steak tips rocked ! Cholocate milkshake way to big! We shared it ! And Mel burger & ff took you to heaven Just passing through. .Right off the highway. . Worth the stop...;) read more

Visiting Yakima and driving around looking for breakfast- my phone's reception was not doing it's job, so I couldn't pull up my Yelp app. If it had been working properly, I would have known better than to come here. The service was the only thing that was even close to okay. Our coffee cups and silverware were dirty and the food- even for greasy spoon diner breakfast- was awful. I give one star for the service and one for the free pancake offer. read more

Always a solid dinner spot! Much preferred over chain restaurants and open 24/hrs. Food is quick, good, staff is polite. Restaurant has character and kids enjoy atmosphere as much as nostalgic adults! read more

Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Yakima, Washington

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Nice little diner. Greeted and seated by a friendly guy. Fun diner decor. Classic diner menu, we all had breakfast for lunch and it was pretty good. Waitress was honestly a little crabby, never cracked a smile, but served efficiently. You can find better diner food in Yakima... read more

I've spend a little time there waiting on a load. friendly service, is truck stop food but its good, most of the times that I have been there it was clean. and I have to say I have had some pretty good times with the other driver. yes I will stop there again some day.... read more

I frequented this place quite a bit, for a long time it was one of the few places open, since everything else in Yakima is closed by 8. The food was great, the service was average, and the prices were great before the renovations. Now the building looks like some weird, twisted take on a 50's Diner but the decor doesn't really seem to have a theme, it's all over the place. I think they tried to change the feel of this place to chase out the late night crowd, and I think it worked. I don't go there anymore. The bathrooms are not pleasant. read more

Mel's Diner is how I envision my Restaurant, A Blast from the Past. Great Food & Awesome Staff. On the List of Places to Revisit when in the Area. read more

GREAT SERVICE!!!! We went here pretty late at night and our waitress was soo friendly, outgoing and didn't mind giving me her recommendations. They have an extensive menu and the steak tips are EXCELLENT. Chicken strips however were very smooth, which makes me think they were definitely previously frozen-- right? Not my favorite but the French fries were pretty BOMB. read more

The was a typical diner. I didn't find it special in anyway. The food wasn't bad, but it didn't stand out either. I had Eggs Benedict. The sauce was decent but the ham was so salty I only ate about half if it. It was deli sliced ham verses a slice/slab I guess for $9 I expect different. Servers are older and don't seem particularly interested in being particularly friendly. But maybe my server was just off her game today. If you just want a quick breakfast then this fits the bill. read more

Went today...Our waitress didnt have a name tag but she had a heart shaped tattoo on her inner ankle. Worst service ever. Ordered coffee... waited forever for it...had to ask for sweeteners and cream...ordered crispy hashbrowns....they were far from crispy...not even brown on the bottom. Used to LOVE Mels....now not so much...thank you for ruining my impression of Mels. read more

Very cute diner in Yakima with neat exterior and interior, bathrooms are very worn and need some work. Good place to stop at when driving long distances, broad menu, all tasty food. Quick services, good prices. read more

Every one needs a 24 hour greasy spoon from time to time and Mel's is it. They have a pretty broad menu, decent prices, decent service. Pretty much exactly what you expect an American Diner to be. You really can't go wrong at Mel's but it's probably not going to knock your socks off either. read more

Mel's Diner - Diners Near Me - Yakima, Washington

Mel's Diner is pretty flashy from the outside and the retro decor on the inside is something you don't see very often! The real attraction here is the most important part- the food! Prices are decent and the portions are generous. I recently had the Mel's Burger and fries, which was very good- they let you choose how much ketchup/mustard you want and include Jamaican relish. It was so good, I went back later for breakfast and had the Belgian waffle. It was nice and crispy on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside- delicious. It also included two strips of bacon and an egg. I would definitely go again, it is family style comfort food at it's best. The waitresses are very personable and make you feel very welcome. Since it is open 24 hours, I have plenty of chances to go for a great meal! read more

Mel's is pretty terrible... there service has gotten even more terrible in the recent months and I think their food, though it is cheaper than most places, is terrible. I give it two stars because it is open 24 hours and it's local. There is nothing I could recommend because the food and service are both so bad. P.S. don't EVEN think about ordering and substituting... nope. no substitutions. read more

We looked for a local diner for brunch when visiting for an event and saw this place. It's a quasi-retro place, full of 50's style decorations. The place was really busy but we were seated right away. Our waitress was horrible. She was surly and even interrupted us when we were telling her what we wanted saying, "As I said..." She complained about the management and never once smiled. With all that said, the food was really good. It has a really basic menu with burgers, sandwiches and salads but it's decent food. In spite of our bad experience with the waitress, we went back for lunch a few days later and had a better experience. read more

Had a steak and eggs breakfast. Have to say everything.. including the service was excellent. Very tasty steak for a 6 oz. Eggs were nice and runny(sunny side up) and two free pancakes, nice and fluffy. Very good OJ and I drank too much coffee... Was so good! read more

Decor is replica 1950's which was way cool. The carpets were filthy and/or worn. Our food came out rather quickly. The dinner salad was a bowl of lettuce, condiments were "cheap" or generic, not quality. I was disappointed in the pastrami sandwich. The pastrami was an obvious formed meat and was tough and dry. read more

Great food loved the chicken fried steak. Can't believe the soup came in a bowl instead of cup. Big portions great for the value.

Amazing 50's style, super clean and good food. I ordered strawberry French toast and it was good although I felt it was swimming in strawberry juice too much. But very tasty topped with cream. I brought my service dog me and everybody was pleasant and accommodating. The prices were what they should be. Sadly the area it is in does not reflect the charm and style of Mel's but worth it to go. The staff alone makes this diner great experience. I would definitely recommend stopping anytime day or night because they are open 24 hours which is fantastic news if you're craving something at 2 o'clock in the morning! read more