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    Mel's Drive-In

    3.2 (1.2k reviews)
    Open 7:00 am - 10:00 pm

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    MEL'S DRIVE-IN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Mel's Drive-In

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    *Old Fashioned Buttermilk Pancakes
    Edgar M.

    Iconic diner in San Francisco, usual go to entrees. Good food, fun vibe, nostalgic setting. Good service by servers, happy to go back and try other classic dishes!

    C Z.

    Such a classic place! Food is always good, and large portions. Service was this older fellow that was ON IT, and very busy. Each booth has its own mini juke box you can choose songs from your table. If you've never been, you MUST. Get a milk shake! Cheers!

    Sunrise breakfast: sunny side eggs  2 hamburger patty, fruit
    Helen L.

    Here we are again, having Saturday brunch. Both ordering breast burrito. There's something about eggs and hash brown in a pan seared burrito. This thing was temperature hot. Loved the fresh fruit. Pricey for brunch but free parking and great service. We paid in the front and saw scones being sold.

    Shannon W.

    This is the third diner I've eaten at in the past week alone. I ordered breakfast, figuring it's hard to go wrong with that. The eggs were cooked exactly as I requested, the turkey sausage was about what you'd expect, but the potatoes were burnt on the bottom. They really went all out decorating for Valentine's Day, which I appreciated. If that's any indication, I imagine they decorate for other holidays and occasions too. I chose this spot partly because it's hard to find a meeting place in the area with its own parking lot, so that's a plus. It was very busy when I visited.

    Menu 4.2026
    Amy T.

    Our basketball team was in town for a tournament and stopped in for lunch on Saturday. The crew worked quickly to set up a tables to seat our large group. Some of us sat at the counter to get that "diner" experience. Menu had something for everyone. We tried the burger and Monte Cristo. Henry was our waiter. He was great, took care of everything we asked for. Diners of all ages had a wonderful time. I could see that younger patrons enjoyed their food served in paper car trays.

    Homer S.

    The food was really good. Tuna melt. I liked my impossible burrito. So I would go back again. The service was from I feel like the same people that used to work there for 30 years. Always the old time diner with the american grafitti pictures on the wall.

    Veggie omelette (1 star) with home fries and GF toast
    Anna S.

    I stopped by Mel's after a long red eye flight. I was in need of some sustenance and classic diner food sounded like it would hit the spot. Service was quick and attentive. I ordered coffee, a chocolate milkshake, a veggie omelette with home fries and GF toast. The omelette was really strange... none of the veggies were mixed into the egg and they were barely cooked. While I appreciated the large and fresh serving of veggies, I expected them to be more incorporated into the omelette - they just kind of fell out as soon as I cut into the omelette. The home fries are apparently famous but I don't really see why. They were kind of hard and seemed like they may have been reheated several times. The GF toast was actually great and I so appreciated having this option. The chocolate milkshake was also great. It was really expensive for what it was ($50 for one person) and I was not very impressed at all. I wouldn't return the next time I'm in the area.

    *Short Rib Nachos
    Corinne C.

    As the kids say, pretty mid overall BUT service was absolutely fantastic by Henry. Was in the area and my kid wanted pancakes for dinner. He ordered the full stack but Henry kindly pointed out that was perhaps a bit much for him, but would he like the short stack and add bacon/eggs? Yessiree that was perfect for him! Plate looked great and kid was very happy. I wasn't super hungry and was morbidly curious what the short rib nachos were like. The chips aren't typical tortilla chips - looked like they took leftover flour tortillas and fried them up. Not traditional, but they were crispy and fresh albeit a bit greasy. Nacho cheese goo, generous amount of black beans, guac, sour cream. Short ribs were in big chunks scattered on top in a not particularly cohesive manner, a bit too big for nachos. But the short rib meat itself was tasty - beefy and tender, not dry at all. I bet one of the other dishes with short rib in it would be solid. All of it is fairly pricey. Nachos were nearly $19. Wouldn't get them again because of the weird chip situation but maybe something else with short ribs. Not a budget eats place despite the ultra casual vibe. Loved Henry as the waiter though, super friendly and helpful!

    Jukebox!
    Annie W.

    Mel's is the iconic diner. Hadn't been here for quite awhile, but decided to come before going to SI Church for a Candlelight Concert. The vibe is definitely 50s with the vinyl booths and juke boxes at the tables. The staff was definitely friendly and welcoming. I was greeted as I entered and was told to sit anywhere. I was waiting for several others to join me, so I took a larger table in the corner. The waiter brought water right away and set down menus for all of us. After my friends came, the waiter came back to introduce himself and helped us take a group picture. Since I wasn't really hungry, I only ordered a single ground turkey slider. It was actually pretty good and was the size of a saucer. My friends ordered different sandwiches and they seemed to each enjoy them. The amount of fries that came with the sandwiches was very generous and delicious. Most of them ended up taking half a sandwich and some fries home as leftovers! Even though the food was pretty good, I think the prices were pretty high and I'd probably think twice before stopping in again.

    Tomato soup
    Melissa A.

    Had a Kaiser appointment, the only reason I went is so that I can eat at Mel's after my appt!, food makes me happy. I was deciding for an omelette or tuna melt. I ordered the tuna melt & tomato soup. I was under the weather so that combo just struck me as comfort food. Everything was fine, service & all. But 1 thing changed was the potato salad that I ordered w/ my melt. I love their potato salad but looks like it's a different recipe. It was not to my liking. I remember it just being a plain simple recipe, bite sized cubes, mayo & mustard, seasonings etc. Now it's minced potatoes, mayo & such with olives. Maybe it's different among locations but yeah. Not ordering that again.

    Delicious Short Rib Nachos!
    Richard T.

    This was a great dinner! I had the Braised Short Ribs, and they were delicious! Fall off the bone, flavorful, great gravy. Came with cheesy mashed potatoes - so good! The sautéed vegetables were excellent. And a reasonable price too for all that. Our server, David was excellent too. The leather booth is so comfortable. Highly recommended!

    Melsss
    William S.

    Decided to give this place a second chance after my friend suggested it. We went in around midnight, an hour before closing. Unlike my last experience, we were greeted promptly and professionally. The server quickly brought us menus. We grabbed a large booth, with plenty of room for the two of us to enjoy the retro ambiance. Everything looked clean and organized. We ordered a few snacks to share, such as a mac and cheese, fries, and mashed potatoes. Everything was good. When we asked for mayo, the server promptly brought it. I also got a banana milkshake, which was basically two milkshakes in one. It was a bit chunky, which I liked, but I could imagine other people being upset with that, so I'd be sure to ask for it extra-blended. My friend got a hot chocolate, which she loved. The milkshake was the most expensive item on the bill, around 10 dollars. However, considering the size, it is worth it. All of our food servings were generous in size, despite being "sides". Ultimately, we had an amazing experience and our server was super nice and caring. I wish I knew his name so I could give him a shout-out!

    The Penguin Shake

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    Under cooked potatoes and eggs, freezer burned steak, flat Diet Coke and all for $73 with just two people.

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    Mel's Drive-In

    Mel's Drive-In

    3.4
    (2.9k reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    Mel's Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic spot that's definitely worth visiting--especially if you enjoy…read morethat classic retro diner vibe. The atmosphere really stands out, with a cool 50s theme that makes the whole experience feel unique and memorable. The burger was the highlight of the meal--juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. It's exactly what you'd hope for from a place like this. The fries were decent, but nothing special--good enough, just not as standout as the burger. The cheese sticks were tasty and cooked well, but at around $18, they felt a bit overpriced for what you get. The restaurant was clean, and the staff were friendly and kept things moving smoothly. Overall, it's a great place to visit for the experience, solid food, and fun atmosphere. Not perfect across the board, but definitely a spot I'd recommend checking out at least once if you're in San Francisco.

    I remember this place being significantly better. We came after a late night Giants game because…read morenothing is better than good ole fashioned diner food. Greasy, salty and fatty. Here's what we got: 1. Banana milkshake 10/10 2. Coke float 10/10 3. Beef dip 2/10 4. Smash burger 6/10 Service was still great! There was only one server and the place started to get pretty packed so that's the good news. Also, forgot how nostalgic it is at a diner and one that still has a juke box. Come for the vibes and milkshakes.

    Photos
    Inside the diner
    Inside the diner
    Chilli cheese dog
    Chilli cheese dog
    Brunch in SF

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    Brunch in SF
    Caché

    Caché

    4.1
    (169 reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$$

    Made reservations for a brunch date with the hubs. Bright, inviting environment. Staff were quick…read moreto greet us and to answer any questions about the menu. Appreciated the mocktails they had available. Hubs ordered the NA Spicy Margarita which he enjoyed. I ordered the Espresso Tonic which was quite refreshing. We then shared with the Duck Confit crepe. It was a light crepe - loved the mushrooms and great to share as a starter. Hubs then had the smoked salmon benedict and I went with the Smashed Croissant. Both dishes were seasoned well. Enjoyed the arugula salad. The croissant had a good amount of crab and avocado. Very enjoyable dining experience. We'll return to try their dinner menu next time.

    3.5 stars Good but…read moreunmemorable, not dying to revisit. But can see it being a nice neighborhood restaurant option for people who live nearby. We got: Bread and Butter - Simple but good bread. Scallop Carpaccio / Yellow Corn Puree / Brown Butter / Celery - Scallop was very tender and delicious, although I don't know if I loved the pairing with the celery Duck Breast, Sweet Apple / Creamy Polenta / Shallot Red Wine Sauce - I liked how the duck paired with the slight sweetness from the apple, and I think this was most people's favorite of the night. Duroc Pork Tenderloin Eggplant Puree - Cubes / Chorizo Cream Sauce / Hazelnut - not bad but probably my least favorite of the mains Petrale sole, Parsnip / Green Apple / Dry Vermouth - Tarragon - I actually quite liked this, it was probably my personal favorite main, which is surprising because I don't usually love creamy sauces and sold. Warm Cookie, Caramel, Peanuts, Sweet Almand Gelato - Too sweet for me with the caramel, but otherwise a very well executed warm cookie. If you're a skillet cookie fan, I think this would be up your alley. I can't put a finger on it but overall pleasant meal that somehow I just didn't love. I think it might just be this type of cuisine that's a bit heavier than I personally like.

    Photos
    Caché
    Manila clams
    Manila clams
    Bread Bowl

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    Bread Bowl
    Breakfast at Tiffany's

    Breakfast at Tiffany's

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    I've never been to a restaurant that serves three eggs Benedict in one order, so that alone was…read moreimpressive! The food was absolutely amazing, and the service made the experience even better. We came on a weekday morning, and it was nice and calm. The woman who helped us, I believe her name was Tiffany, was incredible.. so welcoming, attentive, and kind. The location is also great and adds to the overall atmosphere. Everything about this place exceeded expectations, and I'll definitely be coming back much more often.

    We came here yesterday for brunch. It took us awhile to find a parking. San Bruno Ave was very…read morebusy, like a small Chinatown area. So be prepared to make a few rounds around the residential area to find parking. Glad we were here early as I heard that the line is usually long. A lady greeted us at the restaurant, very friendly and seated us right away. Cute small restaurant. Love the old photos of SF in the olden days . We ordered the San Bruno florentine Benedict and Western omelette. Before you order, know that the portions are huge! All the Benedict's comes with 3 poached eggs on an English muffin with hash brown or tater tots with your choice of stuffings. It was very rich, heavy breakfast and delicious! The mushroom and spinach with the sausage was savory. I love how the egg yolks just falls apart everywhere when you cut it in the middle. The hollandaise sauce was just the right amount. It was very filling. The omelette was like a calzone. They stuffed that omelette with so much filling that my hubby was loving it!!! He said it was full of flavors and all the stuffings were soo delicious he could not stop eating. Halfway to his omelette you can tell he was full but he was a trooper and almost finished everything. lol. Anyway, we left the restaurant overly stuffed but happy!!! We should have stopped eating when our tummy told us to stop, but it was delicious and fresh so we kept digging in. That was a mistake, lol. This place by far is one of the best breakfast place I've been to. Come hungry. Will be back!

    Photos
    Mimosa
    Mimosa
    Croissant French Toast
    Croissant French Toast
    Nice mug

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    Nice mug
    Tommy's Joynt

    Tommy's Joynt

    3.8
    (3.3k reviews)
    1.8 mi
    $$

    Fun late night place to eat after watching a show. However, the neighborhood is so bad! A…read morehomeless drug addict chased us out of our parking space around the corner from the restaurant. So we zoomed off and came back around for the parking space. All clear. We parked and cautiously walked to the restaurant. We walked in, oh, its a hofbrau! Never knew that. Every protein was stacked up with so many options. The staff was friendly and took our orders. :) BBQ brisket plate with mash potatoes and coleslaw - mash was wonderful, the brisket was tender but the slaw could had used more sweetness and tang. 4 Stars :) Cornbread plate with mash and slaw. The cornbread was very good. 4 Stars The decor was flea market whacky. Definitely had its own personality in a cool way. Glad I was finally able to try this institution of San Francisco. Just be careful of the craizies outside.

    Tommy's Joint is a San Francisco Institution. When I first moved to SF around 2005 one of my first…read moreoutings to a restaurant was Tommy's. I had a delicious hot roast beef sandwich covered in gravy. It was one of the most comforting dishes I have ever had. I remember coming to Tommy's many times over the last two decades and trying everything from their oxtail stew to their meatloaf to their lasagna. Everything here is good! On my most recent visit I got to try their lamb shank with boiled potatoes and carrots. The lamb shank perfectly fell off the bone and the fat melted in your mouth. The gravy was very flavorful. The only thing I found underwhelming were the potatoes as they could've cooked a little longer. The service at the counter is always very good and quick! These guys have been working this counter for a long time. The place still feels a little like a dive bar, but that's all part of the charm of this historical eatery.

    Photos
    The seating area
    The seating area
    Tommy's Joynt
    Layout

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    Layout
    St. Francis Fountain

    St. Francis Fountain

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    3.2 mi
    $$

    The Mission District is home to some legacy businesses. You will see devoted patrons going to their…read morefavorite stores , bars, and restaurants over the years and they still are standing. In San Francisco alone there are a few places which been around for over 100 of years. There is a place which has been a Mission District neighborhood staple for over 100 years . It's a great place to cool out on a sunny day. They serve one of the best pancakes in San Francisco and is located on 24th streets. Its namesake is San Francisco is English and it's called St. Francis Fountain. On the last few days left of a Spring 2026 stroll I landed in St. Francis Fountain. Inside you will feel the nostalgia as you will see tables and booths and also an ice cream bar which serves ice cream sundaes with a cherry on top and classic milkshakes. I got the vanilla milkshake and it was tasty and a bit sweet. I then had to try the buttermilk pancakes. It was savory and buttery and the syrup made all delicious. This store also has some nostalgia selling trading cards like the garbage pail kids in SF. Overall a good vintage classic soda fountain in SF. Come here once you are "awake"where they "make" a delicious buttermilk "pancake"and you can wash it down with a strawberry or vanilla "milkshake" Come get the pancake after it's made with a delicious "batter"and get a breakfast or lunch "platter "and enjoy a good yap another words a good "chatter "at a place in SF where for over 100 years the Mission neighborhood still "gather"

    St Francis Fountain is a legacy business, the oldest on 24th street, and there's a reason why…read morethey've been around serving up some of the best diner food in SF since 1918!!! I stopped by for breakfast early on Saturday. There's the main restaurant with tables and bar seating, and they have the restaurant space next door with even more tables. Apparently at peak brunch time, the whole space is packed even the outdoor seating. The whole time our service was fantastic, it wasn't super busy so they were also able to give us a little history about Saint Francis fountain and the building. The space has that classic diner decor, fresh pothos cuttings at every table, I felt the good energy. The coffee was good, no frills diner coffee. We ordered the chef's mess side of banana bread (the warm it up straight on the grill), biscuits and gravy with poached eggs, and the sourdough French toast with banana walnut topping. Was this too much food for two people? Of course. When you look at this incredible menu, good luck choosing only 1 thing! The food came out hot and very big portions. The biscuits and gravy were perfect. The gravy was creamy with nice size chunks of sausages, cooked so well, sausage wasn't overcooked. The biscuits were so soft, buttery. The home style spuds were seasoned really well, paired really well with my eggs and biscuits and gravy. I was so happy. The sourdough French toast was so good. The fresh banana topping with walnut and a little butter in one bite, wow!! It was also done so well, sourdough wasn't mushy at all. My partner enjoyed their chef's mess. It was seasoned well, cooked well, and the mushrooms in it were great! Overall, this is a very memorable breakfast for me. I can't wait to go back to try more on the menu. They had so many good options in the quality of food was fantastic. I think this is generally one of my favorite spots in the city for a classic diner breakfast.

    Photos
    A view from our booth to the opposite side wall in the back.
    A view from our booth to the opposite side wall in the back.
    The Chef's Mess. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and delicious.
    The Chef's Mess. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and delicious.
    Persephone

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    Persephone
    Art's Cafe

    Art's Cafe

    4.3
    (1.4k reviews)
    1.3 mi
    $$

    We went on a Tuesday morning and sat up at the bar with no wait. The service was quick and…read morefriendly. The vibes are classic old school city diner with no frills but the food hits! The hash browns were cooked to perfection! Would definitely recommend to give it a try if you're in the area.

    Well, it's been over 18 years since my first and last review of Art's Cafe. I'm sure I've changed…read moremore than this longstanding diner has. No, I haven't had cosmetic surgery, but thank you for asking. I've just been trying to eat with a little more discrimination in both my palate and my diet, but sometimes I like to indulge myself with a few extra calories my body is more than willing to accept begrudgingly. Quite reassuring to see the set-up never changes here. It's still the same 14-stool counter in the same hallway-size space. I came in on a weekday about a half-hour before closing. There was only one customer at the far end of the counter and now me. After 30 years, the original owners retired during the pandemic, and the current owners had taken the reins without skipping a beat. They're still serving the same combination of classic American diner fare and traditional Korean staples. Previously, my penchant for greasy spoons left me in a state of American isolationism. For example, a while ago, I had the $16.55 Tuna Melt on toasted sourdough with lettuce, tomato, onions, pickles, and cheese. It truly hit the spot with a pile of krinkle fries thrown in for good measure (Photo 9). This time for the first time, I went fusion and finally ordered their signature $17.75 Hash Brown Sandwich with Dakgogi (Chicken).and Shredded Cheddar Cheese. It was a satisfying exercise in gluttony, for sure, with two eggs sunnyside-up and sourdough toast (Photo 10). I thought I wouldn't finish it. I thought wrong. Besides, it was a treat watching Young (the wife) cook it in front of me on the sizzling grill. FOOD - 4 stars...hash brown or not to hash brown, that is the question AMBIANCE - 3.5 stars...dependably dependable diner SERVICE - 4.5 stars...mighty quick and friendly TOTAL - 4 stars...still the same greasy spoon from days of yore RELATED - Exploring the Sunset? Here's a collection of places I've visited and reviewed: https://yelp.to/kZkvjG0MAn

    Photos
    Inside kitchen and dining room
    Inside kitchen and dining room
    Bacon Cheeseburger with French Fries (01/2024)
    Bacon Cheeseburger with French Fries (01/2024)
    Art's Cafe

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    Mel's Drive-In - diners - Updated June 2026

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