Mel's Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic spot that's definitely worth visiting--especially if you enjoy that 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. read more

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I remember this place being significantly better. We came after a late night Giants game because nothing 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. read more

A fun retro diner vibe serving American diner food. The restaurant has many fun drinks to choose from, though I personally felt that they were a bit pricey. Service took longer than expected but this may be due to understaffing. 5/5 - Jalapeno Cheeseburger - This burger dish was quite juicy and served with a soft brioche bun. The jalapenos were not overwhelming and the texture profile was pretty satisfying with the shoestring fried onions. Smash burger patty was also very well-seasoned and very tender. Fries and other complementing items were generous, and I was left quite filled! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Jalapeño Cheeseburger - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Loved the vibes of this place! Came in only for a milkshake and apple pie (was in the mood for some dessert and it was kind of late, this was only one of the only places open) and they were both super yummy. Our waiter was very nice and kept checking in too. Would highly recommend. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Not a lot of people and yet service was very slow today. Sat at the counter for an iced coffee and watermelon juice but didn't get served our food until after 10 minutes of it sitting on the serving dock. The watermelon juice was warm when I got it and did not taste good at all. It was watery but had no ice nor did it taste like watermelon. It tasted like a lemonade. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Quintessential retro diner. We were in town for a tech conference and every year we make the trek over for a comfortable sit down breakfast. The service is outstanding even when the line is out the door and down the street. read more

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It's been over a decade in a half since we were last here. Felt a little nostalgic, I missed the old school diner vibes so dropped in for lunch. My hubby ordered the burger and curly fries. I ordered the Taco Salad and a strawberry milkshake. The food was 3 stars. My hubbys burger was great but my chicken was rubbery and raw in some areas in the middle where the meat is thicker. The salad was supposed to come with beans but it was smeared at the bottom of the bowl. I was hoping for a bunch of beans not just a few smashed smears. A fountain coke was $5.50!! Very overpriced. I would say, food quality and prices are 3 stars. As with most places nowadays, it's just overpriced for what you get. read more

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This was just ok, the interior gives off an old school diner vibe. Service was ok, they checked in on us once. Food was mediocre for the price. We got burgers that were just ok and overpriced for what it is. I've had better burgers for cheaper. We went just for the old school vibes, everything else is just ok. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

First time trying Mel's Drive-In. The food is delicious, and the portion is great. The service could have been better. The ambiance was okay; it probably would be better if it's a different time of the day. read more

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Big retro diner vibes, ok food. The milkshake was pretty good and saved the day. Nice and creamy with oreo crumbles. Good consistency and flavor. The food was alright, kinda mediocre taste (we got breakfast, perhaps sandwiches are better??). The flavor and texture of the pancakes had a weird aftertaste feeling on my tongue, so I wasn't too impressed with them. They were eh. The sausage was not very good either. Weird chew to it. The egg was fine; cooked to my request. read more

Mel's Drive-In - oreo milkshake - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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If you're looking for a real burger, not something over styled or trying too hard, this is absolutely a spot to stop by. I ordered The Famous Mel's Burger, well done and it delivered exactly what you want from a classic diner burger, big, juicy and packed with flavor. The patty held up beautifully even well done, the bun was soft with a nice sesame crunch and everything tasted straightforward and satisfying. The fries were another win, crispy, crunchy and well seasoned, with that perfect balance where they're golden on the outside and fluffy inside. Simple, but done right. Now the real standout for me was the apple pie. This isn't one of those overly sweet, mushy pies. You get real, generous chunks of apple, a noticeable cinnamon warmth and a nice, flaky crust. The portion size is solid for the price and it's especially perfect during colder weather, comforting without being heavy. Overall, this meal hit exactly where it should. Classic diner food, done with care. read more

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Food was delicious and consistent. Plenty of good options and great setting. This is a good option when you're looking for variety. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Side Salad was quite delicious - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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After a day of traveling, I stopped in for dinner at Mel's, a solid, historic diner with many locations. I ordered the R-66 Burger and thoroughly enjoyed it. read more

Mel's Drive-In - R-66 Burger and fries - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Just wow! If you want to time travel, this is the place to go. So efficient, so pretty and very clean, even the bathrooms! The food was so good, but lacking on the saltiness that you should expect, so one less star. I definitely recommend everyone to try the root beer!!! Soooo good, we had to take some for the go and a chicken wrap for my husband. Vegetarian friendly! Lots of options on the menu. read more

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Okay, I stopped here for lunch and decided on the Famous Melburger with fries and an Ice Tea. The burger was good as were the fries and Drink. The service was very good. But nothing really special. I will stop here for dinner and see if my score goes up read more

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This place has gotten ridiculously overpriced for mediocre food. Granted I only went there late at night after hours and haven't done so in a while however we spent $88 for breakfast for two! We ordered a bfast burrito, a bfast egg plate (basic!), orange juice, latte & side of toast. $88 for a diner bfast sounds ridiculous and the only reason we chose that place was so we don't spend so much on our breakfast but looking back at it we could've gone to an upscale buffet and spent the exact same amount. Very disappointing! read more

They brought us the wrong food and then the wrong check when we tried to cash out. That would be ok if they weren't also extremely rude to us when we were trying to check out. read more

Classic dive style diner. Service is solid and the french fries are good. Ive eaten here twice this week though and both times the sandwiches were on the dry side. Had to ask for additional mayo/sauces. Overall though I enjoy eating here. read more

My first time here! I was attracted to the nostalgic diner feel. Party of eight, Walk in on a Saturday evening and seatedt immediately. The inside match the outside, So much nostalgia, classic diner style. Service was prompt and friendly. There are so many menu options and everything we all ordered was delicious. The majority ordered the smashburger and it was a hit. Highly recommend it. I had the fresh roots juice, It was really good, expensive but good. It was chilly outside so I went with the soup, The menu said it's the best chicken noodle soup in town. I agree it was really good I just wish it wasn't so oily. My lips were super slick . I also enjoyed the grilled chicken sandwich on sourdough. Anywho, I would say give this place a try, everything we had was really good. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Grilled chicken sandwich on sourdough, everything was fresh and delicious. I really liked the fries too. - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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We sent last night for dinner and while I believe the staff base their service on first impressions, which is just judgemental, we both had some form of meatloaf, I the dinner, my guest the sandwich. Their version of the ketchup sauce under beef gravy was different yet still good. The pricing is, well, typical SF diner prices. I'd advise to do breakfast there with mimosas, it's a much more pleasant experience and the same price as dinner! Server was ok, didn't do anything wrong nor anything special so just typical overworked employee service. All in all, it's an ok place with that sort of price tag. read more

Watch movies at AMC union square then Mel's drive in old time ..American graffiti ..mom I'm happy ..eggs ham cheese bread side ..Mel's at union square ..old times ..movies read more

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We first came across Mel's diner 36 years when we shared our first milkshake. Today we had a humongous fresh turkey club sandwich on sourdough bread. I opted for a sirloin steak sandwich which was awesome. total with Tip was $77.00- a lot pricy for two sandwiches & a milkshake but it is what it is. read more

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I have always loved Mel's for their meals at a reasonable price. I ate at the Mel's on Mission/4th St on New Year's Day. I didn't pay attention to the prices since I was familiar enough with them. When the check arrived I couldn't hold back from complaining to the waiter (I didn't blame him). Sure the wrap and patty melt were $22/$25 respectively but what caught my eye was the $5.50 Diet Coke and $9.00 chicken soup. This was not a bowl but a cup. I will return but be selective in what I order. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Classic diner, stunning in it's presentation. The staff is sweet, not too rushed on a weekday, things are slower paced but in a nice relaxing way. Coffee didn't go empty, the food was filling and great. Excellent place! read more

Definitely worth stopping by at Mel's for an early breakfast or late night snack. Highly recommend the burger, espresso shake, and grilled cheese. The vibes were really nice with old diner decor everywhere. Pretty empty when I went. The service was quite fast too! read more

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It's been 26 years since I stopped by Mel's. Was in SF for my son's baseball training and we decided to stop by for lunch. I grabbed the All American Smash Burger with Swiss cheese with a side of Onion Rings and the kid ordered a Short Rib Grilled Cheese with a Strawberry milkshake. Service was friendly. Food arrived hot and fresh tasting. This location is setup like an old school dinner with oldies playing. Place was clean and spacious. Would definitely comeback read more

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Went there for dinner w/a party of 3. I had the meatload w/veggies, fries & a roll. The other 2 had cheeseburgers, salad & fries. It was OK but not as good as the discontinued meat loaf from Hard Knox. The meat used is not as silky like when they make it, did they not add a raw egg when kneading the loaf. Someone had a Groupon which sweeten the tab. I'm likely will return since it's hard for find any place that makes meat loaf anymore. Love the 50's decor. read more

Genuinely some of the nicest people I've ever met, and the food was absolutely fantastic. I loved my vegan milkshake, and the burrito was delicious as well! 10 out of 10, plan to go back every time I'm in town. read more

Mel's Drive-In - *Vegan Oreo Shake - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food is consistent. Homes style cooking. The grant shake and fried chicken was tasty. Manny is a great server. All in all always great when we eat here. read more

Attentive staff Fast service. Good classic American food. I ordered the smash burger. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Great place to stop by and have comfort food on a cold night. Service was great and the food arrived fast. I had the clam chowder bowl and it was delicious. The soup was filling and sourdough bowl was perfect. The portions are large here so come hungry. They are open late so it's perfect after night out. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Bowl Clam Chowder - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Food was OK! My biggest complaint was about the waiter's reluctance to serve a large group and made it painfully apparent with his scowl of disdain as we were being seated and served. Multiple dishes and drinks were missing and had to be requested multiple times. Food was OK as to be expected by a diner, but service could be better. read more

We came here Sunday night for dinner. Place was about half full when we got in. Got seated right away and ordered a couple of burgers, fried chicken sandwich and a fried chicken plate. Food came out in about 15-20 minutes which was fine. The ambiance inside was very nice. Staff here was working hard but overall experience was good. Food was good read more

I stopped in for breakfast and sat at the counter. The ambiance was exactly what I was looking for from a diner. Service was quick which is part of the allure of counter service. Serving sizes were big and food was flavorful. No complaints. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Bacon Egg and Cheese - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

This was the first Mel's Diner opened in 1947. We thought we would stop for some burgers and history! Overall, the food was okay. Henry our server was wonderful. He was kind, funny, and quick! This is an older resturant so it has that charm keep that in mind when you want to know the vibe. Still a fun experience although we probably won't be back. read more

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The smash burger and fries were very good. Very good service. Also we definitely go back there. It was fast and the food was great..

We were looking forward to having breakfast here since we love the Mel's diners in our city but we were disappointed. While the service was good, the food was average. The breakfast was overpriced and the drinks we ordered (Bloody Mary and Mimosa) lacked any alcohol. Also, the biscuits were hard and the gravy was too thin. The bacon was good but the potatoes were too soft and the eggs were okay. Though the music and inside decor was cool, for breakfast, I would try another place if you're visiting SF. read more

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The food is just ok, nothing special. I've mainly had breakfast and I can actually cook me some eggs, ham, and potatoes / toast a lot better at home. The service is good, the waiter was really attentive. I went during the day, I like the inside ( mainly because of a fan of anything 50s and 60s ). The ambiance is good. Here's the kicker, it's way too expensive. No value. I had some ham, 2 eggs sunny side up , some potatoes and 2x pieces of toast. Also a coke. When the check came it was $28. Yup, 28 dollars for something I can cook at home for less than $5. I left the waiter $5 tip ( he deserved it. Nice person ). By the time I exited the place I had spent $33. Insane. I could have bought me a very nice dinner somewhere else, with steak. For this reason, I will not be returning to Mel's. Extremely inflated prices for food that just doesn't justify the price tags. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Receipt. $33 yikes ! - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Love their gluten-free sandwich options! Service is normally quick, quality consistency is questionable. Worth checking out for the vibe of the restaurant alone! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Gluten-free tuna melt - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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There is nothing like your classic American diner. You get all of the diner era decorations and staff attire. I was promptly seated at my table. On one, I tried the turkey burger. On another day, I tried the Chilli cheese dog. The turkey burger with cheddar & bacon was cooked perfectly. The meal lite, but filling. The next day, I had the chilli cheese. The hot dog was a good size and had the right amount of chilli, cheese, and onion. I thought the bun was a bit oversized. Other than that, it was a great meal. I hope to visit this diner in the future. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Chilli cheese dog - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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