A staple American diner on Lombard Street in the Marina District of SF! An iconic tourist spot for tourists visiting Golden Gate Bridge and Palace of Fine Arts. I noticed people walking in from the nearby bars. Open late night!!! Check it out when in SF! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Dec 2025 - on the wall - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Ahh bummer they have closed! No wonder those Almond Slivers on my sundae were stale. Going out of business stale. Well the ambience is empty- just a parking lot. No more service. Farewell to all the good times! read more

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

I feel a little bit bad writing a bad review of this Mel's location, as it had a major fire a few days after I ate here with my parents and niece. But this is Yelp, man; you can do whatever you want as long as you're reviewing honestly and not getting quid-pro-quoed to do so. I know Mel's Drive-In. One of this Mel's Drive-In's selling points when I came here late at night recently was that it was open. Another was that it had a parking lot. Check to both, but with some grains of salt. THE PARKING SITUATION Yes, it has parking. But beware! It's one-way for some ridiculous reason, and the only legal way to enter is from Lombard Street. That's right; although the parking lot is attached to Lombard, Steiner, and Moulton Streets, you're only legally allowed to enter from Lombard Street, which is a huge busy street that's difficult, if not illegal, to make U-turns on. If anything, you should be forced to exit onto Lombard and be allowed to enter at or exit from either Steiner or Moulton, but nope, you'll be breaking the law to do what's convenient to both you and most other drivers. Great work, Mel's. THE INTERIOR It's weird. And small. And crowded. The bathrooms are kinda gross. Fifties diners make me think of comfortable booths. I know that Mel's is a '40s drive-in--supposedly--not a '50s diner, but booths are booths. Why aren't they more of them, and why is that weird seating area right in the middle of the restaurant? THE FOOD If you can call it that. I had the worst restaurant omelette I've ever had in my life. It was supposed to have veggies and cheese. Instead of being inside the omelette, all the veggies were underneath it, as in the cook put veggies on my plate, and then he put the cheesy omelette on top of it. My dad ordered the same thing, and his came out the same stupid way. THE SERVICE Friendly, but impossible to flag down. They have a lot of people working, but only your person can help you with your problem, even if it's an any-person problem like needing more napkins or salt. It also took forever for our food to come out. We could see and hear the cooks having a grand old time in the kitchen, and the servers were bringing things out to people, but our meal was awkward, because my niece's plate came out four minutes before my mom's, which came out seven minutes before my dad's and mine. I still kind of like the Mel's on Geary. Maybe that's just for nostalgia reasons, but I will say that I've never had poor service there, and the food is generally good. This Mel's, on the other hand, was a joke. I was embarrassed to bring people here, even if they were my seventeen-year-old niece and my parents. (My niece had been here before with her friends late at night, that little social butterfly.) I didn't pay, but I saw the bill. It's just as expensive (which means too expensive) as its Geary Boulevard location, but with way less value. read more

The place has old retro diner vibes, very homey and cozy especially for the holidays. Service was fine and definitely an older crowd inside. Coffee is refillable, I had 3 cups. The chicken noodle soup was really good, lots of chicken and veggies. This was my favorite and I will be coming back for it. Arnolds high protein breakfast included egg whites, chicken breast, mushrooms and asparagus. This was pretty plain and unsalted. Don't think I will be getting it again but it's definitely a filling and healthy option. The total bill was over $80 which I thought was a bit high for the taste and service. read more

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It's been years since I've had a chicken pot pie. My only reference ever was the frozen ones from Walmart so I'm not quite sure how credible I am. However, trust me when I say, the chicken pot pie here is amazing. It's so comforting and warm and perfect for a cold SF day. The filling has a lot of potatoes and chicken, they really don't skimp out on you. My sister and I stopped here after doing some shopping and made the mistake of getting our own pot pies because I assumed it would be small. Nope. It can definitely be shared between 2-3 people! The server was very friendly and so shocked when we wanted our own. I would come back just for this. read more

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

This diner is super cute inside and the service is good but the food was not. The mozzarella sticks tasted kinda stale and rubbery and the tomato soup was off too. The Mac and cheese was not bad I'd probably get it again. The mimosa also tasted not fresh to me. Nice that there's a parking lot here though. read more

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A bit more noisy than the one at Geary Blvd. Maybe it was full. Having parking is a plus. I got the quinoa kale salad ($13) with additional salmon ($18). It came with a bow ofl additional vinaigrette. The salmon was excellent, nicely seared and crispy. My eating mate got the breakfast burrito and this was better than Geary. Our food took awhile since we came at the tail end of a crowd. Service was great. There was a security guard watching the car and front. Manager was at the door when we came in and out. The place was decorated with balloons of Thanksgiving. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Quinoa kale salad ($13) w/ additional salmon ($18) great sear - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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Great breakfast on our first morning in the city, so good we went again the next morning. Unfortunately, day two was not as good as day one. Cold pancakes...boo! Oddly enough, our waiter was great on day one and on day two not so much. Likely a good after evening of vibrations spot! Ambiance was very fun...enjoyed the movie throwbacks. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Nice day one breakfast! - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Mel's diner is a cute retro diner! The ambience is amazing. Service was great. You get a feel of the 50s diner and food and drinks. Cute little touch having your own personal little jukebox next to you. Definitely a must add to your bucket list or stop in San Francisco is very friendly. read more

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Can't pass up stopping at Mel's. The food and staff are amazing. Super fast service and the place has great vibes. Anytime you visit SF take a stop at Mel's. Plenty of parking in the lot. Pro tip: The shakes and breakfast are amazing read more

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

I love this small Mel's Diner, all booth seating and large blow up black & white photos on the wall of George Lucas directing "American Graffiti" where Mel's is prominently featured. If you're in the mood for hearty American diner fare, this is your spot: Chicken pot pie, meatloaf, hamburgers and thick shakes. It's a little pricey (always has been) but it's quality food made right. Unfortunately, service was way off at this location: They were extremely polite but slow outta the gate bringing water and taking our order. Then our entrees came after a substantial wait with fries barely warm, the pesto turkey sandwich, very soggy and gravy congealing on my son's main, short ribs and mashers. They rushed an extra plate of nuclear hot fries to our table. Now that's what I'm talking about- hot and delicious. Everything was pretty tasty though my sandwich was falling apart in my hands and would've been better hot. I'd forgotten how much I like this location, more intimate and diner-cozy than Geary. I'd go again - and hope they have their eye on the tables and not just third party delivery orders going out the door. read more

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I really enjoyed breakfast here! I ordered the avocado toast and the eggs were poached perfectly. The prices were very reasonable, I think I paid more for fast food elsewhere in San Francisco, haha. The coffee was warm and flavorful, and our server was very attentive. The old-school diner vibe really added to the overall experience. read more

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Went with my friend for the vibes. A super cute restaurant-- I love the booth seating & jukeboxes on the center counters. Service was actually great. They were attentive and quick, although the food took a tiny bit long to come out. I probably should've gotten something else, but their reuben was just okay. It had essentially no sauerkraut or other sauce but it was a good portion. I subbed for sweet potato fries which were solid. I'd go again and try something else. read more

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

Consistently mid but sometimes you end up here. Burgers and milkshakes are alright. It's not a bad place to sit and chat with friends

Stopped in for a quick bite (and truthfully just to change my toddler). No changing table in the restroom. Ordered a Reuben and it was just okay. Service was the biggest pain point. Took over 10 minutes to get an order in. Never got any water and by the time someone stopped by I was ready to go. It's faster to walk up and pay than ask for the check to be brought to you. It looked like maybe only 1-2 servers in the whole place, but a little sad it takes so long get any kind of service. It seemed other tables that got lbreakfast, burgers, or shakes looked good so maybe recommend that. Otherwise, this is a place you can skip unless you want a diner with slow service and meh food. read more

It was such a pleasure having breakfast at Mel's Drive-In. The old diner and jukebox vibe was just what I needed. And just like the good all days (if I was alive), you can put a quarter in and pick a song to play. Of course, we had to choose Benny and the Jets by Elton John. Such a classic! The food was fantastic and they had $6 mimosas, which you could choose either cranberry, orange or pineapple. All three were delicious! I had the huevos rancheros and it was the perfect meal to start the day. I ordered fruit, as well, and got all the good stuff, not just melon and cantaloupe! The service was great and friendly! read more

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I'll cut to the chase... I love Mel's. It's got a fun retro vibe... not just because of the decor, but because the service is personal and friendly. The food is just what you'd expect from an old-fashioned diners (burgers, patty melts, fried chicken, meat loaf, French dip sandwiches, fries, and REAL MALTS. But they also have some updates, like a Quinoa/kale Salad, Goat Cheese And Turkey Slider, and Grilled Fresh Atlantic Salmon. The food is usually very good, though sometimes uneven. I've gotten soggy fries, and a "hot" sandwich that was cold by the time it arrived. In each case, our server quickly replaced the item. The prices are pretty reasonable, considering that it's in San Francisco and gets a lot of tourists. Despite the occasional lapses, I'll go back to Mel's every time I'm in the area. Where else can you get a good malt? read more

Great food, great service, great ambiance. Maybe fix the jukebox boxes that lets you chose the best song, I've been scammed out of quarters read more

Mel's Drive-In - French fries, onion rings, milkshake - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

My water and coffee were the best part of the meal. And, in all seriousness, the water is really good, I'm not sure why haha! I had blueberry pancakes and they were so chewy and had a weird aftertaste. The mozzarella sticks were fine, but they were pretty hard on the outside and not gooey on the inside. My husband ordered the French toast combo. I had a piece of the French toast and it was just awful. Although it was good to see the inside for the sake of "history" I'll stick with the Mel's kitchen location on Geary. read more

Of the eight locations in Northern and Southern California, the Mel's Drive-In on Lombard Street in San Francisco has been the locale of the restaurant chain that we have recently been visiting. This location of the old-fashioned eatery follows the retro diner design that all Mel's Diner regulars have come to know. Brightly lit, cheerful and with jukeboxes throughout the dining room, nostalgic of the 1950's is the environment. The staff keeps the place clean and well kept. The venue also has a private parking lot for customers which is a major plus for a San Francisco establishment. The menu serves BREAKFAST, LUNCH, DINNER and FOUNTAIN & DESSERTS, offering American classics like burgers, sandwiches, meatloaf, shakes, and pies. Below are a few items that we have recently ordered: THE IMPOSSIBLE BURGER - A vegan, Wendell savored every bite of this plant-based meal. The french fries were golden fresh with a perfect crisp. THICK OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE SHAKE - Topped with whipped cream and a couple of cherries, V enjoyed his tall glass of this fountain drink. As usual, a little extra was served in the blender can. LANA DEL REY SHAKE - Good, according to Z. VEGAN THICK OLD-FASHIONED CHOCOLATE MALT MILKSHAKE - Kudos to Mel's for offering vegan shakes! Wendell and I split this. We were inadvertently served vanilla versions at first, though. The second serving was with no malt and too sweet in taste. Fail. BANANA SPLIT - Our waiter told us that the Banana Split comes with a scoop each of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry ice cream, but they served one with three scoops of vanilla. Another fail. Kitchen mistakes aside, service has been nice and friendly. read more

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Ambiance is top notch, nostalgic and fun! Classic everything. The burgers are big and tasty and they have something for everyone, regardless of age or food preferences. Service was great- the old guy that helped us was incredibly busy but he was so attentive and kind. We stop by here every time we go to the city! Cant wait to come back -!: get a big'ol' milkshake! read more

Mel's Drive-In - He got a cheeseburger w American and curly fries. - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

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The food just isn't that good. Service is slow even though it's not busy. The vibe is cute though. I ordered a cookie with ice cream for dessert and it was burnt ): sad days read more

I'm born and raised in the city and this is my first time at Mel's. My first impression is that it gives me a cool and old school vibe. The restaurant was not very busy at all and the server sat as very quickly. She took our order and the food came out quick as well. The burger and sweet potatoes fries were decent but not amazing. It was kind of pricey for what you get but I think it would be a nice experience if you've never been to Mel's. read more

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

Clean and cozy diner with excellent Twisty Fries. Great place to drop into when you want to have a comfortable, low-key meal or snack with friendly service. Join their loyalty app via Toast and earn a free $5 credit during your birthday month. read more

I come from New England where old fashioned diners abound. I was wanting that experience today. I have passed by Mel's and one other a few times. The parking lot had a security guard which was nice! And, I was greeted at the front door with a wonderful smile. One of the waiters passing by made a point to compliment my sneakers and make some quick convo! appreciated! This diner sported green upholstery rather than the classic red. This was a nice change. They worked hard to put up the Christmas decorations which made me feel relaxed and at home. On a Sunday at 11:30, it was quiet with small parties trickling in I was also hankering for chicken and waffles ($18.70) so that's what I dialed in on. I've tried two other spots and this is my third. I got a grapefruit mamosa ($5) as well; the menu image made it seem bigger, but still tasty and plenty of champagne. The food came with crisp presentation and the waitress wished me a lovely meal . Interesting it was to see the bacon, cheddar, and green onions cooked into the waffle! That was new. The chicken was crisp and hot, and when paired with the buttermilk syrup... man it was satisfying. The waitress came over a few times to check in as well! For a total of $27.05, I was pretty damn satisfied! 5/5 read more

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We had to ask multiple staff members to get us waters after waiting over 20 minutes while other tables who came in after us got their food. My burger was extremely pink to the point it may not even be eatable, and our service was awful and inattentive from the moment we came in to when we left. Very poor experience and a lack of basic care read more

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

This is such a cute spot. I love the vibe and the service. I came in during the day time on a Tuesday and I was helped by Carlos. He was so kind and helpful with the menu. My food came out very quickly and I really enjoyed my sandwich. My only reason for giving 4 stars is because I think the menu is overpriced for basic diner food. I would still come back tho, they are open late and it's a great spot for a small group. They also have parking. read more

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Horrible food. Horrible service. Horrible crowd. Horrible lighting. Horrible everything. Parking was OK. read more

Even though they are a 50s diner, Mel's offered a Thanksgiving Day meal this year, and since there was nothing else on Lombard Street in the Marina District offering something similar, I took advantage. I thought the Turkey, vegetables, and stuffing were actually quite good, but the mashed potatoes and yams could have been better. The cranberry sauce was standard cranberry sauce. I can also say from previous experience that this Mel's location serves good burgers and deli sandwiches. I'm glad to see they survived Covid, as 2017 was the last time I frequented this Mel's. read more

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

The food was terrible i never want to come back, the waitresses were so god awfully mean to me and my family, my little boy started to cry because the waiter called him a fat, ugly, troll. I suggest if you want to have a good meal with your family NEVER come here. read more

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

If your in a pinch or it's late when there aren't many places open in SF, I would go here, especially for their malted shakes. Otherwise it's nothing spectacular. The service has always been good but the food is just ordinary, not bad but not overwhelming good! The diner 50's vibe is fun but feels like this is the Denny's of the bay! read more

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

I came here mainly for the old fashioned diner vibes. Super cute inside and the jukebox was cool. Bonus points for having Lana Del Rey songs. Service was a little spotty, seems like they need more waitstaff. The food was okay, it was just your standard diner food. Nothing special, but the portions were large. Prices were about average for the area as well. I got an iced coffee and breakfast plate for around $30. They do have a decent size parking lot for the San Francisco area. read more

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

I'm so glad we decided to ignore the negative reviews of this location, as our experience couldn't have been any better. Free parking, friendly staff, great service, good food that's thoughtfully plated, comprehensive menu, & exceptionally fare pricing, especially given that we're in San Francisco. Oh, & did I mention free parking. Remember, Mel's Diner serves classic American food in a casual setting. Reading some of the reviews, I get the feeling folks don't fully understand what Diner means. read more

My Wife and I stopped in for breakfast here yesterday morning My Wife ordered the poached eggs and avocado on toast which she really enjoyed. I had an egg and Waffle which was satisfactory as well. The Manager waited on us and he seemed very sincere Laurence & Luiza read more

My first time trying this place and I think it's worth the experience. The price might be pricier than I expected for a grill cheese sandwich with basil tomato soup. However, the vibes and ambiance was definitely worth it read more

This place for me was special . I lived a few blocks away . My bf & I would eat here a couple times a week for like 20 years . We ate out a lot . Well two years ago he died & I just couldn't make myself go in there til tonight. I have to say it's really fallen through the cracks. The food was really horrible except the chicken noodle soup is still good. I probably won't be back. I did have some good memories eating here . But for nostalgia I want to sit in our regular booth . But it's over , now. Even my server said the new cooks were not good. Many complaints. It's a shame. read more

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

I'm a sucker for a classic diner, and nothing fits that bill like Mel's. We came the week before Christmas at an awkward hour between lunch and dinner, and found we were one of only a couple groups there. There was a cute display of holiday decorations adorning the interior, and we enjoyed the warm, familial feel of the diner as we took a break from the cold, windy weather. Though the service was a bit slow, they were very friendly and welcoming once they did get to us. We ordered the four sliders combo, the grilled cheese and tomato basil soup, and the tuna melt. The tuna melt and grilled cheese were good and completely hit the spot; however, the sliders were a little underwhelming. The meat was a bit dry, and there wasn't much flavor to them (though the standard beef one was my favorite and had the most flavor to it). The twisty fries we ordered with them were very tasty, though, and made me wonder why more restaurants don't offer curly fries! With Mel's, you know exactly what you're going to get - a variety of decent comfort food served within the quintessential diner experience. It's familiar, it's consistent, and if it's what you're in the mood for, you can't go wrong! read more

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With the power outage since yesterday afternoon, I definitely needed food and coffee this morning. We decided to travel to Mel's in the Marina. I haven't been to this diner in probably 20 years. The service was excellent! Daniel V. took our order and brought us refills of coffee and cream. We had scrambled eggs, potatoes and bacon and a phenomenal monte cristo sandwich. I opted for crispy french fries that just right! Daniel checked on us often and we have nothing but praise for his attentive customer service. Granted that it's not cheap here but it was definitely worth the excellent food and service! Happy Holidays!!! read more

Came for a late night bite and was not disappointed. Ordered the Mel's burger with fries (6.5/10), short-stack combo with scrambled eggs and cheese and bacon (8.5/10); the eggs were cooked perfectly and blew me away so had to give an extra point, and an Oreo Shake (they split it for us which was a nice touch). Ambiance is any typical diner, the decorations are pretty cool and fun. Service is friendly, at times we struggled to get their attention but what can you expect at 2:30 AM on a Saturday night. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Top: The Famous Melburger Bottom: Short Stack Combo with scrambled eggs and cheese and bacon - Diners Near Me - San Francisco, California

Phenomenal atmosphere and service from Julio at this Mel's. The food and drink were great and the staff ensured everyone was satisfied and smiling. Great leadership and hospitality all around. read more