It's been a long time since we've been here and friends wanted to go so we were happy to say absolutely yes! It's a fun old time diner with jukeboxes and a fun 60s and 70s feel and playing music baby boomers know well. We had a tuna sandwich and fries and an egg white veggie omelette with fruit and both were good. Ramiro was a good server and made sure all was good both for us and our friends. After a long time away we are planning not to wait so long to come back again. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Veggie omelette and fruit - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

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When in the valley, my wife and I enjoy eating at restaurants we haven't tried before. For some reason, when we agree to do this, we usually end up at Mel's Diner. Perhaps it is the fun and positive vibes, the nostalgia of dining at a 50's diner, the 50's music playing overhead, or maybe it's the great service. I know, it is all of the above PLUS the great food. This is the type of place you have to experience in person. Perhaps it is not for everyone, but for my family and me, we LOVE it! The food here is ALWAYS cooked to order and perfect. No matter which meal you order, you will receive a dish full of flavor, fresh and delicious! I am glad my wife and I decided on this restaurant once again. After all, there is nothing wrong with having a great meal while having fun and listening to great music, right? read more

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First off, great service and cool diner vibe... I recently ordered the double cheeseburger (minus the sauce) and it was hands down the best smash burger I've eaten. The patty had that perfect sear with crispy edges and juicy center you expect from a well-executed smash, and the flavor was rich even without the sauce. The beef tasted seasoned just right, and the cheese melted into those crispy bits in all the right places. From what I've seen online, plenty of people rave about the quality and attention to detail here, and after this burger I completely get why. Simple, honest ingredients done exceptionally well. This is the kind of burger that sets the bar. If you want a smash burger that truly delivers on flavor and texture, skip the fuss and just order this one. read more

The service here is unfortunately way better than the food itself LOL. our server was super nice and attentive, never left waiting for too long. However, the food although good isn't the quality it should be for the price. I do love the aesthetic of this place and I know it has been around for a long time, but I think that alone shouldn't justify it being super costly. Over $50 for two people for some burgers and fries is crazy, didn't even get drinks either just water. Disappointing. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Sunset burger 10/10 - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

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Milkshakes are a must here! So delicious!!! The vibe here is great the workers are so friendly! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Fries and shakes - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

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Wow! I didn't know that Mel's Drive -In has been around since 1947 and still going strong! Way before my time. I have been to Mel's few times over the years, but not in a very long time. Maybe like 5 years or so? I happened to be in the area yesterday & around 4:30pm went in to give them another try. Boy was I NOT disappointed! It seemed like it even got better than what I have remembered. In every way. I was welcomed by few of their employees and was told to take a seat anywhere in the diner. Was greeted by Carmen, the host, and my server Sara. The minute she approached me, she sounded a bit LOUD! Talking over me, and a little condescending which I didn't like. I told her to calm down so I can place my order. After that, everything was good. I think she meant well, it was just her way of being. She gave me great service with everything that I have asked for. There were few hiccups, but we worked it out by accommodating their potatoes that they ran out with either cottage cheese, fruit or slices of tomato. I subbed the potato with fruit. Food was just exceptionally FRESH, DELICIOUS & EXCELLENT!!! I ordered their Veggie Omelette with fruit, also got their Charbroiled Chicken Breast sandwich with Swiss Cheese, light mayo, avocado, tomato, & colorful Bell Peppers. Both my Veggie omelet-which came with mushrooms, lots of different kinds of veggies, added cheese, and was fully loaded with fresh ingredients. They didn't SKIMP OUT!! Affordable prices for great portions. Ample parking, restaurant was clean, 2 restrooms, don't know if they were clean or not, since I didn't use it. Gave me the 50's, 60's vibe that was so great; and I quite enjoyed it. Lovely music was playing from different era's in time. I will definitely visit Mel's again VERY SOON! Thank you staff at Mel's Drive In!:-)) Overall a great dining experience. read more

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Another great dinner at Mel's Drive-In with my spouse. This time Juan was our waiter and he was extremely nice and did a great job. My spouse had a vegan cheeseburger with curly fries and I tried for the first time their meatloaf with mashed potatoes and veggies and the good gravy they have with it and of course an extra potato salad of theirs. I must say, that meatloaf is fantastic. I loved it. Now, the only thing I must mention now is. I am aware that costs are going up everywhere. Nevertheless, $5.90 for a glass of coke? And for the whole dinner we had plus 2 slices of pies and tip it came to over $100.-! As much as we love this place it shouldn't be a luxury to go there to have a burger and a coke or a diner dish. That is a bit disappointing. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Meatloaf dinner and potato salad - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

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The diner servers are super friendly and fast. My drink was never empty! The could use a bit of refresh, but it's clean and overall retains the oldie charm that goes so well burgers and fries. The patty melt was perfect and the twisty fries worth upgrade! A great time! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Patty Melt (Medium Rare) with twisty fired and blue cheese dressing - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

Visited this place for breakfast and I ended up ordering an open faced turkey sandwich, not breakfast. Wow!! All I can say is I am glad I ordered it. The turkey was soft, juicy, and seasoned just right. The gravy was hearty with a smooth texture. Not gonna lie, it was my favorite part. I love gravy. The plate also came with a side of veggies that were cooked to perfection. They were vibrant in color and they had a slight crispness to them. I will definitely order this plate again. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Veggie Omelette - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

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Great service I ordered a burrito and my mother ordered avocado and toast the staff was great the food was top tier and the service was phenomenal, the staff was also masterclass, I had forgotten my earbud at the restaurant and a staff member came all the way out of the restaurant to give it back to me which was very kind despite how busy it was. Overall this place was great I had an amazing experience. read more

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We pass by this place every morning for school and I always told the boys we would leave early for school one day and try this place out. Well, I ended up taking them to school on a holiday (by accident) so we had time to stop and eat lol. Right when we walked in the boys were in awe with the jukeboxes and the decorations in the restaurant. As we looked around to admire the place the waitress tells us to grab any seat we want so we head for a booth with a little jukebox at the table. The waitress comes and greats us and I tell her we are trying to be in and out real quick because I have to take the boys to the day camp at school. She quickly gets the boys a fold out toy car, kids menus, crayons and then proceeds to take our order. She was extremely nice and great with engaging with the boys. The food arrived and it was very basic like a Denny's or IHop. The food was of the same quality and there wasn't anything really special about it. It was pretty basic but nothing to write home about. Would I recommend it or go back? Probably not since I know of plenty of other options in the area. I am happy I got to experience with the boys though. OOO 3 out of 5 Afros read more

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So honest time. Only reason I found or even knew about this place was due to the fact it came up on an episode of the Golden Bachelor. And I said to myself that reminds me of an old Diner I used to visit when I was a kid. The location we went to on our to our Thursday Night Football Game was in Sherman Oaks on Ventura. The place looks like it was one of their first locations, your greeted right away the moment you walk in and everyone is dressed like the 1920's. They have something for everyone's indulgences. I got one of their burgers on grilled sourdough and their crisp fries with a side of ranch. Everything was perfect! I enjoyed every minute of it and I'm sure you will too. read more

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Burgers use to be great but lately they can never cook burgers medium rare. I order burgers from them all the time and end up having to throw them out bc they are well done. They use to be amazing. My favorite burgers and it's so upsetting! read more

Came here today for the first time has a vintage vibe I had scrambled eggs with hashbrown and sausage definitely coming back must come try!!! read more

Mel's Drive-In - Breakfast - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

What an underrated gem! I was here at Mel's while I was waiting for my appointment at the pharmacy next door to open. The first thing I was greeted with was an offer of a cup of coffee. The vibe inside reminds me of an old-school, classic 1950's era diner. That vibe is perfect for reading the newspaper while eating your breakfast in peace and privacy. I ordered a breakfast burrito, and I loved every last bite of it! My server Timmy was outstandingly professional, friendly, and efficient. And at the end of it all, my bill came up to $29.17 before tip. I will definitely be coming back when I am in the area/have money to spare. Thank you! read more

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Well, I love that they save old Googie style buildings but wow, Mel's sucks. Had some sort of Southwest chicken salad. It was so basic. They didn't want to fry up more tortilla strips so they left them out, hoping we wouldn't notice. It was barebones. Didn't have any of the goodies that make up a good Southwest salad. Windows were dirty, employees were glum. This place is on extreme auto-pilot. They just don't care at all. And guess what we paid for two salads and a Diet Coke? Sixty bucks! Never again. So sad. read more

Stopped into Mel's for the first time in a very long time. I used to live around the corner and would eat here at least once a week, so you can understand that I eventually OD'd on it -- but I'm happy to report that it's still a top notch, old school coffee shop type place that's very much worth a visit... especially if it's been a minute. Despite being about 30 years old, the interior still shines. Everything is clean, and all the fixtures, from the booths to the retro chrome accessories, are all very well maintained. The staff is friendly and attentive, as they always have been, and it's still a perfect spot for families. The only thing noticeably changed is that the longtime manager now has gray hair I ordered a simple breakfast sandwich of bacon, eggs and cheese, which comes on lightly grilled bread with a side of potatoes. They do offer the ubiquitous hash browns, but I opted for the house-made "home fries" with peppers and onions because so few places serve them, and those that do rarely make them from scratch. As always, the potatoes are nicely seasoned and properly cooked, with crispy edges and a slightly psweet caramelization on the veggies. Just a touch of ketchup and you might as well be eating at an East coast diner circa 1972. As I was sitting at the counter, I got to see plenty of other breakfast items going by, from pancakes and French toast loaded with fruits and Nutella, to a generous platter of biscuits and gravy alongside sausage and eggs. There really is something for everyone on the menu, which has a nice variety of items for each type of meal without going overboard -- so many places now have a menu with pages and pages of options, and you know they can't possibly do all of it well. Mel's keeps things interesting while also keeping things real, and the result is it's just a nice place to have a tasty and satisfying meal. read more

Mel's Drive-In - The Rise And Shine Sandwhich - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

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The service was amazing on this fine sunday . They really checked out for other people and when a guest wasn't happy with their seat they made sure they were satisfied. The manager was looking out for others chris was great, we Had an amazing time catching up with the best friend. I really enjoyed her company and the waitresses pretty nails but I forgot their name I should have asked for the receipt but anyways I know now, they really explained the menu to me because I got confused. And they asked if I wanted a box which was so thoughtful and to go for my endless iced coffee read more

Mel's Drive-In - Avocado toast - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

We live a few blocks away and have come in a few times over the years. The food is fine. Nothing great, nothing terrible. Service is also good, but nothing remarkable. Staff is friendly, but seems uninterested and like they are going through the motions of a job. The disappointing thing is the price. The food is just too expensive for diner food. The ambiance doesn't justify the cost and there are other "diner" or "breakfast" type establishments in the area that offer better food for better prices. Yes, I will probably come back to Mel's on occasion for convenience. If it weren't close by, I would not drive out of my way for a visit. read more

Sausage Links = Amazing Biscuits & Gravy = Delicious, but the gravy was slightly cold. All in all, enjoyable and yummy. Can't wait to come back to try something else. Customer service was great and the waiter was honest about the good, the bad and the amazing Update: LANA DEL REY MILKSHAKE!!!! Oh my food-gasmmm! read more

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Met my brother for lunch at the iconic Mel's diner. He had a heaping tuna salad. I had grilled cheese with bacon and a side of fries. He loved his tuna. I enjoyed my perfectly cooked grilled cheese. The julienne fries were golden brown and complimented the Heinz Ketchup. (Yes, I love fries with my Heinz ketchup, not the other way around.) Next, the service from Sara and Chris was spot on. Lastly, the decor reflected an earlier time from the 50's. Neato! read more

Mel's Drive-In - My Grilled Cheese with Fries - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

Great food, great service, been going here since I was a kid (born 2001), and it's always felt like a family. Even went to the preschool behind Mel's, where my mother worked as a teacher. Great experiences here and it has the best diner environment ever! read more

Had a roast beef sandwich that had less taste than an Insane Clown Posse fan. The wings were solid though, ordered it twice. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Buffalo wings - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

Always a solid meal and atmosphere. Great hosts, and service, ordered Turkey dinner which was succulent and the stuffing was moist and tender. Great drinks. Great for kids or group. Bring your quarters for music! read more

A classic. Been dining here as long as I can remember... they still have working jukeboxes on many of the tables, and the food is exactly the same as when I started coming here, some things never change (and that's a good thing)! They do update the menu, don't get me wrong, but if you're coming to Mel's and not getting a burger and fries, are you sure you are making the best use of your time? Nothing beats a Melburger with fries! They have great vegetarian options too so if you've got relatives in town or a veggie in your party, Mel's is a crowd pleaser, they have a black bean burger that is delicious! Surprisingly, for us, the standout menu item is their Apple Pie! They have the best apple pie this side of the hill... one of the things that keeps us coming back is that wonderful dessert! There is a small lot, and also street parking with meters and without. Table service and a counter, with very friendly staff. A great place to take the family for lunch, dinner, or breakfast! read more

Don't believe the 3.4 average! I've been coming here for almost 10 years and the upkeep is great! Tables, windows, etc look great and up to date. Speaking of up-to-date, their menu is with the times. They have the classics of course but they also have options for folks who have restrictive diets with gluten free/vegan options HUGE plus. The burgers and shakes - out of this world. They even are willing to make some custom soda mixes. Super friendly staff 100% worth the visit. read more

1st time eating here, and it was fantastic! Upon entering we were greeted by all the staff, it was fairly empty so we were able to choose what booth we wanted to sit at. Each booth has its own mini jukebox! Our server Dalia was amazing. For a simple breakfast the items were steaming hot and delicious. Veggies in the omelette were so fresh, and the omelette was STUFFED! The eggs on the avocado toast were poached perfectly. Not too runny but just runny enough. They offer a jr version of the avocado toast which is great for those who don't want too much to eat. Coffee was strong and Dalia was very tentative to ask for refills with a hot and freshly brewed pot. Definitely recommend between 9-10am. Fair warning the parking is small, so it does get a bit crazy during peak times. read more

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I ate here just the other night with my girlfriend and ordered a patty-melt with fries, side of chili and an oreo milkshake. On the positive side, the service was great as well was the ambiance - has a cool 50s classic vibe. The negative, food was completely over priced and very bland tasting. My patty-melt looked amazing but had zero flavor, like really, ZERO. The fries were very mid as well. My girls shake was not thick as advertised and was served watery. The chili was decent but expensive for just a cup. This place has tons of potential and that starts with serving flavorful food at about 30% cheaper. read more

I love almost everything about this place! The Sherman Oaks location specifically has always had the best service and food of the Mel's I've been to and obviously the music rules. I'm leaving this review not only to sing the praises of the staff but unfortunately also to voice a complaint, not about the staff, service or food but a situation that arose unexpectedly wherein a group of people entered the restaurant in a very loud, obnoxious manner wearing costumes (not a big deal,) brandishing cameras with professional level lights without permission from anyone- doing a live stream for social media. Profoundly rude and a violation of everyone else's rights who did not consent to be filmed or broadcast. It caught everyone off guard and the poor staff did not know how to handle this as it was the first time it had happened. My partner and I happened to be in view of the cameras which made our experience quite uncomfortable as we did not wish to be filmed while trying to enjoy our date. Not to mention the noise these people were making. So this invasion/disruption unfortunately had a negative impact on our experience and my hope is that there will be some kind of policy to prevent this kind of thing happening again. read more

A very cozy place; the style and interior will transport you back in time. The food is delicious, the service is excellent. Located on Ventura Street, parking is available read more

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I know that a quick lunch isn't supposed to be particularly memorable for the food, however this one was. I sat at the counter and ordered a medium - rare French dip sandwich without cheese. After a considerable wait out came the sandwich with a few slices of light grey beef on a very soggy bun. I remarked that this didn't look very medium rare. The waitress shrugged, left and I never saw her again. I was too late to order anything else or send it back so reluctantly I ate most of it. I can't say it was repulsive, as it actually tasted of nothing except stale garlic, which was probably in the jus, but who can say. I've been to this Mel's once before, years ago, and don't remember the food being much good but this meal will stay with me - ensuring that I'll never make the mistake of going back there again. read more

Mel's Drive-In is the perfect spot for a classic American diner experience! Their brunch is delicious, with fresh produce and perfectly cooked eggs. The juices and smoothies are fresh and yummy. I could feel the strong ginger in one of them. I saw a lot of family dining here. A great spot for brunch with family and friends! Parking in the back although space is quite limited. read more

Mel's Drive-In - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

I love love love Mel's Drive-In! Everything is spic and span. The 50's decor is authentic and first rate. The best, I meant the very best Corned Beef Hash in L.A. It's crisp, crunchy and umm, umm delicious. Their vegan Cookies and Cream shake is so darn good! I eat it slowly and savor every spoonful! No better service, the most attentive and friendly waiters and waitresses. They are the best! The prices are reasonable. It is my favorite breakfast place. read more

This spot has a fun 50s diner vibe and serves classic American dishes. I placed a to-go order for lunch today, and honestly I was pretty disappointed. I ordered the short rib sandwich with onion rings, the Hollywood Smash Burger, short rib fries, and an Oreo shake. The short rib had an odd taste and texture and ended up being dry. The onion rings, on the other hand, were crispy and flavorful. The burger was well seasoned and was probably the highlight of the meal. But, the side of fries that came with it were soggy. The short rib fries were the saving grace of the entire order. I actually enjoyed those more than any of the main items. The Oreo shake was just okay... nothing special. I expected more quality and quantity for an $11 shake. Spending $70 for this meal, especially with mid portions and mostly bland flavors, makes it hard to justify coming back. Customer service was fast and friendly, which I appreciated, but overall, I don't think I'll be returning. read more

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Food is delicious and flavorful, the server was nice and friendly will definitely stop by again. read more

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Wow. The service has been on a steep decline. First, they inflated the charge on my credit card. NOT the amount I signed for and gave themselves a bigger tip. The manager's answer was...we enter them manually. Not a good excuse. Do better. This is illegal. Then, the next time I came in the food wasn't prepared correctly. I spoke with the manager who corrected it but he seemed irritated and the cook that made it was laughing and gossipy. This place charges enough for the food to be decent. It fails every time. The menu ins extraordinarily basic. And each time I eat here, I see employees eating at the counter. Instead of waiting on tables they are filling their mouths. Is the owner aware of this ? read more

Have you been to this iconic retro diner? Mel's Drive-in has been serving up American classics with a modern twist since 1947. They've got everything from breakfast to burgers, shakes and even fresh juices. We loved the old school vibes and the staff was incredibly friendly! Everything we ordered --Loaded Short Rib Fries --Albacore Tuna Salad Sandwich w/ Macaroni & Cheese --Slider Trio (angus beef, short rib, goat cheese & turkey) w/ Onion Rings --Vegan Cookies & Cream Milkshake --Lana Del Rey Shake read more

We were a little disappointed to find this place isn't a drive-in but rather a sit down restaurant. Parking is limited and very tight. The food was delicious and the milkshake was yummy. Prices are a little high for a burger ($18.60). Wait staff were very nice and helped us as soon as we sat down. read more

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Backstory: Stuck on 405 merging onto 101 and became hungry. So decided to search what's nearby and Mel's drive in got my attention. There is parking behind the diner but very tight. Luckily we found a spot. The place was busy on a Saturday afternoon, however we were seated right away. Probably because it was 1:30PM? Staffs were amazing. Our server was Sara. She was the best and very accommodative. Food wise nothing much to say. We ordered tuna sandwich with sweet potato fries ($2 extra) and charboiled chicken taco salad. I did not not like the taco salad.. too much black beans and stale greens and chicken was not charboiled but just boiled chicken cubes. Perhaps if I tried something else from their menu could have been better. Oh I also noticed that they have an Arnold section loaded with protein portions. Check it out =) read more

What I Ordered: Mel's Patty Melt ($20.75) Albacore Tuna Melt ($18) Debbie's Chili Fries ($16) Mel's Onion Rings & Fries Combo ($8.50) Fresh Banana Milkshake ($10.25) Food: I started off with the Debbie's Chili Fries, which I was pleasantly surprised with. The quality of chili was great with pieces of meat and whole beans with onions and cheese on top of crispy fries. I think that having great fries is so important in a good chili fries, and this place had fresh and crispy fries. My personal favorite has to be the Mel's Patty Melt. Apparently it was voted the best patty melt by the LA times, and I was wondering if it would actually be that good. With my first bite, the thick and juicy meat patty filled my mouth with an aroma of beef so pleasant that made me understand immediately why this won the award for best patty melt. I love dishes that have great harmony, and this was it. The thick patty of beef served medium, melted swiss cheese, grilled onions, and thousand island sauce all complemented each other to create the perfect bite. For my sides I got the onion rings and fries combo, and I do like that they allow you to order a mix of both. I LOVE my fries, but sometimes an onion ring really hits the spot. I finished off with a fresh banana milkshake, and I could tell that the milkshake was made with real fresh bananas instead of using syrup like other spots.  Service: All of the staff members were quick and friendly! Ambiance: This restaurant has been around for since the 1900s, and it definitely still has the vibes of that time period. They have a jukebox, antique style tables, servers all in uniform, it made me feel like I stepped into the past and loved it! read more

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