This is my favorite Mel's Diner. Avoid the one at Universal Studios theme park. It's awful. The staff at the Sherman Oaks location are terrific. They always remember you and welcome you in like family. The shakes, burgers, fries and all the breakfast is delicious. Fun for the entire family and great atmosphere. This is my go to in my neighborhood for breakfast or a nice dessert or quick coffee break. read more

Several things come to mind. This was my first visit. I always look at cleanliness. This place needs a deep deep clean. And, I'll circle back to the second to last photo. I had a dirty fork, asked for a clean one, immediately received, with an apology. The salt shaker has food on it. I guess I don't need salt. Underneath the music selector box(es), someone needs to clean there too. Under mine, were crumbs and tidbits of dust and such. The table next to us, has a balled up piece of paper. :( We ordered, about 15 mins later we received our food. I got handed my toast with either my husband's or my son's gravy under the toast plate (he explained that it probably dipped into one of their plates) and now gravy on three of my fingers. (I had this once happen to me from another restaurant where it was avocado and none of us ordered avocado.) So I'm traumatized with how food is served to me, like in a "were the dishes washed" aspect. This accident happened luckily in front of our server. He changed/cleaned my toast plate then gave me back my toast. We all had coffee. Coffee service was above and beyond and always topped off. Food was very nice and exactly as requested. This place is very expensive. You might think, it's comparable! I say it is not. I believe it's slightly above, where adding a side of meat, was 5.49 (which I refused to do) and for the money people are spending there, they should be "spotless clean". That's my take and my rating averages 3 stars, with the clean being a one star. They can do better with all the worker bodies moving around. This appears to be pure laziness. read more

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I've been going here off and on for the past 5 years, and Mel's has been consistent every time. Their pesto melt is immaculate, though I recently tried the creole chicken which was quite immaculate in its own way. The service has always been friendly and attentive, though it gets ever so slightly disorganized when busy - though that is to be expected. What stands out to me most about Mel's above all, though, is the time travel that occurs upon entering - you truly do feel as though you entered a diner from a bygone, modern tech-free era. There are actual jukeboxes that WORK (bring quarters) and the interior design is tended to with care. The food and MILKSHAKES are incredible and you truly feel special walking in. Come here by yourself, with friends, with your partner... anyone. Just experience Mel's for the space it is. read more

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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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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Food was decent but very expensive for a diner. I would have been better off eating at a steakhouse. Staff were good. read more

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Had breakfast here and the experience was not great. To start, the host is doing multiple jobs taking people's orders and ringing people up but I noticed at one point he was taking cash from people and handling food with those same hands--big no-no in food safety standards. To top it off our meals were nothing special but still pretty pricey. It feels like this place uses everything from the Sysco truck and nothing is freshly made. The worst part was having to pay $17 for two orange juices! That was insane to me. Not going back. read more

Mel's Drive-In - I'm sorry, $17 for two orange juices?!! - Diners Near Me - Sherman Oaks, California

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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I took my Dad out for breakfast yesterday morning and this was my first time at this particular Mel's Dinner. And, let me tell you, I was impressed! Also working in the service industry, I could tell that the place is ran well. We walked in and right away were greeted. We sat down and not even a minute later water was brought to the table. Food was not only delicious and arrived quickly, coffee never ran out. Our server Jessica was phenomenal! The place is clean which is always a good sign. I will definitely go back! 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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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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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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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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I really love the experience at Mel's. Very nostalgic for me. I had the tuna melt. It was cooked well. However the tuna itself had some kind of leafy thing in it just made it really not good. Keep the tuna simple. read more

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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Mel's Drive-In just isn't what it used to be. The prices are really high now, and unfortunately the food didn't live up to the cost. It was more disappointing than satisfying read more

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

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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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

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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We visited with family on June 28th and were very pleased with our first (and hopefully, not last) visit. The food was delicious - Mel's Bomb burrito was so good, the fried eggs with avocado toast, coffee - all were so good. What made the experience over the top was the service from Chris R. What a fantastic server - so friendly, welcoming and great service! read more

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

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

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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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

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

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

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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This location needs to work on their customer service! Or clear house and hire some new ppl! Came in today around 6:25pm Host was extremely rude didn't greet me then sounded irritated like I was bothering her when she said my DoorDash order which was a simple order!! Mozzarella sticks that a small a** f***** would take 2 mins and 5 min passes. No one even acknowledged me. I can't stand ppl who get so mad at having to do their job just a waste smh read more

Took my family here for dinner since they love Diners. It was super busy, service kept forgetting parts of our order. Food was good. Place was nostalgic, love the history that comes along with places this. It's very small so space was very limited. read more

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

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

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

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

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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