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    Mel's Hot Dogs

    4.0 (416 reviews)
    ModerateHot Dogs, Fast Food
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated over 3 months ago

    Order Mel's Hot Dogs Takeout or Delivery

    Mel's Hot Dogs Photos

    Business Info

    MEL'S HOT DOGS ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Classy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Mel's Hot Dogs

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    Reviews With Photos

    Mel's dining frt counter
    Julie W.

    The very best hot dog on the planet! Ive been bringing my friends and family here since the first day and alot of Tampa people can say that too! Theyre doing a customer appreciation day May 25th so come in for cool free goodies and of course a Mighty Mel Hot Dog!

    Chili Dog, Large Onion Rings, and a Mighty Mel with a Modelo.
    Melvin B.

    Okay I heard this place was an institution so after an event decided to drop in and give it a try. The picture below shows what I ordered with a description. The service is fast. You go up order and in less than 5 minutes my order was out. They do not play. The parking lot is small so when it is crowded well you know. The staff is friendly but no nonsense. Love it. The seating area is like a diner with the type of tables, chairs, and booths. The chili on the chili dog was basic not anything to brag about. The onion rings were good but regular. If you're craving dogs this is the spot. But in the end they get 4.2 stars.

    Cheese Fries and Chili Dog
    Lizeth S.

    Good food and quick service. Love coming to Mel's and getting extra cheese on everything! Can't go wrong with a chili cheese dog and cheese fries. Their burgers are pretty tasty too.

    Got fries and a great dog!!!!
    Timo D.

    Green Lacy Amy sphere is nostalgic very clean. Staff is very friendly and the prices are awesome.

    Basic Hotdog mustard relish, ketchup, $7
    Michael N.

    The Hotdog's are meh at best. Very basic extremely overpriced Hotdog. They are all beast, which is a good thing, but I've had better hotdog dogs that were all beef that were cheaper what was upsetting was that they were trying to charge me $1.50 to add cheese on a hotdog totaling $9.00! Talk about price gouging the chili was OK not much flavor. So that's why I'm giving Mel's two star. Service was good. The atmosphere and decor gives me an old school Rout 66 vibe. I think why they're still in businesses because of nostalgia.

    Betty L.

    BLUF, 3.5 stars. First time visit. Service was good. Didn't take too long for my 5 hot dogs to go. We got chicago, chili cheese and Reuben. I had the chicago dog and chili cheese. Thought the Chicago was pretty good. Chili cheese was just alright. My wife, a Chicago native, thought the Chicago and Reuben were good. While I would gladly eat the food here again, I do have trouble justifying the cost compared to a leading chain (Portillos). It was $6.50ish for each and an upcharge on the chili to add cheese so almost $8 since a combo doesn't exist by default. The dog itself felt on the smaller side. If not getting two regulars, I would probably need to opt for the larger, mighty dog option.

    Michael Y.

    Another great visit to Mel's. Got the coleslaw dog and onion rings. Hotdog is always great coleslaw was pretty good was nice on the dog. Onion rings are always some of the best I ever had

    Mel's my way with fries.
    Khadija H.

    I loved the overall vibe of Mel's. It was my first time there but I think they changed their menu based on the wall. I got the Mel's my way and kept it pretty simple with ketchup, mustard, grilled onions and relish. It was a pretty decent hotdog, I would probably say the highlight of the hotdog was the bun. The service was also pretty average and I was able to get in and out.

    Fire Dog
    Felipe P.

    Mel's Hot Dogs 4136 E Busch Blvd, Tampa, FL 33617 @melshotdogs Make sure to come by whenever you are in the Tampa area to enjoy some delicious hot dogs served by the best staff around. Enjoy the best Chicago-style dogs in the Tampa Bay Area . Hot Dogs, Burgers, Onion Rings, Milshakess, you name it, they got it.

    Marley R.

    We've drove past this place numerous times and decided to try it. The inside is a fun diner theme, clean tables with a large menu. Good flavors and the buns were super fluffy. Only downside is the pricing is crazy for hotdogs! We got the "large" hot dog - one Chicago style and other Mel's way. This was just a regular sized hotdog for $7-8 each and fries were an additional cost. Overall tasted just like Portillos which you can get a cheaper price at...but glad we tried it.

    Slaw Dog

    Another tasty lunch at Mel's Hot Dogs! The service is always outstanding which fits right in with the overall atmosphere. They have a variety of hot dogs and sausages, toppings, and hot sandwich options such as burgers and chicken sandwiches- don't skip the donuts for dessert!

    Selin Y.

    Mel's is such a cool experience, you can't go wrong with a good hot dog! I'm personally not the biggest fan of poppy seed buns, but overall, I definitely recommend stopping by for the vibes and the experience. It's a classic spot that's worth a visit!

    Rhonda F.

    Have passed by it near do many times, decided today was the day I was gonna try Mel's. There is an extensive menu with just about every hot dog sandwich under the sun, including vegan choices. Not in the mood for a dog? There is a wide variety of other hot sandwiches to choose from burgers to Reubens. They also offer beer by the bottle and ice cream The staff is super friendly and patient, which is a good thing as you read through the menu selections. I was actually surprised by how clean and neat inside of restaurant was, with naugahyde, booths and steel chrome tables. There was a member of staff in the dining room straightening chairs, wiping tables and refilling condiments the entire time I was there. Hot dogs start at $5, the chili dog was $6.50, plus an additional $6 to make it a combo-large fry and drink. While it wasn't the best dog I've ever eaten, it definitely was mighty tasty. Be careful because every sandwich comes on a poppy seed bun and an order of large fries is enough for two people...at least. One more thing, as I was leaving, the lady that took my order thanked me for stopping by name! Oh yeah, definitely a plus!

    Chicago Style Hot Dog, Ruben Dog, Chili Dog

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    3 months ago

    Awesome Hotdogs and sausages!! Will definitely be back! The service was decent and the ambiance was pretty good!

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    Page 1 of 11

    Ask the Community - Mel's Hot Dogs

    Hi-are your hot dogs and beef from Vienna?

    I don't think so. It's a brand that is used specifically for Chicago Hot Dogs and sausages. The factory is in the outskirts of Chicago Illinois area. All beef with a snap and delicious.

    Any gluten free buns or options?

    Hi Madi! Yes, we have gluten free bun options, just ask! We also have a pickle-bun for those on the Keto diet!

    View All 3 Questions

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    Chicago Paulies

    Chicago Paulies

    4.9
    (274 reviews)
    6.9 mi
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    I've only been to Chicago once, so I am certainly no expert on their local cuisine, but this food…read moretruck situated in a gas station parking lot made the Yelp list of top sandwich spots in the country, so I knew I had to stop by. The first time I came was right after that article, and there were about 50 people in line, so I left. This Saturday I stopped by at around noon, and I was third in line. WARNING: do not be in a rush! Your food is not coming out quickly. Paulie is a sweetheart, but he is a one-man show, and he likes to chat and get to know all his customers. They currently do not carry the full menu they show online, so I went with a Chicago hot dog, and the Italian beef sandwich. Paulie educated me a bit on the sandwich; if I wanted it juicy (with the sauce already on it) or on the side to dip into (yes, please, I'm a dipper), and how spicy I wanted it (more peppers, less peppers). After a nice chat with Paulie about politics, I headed home and dug in. The Chicago hot dog was perfect, although I had to remove the hot peppers. The sandwich was outstanding; the beef so tender, the peppers and onions adding depth, and the roll was so soft-I could only eat half, but the other half heated up nicely for dinner. Can't wait to go back!

    Amazingly authentic and flavorful Chicago food including staples: Chicago dog, Italian beef,…read moreMaxwell Street Polish & crinkle-cut fries. Excellent other choices like a plentiful Pastrami sandwich which can also be made as a Reuben. Friendly service from a real Chicago native & veteran housed in an adjacent building (not a food truck) to a gas station - gives a dive vibe but is great for to-go. This is a lunch only (11a-2p) business 6 days, closed SUN. Very limited outdoor seating and service can be slow because he's mainly a one man show (occasionally has a helper), BUT the deliciousness of the mostly Vienna products are well worth the wait! You can also call ahead for better timed service but that hinges on him not being too busy to answer. Pro Tip food choice: his 'Best of Both Worlds' gets you a Chicago dog & a 5" Italian beef for a sizable discount!

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    Daddy Dawgs Hot Dogs & Ice Cream

    Daddy Dawgs Hot Dogs & Ice Cream

    4.5
    (128 reviews)
    18.1 mi
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    Stopped in for a quick Vienna dog, and great draft root beer at my favorite hotdog shop in…read moreClearwater... I was talking to my friend, Maureen, owner of DD's, and they have a Trump-Biden ice cream special going on, and by popular demand have brought back their New Orleans style beignets... When your in the neighborhood, stop in and say hi to Maureen, and choose which of their great many different brands, and styles of hotdogs that they serve in this great little family run store for you to enjoy... No what political side your on, have one of your favorite parties ice cream specials... In fact a great combo would be to to pair it up with a nice hot order of NOLA style beignets to go with that cold ice cream. I love this place not only for the great food, but also for the super friendly service, and I think you will to, they really go out of their way to make sure you enjoy your meal...

    Great place to get some top quality casual food choices (I realize that's an oxymoron). We came…read morehere with 3 adults and 3 kids to get a good kid friendly lunch. One of the really interesting things about Daddy Dawg's is that they offer several premium brands of hotdogs to choose from (at slightly different prices). This includes Nathan's, Sabrett & Vienna as well as a couple of others. As usual, I had to try several things on the menu. I had the 6" Chicago beef with mild giardiniera (slightly disappointing that they don't offer a hot giardiniera), a Nathan's hotdog with chili & cheese, and a Nathan's hotdog with sauerkraut and mustard. I really liked the flavor of the chili and I was happy that they sauerkraut was hot. Some of the other choices were a foot long hotdog with bacon and cheese, a double cheeseburger and chicken nuggets for 2 of the kids. The French fries seemed just ok, not as good as the other things. As you can see on the menu, they offer a number of other options too. They have hand scooped ice cream as well as several famous ice cream bars from my childhood. All in all, a fun experience and everyone seemed happy with their lunch. The servers were efficient, the food came out fairly quickly and one of our servers was incredibly friendly and helpful. I think the 4 yr old boy in our group had a crush on her. The atmosphere / decor is just ok but it doesn't really detract from the experience. I would definitely come back again.

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    TJ's Hot Dogs

    TJ's Hot Dogs

    3.3
    (26 reviews)
    14.9 mi
    $

    This was not the best dining experience ... but because we were looking for a hot dog we discovered…read morethe Krate -- an amazing venue where they are located. We came inside the small restaurant and perused the menu on the wall. There's only a small counter inside so plan to find a table and eat outside. I ordered their New York dog as a foot long and left off the onion sauce. So basically a longer steamed hot dog with mustard and sauerkraut. Unfortunately, the hot dog was not hot (temperature wise) enough. As I was already seated outside and had returned the french fries -- they were lukewarm-- to be cooked more and to be heated, I wasn't about to go back a third time. I didn't care for their fries as they are the coated type -- not my favorite -- but at least they were hot and fresher the second time around. My husband had their Chicago dog -- which only comes in a regular size (6") version. It had all the toppings on it, but he thought it was just okay, as well. With so much competition in the area, they will need to step up their game. The positives are that the prices were reasonable and that they give a military discount to veterans.

    Before arriving at the Krate we had singled out TJ's for a Hot dog dinner. Nestled in amongst all…read moretypes and cuisines of this food village, we found TJ's. My wife ordered a foot long New Yorker and I had a Chicago dog. The dogs are steamed and are served up pretty fast. We also ate an order of fries which are coated. Our dogs came with soft drinks from the cooler. The hot dogs were just ok and the fries are battered (coated). Now we know.

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    Mel's Hot Dogs - hotdog - Updated June 2026

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