Cancel

    Open app

    Search

    Mel's Kitchen

    3.6 (321 reviews)
    Open 6:30 am - 11:00 pm

    Order Mel's Kitchen Takeout or Delivery

    Mel's Kitchen Photos

    MEL'S KITCHEN ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Happy hour specials
    Good for kids

    You might also consider

    More like Mel's Kitchen

    Recommended Reviews - Mel's Kitchen

    Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
    Yelp app icon
    Browse more easily on the app
    Review Feed Illustration

    Reviews With Photos

    Menu
    Danielle B.

    This is a San Francisco diner, staple with quick service lots of variety. I got the Caesar salad with salmon. I would say the Caesar salad was quite drenched in dressing, so maybe get it on the side if you're not into that and the salmon unfortunately was cooked as if they put a hamburger press on it and very well done. I probably sick to something more like the breakfast or burgers and fries next time the place itself was clean inviting, and the staff were very attentive.

    Hope D.

    I had a wonderful experience here given it is alike a diner. I came late night around 11pm. The staff were so kind and accommodating. The drinks and the food were delicious. We had breakfast for dinner, steak, and a slider with fries. The vibes are somewhat rustic but very modern, which gives it that clean feel. I will be back.

    Clam Chowder Sourdough Bowl
    Julia L.

    Came here 09/13/25 at around 3 pm. Inside was quite nice and spacious. Since it's not dinner time, there were plenty of seats. Friendly staff. Ordered a clam chowder bowl w bread bowl ($13.95). Very creamy clam chowder. The bread wasn't sour enough but overall a good pick. -0.5 The chicken Caesar avocado wrap ($~19) was quite disappointing. The fries were good but ... The dressing was overwhelming and the chicken was slighly dry. And the most important avocado was nowhere to be seen? They either mixed into the sauce or it was chopped into super tiny slices because.... yeah. I couldn't find it. -1.5 Overall, it was an OK place to sit down and dine. Very spacious and a corner spot w pleanty of sunlight. But... it didn't wow me.

    Onion ring Fries combo- Seriously one of the best fries!
    Karen T.

    I came for a snack, fries and onion rings combo with a iris coffee. I wasn't expecting anything amazing just something to hold me over until dinner. I wasn't expecting anything blown away! They made perfectly crispy delicious French fries, seriously one of the best I've had in a long time! And onion rings were so good, I think it's Vidalia onions . My iris coffee kept me warm, service was great! Those fries could be on a fancy restaurant's menu for double the price!

    Penguin Shake (vanilla and chocolate mix)
    Ronni T.

    Food was very good here as well as the service. The servers are attentive and quick to serve. Arrived and checked in to our hotel early. Got hungry and decided to check out this 50s diner. It was a franchise for Mels drive in. I've been to Mels before but this one felt more cozy and homey. I ordered the mel burger since I was craving a burger and my boyfriend ordered the chicken steak dinner. The food was tasty. No complaints at all. Shakes are very good too. We got the penguin shake and split it. Definitely a good meal to unwind for the day! Will be back!

    French Dip
    Lisa A.

    Had to come back for the French dip again! I guess you can say I'm a-dip-ted haha I also ordered their Santa Fe salad because I have to be a little bit healthy ....i guess. Salad was delicious and fresh that I didn't even need dressing for it. The service was slower than usual that day but they're forgiven because the manager gave me a slice of chocolate cake for the wait! Still 5 stars in my book!

    Abel A.

    Service was slow but staff was courteous. Burger was ok with decent flavor but over-cooked for my liking. Restaurant was clean.

    Variety Platter
    Nicole D.

    Very convenient to the hotel I stayed which helped with each morning for breakfast! It is on a busy street so I think if you are staying within walking distance it's a perfect spot. The staff was very friendly and greeted you when you came in and also wished you a good night at the end of your meal. The history of this place is amazing and I encourage you to read about them. The coffee was amazing and strong! I looked forward to drinking it each morning. The food was great also. They have a manageable menu with the diner must-haves that made each meal great for us. French toast and pancakes were so good. Their turkey bacon was nicely cooked too. They also have milkshakes and alcohol. My husband likee their club sandwich and it was a good portion. Their apple pie was so good, you tasted all of the ingredients. Your one stop shop! When I visit again, this place is my go to. You do have to deal with homeless sleeping on the street which is very inviting fortunate but that was only one day so we didn't sit by the window. It's a clean location and very nice decor like a diner should be. Prices are reasonable. Looking forward to coming back.

    Carlene W.

    A no-frills diner that hits the spot in terms of breakfast, but wasn't much to write home about otherwise. It's convenient, especially for those staying at the attached hotel, but there's better out there of course. We still went twice in our week stay, appreciating the quick service, mimosas, and ease of access when we had plans coming up.

    Solomon C.

    The best corned beef hash I have had to date. But to be honest I have only been to 4 or 5 spots that didn't just open a can and say presto corned beef. With that said its the best on a short list but dang it was sooooo good. My o ly real.grip is portion size and thats just me. 6/5 on flavor. The waiter was good and the place was nice and cozy on the inside. The location across the street from the hospital is a definite plus.

    Breakfast sausage and eggs.
    Pablo R.

    It's a very convenient restaurant because of its location and business hours. The place is very clean, and service is fairly effective. However, nothing about their food is particularly special or unique. For instance, last time I ate there the potatoes weren't fully cooked and very unappetizing. That's been my only real "bad experience". I've walked in for breakfast three times so far.

    *Albacore Tuna Sandwich
    Felinn A.

    Good spot to grab dinner before a show. We were a block away from the great American music hall and decided to check this out for dinner. No crazy thrills but easy American diner food serving breakfast and other classics. Tried the albacore tuna sandwich and it was tasty! Crispy bread, melty cheese and yummy tuna filling. On the pricier side but makes sense being in SF. Service was easy, nice and clean inside especially their bathrooms. Good experience overall for a very casual dinner out.

    Buttermilk Pancakes
    Cauê H.

    Stopped by this spot for breakfast and had a good experience. The place has a really nice vibe and the ambiance is great. The staff was friendly and polite, which made the visit even better. The food was tasty -- nothing over the top, but well prepared and it definitely hit the spot. Overall, it was a positive experience and a solid choice if you're looking for a nice breakfast in the area. (Little bit expensive)

    Huevos Rancheros with chicken

    See all

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Tiffany D.
    3307
    2993
    11316

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Armando R.

    Armando R.

    Helpful 7
    Thanks 0
    Love this 6
    Oh no 1

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Miami S.
    158
    297
    34

    9 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    10 months ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Carl S.
    70
    32
    6

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Armando R.

    Armando R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Armando R.

    Armando R.

    Thanks for your kind words, we appreciate the love.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    9 months ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 1

    4 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Armando R.

    Armando R.

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 0
    Love this 3
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Zill K.
    0
    48
    99

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 2
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Armando R.

    Armando R.

    Thank you very much for your review!

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    11 months ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 4
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Armando R.

    Armando R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1
    Photo of Lisa G.
    0
    20
    28

    1 year ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Business owner information

    Photo of Armando R.

    Armando R.

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 1
    Oh no 1

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    3 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jordan M.
    96
    21
    20

    3 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    2 years ago

    Helpful 1
    Thanks 1
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0
    Photo of Jeep R.
    0
    150
    45

    4 years ago

    Helpful 0
    Thanks 0
    Love this 0
    Oh no 0

    5 years ago

    Helpful 3
    Thanks 1
    Love this 2
    Oh no 0

    4 years ago

    Helpful 2
    Thanks 1
    Love this 1
    Oh no 0

    Page 2 of 9

    Mel's Kitchen Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Mel's Kitchen

    You might also consider

    Mel's Drive-In

    Mel's Drive-In

    3.4
    (2.9k reviews)
    0.9 mi
    $$

    Mel's Drive-In is a fun, nostalgic spot that's definitely worth visiting--especially if you enjoy…read morethat classic retro diner vibe. The atmosphere really stands out, with a cool 50s theme that makes the whole experience feel unique and memorable. The burger was the highlight of the meal--juicy, flavorful, and cooked just right. It's exactly what you'd hope for from a place like this. The fries were decent, but nothing special--good enough, just not as standout as the burger. The cheese sticks were tasty and cooked well, but at around $18, they felt a bit overpriced for what you get. The restaurant was clean, and the staff were friendly and kept things moving smoothly. Overall, it's a great place to visit for the experience, solid food, and fun atmosphere. Not perfect across the board, but definitely a spot I'd recommend checking out at least once if you're in San Francisco.

    I remember this place being significantly better. We came after a late night Giants game because…read morenothing is better than good ole fashioned diner food. Greasy, salty and fatty. Here's what we got: 1. Banana milkshake 10/10 2. Coke float 10/10 3. Beef dip 2/10 4. Smash burger 6/10 Service was still great! There was only one server and the place started to get pretty packed so that's the good news. Also, forgot how nostalgic it is at a diner and one that still has a juke box. Come for the vibes and milkshakes.

    Photos
    Inside the diner
    Inside the diner
    Chilli cheese dog
    Chilli cheese dog
    Brunch in SF

    See all

    Brunch in SF
    Mel's Drive-In

    Mel's Drive-In

    3.2
    (1.2k reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    America turns 250 years old this 4th of July which is this week. The party people will be…read morecelebrating Americas birthday but also 250 years of San Francisco. Wandering around San Francisco you will see what the new America has built which is prosperity as a country of immigrants from all around the world. One thing I enjoy is diversity but also unity among fellow Americans. There is a love and dislike relationship among Americans towards the United States. It is like bad mouthing and a dislike towards a family member or a lover at times when in the end they will still reunite and still have love for one another. Nothing shows the United States uniting with others like the World Cup soccer. The world shows its appreciation towards American food. Nothing is more American in the world as Burger and fries. There is a place which been serving the American classics like cheese burger and fries in SF for almost 80 years along with milkshakes and it's called Mel's Drive-In. Walking on Geary Boulevard in San Francisco I saw a rare site these days . I saw a big United States flag waving in the sky and the sun shining on it in front of a restaurant. Then I saw over ten American flags in front of the restaurant. It seemed like I went back in time. Inside it's an old school diner with jukeboxes and pictures of George Lucas directing the movie American Graffiti. Mel's Drive-In started 80 years on South Van Ness Avenue in San Francisco. I was in the mood for an American meal and I got Mel's Burger with fries . The burger was tasty and a bit cheesy and the fries were not too salty like some in SF. I got the butterscotch milkshake and it was tasty with a cherry on top. A great place to get a taste of Americana. San Francisco is the city In was born and still "dwell" a place for protest you can hear the screams and see those who "yell " but it's the freedom of speech from the Golden Bridge to the "Freedom Bell" like you have the freedom you get a cheeseburger and a milkshake with the cherry on top at a drive -in named "Mel" Nothing is more American than a milkshake , cheeseburger, and "fries"while watching the flag wave on Geary Boulevard in the sun in clear blue "skies" some in this country who are proud are looked upon as "Americanize"but I look at each other with the lens of unity and freedom with my own "American eyes "

    I want to drop Mel's at least a star, but I gave it two stars when I first reviewed it, and it…read morewould be dishonest of me to pretend that it has remained at two stars all these years, because I've come here occasionally in the intervening years and have mostly enjoyed myself. So it might have rated three stars before this past April. What happened in April? Well, I don't know whether it actually occurred in April, but in April, I noticed that Mel's very prominently advertises on its menu that it fries its fried foods in beef tallow. That means I can't eat French fries or onion rings from here, because they're needlessly not vegetarian. And while I'm not the most healthy person out there, I do notice when things probably aren't vegetarian. In short, I'm pretty sure this is a change, because I would have noticed this a long time ago and ordered accordingly. So why did Mel's make this change? Probably because its owners are MAHA people, and RFJ, Jr., and a bunch of other clueless people believe that seed oils are deadly. But even if you believe seed oils are deadly, there are other non-seed oils that aren't sourced from dead animals. I only noticed because it's printed on the menu, so it's not like Mel's is trying to hide this change--on the contrary, I think they really believe using beef tallow is a selling point. Except that there are expressly vegetarian items on the menu, including a veggie burger. Non-beef fries aren't even an option? Really? I must issue a GRATUITOUS MEAT ALERT. Other things annoy me about Mel's too. It's not open late enough. They do that stupid thing where they charge you a hidden fee to pay either their workers' salaries or for their health insurance. A Bunch of SF restaurants do this same thing; it's false advertising, and it should be illegal. Build the cost of doing business into your actual prices. It's not as if the restaurant is paying these fees; we customers are. Finally, the service has been atrocious the last two times I came here. If you don't have enough servers to offer good service, do not seat people. That's the time-tested solution. Seating people without enough help just makes everyone angry. This isn't a one-star review, because Mel's is useful in a late-night bind and has a parking lot. If more places in San Francisco were open late or at least until ten p.m., Mel's would probably only warrant one star. Still, I can't see coming here anytime soon, especially after such recent bad service. It's also really expensive, even pre-hidden fee.

    Photos
    What a lineup.
    What a lineup.
    Braised short rib dinner,
    Braised short rib dinner,
    Breakfast burrito

    See all

    Breakfast burrito
    Breakfast at Tiffany's

    Breakfast at Tiffany's

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I've never been to a restaurant that serves three eggs Benedict in one order, so that alone was…read moreimpressive! The food was absolutely amazing, and the service made the experience even better. We came on a weekday morning, and it was nice and calm. The woman who helped us, I believe her name was Tiffany, was incredible.. so welcoming, attentive, and kind. The location is also great and adds to the overall atmosphere. Everything about this place exceeded expectations, and I'll definitely be coming back much more often.

    We came here yesterday for brunch. It took us awhile to find a parking. San Bruno Ave was very…read morebusy, like a small Chinatown area. So be prepared to make a few rounds around the residential area to find parking. Glad we were here early as I heard that the line is usually long. A lady greeted us at the restaurant, very friendly and seated us right away. Cute small restaurant. Love the old photos of SF in the olden days . We ordered the San Bruno florentine Benedict and Western omelette. Before you order, know that the portions are huge! All the Benedict's comes with 3 poached eggs on an English muffin with hash brown or tater tots with your choice of stuffings. It was very rich, heavy breakfast and delicious! The mushroom and spinach with the sausage was savory. I love how the egg yolks just falls apart everywhere when you cut it in the middle. The hollandaise sauce was just the right amount. It was very filling. The omelette was like a calzone. They stuffed that omelette with so much filling that my hubby was loving it!!! He said it was full of flavors and all the stuffings were soo delicious he could not stop eating. Halfway to his omelette you can tell he was full but he was a trooper and almost finished everything. lol. Anyway, we left the restaurant overly stuffed but happy!!! We should have stopped eating when our tummy told us to stop, but it was delicious and fresh so we kept digging in. That was a mistake, lol. This place by far is one of the best breakfast place I've been to. Come hungry. Will be back!

    Photos
    Mimosa
    Mimosa
    Croissant French Toast
    Croissant French Toast
    Nice mug

    See all

    Nice mug
    St. Francis Fountain

    St. Francis Fountain

    4.0
    (1.3k reviews)
    2.4 mi
    $$

    The Mission District is home to some legacy businesses. You will see devoted patrons going to their…read morefavorite stores , bars, and restaurants over the years and they still are standing. In San Francisco alone there are a few places which been around for over 100 of years. There is a place which has been a Mission District neighborhood staple for over 100 years . It's a great place to cool out on a sunny day. They serve one of the best pancakes in San Francisco and is located on 24th streets. Its namesake is San Francisco is English and it's called St. Francis Fountain. On the last few days left of a Spring 2026 stroll I landed in St. Francis Fountain. Inside you will feel the nostalgia as you will see tables and booths and also an ice cream bar which serves ice cream sundaes with a cherry on top and classic milkshakes. I got the vanilla milkshake and it was tasty and a bit sweet. I then had to try the buttermilk pancakes. It was savory and buttery and the syrup made all delicious. This store also has some nostalgia selling trading cards like the garbage pail kids in SF. Overall a good vintage classic soda fountain in SF. Come here once you are "awake"where they "make" a delicious buttermilk "pancake"and you can wash it down with a strawberry or vanilla "milkshake" Come get the pancake after it's made with a delicious "batter"and get a breakfast or lunch "platter "and enjoy a good yap another words a good "chatter "at a place in SF where for over 100 years the Mission neighborhood still "gather"

    St Francis Fountain is a legacy business, the oldest on 24th street, and there's a reason why…read morethey've been around serving up some of the best diner food in SF since 1918!!! I stopped by for breakfast early on Saturday. There's the main restaurant with tables and bar seating, and they have the restaurant space next door with even more tables. Apparently at peak brunch time, the whole space is packed even the outdoor seating. The whole time our service was fantastic, it wasn't super busy so they were also able to give us a little history about Saint Francis fountain and the building. The space has that classic diner decor, fresh pothos cuttings at every table, I felt the good energy. The coffee was good, no frills diner coffee. We ordered the chef's mess side of banana bread (the warm it up straight on the grill), biscuits and gravy with poached eggs, and the sourdough French toast with banana walnut topping. Was this too much food for two people? Of course. When you look at this incredible menu, good luck choosing only 1 thing! The food came out hot and very big portions. The biscuits and gravy were perfect. The gravy was creamy with nice size chunks of sausages, cooked so well, sausage wasn't overcooked. The biscuits were so soft, buttery. The home style spuds were seasoned really well, paired really well with my eggs and biscuits and gravy. I was so happy. The sourdough French toast was so good. The fresh banana topping with walnut and a little butter in one bite, wow!! It was also done so well, sourdough wasn't mushy at all. My partner enjoyed their chef's mess. It was seasoned well, cooked well, and the mushrooms in it were great! Overall, this is a very memorable breakfast for me. I can't wait to go back to try more on the menu. They had so many good options in the quality of food was fantastic. I think this is generally one of my favorite spots in the city for a classic diner breakfast.

    Photos
    A view from our booth to the opposite side wall in the back.
    A view from our booth to the opposite side wall in the back.
    The Chef's Mess. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and delicious.
    The Chef's Mess. Eggs, bacon, potatoes, tomatoes, onions, peppers and delicious.
    Persephone

    See all

    Persephone

    Mel's Kitchen - tradamerican - Updated July 2026

    Loading...
    Loading...
    Loading...