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Melvins'

4.0 (127 reviews)
InexpensiveBurgers, Hot Dogs
Open 7:30 am - 5:30 pm

Melvins' Photos

Business Info

MELVINS' ATMOSPHERE

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

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Recommended Reviews - Melvins'

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Reviews With Photos

April V.

Do yourself a favor and stop by currently, they are open Monday through Saturday 7:30 until 5:30 Amazing hamburger at a wonderful price with a small-town feel. Quick service for an easy in and out or sit-down meal. They offer I ly hamburgers, cheeseburgers, and hot dogs. All the way is considered mustard, onions, chili, and slaw. They serve a variety of chips instead of French fries, Pepsi, products, and tea. They currently have a 99.0 rating.

Cheeseburger all the way
Ayana S.

Had a lot of recommendations to try Melvin's out for their hamburgers as I was vacationing in White lake for the first time. The line wasn't too bad and moved very quickly. It's small and quaint, giving you that local hometown feel. The menu is simple and great prices. This is probably one of the fastest service I've ever seen as the staff were on it. I ordered the cheeseburger all the way and got a homemade sugar cookie. The burger was satisfying. I'll definitely come back and try the hotdog next!

Exterior
John C.

I walked into Melvins' at 9:45am on a Saturday. I shouldn't have been surprised, but there were 15 people in front of me in line, just as many as were waiting outside of the brunch restaurant down the street. The interior is simple. Booths along one wall. Kitchen, restrooms, and cashier on the other. Like the interior, the menu is simple too. Please, for the love of all things holy, read the menu. If you don't see it there, they don't have it. The gentlemen ordering in front of me had a real challenge with that as that rattled off all the things they wanted on their burger (most of which Melvins' didn't serve). Friends, that's not a Melvins' problem. My order was inexpensive and was ready quickly. Instead of taking up a whole booth by myself, I took my hot dog outside and enjoyed sitting on a bench, eating a couple hot dogs, and living in the glory of a Fall day on a busy small town main street. That's livin'! L-I-V-I-N'!

Cheeseburger all the way
Melissa B.

Expect a line, but don't expect to wait long; The line moves fast. No sides really except chips. Homemade desserts (cookies and pound cake). Sweet tea is amazing. Simple menu: cheeseburger, hamburger, hotdog. Minimal toppings but still yummy. Diner style inside.

Ketchup and mustard burger
Jeff B.

A good experience today at Melvin's. 6 burgers ordered. All were delivered the way ordered and hit from the grill. Staff was quick with service and friendly. A good value and quality burger. 99 Health Grade.

What is in the middle?!
Mandy D.

Had I never eaten in NC and visited this place supposedly being on the top 100 Best, I would have been horrified. No. This ain't it. We don't have mayo. Or lettuce. We don't have fries. We have hot dogs & burgers. Mustard, "chilli ", ketchup & onions. Hot dog is boiled, if I had to guess from the one bite. The chili is taco seasoning & water with barely sprinkles of meat. I rarely EVER leave bad reviews but this is literally the WORST hot dog I have ever bitten and What is the white blob in the meat?! You don't order a hot dog expecting a steak...but you don't order a hot dog expecting mystery orbs in it either. And should you find HALF of said mystery orb after you bite it.... My husbands burger was crunchy, no seasoning on a soggy bun. And THEN I see they were named top 100 in 2010. Obviously it is NOT under the same ownership or management that earned that.

Katharine D.

This was a Unique burger place! It had Quick service and good food. I Would definitely stop in again!

Hamburger
Clay N.

5 Stars One of NC's 100 Must Eat's No Frills, straight to the point simple burgers. Some people get hot dogs but the burgers are their bread and butter. Ketchup, mustard, onions, slaw, chili, and hot sauce- these are your toppings options. We make it a point to come to Melvin's every year when we come to White Lake. I wouldn't call them smash burgers but the way the secret blend of meat crisps up on the outside is something I haven't found where I'm from. When you step inside and see the line don't fret. They move customers thru like a machine. Everyone behind the counter has a responsibility so burger and dog production is high. I've heard they only make so many burgers a day so if they run out you are out of luck. The chili for topping the burgers and dogs is homemade as well and is bangin'.

MUST eat here!!

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5 years ago

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

Great local spot with great food , friendly staff at a great price. Happy place for everyone.

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8 years ago

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5 years ago

It is what it is, a great small town institution. No frills no options, but a rally cool old school place I'd definitely go back

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5 years ago

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3 years ago

This is my go-to burger spot! Well, actually it has been my favorite burger spot since the 80's.

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12 years ago

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8 years ago

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6 years ago

This is old school burgers that I crave!!! Sucks that it's cash only but extremely worth it!!! The place loves their military too!!

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3 years ago

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9 years ago

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4 years ago

10/10. One of the best places ever. This is mine & my families go to spot. The burgers & hot dogs are to die for!!!!

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6 years ago

Traveling to Wilmington and stumbled upon this prize. BEST hamburger EVER and so fast!! I will return.

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7 years ago

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Review Highlights - Melvins'

The ingredients are simple, the recipe isn't spectacular, but you can't duplicate a Melvin's burger.

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Cain's Grill

Cain's Grill

4.5
(17 reviews)
10.0 mi
$

Funky little hole in the wall attached to a convenience store with one gas pump without the price…read moreposted, in the middle of nowhere. We were hungry and 'needing relief' so popped in for a bite. Three friendly ladies working the counter took our order. Prices were crazy low compared to the touristy spots we left behind in Myrtle Beach, or any in Los Angeles from where we recently moved. I wanted something a little different, so I ordered a pork chop sandwich. It was literally as the name implies, a pork chop on two pieces of white bread, bones included. I chucked a bit, and dug in. The flavor was good, and it was tender and juicy. The bathroom was another story. Sign said 'get key from store', so went in and asked for the key. Young guy at the counter handed me a ring of about 8 keys, pulled out two of them and said that it was one of these. It was not, nor was any of the others on the ring. I returned and explained, he came back with me and was equally unsuccessful. So he used one of the keys to slide behind the bolt and opened it that way. While I saw no evidence, it was quite foul-smelling, and I hurried about my business and left. I purchased two bottles of water from the lunch counter ($1 each, just like Vegas!), and we headed down the road.

Yes. Dear Lord, can you believe this place exists. It is in literally the middle of nowhere because…read moreit is so far off the main highway. But worth every extra minute. Fried thick bologna sandwich on toasted bread or cheeseburger all the way and you know for sure that you will be back and you will pack an extra stomach. Great service and friendly folks only add to this place.

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Cain's Grill
Cain's Grill
Cain's Grill

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Red's Smoked & Smashed

Red's Smoked & Smashed

4.6
(14 reviews)
23.2 mi

Everything went well!! This place is just awesome! My husband and I both had the Hog Haven for a…read morevery reasonable price . He had the fries I had the onion rings. They were both good but the onion rings to me were the clear winner What to say about that burger? It was so juicy with so much flavor who would think that putting pulled pork on top of a half pound delicious juicy burger would even work with barbecue sauce, but it does!! What a taste sensation and sooooo filling!! Thank you for the special treat!! The service was amazing and friendly. Even though she was very busy handling walk ins like us and many take out orders she was amazingly efficient! The bathrooms were very clean and so was the dining area I loved the table codes above us on the wall. What a nice idea!

I was looking forward to eating some bbq here but was sadly disappointed. We went on a Friday night…read morearound 7pm and the place was empty. There was s few pickup orders while we were there. The place was simple and clean. We went to the counter and asked to see a menu. Surprising but they only have one bbq pork sandwich on the whole menu. So I asked if the cook made it himself and was it smoked bbq. We were honestly told he used to smoke ot but no longer does. We saw a few crockpots in the kitchen and decided not to eat there. My suggestion would be to remove the smoked from the name as it's hugely misleading if you don't smoke your own pork and only have 1 bbq sandwich on the menu.

Photos
Interior
Interior
Carolina Burger
Carolina Burger
Interior

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Interior

Melvins' - burgers - Updated June 2026

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