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    The Original Mels

    3.9 (248 reviews)
    Closed 6:00 am - 9:00 pm

    Order The Original Mels Takeout or Delivery

    The Original Mels Photos

    Business Info

    THE ORIGINAL MELS ATMOSPHERE

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

    Recommended Reviews - The Original Mels

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    Inside
    Loredo L.

    I came here craving corned beef hash and eggs. I've been to other Mel's diners and this one seemed newer but with the same theme and decor. The service was very friendly. The corned beef hash was possibly different than what I remembered but still tasted great. I look forward to coming back and getting pancakes.

    Front
    John F.

    I was feeling nostalgic for Mel's and how it used to be when I tried it as a kid. Nowadays, it didn't taste as fresh as I remembered. Maybe everything just tasted better when we were kids? Although the food was so-so, the service was pleasant and quick! I would come back just for the great service. I ordered the chicken fried steak with eggs over easy and hash browns, which came with a side of buttered toast of your choice. The ambiance of the restaurant takes you back, with that old school diner vibe that feels familiar and comforting. Overall service was great with ok food.

    Theodore W.

    We have visited several different Mels Diner locations over the years from Lombard Street in San Francisco to Roseville Douglas Blvd to Rocklin Lonetree. The Folsom location is BY FAR the BEST quality food, the CLEANEST, and the BEST customer service.

    Toast
    Monisha M.

    Mel has the your basic diner vibes. The food was okay and the customer service was good. They do have great milkshakes and fries .

    Philly cheese
    John D.

    Can't go wrong with a Philly cheese from Mel's. Super cheesy sandwich. Good service open late is a plus for a late night mission

    Side salad

    Just left Mel's diner with a happy & full belly! From the moment we walked in everyone was friendly! My friend and I were very impressed how clean the place was! I ordered the Philadelphia Cheese steak and will say it was one of the best I've had in California! My friend ordered the French dip and enjoyed that too! My only complaint was I had no room for a hot fudge sundae! Looking forward to returning!

    Mels Original Cheese Steak Sandwich
    Myla A.

    All the employees were all very friendly, with excellent service. The food came out fast and fresh. The sampler I had was delicious, crunchy, light, delicious, and not heavy nor greasy. My wife had the cheese steak she liked it but it definitely needed cheese sauce. We are definitely coming back to try other food items. Inside was inviting, clean, so many things to look at.

    Milk Shake or Malt
    Kayla S.

    Mel's Diner always delivers! I ordered DoorDash and my order arrived in under 30 minutes. The Mel burger was cooked perfectly (slightly pink), with a soft, buttery bun and fresh produce. The Mel fries had the right balance of softness and crunch, still hot from the fryer. The banana milkshake was delicious and generously filled. Highly impressed with the quality and portion sizes!

    Kids meal (burger & fries)
    Mel J.

    Our family visited here around 10am on Sunday. The restaurant was starting to get crowded but we managed to get a table. We had to wait for awhile for a waitress to put our order but the food came out relatively fast (around 15 mins). - kids meal - burger with fries and oreo: my kid liked it and finished all the burger and fries. I tried a bite of the burger and it tasted good. The fries were crispy and well seasoned. - chorizo skillet: the portion was smaller than I expected. The flavor was on point but I wish they put more chorizos. The hash brown was tasty & crispy. The sunny side up eggs were cooked perfectly. We had good experience and good food. We would come back to try different menu. Tips: do come early for breakfast as there was a line when we left the restaurant around 11am.

    Fried chicken dinner with mashed potatoes, veggies, cornbread and salad.

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    1 month ago

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    11 months ago

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    21 days ago

    The best place ever service was very kind And help full the food was amazing like super good

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    1 month ago

    I love the old time vibes here. Food is okay but the shakes and malts are yummy. The service is always great. They're fast and friendly.

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    8 months ago

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    7 months ago

    I have become a regular customer. The staff are very nice. accommodating. I don't eat rice or potatoes and I get a salad instead.

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    2 years ago

    Food is always consistently good. Always hot fries always crisp! The staff is so welcoming and friendly!

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    2 years ago

    I love their service & their chicken wings! They are clean, consistent, and overall a very nice place to sit down and enjoy a meal.

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    Page 1 of 7

    The Original Mels Reviews in Other Languages

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    Qamaria Yemeni Coffee

    Qamaria Yemeni Coffee

    4.6
    (238 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Late night coffee runs just hit different at Qamaria Yemeni Coffee Co.. Came here after a Yelp…read moreElite All-Star event and an after hangout with some of the All-Stars, and somehow this place still had the energy cranked all the way up at 10pm. The place was packed with people laughing, talking stories, and just soaking in the vibe. Even with how busy it was, the place stayed clean, the line moved smooth, and the baristas were awesome the whole time. Friendly, welcoming, and still keeping the energy up late into the night. I grabbed the iced Mufawaa and a baklava roll, and both absolutely delivered. That drink gave me the perfect boost before heading up the hill to my partner's house in Cameron Park, and the baklava roll was the little sweet knockout punch I didn't know I needed. Qamaria just gets it... good drinks, good people, and somehow always the right stop when you need that extra push to finish the night.

    Love this spot and extra 6th star for being open late!…read more We usually enjoy the Mufawaar coffee or Adeni tea in a kettle size of course. They have an assortment of pastries and desserts which was a nice addition. Loved the café's indoor and outdoor vibe. Consistency is key and we've been going here ever since they opened and customer service and quality of drinks has remained the same if not better. We've brought visiting friends and family here and everybody loved it.

    Photos
    Qamaria Yemeni Coffee
    Spinach Feta Croissant
    Spinach Feta Croissant
    Qamaria Latte with cream top

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    Qamaria Latte with cream top
    Gaslight Company

    Gaslight Company

    4.3
    (148 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Held a surprise birthday party at the Backroom, and the entire experience was top notch and we had…read moresuch an amazing time! Leading up to the event, Cristen was so helpful in guiding all the details and making sure everything went seamless the night of. She even helped personally ensure the surprise went as planned. The food was delicious, drinks extra special, and the bartenders and staff provided such a fun and engaging experience for our guests. Our guests gave so many compliments, and could not be happier with the space, service and experience.

    We stopped in here on 4th of July around 1pm. There was hardly anyone in the bar which was…read moresurprising. We sat at the bar and ordered our food and drinks. Enjoyed soccer and the bartender was knowledgeable and friendly. The two flatbreads were more like personal pizzas. Crust was flavorful and thicker than a flatbread which was fine by us. The Cali was LOADED with toppings. The Figueroa was also fantastic. The highlight was the salad. HIGHLY recommend sharing this unless you're extremely hungry. We didn't think we would eat it all, but we honestly couldn't stop. It was lightly dressed, contained a ton of toppings and was probably half a container for mixed greens which was fantastic! If you're more into heavily dressed salads you probably wanna ask for more. Either way, we had a great lunch at an unassuming place. They apparently have a Speak Easy as well which we unfortunately didn't get to experience.

    Photos
    Gaslight Company
    Gaslight Company
    Sit on the balcony for the best views of Historic Sutter Street.

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    Sit on the balcony for the best views of Historic Sutter Street.
    Riley’s on Sutter

    Riley’s on Sutter

    4.3
    (316 reviews)
    1.5 mi
    $$

    Loved the seared ahi bowl. Service was great for our party of 12. We ate on the patio which was…read morevery nice. They had a large TV at the end of our table and also the misters are a plus when it's hot.

    I'm still thinking about this burger.... Dre's BBQ Backyard…read moreBurger 10/10!!! Damn, it was pretty fire. I got the bacon on the side for my doggie because I don't eat pork, but it comes with tomato, fried onion straws, lettuce, and pickle. You have the choice between fries, tater tots, onion rings or a salad. Not pictured- the amazing seared ahi tuna salad 10/10 ask for a side of extra dressing. The portion is huge and price is totally worth it as they give you a healthy portion of ahi tuna. I mean this place does not disappoint with the sides or carb options for you burgers. I overheard someone next to me say how amazing the onion rings are and how they often fill themselves up too much on them before their regular meal. I chose sweet potato fries because this is always a better choice. I appreciate the sea salt grinder at the table along with having ketchup, mustard, and hot sauce all tables and ready for me. I really think it's a little annoying when restaurants don't have condiments or salt & pepper shakers out at the table and you have to bother the waiter with yet another request. This burger was cheesy and had all the necessary toppings plus really bomb bbq sauce on it. I added a little sea salt to the sweet potato fries and they tasted perfect. They have new and rotating beers and ciders and so I tried the apricot which was really good- nice that they let you taste before ordering as well. Service was great, everyone was nice and friendly and smiled, and I love the boots, jeans, and western feel of the place. As a dog lover I'm obsessed with alll the doggy pictures there. It made me smile and feel right at home. Can't wait to return when I'm in the area! Thanks for delicious food and great service!

    Photos
    The bar
    The bar
    Riley burger and the Wagyu burger with tots! Amazing!
    Riley burger and the Wagyu burger with tots! Amazing!
    Salmon taco and tots (with fire sauce)

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    Salmon taco and tots (with fire sauce)
    The Fat Rabbit Public House

    The Fat Rabbit Public House

    4.0
    (499 reviews)
    1.4 mi
    $$

    Went back for another lunch and it didn't disappoint. Yes, this place can be confusing because…read morethere are no servers and you have to order at the bar. I've watched many people seat themselves at tables and leave 10 minutes later because no one asked them what they wanted. Yes, the decor is stuck in the 90's, but I actually like it. The double smash burger I had was excellent. The bun they use is awesome and they charred the patty perfectly. It tasted way better than Fleming's Prime Steakhouse burger I had last week, that's for sure. The thick steak-cut fries are awesome, too. Over salted but nothing a cold beer can't cut through. Highly recommend their smash burger.

    I dropped by with a specific mission - to check out the Smashburger (as part of a burger…read morecompetition I'm participating in). If it wasn't for this "mission," there's a good chance I wouldn't have wandered in. I LOVE Sutter Street, but honestly I don't live nearby and don't have many reasons to come here. That said, I'm thankful for the mission and glad I dropped by. It's a super cute place and the bartender had a nice relaxed chill vibe to her. This is where I'd normally drop her name and give her kudos - but I didn't get her name. I thought her name would be on the receipt, but it wasn't! I assume her name isn't "Shift Night N" anyway, which would be weird - but that's what is listed for "server". Anyway... the burger... I liked it. I liked it a lot. I was not asked how I wanted it cooked (not expected or demanded by me) - but an observation that I toss in for comparison purposes. It was cooked to a solid medium, which is fine with me. Caramelized onions were standard - nice - but the tomato and lettuce were listed as 'optional' - and the bartender (Shift Night N) asked me if I wanted them. I opted in. The bun was above average - definitely a notch above the typical mass-produced buns often used elsewhere. I opted for sweet potato fries. They had good flavor. Personal preference-wise... I would have liked them to be cooked a smidge more. If/when I come back, I'll probably ask them to be crispy-er. Overall, thumbs up! I wouldn't hesitate to come back and try other things on the menu. #burgers

    Photos
    Cute place! Bartender is there, just being shy.
    Cute place! Bartender is there, just being shy.
    Fish n chips
    Fish n chips
    White teas! (Not green teas since they're made with vodka).

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    White teas! (Not green teas since they're made with vodka).
    Corner Tavern & Grill

    Corner Tavern & Grill

    3.9
    (354 reviews)
    0.8 mi
    $$

    I love Corner Tavern & Grill. It's close to my Mom's hood. The food never disappoints. I got the…read moregrilled chicken BLT sandwich with a side salad. The chicken isn't a huge juicy chicken breast, just so you are aware. It's the thin, flattened kind. Perfectly fine with me since I didn't want something overly heavy. It comes with housemade chips. I'm really impressed by their salads though. I know, so simple, but most restaurants provide boring iceberg lettuce with nothing really exciting. Here though they provide red onion, cucumbers, slivered almonds, tomatoes, etc. I also love their house vingerette. I think next time I'll order a bigger one and add chicken :-) My mom enjoyed her carnitas street tacos. The crack pie is to die for! My Mom was so impressed, she ordered a 2nd one to go haha. It does take awhile to get your food, just a FYI. But worth it.

    I've driven by the Corner Tavern & Grill many times and thought I should give it a try. My husband…read moreand I stopped there for dinner tonight and we are so glad we did! It was busy, but our server Courtney was fabulous! She had several tables inside and on the patio, but was friendly and attentive to all of them. Our food was delicious. I had a pastrami sandwich on rye. My husband got a pizza & a bowl of clam chowder. Everything was fresh and flavorful. We shared a gelato for dessert. There's a full bar and a large selection of beers & ciders as well. Several parties came in that I could tell were regulars. The vibe was relaxed and friendly. We will definitely be back! Thanks again to Courtney for the outstanding service on a busy night.

    Photos
    Looking at the bar
    Looking at the bar
    Clam chowder delicious
    Clam chowder delicious
    Calamari

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    Calamari

    The Original Mels - diners - Updated July 2026

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