Mel's Drive-In - Mission St. Reviews

Our hotel was just a 5 minutes walk away so we decided to stop by for breakfast. It was pretty busy but the staffs were very efficient. Food selection was extensive. Ample of choices for kids too who was entertained with crayons and coloring papers. They also have special plastic cups for kids (which my daughter really loved!). Food portion was extremely huge but definitely worth the bucks. Food was also very tasteful. Try the Omelette selections!

Our flight was very delayed and late so we searched for a place still open for dinner. Mel’s is open until 3 am. It’s diner food. Nothing fancy. It’s good, hot, fattening and yummy Service was great. Filipe was our first server but niki helped us too. Try the lemonades!

Burgers and fries and milk shake were just super here. The service was most excellent and they were glad to do separate checks. A bit pricey, but hey this was San Francisco

Very expensive for ok quality food. Maybe it was a bad day, but the service was very slow and the restaurant was only about 25% full. We had to ask for drinks, to order, where our order was. The got one of our orders wrong. No one seem interested in working.

It really is a safe betting site, an authentic American breakfast, they have a lot of variety. Quality price very good

We were starving after a long haul flight and looking to get our hands on some sumptuous meal.. The place was just what the Dr ordered.. Healthy servings, outdoor seating (covid in mind).. Good food and reasonably priced... Had to wait in line due to limited seating capacity... But then there was continuous stream of people waiting for their turn.. Pretty much sums it all... Beware of pedestrians (some intoxicated) walking past... Just caution.. Nothing to worry as such...

Having flown in from the UK, the time difference means the kids wake early! So Mel’s Diner/ Drive in is perfect for a (very!) early morning family breakfast. Great bloody Mary’s, great selection of food for the kids and good friendly service. Pancakes were great so were the eggs. If you need a place for jet leg brekkie this is it!

Visited for dinner and breakfast during our stay in San Francisco. The food is great quality with really friendly staff. Food is slightly expensive but worth it for it’s good quality.

Went in to get a quick bite and its pretty big on the inside. Good service, decent food but you are paying for the atmosphere. If in the area and looking to get in and out, check this place out.

You can't beat it. Each grandkid got exactly what they wanted, served in a paper chevy. It's not really a drive-in but it does a good job of imitating one. My turkey cheeseburger was one of the best that I ever had. If you are taking kids to the museums in downtown San Francisco, this is a great place to eat lunch.

Typical American diner, with furnishings that recall the 50s/60s. Good quality food, very generous portions, quick service. Prices perhaps a bit high for the type of dishes served

It is one of those places that you must visit for the real American breakfast. The service was so good, you never waited for your water or coffee to be refilled it just happened and you really didn't even notice it. The staff were very good but the atmosphere, the decor, the smells it was really like being in an old fashion film, it was great. The children loved it and there was so much to choose from. Service was quick and efficient, food good and plenty full.

I’ve always liked this diner. Perhaps for the nostalgia as it is themed to reflect the great diners of the 50’s era. With the jukebox playing a soundtrack of the oldies but goodies and the plates of good food to fill my stomach, it’s truly an experience. The customer service is friendly and substantial. To be fair, this place is always busy but yet the waitstaff work really well together to be fast and sufficient so I didn’t feel like I was not being attended to or had to wait for a longtime for refills of tea. It’s also open 24 hrs, and if you’re like me, from another time zone and find yourself hungry in the wee hours of the morning or night, this place will take care of your hangry needs. Enjoy! :)

This is such a great little diner - great atmosphere, authentic look, good generous food dishes and fair value for money - love this place.We had the Salmon, which was cooked perfectly and a burger that had a home made beef patty - not the pre made frozen kind. Fries were great too!

Stopped into Mel's for breakfast and was delighted to see that they have avocado toast on the menu. Delicious food, reasonable prices and fun/nostalgic ambiance. Highly recommend!

We went to Mels on the way to catch a train. Great diner, spacious, busy but staff are kind and helpful. We had nutella waffles and french toast with cinnamon and banana. Food was fabulous, hot, plentiful. Coffee was really good too and if you're up for it they sell $6 mimosas. Enjoy!

Old school American diner which will satisfy the tourist in you. Very efficient staff, gluten free options are clearly marked on the menu which included a cheese toastie which was savage! Mimosa's made with freshly squeezed orange juice which I have found hard to come buy in mid stream restaurants while in the US so I was very happy. My friend had chicken goujons and bacon/ranch/cheese fries which she said were fantastic. Mels is reasonably priced (for the area).

This 50’s diner gives you vintage but with contemporary in mind. Healthy options available on the menu. I liked the Sunrise Breakfast - if you are avoiding bread, this is a good choice for the protein you need - eggs topping a small Grass-fed burger patty on top of a small round potato patty.

Was really looking forward to trying this restaurant out as looked like it could have been a fun, traditional type of American diner. The server was not very happy, just grunted at us as though he was ready to go home, food was ok, not the best burger I had in San Fran and the juke box was broken. Got 2 stars mainly for the decor but that’s about all. Nothing great and would not go back

We landed in San francisco last week, just needed a quick meal before settling in our hotel for a good sleep, no time for a proper restaurant that night. Honestly the tukey burger was awful. I left most of it, the meat was horrible. The actual place looked fun, Halloween theme decorations..prwtty cute and staff were nice. I personally wouldn't visit again

Maybe we caught them on an off night.After seeing a movie we decided to try Mel's for dessert because they advertise fresh made desserts. We had cheesecake and it was very very dry and old.The coffee was fine but we did not even finish our desserts.

This restaurant is all over the place with service quality and food quality. Today I'm happy to report things went well. I ordered the triple decker club with double turkey and no mayo and no cheese. It came out exactly as ordered. Turkey was fresh, and bacon was reasonably crispy. I said it the counter, and the service was extremely fast and friendly. The server came back to check on me twice. The price was reasonable. And the location is convenient. The dining room was clean and comfortable.

Fast, friendly service. Good food. Menu could be a little simpler, but staff accommodating. I ordered eggs sunny-side up with hash browns and wheat toast. Not on menu, but no problem getting. Good coffee. Good orange juice. Bill came to $23 before tip. I Went back again for breakfast the following morning.

Located close to the Marriott Marquis. Counter service was exceptionally fast. I ordered a Denver omelette and it was delivered in about three minutes. Portions are generous. Food is delicious. Service was awesome with multiple checks to make sure everything was as expected. Their coffee was also excellent. A great place for a great, quick breakfast.

We stayed four times for dinner at Mel's diner because it's great to our hotel and you shouldn't go everywhere in the evening in San Francisco. Super nice service, you immediately get unsolicited water when you come in, the soups, salads, burgers and sandwiches are absolutely recommended. Delicious sweet potato fries.

You should come here for the atmosphere and old fashioned diner but don't expect too much from the food.

This review is an upgrade. The service has improved in the food quality is solid-average 3 stars. This would be a four-star review, but the turkey club is a bit of a mess. And they have virtually cut in half the portion size for the french fries. What I like about this place: they use fresh roasted turkey. If you want a club sandwich with fresh roasted turkey This is a good place to come.

Stopped in here after a long day of sightseeing, etc. Definitely was glad that we did. Service and food were both very good. Exactly what we expected when going to a diner. Will go back when were in the area.

Mostly a junky diner. The food sucks, and the waiter we had was worse than the food (although another waiter helped out at the end since our waiter was MIA and he was actually pretty good). Only thing decent here was a milkshake. Otherwise a complete waste of time and I do not recommend to anyone.

Nice spot for a greasy spoon diner breakfast near the Moscone West center. Had nice 3-egg omelet with sourdough toast. About 15 bucks. Not cheap but decent quality, pretty fast service, and filling.

Great food fantastic atmosphere a great all American dinner, absolutely recommended coffee top ups had a real coffee rush after 👍

Playing music from the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s.... an old burger and milkshake spot. Decent service but my server did not refill my soda... did not even ask. Decent food, brings back the memories of the fifties and sixties.

Nice diner to visit. Very 50's inside, food is typical diner food, but very good. Burgers, fries and shakes. Service was good, and everything is clean and bright. Noisy and crowded, but fun

Atmosphere was great! Seemed to be understaffed. It was hard to get a hold of waitress and food arrived cold. But there was a lot of variety and food was really good.

Went here for breakfast. Excellent service and food. I had the Elvis scrambled eggsd eggs which also came with toast, and my wife had pancakes topped with fruit. This is not the place to go if you want a low calorie diet. We finished as much as we were able and as the title suggests , we did not eat lunch that day

What a great place. In a really expensive city it was great value and super food. Great staff and friendly waitresses. Really good service and a kids menu that was super.

A 50’s and 60’s type diner. Ate the open face turkey sandwich which was excellent. They used freshly roasted turkey and served generous portions. The restaurant was welcoming with a great waiter. Marcos greeted all the guest, took their orders and served their meals. I seemed he was the only waiter working but he moved quickly with purpose and always made the customers feel appreciated. Mel’s has great food and an excellent waiter. I will definitely be back.

Quick service with dirinks-two iced table waters with a refillable coffee makes the odc club happy 😊 Presentation Average ombuons lots of table clutter Polite but rushy workers because it was busy. Works dressed appropriately for there tasks/jobs Food Grate selection for kids and adults with affordable prices The meal: Mother and I both reserved our meals at the same time and it was a 10-15 minute wait which is not bad at all I ordered pancakes with bacon on maple syrup It was yummy the bacon was chewy and crispy along with the pancakes cakes which were light and fluffy. The maple syrup was alright but was quite sickly. Reviewed by Jamie Jean Age 10 .

Classic old school looking dinner. I’ve ordered two items both GF. We shred GF Nutella pancakes, our server was super honest and said he’s never tried them and they weren’t that good, they were super thick which isn’t my style of pancakes, they lacked flavor in my opinion. Next we split some huevos rancheros with potatoes, and I asked for the potatoes to be crispy. The huevos rancheros were really good, the eggs were cooked perfect, the black beans were delicious and the avocado was perfect. The only sad part about the dish was the potatoes weren’t cooked well enough. Our friend had the eggs and ham with sourdough bread, and the eggs and ham were cooked spot on, and the sourdough was delicious, I always say either sourdough is perfect with eggs. And finally, we all had coffee, and it’s traditional diner coffee. We would all come back here again if in SF, but we wouldn’t get the gf pancakes.

We had to go check out this place. We seen it on tripple D / diner drive in and dives . And what a experience this was grat service great food amd great deserts.

It's a diner. Old Style. I've been here so many times and each time the quality is the same. So for a diner's customer point of view this is good and the food is worth the price.

Staff very welcoming, great service. Food, whilst good, was a little under seasoned and probably a little more oily than even the cooking style requires (omelettes etc.). I’d go once, just don’t order too much. Fresh juices very nice!

Stopped in very briefly for breakfast. The service was friendly and very quick, I had the fruit, yoghurt and granola which was very nice

We ate here a couple of times during our stay. The atmosphere is like a fun 50’s diner and the food was good. We enjoyed our breakfast and it was tasty and good sized. We came again for a late dinner and didn’t want anything too big or heavy. The girls ordered sliders for $5 each. The waiter warned us they were small...they were very small, ha ha especially compared to our club sandwich.

If you do t want to pay for over priced buffetts at the hotel you’re staying at, wander over to Mels and grab a fantastic breakfast at a reasonable price. This place looks like you just went Back to the Future complete with the little hike box at your table and oldies. I had an omelette which was quite good and my girlfriend had the breakfast sandwich. The bacon is fabulous! I highly recommend and breakfast here was much better than the $34 buffet at the Marriott!

Great 50's style diner, great food not the cheapest but well worth the extra $$$$ This is my second visit to this diner and both times served by Austin,he remembered me from my previous visit and gave a warm genuine welcome back. Looking forward to eating here again. EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE Austin keep up the good work Rory

Nice place for breakfast on a cold and rainy morning, but I've had much better corned beef hash and eggs elsewhere.

Went to this place while attending meeting right next door in Moscone. Saw a lot of meeting attendees heading there so i gave it a try. Very good burguer and fries were awesome.

We decided to explore downtown to find a something to eat and ran into Mel’s dinner on Mission St and 4th Ave. it’s a retro 50’s dinner with jukeboxes and counter eating. If you’ve eaten at a Woolworths then this is great place for you. We ordered the grass fed-beef burgers and fries and the bill was $35 for the both of us.

Mel's Drive-In capitalizes on nostalgia for the old fashioned drive in - complete with (no longer working) juke box selections at each table, We enjoy people watching here as there are people from every strata of San Francisco who make there way here. It is a block from Moscone Center so of course it is an easy breakfast place if you are going to a conference there. Generally the food is well prepared and pretty typical California fare (a great example is Avocado whole grain toast with perfectly poached eggs on top). I had a bad experience with their bagels which I would describe as donut shaped bread that lack the full flavor of bagels.

Well to me anyway. If you are in downtown San Francisco and want a diner this is the place. All kinds of choices of food, all good and all at good prices. Kind of a throwback.

We enjoyed our breakfast; it was fresh and delicious. The staff were very patient with us (sooo much to choose from). Lovely atmosphere. A good choice for breakfast when you are staying in the Marriott Marquis.

A lot of fun with great food and servers who care! We had a blast with the raucous flavor of the diner and its people who really care about you (even if they see hundreds of people a day)!!!

Great atmosphere, food was good, prices friendly. Menu was GF-friendly. Our server Rocy was a sweetheart ❤️

This was perfect place for our last night in SF when everyone just wanted to stay in the hotel room for the night but needed dinner. The restaurant would’ve been great to dine in too as it was spacious and accommodated large groups for basic diner food. Location was a bit dicey but felt like Times Square in NYC. Food was good, not gourmet but it’s a diner so met the requirement. We had the spaghetti and meatballs, turkey breast dinner, turkey club and chicken noodle soup. All were fine and good portions. Chicken noodle was very good. Lots to choose from too.

I ate dinner at Mel's Diner in February 2019 during my visit to San Francisco. I had a tuna salad sandwich on toasted rye bread with lettuce and tomato, cole slaw and warm apple pie with cinnamon and vanilla ice cream. The food was delicious and the service was good.

Great service, quick food, everything tasted great. Perfect for us as we were busy sightseeing. True diner in every sense.

This is the second time I have eaten here, last time was some years ago when I came for dinner and thought at the time it was pretty good, this time I came for breakfast and boy do you get your moneys worth for breakfast, my breakfast came on two plates. This is the type of place you see in the movies, people come in, eat large, leave happy and wander off into the night to plan their next heist. The food is plentiful, its is filling, and tastes great , the waitress are always running around and making sure you are happy with everything. You wouldn't want to eat here all the time, if you did you would end up walking in but being rolled out, but to taste that typical American flavour and flare, this is about as real as it gets to what you see on that TV screen of yours.

Having tried Dennys earlier and been disappointed, this place really made up for it! Good service, endless coffee and great food! Not too pricey and would have liked a slightly bigger table but all in all a good breakfast. Try for the tables further in with their own jukebox selector!

It’s a shame - this place could be a cool 1950s throwback diner but it’s just a tourist trap… probably doesn’t help that the neighbourhood is a dystopian war zone riddled with car heads but still… Overall rating: avoid.

Two eggs easy over with bacon, one slice of toast and a small coffee - $32 before tip. Absolute rip-off. The cost of the above food is about $1.50 max? What have our "diners" become. They were once the place were everyone could afford to eat - but now - with the working class gone from our inner cities, they are suckerland for the rich to think they are ordinary. Not with these prices. Service was standard. How do you pay a reasonable tip at 10%+ when the value of the service offered is so low?

Three of us got there at 6am , the previous morning we ate a Denny’s across the street. We were the first to enter , it was like going back in time lots of character and Americana , waiting / serving staff in their neat period style uniforms. Proper diner atmosphere , really nice food I had the Mel’s club breakfast with turkey sausage , decaf coffee, cranberry juice , very nice ! Lovely service from the friendly waitress and reasonably priced All three of us enjoyed our breakfast I will definitely go back.

Terribly disappointed. We stopped in for lunch and my French dip sandwich was cold, the fries were cold, even the au jus was cold! Everything was tasteless and overpriced. We never even got our water glasses refilled. We were essentially stuck in a back section and forgotten about. Understaffed and overpriced, we will never visit this location again.

Great service. Delicious food and wide selection of meals. I came here based on reviews. I would recommend it too! New York steak was delicious. They have also brought plate of Caesar salads. The surrounding music have improved my visit experience. It looked old fashioned and nice.

Ok, you cannot get English bacon over here, and they all over cook it...but this gaff get it somewhere near how I’d cook it. The poached eggs were perfect, coffee refill without asking, in fact all the waiting staff are really on their game. We found this to easily be the best breakfast in Cisco!

Looking for the archetypal American diner experience, we were recommended this place. We certainly got what we wanted. Big portions in a beautifully decorated venue. Staff were friendly, service was quick and, for central SF, prices weren’t outrageous.

We ate here on our last night in San Francisco as it was close to our hotel. We had southern fried chicken and a patty melt, both of which were well below par. The patty melt was just about cooked - I had asked for it to be done medium, and the chicken was very bland. I ordered a cranberry mimosa and it came in a tiny glass and tasted awful. We assumed it was quiet when we arrived as it was a Tuesday night, but after having our meal we realised it was quiet because the food is rubbish.

Had breakfast, got there right after they opened and sat right away. Great 50’s diner with chrome everywhere and nostalgic stuff all over. Food was good and what you expect at a diner. Location was so so with some unhoused people outside.

Feels like back to the future. great menu. Food is nice. Ambience is great. Enjoyed myself. Recommended

Enjoyable diner, quite busy, with prompt and friendly service. The waiters seemed to care that you were happy with your visit and were on their game. I had the turkey dinner and a side of onion rings, my partner had a burger. Burger was traditional American fare and partner liked it. My turkey dinner was very nice indeed, all breast meat and a generous portion with tasty al-dente vegetables. Delicious! Onion rings very very good, breadcrumbed, not greasy, freshly cooked and huge thick juicy onion rings inside. My vanilla malt had ice crystals in it which made me wonder if it might have been watered down with ice. Apologies to Mel's if I am incorrect about this, and I didn't mind anyway but others might. Anyway, apart from that, overall a decent visit and I left satisfied. Price about $45-50 for the two of us including side, soft drinks/malt and 20% service. Will return.

great place for breakfast, lunch or dinner Right across the road from our hotel Big plates of food We had sandwiches when we arrived at hotel around 12.30 am Then returned for breakfast and dinner later in week Great prices and great staff And it’s not as the name says It’s a proper restaurant and not a drive in Apparently 70 years old and used by the locals so it’s doing something right Would recommend a visit I believe it has a chain in San Francisco and probably other big cities

Going back in time is pleasant and full of memories that are everlasting. Then to add a place of establishment that embraces those feelings and rewards you with good food is the icing on the cake. Great burgers, onion rings, fries and milkshakes transported me back to the 50’s and 60’s. So glad we stopped in even though this is a great foodie town that has so much variety. They even have a limited wine list in case you want a bit of Napa in the big city.

After looking at some of the other reviews, I wonder whether or not I was in the twilight zone when I went to dine. I didn't take a picture because once the food arrived, I was so disappointed with what was in front of me that I just wanted to eat and leave. I chose to have the sliders; on the menu, they had an offer where you could have three sliders, and for an extra $2, you could have fries. I was hopeful because the description was great, but in reality, it was very poor and cold! The final bill, along with a Pepsi and tips, came up to $38 dollars; at this point, I realised I had stumbled upon a tourist trap, and the next time I visit, I need to make sure I consult Yelp before I go anywhere. Not a great reflection of San Fransisco cuisine at all.

Had breakfast at Mel’s, pancakes were fab, service was spot on. Top up of tea and coffee, would recommend

Average diner-type resturant. Food ok for both taste and freshness. Service hurried and spotty. Expensive for what you get

Our first time there was for dinner. Not enough servers as it took a while for him to come over to take our orders. Then it took a very long time to have the orders brought to our table. I got hot tea with no spoon to stir it with. But the food was served hot which is important. Took the server a long time to bring the check. breakfast 2 mornings later had much better service.

Food was average. Waiter didn't seem pleased to see us - none of the waiters smiled at any of the customers. Ours kept rolling his eyes - didn't want to be there. We ate up and left as quickly as possible. Maybe it's not a good place to work - strange that none of them even attempted to look happy.

I nipped Into Mel's drive-In and the food I had was really good but the waiter for some reason either didn't listen or wasn't Interested as I ordered a 1/2lb burger hold the lettuce but I was served the 1/3rdlb burger with lettuce and when I paid the bill I paid well In excess of the total of the bill (to Include tip) and asked for $10 back and all the money was put In the till and no money was returned so had to go to the till and repeat my request

Mel’s Diner is a nice place for breakfast. Speedy service and generous quantity of food. Food was good and a good value. Mel’s could use better air filtration to move out the smell of grilled food.

Return trip to Mel's on Mission. Last time was at least 12 years ago. Hasn't;t changed and food still good. Usually come here for breakfast, but you can get any meal anytime. Love the decor and have never had a bad meal

We had smashed avocado on toast with a poached egg (junior size). The portion was really small. We got a halve slice of toast with so little advocado on it that we could bareley see it. We paid $8 for it. Way too much money for what we received. The poached egg was really nice.

Nice breakfast, good service, friendly waiting staff/servers . Now that Dennys across the street has permanently closed I had breakfast here instead! Two eggs over easy , fried potatoes, toast , turkey sausage, orange juice and coffee ( with refill). Grand total of $37.60 I left $5 ( cash ) to the waitress as she and another seemed to be only ones working and it getting busy

I went to Mel's twice during my seven-day stay in San Francisco. Both trips were great. As I was a solo traveller, I was expected to sit at the counter which I didn't mind. The coffee was great and the food was good too. I enjoyed the service and watching the drama of making breakfasts under pressure unfold behind the counter. I also loved the free refills of coffee. I don't have a lot more to say on the place other than that it's a great place to come for a quick bite to eat before you head out for a long day.

If you’re in San Francisco you have to try this typical American diner. We went for breakfast and you are spoilt for choice but the pancakes are a must. The staff are friendly and the restaurant was spotless.

Cool joint, decor just like the old diners. Food is good, nothing fancy but fresh. Close to convention centre of you need a place for a quick bite.

This was our first place we tried the food at on our arrival . We ordered the burger and the turkey club sandwich . The turkey club was massive but very dry. The food looked looked great in photos taste horrible . The burger was burnt on the outside very pink boarding lining raw in the middle left most . The shakes were great but apart from that I wouldn’t recommend this diner . Pretty expensive too. Be careful if you plan going early for breakfast or late at night a lot of homeless people outside and across the street from here .

Enjoy a little 40-50s flashback in this heavily themed drive-in which serves up nostalgia & breakfast in equal portions. Billed as one of the original burger-shakes & fries drive-ins this restaurant succeeds in staging an accurate representation of the good old days when rock & roll was king & food courts were nonexistent. All the usual breakfasts fare & the American versions of lunch. Food is okay, service a little careless.

We went for breakfast and decided on steak and eggs as it was reasonably priced. Cooked to perfection with plenty of coffee refills if your in the area give them a visit.

This is a diner style restaurant. The service was very good. We were here for breakfast and it was also good and the portion size was large.

I'm an old guy, and I want the same kind of food that I got in my younger days. Only one place to go Mel's diner. I got a cheeseburger fries and one of their thick milkshakes, good service and super delicious. I know other places offer the same type of menu but there is something about Mel's it just taste better. Also their dining room is full of memorabilia, enjoy the food and the atmosphere.

Went for breakfast - the theme restaurant is fun and the food was good. Serving a mix of classics and modern choices

This place was close to our hotel and looked interesting. I picked up a Groupon and figured it wouldn't be too expensive to try it out. I would never eat here without a Groupon. 1st off, we were seated first followed immediately by two other tables. Our order was taken last. 2nd the food was really pricey for what you get. I got an omelet for $16 egg, diced ham, and american cheese. It was really poor quality. My husband ordered french toast which amounted to 2 slices of bread for $13. Maybe lunch or dinner would have been better, but the breakfast was not quality for the price. The tables were squeezed in very tightly and our table leg was broken, so the table wobbled the whole time. I would not recommend.

Very good food. Quite cool atmosphere from 70s, good service, not great , salmon Benedict eggs were good, it is a good place for a quick breakfast but not as a unique

We went here to have an early breakfast. Lots to choose from in a great atmosphere. I enjoyed my sandwich and the coffee was good.

Went here for breakfast. Big mistake. "Avocado toast with poached eggs". San Francisco gave this lovely simple dish to the world, did it not? This place didn't though. A thin piece of toast, an even thinner smear of crushed avocado, three lukewarm poached eggs with yolks like bullets, a non existent "scattering of sea salt and chilli flakes" and on the side as garnish, a few salad leaves swimming in dressing that nobody ordered. Served by a grim-faced waiter obviously trained at the same place as the waitress who plonked my glass of water on the table without a word. Kudos to the waitress who noticed that I had left the tepid plateful untouched. Not appetizing and not worth the calories. What this place does do well by the looks of it is fatty fried stuff, and plenty of it, for those who like that sort of thing. The 1950s styling, the jukeboxes and chrome, and the nostalgic photos on the wall can make you forget that it is in a rather ugly modern development. Beyond the contrived image though, that's $25 hard-earned dollars wasted..

Steak and eggs with coffee at the counter was very fast and cooked almost perfectly. Service was just okay though as there were times I had to wait and get someone's attention to get a coffee refill which should not happen at the counter. But overall a nice place to grab breakfast, I'd eat here again for sure.

Yes it’s a bit touristy but then if you are a tourist it’s something that you need to experience as it’s just like the movies! Refillable coffee great French toast and pancakes, just had to be done!!

This is a great place for breakfast. They are on the ball with service. The food is great quality. I was in and out of there, after arriving at 6:30 in the morning, in half an hour. I would recommend coming here.

This classic diner-style restaurant has the Impossible Burger—the veggie burger that is closest in taste and texture to a beef burger. Not particularly cheap, but not excessive for SF. I ate there twice.

A lack of staffing was not the issue here. There was an abundance of wait staff, they just weren't taking care of customers. I had a slider that was cooked to the point of hardness and the roll was stale. I had the garlic parm fries which were yummy. My husband had salmon and grilled asparagus was good. We would have had dessert but no one ever came back to our table. So we walked our tab to the register, paid, and left. If nothing else is open, it's woth a stop.

We wanted to get some breakfast and I made sure to see what yelp said. The food was good it was definitely worth the good reviews. The service was quick and friendly. And the ambiance was exactly what I expected from a our school dining.

Marginal service, marginal cleanliness and marginal food at high prices. Also, they extort an additional amount from you on your bill by adding a ‘SF mandate’ percentage to cover their health care costs. This was undisclosed until you get your bill. Also, they refused to remove it after making me wait 5 mins ‘for a manager’ to remove it… which he refused. Arrived and waited for a table, was seated at a table with no salt or sugar (though the rest of the tables had it). Took a long time to order, order came out (steak, eggs and potatoes) steak was okay, eggs marginal and potatoes great. That was the last I saw of my waiter until the bill came. Then I noticed they charged me for the food, then 5% SF mandate, and THEN 8.637% tax on the whole thing. They do have a very wide selection, but their service needs attention… and they need to pat their own healthcare costs.

retro 50' s style decor with good family diner menu. Reasonable prices and good service. A very busy spot so prepare for line ups right a traditional eating times but they move you trough fairly quickly

I ordered a Creole Fried Chicken Sandwich (with fries) and Thick Old-Fashioned Vanilla Shake. Whilst I was in San Francisco, this was probably one of the places which added the least salt on to the chips which made it better than most other places I will review. Burger was decent and amongst the better chicken I had there. Shake was not as thick and not too good. Just cooling and refreshing. Atmosphere was quite chill and what you would imagine an american diner to be like. Service was pretty good. The waiter was very friendly and had a good few jokes which were appreciated. Note: If travelling from UK and you do not eat much salt in your food, remember to ask for no salt on your chips. Also note portions are massive and you probably won't be able to finish them unless you have a large appetite.

I am a regular here each time I pass thro San Francisco. It is conveniently located for the Conference Center and has a great atmosphere. I recommed the French Toast

My husband and I ate breakfast here. The service was fast and food was good, but the prices were a little higher than I like. I'd go here again, because I'm almost positive this is the cheapest breakfast in the area.

Atmosphere and service were wonderful. The burger was a bit dry. Fries are cooked in same oil as fish, so not really vegan there. Juke box was a nice touch. Bathrooms need to be renewed.

I was in a conference center next door to Mels And needed a quick bite to eat. Popped it at a lunch time and asked for the Mels burger. It was awesome and just what I wanted after arriving In the US. A proper burger in a classic American diner. Excellent efficient service, quality burger and good price considering the location. Highly recommend.

Enjoyed San Francisco, and wanted to try the breakfast diner near our hotel -- Mel's Drive In. It appears to be part of a chain -- lots of diner-style, including tableside jukeboxes. The place was not clean ... we had to ask that our table be wiped down after being seated, which was done with some disgruntlement ... I ordered the home made corned beef hash, which generally is a treat over the canned stuff that most places serve, but this had an undercurrent flavor (intention or not) that made it taste a bit "off." My wife had eggs and home fries, which were OK. Breakfast for 2 came to $49 ... a lot to pay for the experience. We'll skip this place on our next visit.

First in more than 20 years around USA that I have a "toast burger". I ordered a sunset burger but no indication on the menu that they replace the bun by toasts... It's shame 'cause it was dry and oily 😏 The roots was excellent, I recommand this juice 😀

Closed early. Turned away a whole group of customers before the closing time posted. I won't be back here.

Lovely food; we went in with friends and wanted to swap tables. A kind member of the wait staff said it would be fine, so we moved. Staff was incredibly gracious and looked after us well. Manager came over and asked why we were moving; we explained we were a large (and growing) table. The way she spoke to a friend of mine was disgusting; you’d think we had committed a crime. When we went to pay we wanted to split the check - cashier was abrupt and very unwelcoming. The food was good, wait staff good. Fire your manager; what a power trip she’s on.

Terrible service from the waiters, there weren't many people and they still threw the plates. The waiter who served us is:

Very good restaurant. The famous Melburger was absolutely delicious. The waitress was on top of drink refills and getting me my check. 4 stars because my onion rings were pretty burnt.

This is the perfect diner to enjoy too many cups of coffee and a classic, hearty breakfast. The food was fresh and hot, and the server was friendly and efficient. The omelets are huge, and the pancakes fluffy. It's also a great value, especially for San Francisco!

Enjoyed breakfast here. Good place, food and location,fast service. Healthy egetarian and vegan options.

This is one of many old-school diners in the area, and does a capable job of retaining some traditional charm. It seems to attract many tourists, which is not surprising. My omelette was adequate but not memorable. Friendly service though. I’ll try somewhere else next time.

Typical diner fare but very overpriced. Their signage is cute but I wouldn't return except for convenience.

Great breakfast sandwich and club sandwich for my son. Nice place. This is a great place to eat. Keep wondering where the drive-in was located..

I am a big fan of diners and so I came here expecting a good meal with good service. Boy, was I ever disappointed on both counts! I ordered a simple burger. It was one of the worse I have ever had. On top of that, the server didn't even get the side I ordered correct. I had to wait forever to get her attention and then to get the correct side. My server couldn't have care less about customer service. Over-priced to boot. The interior decor is catchy and nostalgic...but I came there primarily to eat and this restaurant was woefully lacking in that regard.

Expansive diner food menu with shakes and other fare. Service is okay, food came fast. Good if you’re looking for a quick bite. Tons of memorabilia inside.

My coworker and I came here for breakfast before a conference and were super excited with the decor, the food, and the overall experience. We sat in a booth that has a little jukebox that let you place music for a quarter. Unfortunately, ours was broken, which was a bummer. Other than that, super fun experience and would go again!

I ate here for breakfast after arriving in San Francisco at 8.30 am. I was ready for comforting food and a coffee. I had blueberry pancakes, a large pile, with maple syrup and cream. Excellent!

They seem to have even Arnold Schwarzenegger convinced, so they got us in an instant - quick service, lovely coffee and what a delight the Sunrise Breakfast and the Instant Breakfast Smoothie were! They have certain things on the menu created by Arni, but we were too stuffed to give them a try, too. Next time, for sure.

I came in for breakfast since my hotel was around the corner. Overall, it was a pretty average diner experience. The food was filling and the service was fine, but nothing out of the ordinary.

Visited on a Sunday morning and we were seated promptly. Server was polite and efficient. Good sized menu and plenty of variety. I ordered the Monte Christo sandwich. I was disappointed. Bland French toast, turkey was dry and reminiscent of a TV dinner, served with syrup instead of jam or preserves as listed in the menu. I also ordered a side of pancakes and they were perfectly acceptable. My wife ordered steak and eggs. The steak was a good size and both steak and eggs were cooked as requested. I’m sure there are some standout items on the menu, but otherwise simple and good diner food, except the Monte Christo. I’d try the Apple Pie Shake next time.

Not great, cold and generally tasteless overprices food. Slow service, had to ask for a coffee refill 3 times, would expect that on a busy day but it was a Sunday. Probably relies on passing trade so tends to phone it in. Lots of better options locally.

Awesome all American diner. Very authentic. Great service, great food, great value. A fantastic find.

Excellent diner for a 60s experience of breakfast, well set out with speciality booths with your own dukebox. Food was excellent, the place was clean and continuously busy, always a good sign, wouldn’t hesitate to go back

The atmosphere in this diner was super and we were looking forward to eating breakfast. As I can’t eat the huge portions that all Americans serve I ordered an English muffin and the rest of my family ordered breakfasts. This is where the whole experience went wrong as the waitress thought I was being awkward and was clearly flushed by our order. Had to ask twice for coffee refills and it was expensive for what we ordered! You are paying for the name and brand rather than the food quality. Better options nearby.

This is a great little diner and opens nice and early for the early travellers and workers. Everything else nearby was closed, so we were limited for choice. We were pleasently surprised at the variety available, the quality and the service. Would definitely go here again if we ever return to San Francisco.

Great atmosphere, stylish and comfortable restaurant. Cofee and breakfasts are huge and tasty. Price worthy! Staff is neat and helpful.

I’m on a 5 day whirlwind trip from Australia to USA, and I’ve committed to ONLY eating classic American burgers while here. Have a look at my other burger reviews! Tonight it’s a 50s Diner “Melburger”, upgraded to 1/2 pound patty, costing US$21 ordered medium . The same waiter who took my order came back two minutes later with someone else’s cob salad which was amusing as I told him I only just ordered. The burger has been smashed on the grill and is misshapen more than usual . The burger itself tastes great but it’s definitely medium rare and raw in places, I still ate the lot wasn’t an issue, however I do wonder with my Aussie accent whether they hear me correctly in the first place. Topped with processed cheddar red onions tomato and mayo and tomato sauce it hit the spot.

We came at busiest hour for breakfast but they found us table in a minute. Good choice of everything, food was fair and tasty. Only problem was that food was coming in different times, even with 10 min difference.

Cafe is located in the central part of city. Service was very friendly and competent. All we ordered was tasty and portions have a good size. Wine isn't expensive in comparison with another places around. The carafe of red house wine is 18 dollars. As I could understood, this place doesn't have strong alcoholic drinks. Not bad place for lunch or for dinner.

It's the atmosphere and history that make Mel's so popular. And the food is reliably good too. But at almost $20 for a cheeseburger and fries, it is not a great deal. I enjoyed it, but wouldn't likely go there again, unless I was staying less than a block away and needed a filling yummy late lunch... which I was and did, so it was perfect.

Just average, staff too busy talking to each other or checking their phones than doing their job. Food very average nothing to write about

At nearly $100 for breakfast for a family of four, I would expect great food and decent portion sizes. Food was mediocre and portions fairly small for this price. There are so many better breakfast options in San Francisco at half the price. I would never go back to Mel's again.

I just finished attending the international car show at more Moscone Center, and I knew Mel's Diner was only a block away. Most of the day, I had hamburgers and fries and a chocolate shake on my mind. Got to the diner, ordered my food, excellent service, food was delicious. Between the food, and the atmosphere of the restaurant, it was a wonderful experience. Remember in the 50s, restaurants like this where in every neighborhood, since there are all gone, go to Mel's Diner it will remind you of the good old days.

As a tourist you are always looking for the authentic experience and with all the 50s and 60s kitsch you could ask for think Mel’s hits the spot. All the classics are available including burgers, hotdogs and fabulous milkshakes. With the portion sizes as they were we couldn’t face the dessert menu. I can’t say it’s the healthiest meal you’ll ever eat but with friendly service, good sized portions and the ambience you really can’t go wrong. The breakfast menu looked great so if you are staying nearby this would be well worth considering.

It was recommended by the hotel I am staying and it is a fun dinner, service is good, food is what you expect from a dinner. It is always fun to go to a dinner whie visiting the US. American food at its best.

This restaurant chain is 72 years old and is a real American dining icon! Think Happy Days and American Graffiti and you’ll get the idea! The burgers are pretty tasty, the prices are reasonable, the service was attentive and the decor was classic diner!

Tried to look like the old Drive-In but didn't work. The food was just average and the service a little slow.

I was looking for some mild good food and I stopped in at Mel's Dinner on Mission which is on the way from the Hampton Inn to the convention center. It is open early for breakfast and through the day. It has a classic soda fountain, salads, meats and vegetables. It is retro experience.

This real American Diner gave a very nice vibe. We ate there twice. 1x for breakfast and 1x for dinner. Both times a wonderfully fast and friendly service. For breakfast I opted for the French Toast with strawberry and Nutella. Well I got that too! For dinner I had the Sunset Burger with fries. Price-quality was also very good! Recommended

This is an excellent breakfast venue with a great choice of food. Service was good and Staff friendly. It is also located very close to the Westfield Shopping Mall. Compared to Hotel Breakfast pricing the cost is far more reasonable. Try it , we think you’ll like it.

My friends and I visited Mel’s for breakfast. Overall we enjoyed our breakfast. The service provided was friendly and efficient. The food was slightly above average and everything was served fresh and hot. I do think the prices were a little high but this is to be expected due to the downtown location.

Refillable drinks, burgers, sandwiches and lovely desserts. There are juke boxes all over the restaurant. Really glad we stumbled across this place.

This place is always packed, especially around traditional meal times. The food is diner-style, perhaps a bit better than most diners. Plenty of choices and the food arrives fairly quickly. If you can't find something in this setting, you are too picky. I do like this place and I go back every time I'm in SF.

This place was slammed all morning every morning for Dreamforce. It is right by all the madness. The food is good. They do a nice job even tho it is pure chaos for this week.

Situated in the heart of San Francisco, Mels diner provides that true authentic dining experience American style. The food is average but the menu is huge - as can also be the bill. Nonetheless, I'd still reccommend going if only there once to get the real experience of America.

Been here twice whilst we have been in San Francisco and today we had the full breakfast. I had eggs, bacon and potatoes and my wife had the vegetarian omelette. Both were delicious. This is a throwback style restaurant of the old drive in bars and has all the character to enjoy. Staff were friendly and courteous

Hugely popular place especially with a convention in town at Moscone Center, this is a bustle of activity at breakfast. My egg and spinach scramble was complete with potatoes and toast and I walked away stuffed. Good food and service, $23 for what I ordered plus fresh squeezed juice. Mine and others I saw had huge portions. Crazy packed at the breakfast hour. Extra friendly service.

My husband loves it but I found it just ok. I had the meatloaf and sides. The meatloaf was good but not exactly my style of meatloaf I guess you would say. Anyway other items that were coming out looked good and breakfast foods looked especially tasty. The desserts are large, very large like share with the table large. Of course my sweetie ate the entire banana split by himself! He had been talking about it forever.

Always a blast from the past to eat and hang out. Sliders and shake was awesome as was the oldfashioned grilled cheese.

Good place to have your breakfast if you want a large portion and typical classic American diner food. Good service and reasonable prices. A lot of good selection of foods.

Late night drop in for snacks... yummy avocado toast and chocolate milkshake. Place is busy but quick.

We wanted an all-American breakfast experience on our first morning in SF and this did not disappoint. Food tasted amazing, service was quick and polite, and price was very reasonable. Styling is retro americana, and as tourists this really appealed to us.

We came here for breakfast while staying at the Marriott and we enjoyed our meal. The food was reasonably priced and service was great. We especially liked the décor and all though we enjoyed our breakfast we came here for a late dinner once and we didn’t like as much. We found our dinner food to be too greasy. So I would recommend for breakfast but for lunch or dinner I would skip.

After 1hour in 1/2 of driving to find another restaurant and Mission St was closed for the women march. it was a nightmare so we decided to just park and walk to the restaurant we were looking for and unfortunately they didn't start serving dinner until 5pm and they were not to friendly so on the way back to the car we passed by Mel's and we decided we were so hungry and it was the best idea the Burgers were awesome and the strawberry shake was so good I wanted to order another but that would have been to much. I will return just for the service.

Mel’s was great for two breakfasts during a recent trip with a little one. Good kids menu. Portions excellent. Old style dinner. Service fine but not fantastic, nice servers but they take care of a lot of tables at same time.

Went there with a family for dinner. It was not real crowded. Service and the staff was excellent. Food was just OK. Nothing special. For a diner we thought it was rather expensive so if you were looking for a cheap eats this is not the place to go. Looks like it would be a nice place for a lunch. Milk shake were good.

It is like any other breakfast chain. We tried from two different branches in San Francisco. Taste and service both were good.

Every time we come to San Francisco for Continuing Education at Moscone Center we stop here for breakfast. They seat you quickly and get your food to you efficiently. The food is mostly American comfort food, but that is just perfect for a hearty breakfast before a day's long bunch of classes. Besides the cost of food inside of Moscone Center is just crazy. TIP - Mel's is on the bottom floor of a parking structure, so if you are driving in for classes, it is just ideal. Budget some time for a good breakfast before your class. TIP #2 - save room for their Fountain deserts!

Got sat fast got food before brought coffees and never saw server again. Very poor service but food was expensive but good.