Mel's Drive-In

(310) 854-7201

8585 W Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90069 34.0929 -118.3789

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Neighborhoods: West Hollywood, Central LA

MELSDRIVE-IN.COM

Years in business

Established in 1985

Price:

$

Last updated 8.16.11

Category:

Restaurants, Diners

Payment Methods:

Visa, MasterCard

Catering Services:

Restaurant Management

Restaurant Special Features:

Breakfast, Family-Friendly Dining, Late Night Dining, Lunch Spot, Cheap Eats

General Info:

Open 7 Days, Open 24 Hours

Cuisine:

Hamburgers, Traditional American

Other Locations:

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Mel's Drive-In

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

In Short – Made famous by "American Graffiti," the original Mel's in San Francisco was demolished shortly after filming. This local franchise's decor holds enough retro-chic for even a die-hard Gen-Xer, with blow-up movie stills papering the walls and tabletop jukeboxes pulsing 1950s tunes. Mel's serves some classic diner eats like the Famous Melburger, chili fries, and creamy milk shakes. Club kids, shoppers, couples on dates, and families flock here for a quick and casual meal.

Editor's Tips

The Extras:
Trinkets, gum, and retro-toys are sold at the front counter.
Parking:
Free parking for one hour, with restaurant validation, is available in the large adjacent lot.
Know Before You Go:
Checks are paid up front instead of directly to the server.
ambiance
100.0% positive
  1. “If you want to sit outside on a chilly evening, there are heat lamps situated outside, which makes seating more comfortable.”
  2. “Mel's has good food and a fun atmosphere that smacks of old Hollywood.”
food quality
84.61999893188477% positive
  1. “Any of their omelets with their mushrooms are incredible and a must have.”
  2. “Mel's has good food and a fun atmosphere that smacks of old Hollywood.”
  3. “the waitresses were good, the fresh squeezed orange juice is to die for, but the food left a lot to be desired.”
  4. “the food is delicious--i love getting breakfast here after dancing or the fruit salad with yogurt if im not very hungry.”
  5. “love Mel's as the institution that it has always been on Sunset Strip, but they're food really needs to be top qualilty all the time, and that is just not the case.”
  6. “If you want a good cheap meal at a diner, and experience a little of Hollywood, then you can't go wrong with Mel's.”
  7. “And as long as you're not on a diet, go for a vanilla coke (made the old-fashioned way, with syrup) or one of the delicious hand-made milkshakes or malts.”
  8. “What I got from the kitchen was; bread so stale you could use it for a tennis ball with a couple slices of tomato and one piece of lettuce I sent it back and finally 15 minutes later I had it back with the same bread.”
  9. “The waitresses are a little sketchy but you get a punch card and your 10th meal is free.”
  10. “and the tuna salad is great.”
  11. “The half chicken is really good.”
  12. “The food was fresh,there were no problems with the service and servers or food.”
  13. “From a restaurant standpoint, the food is good and the environment is clean - it is a diner!”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “This is a great place to hangout with friends late at night.”
  2. “It's a great place to go alone if you're hungry!”
service
71.4300012588501% positive
  1. “The waitresses are a little sketchy but you get a punch card and your 10th meal is free.”
  2. “It's usually packed, which can lead to poor service (inattentiveness, long waits, etc.).”
  3. “The food was fresh,there were no problems with the service and servers or food.”
  4. “the waitresses were good, the fresh squeezed orange juice is to die for, but the food left a lot to be desired.”
  5. “they give good service, even at 3am.”
  6. “good people watching”
  7. “Mel's is in the thick of things and truly open 24 hours, which makes a great spot for people watching.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “If you want a good cheap meal at a diner, and experience a little of Hollywood, then you can't go wrong with Mel's.”
wait time
33.3299994468689% positive
  1. “It's usually packed, which can lead to poor service (inattentiveness, long waits, etc.).”
  2. “What I got from the kitchen was; bread so stale you could use it for a tennis ball with a couple slices of tomato and one piece of lettuce I sent it back and finally 15 minutes later I had it back with the same bread.”
  3. “And as long as you're not on a diet, go for a vanilla coke (made the old-fashioned way, with syrup) or one of the delicious hand-made milkshakes or malts.”
1 Star Rating: Poor

02/08/11

Run! (away)

by jtmonford

Adequate food made by a hardworking, competent kitchen staff that is sadly undermined by an inattentive wait staff. More interested in getting side work done than in serving customers. I sad alone ignored at a table for too long, moved to the counter, and was ignored there. For the first time in my life, I left without tipping a cent. I'll not return, which is inconvenient since I live next door.

5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/10/10

Breakfast

Contributor

love this spot

4 Star Rating: Recommended

04/07/09

Great place

by BritMill87

We stopped by the other night and had such a fun time! The only thing is that late at night, it gets so busy that there was a wait for a table. But we didn't mind. The milkshakes and the melburger were amazing! I had so much fun here. Definitely worth checking out at least once!

  • Pros: Burger, Milkshakes
4 Star Rating: Recommended

01/03/09

Good stuff!

by foody555

It's a great place to go alone if you're hungry! I dig it. The half chicken is really good... and the tuna salad is great.

  • Pros: great selection
  • Cons: could serve better coffee
1 Star Rating: Poor

04/26/08

not worth the money

by SHITakaPOO

A friend and I used to go to Mel's, I have to say that it was really great. The food was fresh,there were no problems with the service and servers or food.

It has been a year or two since we were there and recently decided to stop in for lunch. the waitresses were good, the fresh squeezed orange juice is to die for, but the food left a lot to be desired. I ordered a Cesar salad with sliced chicken. Some of the lettuce staring at me looked as if it had sat in the dressing, in the refrigerator for a week. We gave them the benefit of doubt and went back today. What I can say is the waitress was the only good thing! I ordered a avocado, tomato,cheese and lettuce sandwich on 9 grain bread. What I got from the kitchen was; bread so stale you could use it for a tennis ball with a couple slices of tomato and one piece of lettuce I sent it back and finally 15 minutes later I had it back with the same bread. My whole meal went that way. Drinks and all.

Prices have been raised and the kitchen doesn't seem to know anything about food. Worse, the guy that pours the orange juice (in his little corner by the kitchen) was so busy flirting with the waitresses he didn't know what side is up. My waitress was even p.o.'d with him!.

Mel's, you have a ways to go.

The Details on Mel's Drive-In

Place Categories:

  • good food
  • great place
  • delicious handmade milkshakes
  • sketchy waitresses
  • good service
  • good care
  • great shakes
  • good fun atmosphere
  • delicious malts
  • stale bread
  • good lighting
  • good people
  • incredible any
  • clean environment
  • more comfortable seating
  • good cheap meal
  • love mel
  • amazing melburger
  • loves mom
  • good burgers
  • really good half chicken
  • great spot
  • fresh squeezed orange juice
  • great tuna salad
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