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✔️Breakfast ✔️Brunch ✔️Lunch ✔️Dinner ✔️Dine in ✔️Take out ✔️Delivery
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Part of a local chain, this family-friendly 1950s-style diner serves classic American comfort fare.
Hours
| Friday | 7 AM–3 AM |
| Saturday | 7 AM–3 AM |
| Sunday | 7 AM–11 PM |
| Monday | 7 AM–11 PM |
| Tuesday | 7 AM–11 PM |
| Wednesday | 7 AM–11 PM |
| Thursday | 7 AM–11 PM |
Address and Contact Information
Address: 801 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
Phone: (415) 227-0793
Website: http://www.melsdrive-in.com/
Menu Photos
Order and Reservations
Order: Order online
Photo Gallery
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Reviews
Leasure Trading Company
Visiting town for Super Bowl Weekend and saw this local spot as I was walking down the street. I enjoy a good diner so I figured I’d stop in and see what Mel’s had to offer.
I was able to get some seating at the counter quickly even though it was a busy weekend. The decor is your typical old timey diner with mini jukebox and all. My server was fast and friendly. I ordered the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and fries and a vanilla oreo shake to wash it down. The food came out quick, but was disappointing. The portions of food were not very large. The meatloaf was kind of bland and seemed like some pre-made reheated meal. The best part of my meal was the milkshake which was very good. Although, it was a ten dollar milkshake. For what I received I feel the meal was overpriced and did not deliver the value of the $40+ spent. If I come back through San Fran I will not be returning to this location.
… moreI was able to get some seating at the counter quickly even though it was a busy weekend. The decor is your typical old timey diner with mini jukebox and all. My server was fast and friendly. I ordered the meatloaf with mashed potatoes and fries and a vanilla oreo shake to wash it down. The food came out quick, but was disappointing. The portions of food were not very large. The meatloaf was kind of bland and seemed like some pre-made reheated meal. The best part of my meal was the milkshake which was very good. Although, it was a ten dollar milkshake. For what I received I feel the meal was overpriced and did not deliver the value of the $40+ spent. If I come back through San Fran I will not be returning to this location.
Jordan Allen
I came in a few times for breakfast and dinner whilst staying in San Francisco, and each time I had a great experience all round! The food and drink was delicious, and the service and staff were always super friendly and welcoming. I absolutely loved the retro 50’s vibes, and the classic American diner experience.
I made sure to recommend Mel’s to all my colleagues whilst we were over. Will definitely come back in the future.
… moreI made sure to recommend Mel’s to all my colleagues whilst we were over. Will definitely come back in the future.
Z
Stayed nearby and decided to check out Mel’s for breakfast. Fantastic decision. If you are seeing this then this is your call to just go to Mel’s. Portions were large and the breakfast burrito was superb. Great presentation and flavor. Waitress was very attentive but serving the whole place. It wasn’t too busy yet but got a whole lot busier as I sat there. The ambiance is that retro diner atmosphere and suits the place well. Plenty of photos and vibe of the 1950s.
… moreJie Huang
Disappointing Service Experience and Clear Discrimination at Mel’s Drive Inn (San Francisco – 801 Mission St)
Date: January 8, 2026, around 5 PM
Location: Mel’s Drive Inn, 801 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
—
What happened:
1. Ordering process
· My brother and I dined at the restaurant and were served by a Latino male staff member (wearing a white dress shirt, likely a manager).
· I ordered a New York steak and a classic hamburger. The server asked twice for the preferred doneness for both items, and I answered “medium rare” each time.
· When I asked for drink recommendations other than milkshakes, he suggested orange juice and mentioned that strawberry milkshake was the most popular.
2. Unprofessional attitude
· During ordering, I smiled, said “thank you” multiple times, and maintained polite engagement, yet the server appeared confused and impatient.
· Throughout our meal, the employee spent most of his time chatting with other staff near the cash register, showing little attention to customers.
3. Food delay and negligence
· The milkshake, orange juice, and steak were served gradually. After my brother had almost finished the steak, the hamburger was still missing.
· When I asked about the hamburger, the server claimed, “You didn’t order it,” without apologizing or offering to expedite the order, and simply inputted the item coldly.
· Given that he had specifically asked for the hamburger’s doneness earlier, the order was clearly recorded—yet he shifted the blame to us.
4. Discriminatory treatment and racial bias
· The same employee was friendly and attentive to white customers at other tables but displayed arrogant expressions and dismissive behavior toward us.
· As Asian patrons who remained polite throughout, we felt intentionally ignored, suggesting possible racial discrimination.
5. Payment and warning
· I immediately canceled the missing hamburger and chose to leave no tip as a protest against the poor service.
· Formal notice: If the restaurant attempts to add an unauthorized tip to my payment, I will retain evidence and file a complaint with relevant government authorities. We are long-term Asian residents of the Bay Area, fully prepared to pursue this matter with all available resources.
—
Summary:
This experience went beyond simple service failure—it reflected intentional neglect and disrespect toward Asian customers. We urge the management to address such behavior seriously and improve staff training. We hope other customers will speak up against discriminatory treatment if encountered.
… moreDate: January 8, 2026, around 5 PM
Location: Mel’s Drive Inn, 801 Mission St, San Francisco, CA 94103
—
What happened:
1. Ordering process
· My brother and I dined at the restaurant and were served by a Latino male staff member (wearing a white dress shirt, likely a manager).
· I ordered a New York steak and a classic hamburger. The server asked twice for the preferred doneness for both items, and I answered “medium rare” each time.
· When I asked for drink recommendations other than milkshakes, he suggested orange juice and mentioned that strawberry milkshake was the most popular.
2. Unprofessional attitude
· During ordering, I smiled, said “thank you” multiple times, and maintained polite engagement, yet the server appeared confused and impatient.
· Throughout our meal, the employee spent most of his time chatting with other staff near the cash register, showing little attention to customers.
3. Food delay and negligence
· The milkshake, orange juice, and steak were served gradually. After my brother had almost finished the steak, the hamburger was still missing.
· When I asked about the hamburger, the server claimed, “You didn’t order it,” without apologizing or offering to expedite the order, and simply inputted the item coldly.
· Given that he had specifically asked for the hamburger’s doneness earlier, the order was clearly recorded—yet he shifted the blame to us.
4. Discriminatory treatment and racial bias
· The same employee was friendly and attentive to white customers at other tables but displayed arrogant expressions and dismissive behavior toward us.
· As Asian patrons who remained polite throughout, we felt intentionally ignored, suggesting possible racial discrimination.
5. Payment and warning
· I immediately canceled the missing hamburger and chose to leave no tip as a protest against the poor service.
· Formal notice: If the restaurant attempts to add an unauthorized tip to my payment, I will retain evidence and file a complaint with relevant government authorities. We are long-term Asian residents of the Bay Area, fully prepared to pursue this matter with all available resources.
—
Summary:
This experience went beyond simple service failure—it reflected intentional neglect and disrespect toward Asian customers. We urge the management to address such behavior seriously and improve staff training. We hope other customers will speak up against discriminatory treatment if encountered.
Royce Bussey
Went here for the first time on 11/18/25 while in town for Microsoft Ignite. I went back two more times. I didn’t get a pic of my plate the second time, I was so ready to dig in. First day I had 2 eggs, bacon, hash browns, and wheat toast. The second visit I had the same thing, just did it with sausage, and the last visit I had the short stack , eggs, and bacon. The food was really good here. The only complaint, the first time, it look like some burned grill scrapings got in my eggs, but other than that no issue. Service was great, and the food was good. If I’m ever back in San Francisco, I will definitely be going here. I highly recommend checking them out.
… moreAnkur Kumar
Great diner atmosphere with various meal options. We ordered the veggie omelet and the avocado burrito. Both dishes came out fast and fresh. There could have a bit more of seasoning. Nonetheless the portion size was great. The coffee tasted good too.
… moreChiara Rizza
This place felt like one of those classy, movie-style spots—absolutely stunning. The atmosphere inside had a charming retro vibe, everything was beautifully curated, and the food didn’t disappoint. I ordered their gluten-free sandwich, which was excellent. A lovely experience overall!
… moreJ
Today, January 2, 2026, we went to this place and ordered “Chicken Fried Steak,” and the waitress said she would go to the kitchen to ask if they had it. She came back and said yes, they did, so we both ordered that dish… and what a surprise when the dish arrived! It was a piece of ugly fried chicken with a sweet and sour sauce. We ate it, and afterward, we explained to the waitress what a real Chicken Fried Steak is (it’s beef with country gravy). The chicken and the sauce tasted terrible. This is our third negative experience at this restaurant on Mission Street and 4th Street. We will definitely never go back to Mel’s.
… moresnarkyguy
Supposedly they shot a movie here in 1973 (before my time), but this is classic Americana in a diner. The silver accents, 1940’s music, and quick-style breakfast foods that made this sort of establishment popular.
I got the biscuits and gravy with eggs and a hash brown and my wife got the eggs Benedict. Everything was out quick and tasted good.
I liked the experience but the atmosphere outside was a bit unsettling with some homeless people using the toilet on the sidewalk. Not this restaurant’s fault, but it’s the atmosphere you see out the window. Would still come again!
… moreI got the biscuits and gravy with eggs and a hash brown and my wife got the eggs Benedict. Everything was out quick and tasted good.
I liked the experience but the atmosphere outside was a bit unsettling with some homeless people using the toilet on the sidewalk. Not this restaurant’s fault, but it’s the atmosphere you see out the window. Would still come again!
Chasity Phelps
Mel’s was a super fun experience and the authenticity was on point! We all enjoyed the food, and everything was so fresh. The burger was definitely fresh meat, and the fries tasted hand cut. We stumbled across the place as we were exploring the city, but I would absolutely come back!
… more