Mels Drive-In Hollywood - Los Angeles (CA)

3 /5 Jayden Kusuma: Interesting, historic, fun place, with the friendliest staff I could ever meet and great experience overall. However, the food is quite terrible compared to other diners (even Denny’s or IHOP). Portions were very generous with lots of fries for sure, but the main dish itself is rather underwhelming. My southern fried chicken order was just fried chicken, which isn’t bad but just underwhelming. The dinner roll they provided was rather cold and hard. The biscuits and gravy were biscuits and gravy but the gravy was just too sickening. Love the chili dog which wasn’t on the menu, and the chili fries. Couldn’t praise the waitress enough for the American hospitality I can’t find anywhere else. Parking is rather expensive at $20 with Mel’s validation, even though I’m quite sure it’s their lot, understandable considering it’s right next to the hollywood tourist destinations. Food is also expensive compared to others of its kind, which is still fair considering its strategic proximity to Hollywood itself.

3 /5 Jamal Hoye: We stopped by Mel’s Diner before seeing a Jimmy Kimmel taping, mostly because of its iconic reputation. The ambiance definitely delivers classic décor and a fun, nostalgic vibe. As for the food, it’s solid but nothing out of the ordinary. The patty melt was the standout and genuinely delicious. My girlfriend’s BLT was a bit underwhelming, though still enjoyable. Overall, Mel’s is worth a visit for the ambiance and the experience, but for the price point, there are definitely other spots we’d try before returning.

4 /5 Roobik Pro: I recently visited Mel’s Drive-In in Hollywood. It’s a cozy, classic spot with a nostalgic atmosphere that takes you back in time. The vintage décor and overall vibe are very charming, and it’s a nice place to enjoy a meal or a drink. However, after so many years of operation, it seems that some parts of the service and maintenance have declined a bit. The table we were seated at wasn’t very clean, which affected the overall impression. Also, the servers didn’t have a specific uniform, and that made the place feel a little less organized and professional. Still, I enjoyed the experience overall — the location, history, and ambiance make it worth a visit, especially if you like old Hollywood diners.

2 /5 Adrian C.L.: For a place that’s been serving Hollywood since 1947, you’d expect Mel’s Drive-In to have flavor figured out by now. Unfortunately, what a massive letdown. We ordered four different meals, and every single one tasted like the seasoning took the night off. The Jalapeño Burger and Patty Melt had patties as bland as plain bread, and even the ranch couldn’t help since it was watered down and just as flavorless. The short rib nachos? Same story. And I truly didn’t think it was possible to mess up French toast, but here we are. We were excited for dessert based on the menu descriptions, but after the disappointing entrees, there was no saving throw left to make. We skipped it entirely. To be fair, our waitress was very sweet and provided great service. The cashier, however, looked like saying “hello” and “thank you” would have been too big of an ask. Overall, Mel’s looks like Hollywood nostalgia, but the food needs some serious seasoning and the experience fell flat. Disappointing visit.

5 /5 bartika dutta: Tucked near the Walk of Fame, this place delivers exactly what you hope for when you step into a classic diner – hearty portions, and that timeless charm that never tries too hard. The chocolate milkshake was thick, and crowned with the cherry-and-cream flourish. The avocado toast tasted fresh, and thoughtfully made. Add to that a lightning-fast , genuinely kind server, and a pup who felt just as welcome as we did, and you’ve got a spot that understands hospitality. The tables also have jukeboxes where you can drop in a coin, and listen to a song of your choice. And those candy-apple red leather chairs? Instant joy. They whisper stories of early mornings, and countless satisfied diners. Five stars also for the strangers who stopped to make our pup feel like a Hollywood A-lister.