Original Mel's

C.M Case

My pictures don't do our meals justice. The classic club was excellent and so were my fries dipped in the house ranch. Butter toasted bread, thick carved turkey and thick, cripsy bacon that they didn't skimp on. My hubby enjoyed his cheese steak and steak fries. My root beer float tasted and looked like they use a french vanilla ice cream instead of regular vanilla so it had a stronger vanilla flavor than what I'm used to. But it wasn't bad, just different. Excellent service as well.

A Y

13$ for all of this This the best restaurant around the area I was the first customer and they took care of me I will be back really soon

Kelly Stillman

I stopped here to order the Gilroy with extra extra garlic. Amazingly tasty sandwich and great staff. Thank you Steven and Audrey for amazing service today and last week and I look forward to visiting again

Yh

Highly recommend! Good price but very delicious!!less than 15 usd for per meal I visited here teice. Their food is so good. Ribeye is 22usd and mushroom is so juicy.

Dave Stark

-UPDATE- So, about 10 minutes after I left my review, I got a call from Mel's. They have a brand new cook, and he was unaware that they are supposed to fill the container with fries. They made me a new order and even gave me my money back, which I tried to refuse, but they wouldn't let me. That kind of customer service is unheard of. Awesome job, guys. I can't thank you enough. You got a customer for life. I was seriously disappointed. The last time I was here and got the Philly Steak fries, they were huge. They filled the entire container. This time, they're less than half the size. That was only 3 months ago. Do better Mel's. 😕

Michael Tong

Cool place, good food, decent prices. Similar to Peggy Sue's Diner in Yermo.

Alex

This Mel’s off of I5 in Dunnigan is wonderful! The $12.99 New York steak and eggs was delicious. The waitress was very friendly and the food was fresh and hot.

Raechel W

Absolutely love the aesthetic and vibe of the entire place! The employees are very sweet and conversational. And the BEST part! They have INCREDIBLE cheese steaks!!!! You can't go wrong with coming here for lunch or dinner! 🥖🤤😁

Amber Riggins

I had the steak and egg special with loaded fried potatoes. It was soo good! Highly recommend this restaurant! The menu has so many things to choose from! The atmosphere is fun. The servers were great! 10/10

Simply RAD

Absolutely what I was looking for in a diner! The food was cooked perfectly 👌. The service was very friendly and courteous. Clean diner, dishes, and utensils. A must stop and try! 🌴

Great place to eat. Ordered the shrimp basket an fries. Cooked to perfection, the coleslaw was good too. Great atmosphere, classic old school dinner feel. Highly recommend making the time to stop an eat here, also highly recommend getting Hanks to drink, very good. Best food stop here since pantyhose junction in its hey day!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re ever passing through Dunnigan, do yourself a favor and stop at Mel’s Drive-In—it’s an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with genuine small-town warmth that makes you feel right at home. The staff is not only friendly but truly cares about giving you the best experience. The food? Outstanding. Classic diner favorites, cooked to perfection, with generous portions that leave you more than satisfied. Whether you’re craving a juicy burger, crispy fries, or a hearty breakfast, every bite tastes like it’s made with love. And let’s not forget the milkshakes—thick, creamy, and absolutely worth the stop alone! The atmosphere takes you back to a simpler time—laid-back, cozy, and full of charm. You can tell Mel’s isn’t just a place to eat, it’s a place where locals and travelers alike gather and feel connected. This is the kind of spot that reminds you why diners became American icons in the first place. I’ll definitely be back every time I’m in the area. Thank you, Mel’s, for the amazing food, friendly service, and the heart you put into everything you do. 💛

Jasurjon Zohirov

One of the most delicious steaks I have ever tasted. An excellent establishment with warm, welcoming staff and outstanding food. A truly memorable dining experience.

Chris Lukenbaugh

Great place to eat. Ordered the shrimp basket an fries. Cooked to perfection, the coleslaw was good too. Great atmosphere, classic old school dinner feel. Highly recommend making the time to stop an eat here, also highly recommend getting Hanks to drink, very good. Best food stop here since pantyhose junction in its hey day!!

Alva Sawdy

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ If you’re ever passing through Dunnigan, do yourself a favor and stop at Mel’s Drive-In—it’s an absolute gem! From the moment you walk in, you’re greeted with genuine small-town warmth that makes you feel right at home. The staff is not only friendly but truly cares about giving you the best experience. The food? Outstanding. Classic diner favorites, cooked to perfection, with generous portions that leave you more than satisfied. Whether you’re craving a juicy burger, crispy fries, or a hearty breakfast, every bite tastes like it’s made with love. And let’s not forget the milkshakes—thick, creamy, and absolutely worth the stop alone! The atmosphere takes you back to a simpler time—laid-back, cozy, and full of charm. You can tell Mel’s isn’t just a place to eat, it’s a place where locals and travelers alike gather and feel connected. This is the kind of spot that reminds you why diners became American icons in the first place. I’ll definitely be back every time I’m in the area. Thank you, Mel’s, for the amazing food, friendly service, and the heart you put into everything you do. 💛

Great place to dine for here or to go. Friendly efficient professional staff and a great welcome in greeting will get me every time,excellent customer service March 20,2025 . Ordered the King Phili "South Phili" style-delish! Tots and a drink for $20...you can't beat that! Pics don't do it justice...good,clean,friendly,quick....good job staff ! ...and if you like garbage food,be sure to try the Wendy's or Burger King across the street(both waaaay over priced)...ya-its like that 😉

Rob Prince

Great place to dine for here or to go. Friendly efficient professional staff and a great welcome in greeting will get me every time,excellent customer service March 20,2025 . Ordered the King Phili "South Phili" style-delish! Tots and a drink for $20...you can't beat that! Pics don't do it justice...good,clean,friendly,quick....good job staff ! ...and if you like garbage food,be sure to try the Wendy's or Burger King across the street(both waaaay over priced)...ya-its like that 😉

I stopped at The Original Mel’s & The Cheese Steak Shop in Dunnigan for a late dinner around 8 PM while heading home. The place was mostly empty, which made it easy to get in and settled. What surprised me right away was the setup: you order at the counter like a fast-food spot, then seat yourself, which isn’t what I usually expect from a classic diner. The space itself was clean and well kept, but the overall feel leaned more toward fast food than an old-school sit-down diner, despite the retro styling. I ordered the Classic Melburger with cheese and fries along with a chocolate shake. I was told they often use a robot to deliver food, but that night, a friendly hostess handled it instead. She brought the shake out quickly, and the food followed shortly after. The chocolate shake was the highlight—thick, cold, and topped with plenty of whipped cream and a cherry, as shown in the photos. The burger and fries were fine, but pretty much what you’d expect from a fast-food style kitchen rather than something memorable. This was a straightforward cheeseburger and seasoned fries served hot, but nothing that stood out either way. Overall, it’s a clean and convenient stop right off the highway, which makes sense given its location along I-5 and the steady flow of travelers passing through Dunnigan. That said, the late breakfast opening time feels like a missed opportunity, especially for farmers, truckers, and early commuters who are already on the road well before 7 AM. This is a decent place if you want a quick, familiar meal and a good shake without a long wait. Still, it may disappoint if you’re looking for a more traditional diner experience or something above basic fast-food quality.

Les Day

I stopped at The Original Mel’s & The Cheese Steak Shop in Dunnigan for a late dinner around 8 PM while heading home. The place was mostly empty, which made it easy to get in and settled. What surprised me right away was the setup: you order at the counter like a fast-food spot, then seat yourself, which isn’t what I usually expect from a classic diner. The space itself was clean and well kept, but the overall feel leaned more toward fast food than an old-school sit-down diner, despite the retro styling. I ordered the Classic Melburger with cheese and fries along with a chocolate shake. I was told they often use a robot to deliver food, but that night, a friendly hostess handled it instead. She brought the shake out quickly, and the food followed shortly after. The chocolate shake was the highlight—thick, cold, and topped with plenty of whipped cream and a cherry, as shown in the photos. The burger and fries were fine, but pretty much what you’d expect from a fast-food style kitchen rather than something memorable. This was a straightforward cheeseburger and seasoned fries served hot, but nothing that stood out either way. Overall, it’s a clean and convenient stop right off the highway, which makes sense given its location along I-5 and the steady flow of travelers passing through Dunnigan. That said, the late breakfast opening time feels like a missed opportunity, especially for farmers, truckers, and early commuters who are already on the road well before 7 AM. This is a decent place if you want a quick, familiar meal and a good shake without a long wait. Still, it may disappoint if you’re looking for a more traditional diner experience or something above basic fast-food quality.

The chicken sandwich was good the onion rings were burnt too a crisp not too mention they don't tell you they're will be an additional charge for them. Got attitude of frustration when told them they were not editable replaced with fries but didn't get the 6bucks back. With the prices of stuff now a days I expect better quality of food.

This location is deceptive. It looks like a Resteraunt but it is not. It is a fast food place with tables. The food was okay but had no flavor. Their business model is based on not providing customer service so no tip is needed. The employee was nice and polite. There will likely be plenty of room for you to sit as there was only me and one other customer in the building. My breakfast cost me $25 without tip... If it was a restaurant I wouldn't complain too much but that's quite pricey even for California standards.

Food is pretty expensive and underwhelming more fast food than diner fries were too hard to eat I even paid extra to get gourmet fries I was supposed 2 get fries and coleslaw I guess you pay extra to upgrade the fries wich I get but then I also lose my coleslaw? The fish was super greasy only came here because the taco bell sucked

tabby snell

Food is pretty expensive and underwhelming more fast food than diner fries were too hard to eat I even paid extra to get gourmet fries I was supposed 2 get fries and coleslaw I guess you pay extra to upgrade the fries wich I get but then I also lose my coleslaw? The fish was super greasy only came here because the taco bell sucked

Wayne Baker

This location is deceptive. It looks like a Resteraunt but it is not. It is a fast food place with tables. The food was okay but had no flavor. Their business model is based on not providing customer service so no tip is needed. The employee was nice and polite. There will likely be plenty of room for you to sit as there was only me and one other customer in the building. My breakfast cost me $25 without tip... If it was a restaurant I wouldn't complain too much but that's quite pricey even for California standards.

Waited 40 minutes and received this BEAUTIFUL burger. Inedible. Such a bummer. Last time we were here, it was great, like all the other Mel's and Original Mel's. I can't believe ANY cook would feel ok serving this. Staff, make sure the owners see this. They need more staff if it is to survive.

20 minutes for a skimpy cheese steak. 24 bucks! They ask for tips before making food and youhave to get your own drinks and condiments... never again for me.

James Oathout

Waited 40 minutes and received this BEAUTIFUL burger. Inedible. Such a bummer. Last time we were here, it was great, like all the other Mel's and Original Mel's. I can't believe ANY cook would feel ok serving this. Staff, make sure the owners see this. They need more staff if it is to survive.

Will Baack

20 minutes for a skimpy cheese steak. 24 bucks! They ask for tips before making food and youhave to get your own drinks and condiments... never again for me.

Food was great but pretty pricey. Don't like that they give you a tray with all your drinks to take back to your own table but ask for a tip after placing your order before getting your food. We left a tip regardless because our actual food was brought to us. However, for an expensive sit-down diner other Mels diners have bright out our drinks in addition to our food.

Sharena Ramirez

Food was great but pretty pricey. Don't like that they give you a tray with all your drinks to take back to your own table but ask for a tip after placing your order before getting your food. We left a tip regardless because our actual food was brought to us. However, for an expensive sit-down diner other Mels diners have bright out our drinks in addition to our food.