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Original Mels Express
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Alameda

Original Mels Express

★★★★ 4.2 · 0 reseñas

En Original Mels Express, te invitamos a viajar en el tiempo y disfrutar de la auténtica cocina americana reconfortante, servida con generosas porciones y un toque de nostalgia retro. Ubicados en Alameda, nuestro diner te ofrece una experiencia única donde la buena comida y el am...

Original Mels Express

Fast food · Alameda

4.2 · 1,694 reviews Google
originalmels.com
Yelp 3.5 (492) Uber Eats 4.5 (900)

About Original Mels Express

En Original Mels Express, te invitamos a viajar en el tiempo y disfrutar de la auténtica cocina americana reconfortante, servida con generosas porciones y un toque de nostalgia retro. Ubicados en Alameda, nuestro diner te ofrece una experiencia única donde la buena comida y el ambiente acogedor se u...

En Original Mels Express, te invitamos a viajar en el tiempo y disfrutar de la auténtica cocina americana reconfortante, servida con generosas porciones y un toque de nostalgia retro. Ubicados en Alameda, nuestro diner te ofrece una experiencia única donde la buena comida y el ambiente acogedor se unen para crear momentos inolvidables. ¡Ven a descubrir por qué nuestros clientes nos dan una valoración de 4.2/5!

What Customers Say About Original Mels Express

Original Mels Express in Alameda is a popular diner known for its retro 50s/60s vibe, friendly staff (like Vanessa, Oyuki, and Martin), and large portions. Customers rave about the burgers, fries, and breakfast options. Be prepared to wait for a table as it fills up quickly.

Popular Dishes

fries (5) burgers (5) breakfast (4) cheeseburger chili burger seafood platter club sandwich

Best For

Families Groups Casual Brunch Late Night

Tip: This place fills up fast, so be prepared to wait before getting seated. It's a great spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with plenty of options to choose from.

Features

📶 WiFi 🅿️ Parking 🚗 Delivery Accessible 🌅 Breakfast 🍽️ Lunch 🌙 Dinner Coffee
🎯 Casual 🛋️ Cozy Trendy 👥 Groups

What to see nearby

Halcyon Park
A 725m

Halcyon Park

parque

View details
Toyon Park
A 900m

Toyon Park

parque

View details
Heath Park
A 946m

Heath Park

parque

View details

Data from Wikidata

Explore the area around Original Mels Express

Original Mels Express is located in Alameda, surrounded by cultural and historical points of interest. Here are some of the most notable places nearby.

Parks & Gardens

  • Halcyon Park (A 725m) — park in Alameda County, California, United States of America
  • Toyon Park (A 900m) — park in Alameda County, California, United States of America
  • Heath Park (A 946m) — park in Alameda County, California, United States of America

Data from Wikidata

Frequently asked questions about Original Mels Express

Original Mels Express is located at 15011 Hesperian Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94578, Alameda.
Near Original Mels Express you can find points of interest such as Halcyon Park, Toyon Park, Heath Park.
Original Mels Express offers fast_food cuisine.
Original Mels Express has regular opening hours. Check their profile for updated schedules.
Original Mels Express offers the following services: dine-in, takeaway, delivery.
The most recommended dishes at Original Mels Express based on customer reviews are: fries, burgers, breakfast, cheeseburger, chili burger.
Original Mels Express is ideal for families, groups, casual dining, brunch, late night.
Original Mels Express in Alameda is a popular diner known for its retro 50s/60s vibe, friendly staff (like Vanessa, Oyuki, and Martin), and large portions. Customers rave about the burgers, fries, and breakfast options. Be prepared to wait for a table as it fills up quickly.
This place fills up fast, so be prepared to wait before getting seated. It's a great spot for breakfast, lunch, and dinner with plenty of options to choose from.
1,694
Reviews

Original Mels Express Alameda Reviews

4.2
1,694
5★
54%
4★
26%
3★
11%
2★
4%
1★
5%
J
J.P. Wegener

Love the classic Mels Diner design and food — lots of options, I got the Chili Melburger with Fries. The waiter and cashier were friendly and nice. Recommend.

Geo W
Geo W

A nice place for a meal. Really interesting old school vibe. There's even an old jukebox on every table. But I'm not sure if it works.

Zan B
Zan B

My nephew and I were greeted right away when we walked in, and the whole place instantly felt welcoming. The 1950s diner vibe was awesome. There was even a jukebox, and a lot of cool 1950s memorabilia. You could tell a lot of thought went into this place. The food was great, but honestly the staff were just as memorable. I ordered a club sandwich, and it was genuinely the best one I’ve ever had (which says a lot because it’s my go-to sandwich and I’ve had it all over the country). My nephew got chicken nuggets and fries and loved them and they even served his food in a little Christmas sleigh. Which was his favorite, he still has it filled with his other toys. They also brought us a scoop of ice cream in a classic 1950s-style glass with whipped cream, peanuts, chocolate sauce, and an Oreo on top. It felt thoughtful and nostalgic, not overdone. The staff were incredibly kind and attentive, and our waiter went out of his way to make sure we were taken care of. We’ll definitely be back, and I’d absolutely recommend this place.

Jim Sly
Jim Sly

We had a fantastic time. It is special if you remember the television show Alice. This is an authentic 1960s American diner. The food was great. If you like burgers, malted shakes, and other American diner style food, this is the place for you. I look forward to stopping here whenever we're in the area.

Stan
Stan

The steak 🥩 you can almost eat it with a spoon 🥄 it's so good. Everything else on the plate 🍽️ is a wing to fly on 🪽

Sabrina Padilla
Sabrina Padilla

Our server was great! The food was great! We will definitely make it a must stop on our next pass through!

Trichell Spikes
Trichell Spikes

I expected much less for this little diner but I was far from disappointed. The crispness of the chicken fried steak was superb, and the flavor was the flavor of my childhood. The gravy was thick and paired well with the potato’s too. My only disappointment was the biscuits and gravy because the style of biscuits were not my favorite and they did not soak up the gravy in the least bit. However, I look forward to eating here again. Service was 10/10.

Ajinkya Taware
Ajinkya Taware

My friend got the meal deal for $18, which is slightly on the expensive side. Chicken steak and eggs and hash browns. Taste is just as you expect. The portion size is decent.

paulwarm121982
paulwarm121982

The food was great, portions were huge! The prices were fair as well. Our server was good and visited at a proper rate. But the star of the show is the throwback look and decor. Pictured is the Hangover, 2 huge biscuits, sausage patties, bacon, sausage gravy and scrambled eggs.

Pamela A Goodwin
Pamela A Goodwin

We came here for brunch and to eat light. There was no way upon walking in shortly after 1:00 p.m. the menu offers so many choices for breakfast lunch and dinner. The bathrooms were clean. The food came quick and hot in the service was friendly and professional.

Molly Q
Molly Q

Has a variety of options from breakfast to dinner and desert. The food is good! So whatever your craving, there's something there for you. Martin is a great waiter. He's kind and friendly. We go in big groups and he's patience when we order. This is a nice place to hang out.

M
Melanie L.

This is my go-to place at work. The burgers are made of quality beef. I often get the seafood platter. Oyuki, one of the servers, is so friendly.The people who work here are really nice. That is a gr…

M
Melanie L.

This is my go-to place at work. The burgers are made of quality beef. I often get the seafood platter. Oyuki, one of the servers, is so friendly.The people who work here are really nice. That is …

M
Melanie L.

This is my go-to place at work. The burgers are made of quality beef. I often get the seafood platter. Oyuki, one of the servers, is so friendly.The people who work here are really nice. That is a …

G
Gayle

Had a great meal at Mels. The food was good and the fries were amazing. Plenty of options to choose between. There were 11 family members dining together. The best part of the meal was the outstandin…

G
Gayle

Had a great meal at Mels. The food was good and the fries were amazing. Plenty of options to choose between. There were 11 family members dining together. The best part of the meal was the outsta…

G
Gayle

Had a great meal at Mels. The food was good and the fries were amazing. Plenty of options to choose between. There were 11 family members dining together. The best part of the meal was the outstand…

J
Justin G.

First time giving this place a try. Had the chorizo skillet. The decor, the food, the service. It was perfect

E
Evangelene G.

This place fills up fast. Be prepared to wait before getting seated. \n\nWe were here for breakfast and it did not disappoint. Food came out quickly and staff was always checking on us.\n\nI would …

E
Evangelene G.

This place fills up fast. Be prepared to wait before getting seated. \n\nWe were here for breakfast and it did not disappoint. Food came out quickly and staff was always checking on us.\n\nI would …

E
Evangelene G.

This place fills up fast. Be prepared to wait before getting seated. \n\nWe were here for breakfast and it did not disappoint. Food came out quickly and staff was always checking on us.\n\nI would …

R
Rudy M.

The food and services wee both exceptional. I would definitely recommend if you're looking for a good place to have breakfast!

R
Ross P.

Got the cheeseburger and the club sandwich with a side of garlic fries. Delicious! The burger was juicy, the sandwich was fresh, and the fries were crispy and super tasty! Our waitress (Cathy?) m…

R
Ross P.

Got the cheeseburger and the club sandwich with a side of garlic fries. Delicious! The burger was juicy, the sandwich was fresh, and the fries were crispy and super tasty! Our waitress (Cathy?) m…

S
Su J.

Vanessa was our server and she was so accommodating and nice. She made sure we had everything we needed.\nWe had burgers and they were excellent. The chili burger was terrific. Fries and pickle…

S
Su J.

Vanessa was our server and she was so accommodating and nice. She made sure we had everything we needed.\nWe had burgers and they were excellent. The chili burger was terrific. fries and pickle to …

R
Rick P.

As diners go, this is a good one. Always clean inside, friendly wait staff and a cozy, retro feel. Mel's pays homage to the 50's and 60's with the decor and juke box table set. Food is good enoug…

lalita capers
lalita capers

The Breakfast was amazing. I had lunch here before and it was great. Wanted to come back to try Breakfast and it is my birthday today. The birthday sundae they gave me was delicious

Michael Nader Musleh
Michael Nader Musleh

I liked it, service is real good and the servers know their job and are very pleasant.

Mario Wright
Mario Wright

One of my favorite diners in the East Bay. They have a large menu and the food is always great. Excellent breakfast and lunch options. Also salads and meals more on the light side.

Clara Diaz
Clara Diaz

This is a cool vintage style dinner. There is a large menu and many drink options. I really enjoyed the vibe of the place.

Katherine Flores (myapathyisHis)
Katherine Flores (myapathyisHis)

I went to The Original Mel's Diner recently solely based off the pictures I had seen online. I'm a sucker for diner atmospheres and the food looked really tasty! It was also Canada day (I'm Canadian) so I was looking for a place that would possibly be able to recreate one of our delicacies: poutine (fries, cheese and gravy)! Something that I'm sure other places could do, however, brown gravy (not the gravy you use for biscuits and gravy) was needed and I had seen in pictures that it was available at this location. The atmosphere itself was exactly what I'd want from a diner. A large juke box as soon as you walk in along with the sound of classic tunes from times past playing throughout the diner. More over there was paraphernalia from various time eras in the past strewn about the walls that I had a blast looking over. At pretty well each table there was a mini functional jukebox that you could flip through to choose 2 different songs for just 1 dollar. Sadly, mine and my husband's juke box wouldn't allow us to flip through and view all the songs it had as this feature was broken, however, we still were able to pay the dollar and play 2 classic songs I love. Along with the "broken" jukebox the booth we were in had a flickering light that really irritated my husband however, both these things were not enough to ask to be moved. If I could I'd rate the atmosphere 4.5/5 I would simply because of these things! As for the service and food: we didn't have to wait long to be seated and our waitress was very kind. We ordered a cheesesteak sandwich along with my poutine and let her know we were going to split it. The food arrived relatively quickly and was HUGE for what you pay. Our waitress also provided us with double the plates so we could easily split the food without us having to ask for them which was sweet. We also ordered a peach lemonade that she requested and though she forgot it at first, she quickly realized she had and brought it over without as having to remind her. Taste wise we enjoyed everything. It's very much a home-cooked type meal and some of the ingredients weren't overly fancy, but tasty none the less, which is why I'd rate the food 4.5/5. I really look forward to trying other items on their menu! Overall it was a great place to celebrate Canada Day and I look forward to going again sometime.

Marcus Pun
Marcus Pun

Strange, I thought I reviewed this ages ago. Oh well. We've been going here for years and while not frequently it's definitely one of our go-to destinations. Tonight, we both had the chef salad and we split an order of onion rings. By the way, these are substantial onion rings with onion that you can actually see and chew on. Unlike some places where the onion seems to disappear once it's been battered and fried. Chef salad was generous in portion and pretty darn good. If I was to suggest something, it would be maybe steam the hard-boiled eggs and don't cook them so long. Other than that it was all fine. Service by the way has always been really nice here. The staff is friendly and very helpful.

Y
Yevonne J.

At first I was a little weary about going here but once I had munchie craving I couldn't help myself lol! They are open late night have breakfast a dinner & lunch, my fave is the club sandwich YUMM…

C
Connie H.

We ordered from the San Leandro Mel's via Door Dash. I ordered the breakfast burrito and a tomato juice.\n\nThe tomato juice was more like flavorless tomato water. It was so awful I had to pour…

Bishal pokhrel
Bishal pokhrel

Me and my partner went for a nice dinner, and the food kinda turned off the mood. Although it was on a weekday and the place was not busy, I ordered a medium well steak, and it was burnt. Salmon was dry, and the prawns had no flavor. The only thing we liked was the corn bread. The service was OK. Would not recommend.

Grand Old Soul
Grand Old Soul

Mel's old classical diner. Love the atmosphere in the restaurant. Old signs, tables floor tiles , and a jukebox. Staff was attentive and friendly. Owner was mean mugging 😠😆 . Food was a 5 at best. I expected more. Not as pricey as other places. I would come back again but not a first choice.

argh c
argh c

The shakes are especially good here with a large selection and noticeable ingredients that have not been blendered into anonymity. The diner food is hearty and filling if priced a bit more upscale. Our table did *not* have a jukebox so I don’t know if they are merely decorative or actually functional. The kids entirely missed the point and significance of the “American Graffiti”/George Lucas decor so how long that will continue to be a selling feature...?

K
Kevin P.

They should at least wash the ingredients before cooking, with this situation, we realize they don't wash the ingredients, that's why they didn't notice the food had mold

A
Alondra M.

service?? No service i wated to get a table that's no a problem the problem was that it was it they forgot about me no coffee no we'll e with you a d a moment nothing wait about 15 minutes no cof…

A
Alondra M.

Service?? No service i wated to get a table that's no a problem the problem was that it was it they forgot about me no coffee no we'll e with you a d a moment nothing wait about 15 minutes no coffe…

A
Alondra M.

Service?? No service i wated to get a table that's no a problem the problem was that it was it they forgot about me no coffee no we'll e with you a d a moment nothing wait about 15 minutes no coff…

M
Marion E.

Surprisingly, the food was decent. The service was OK. Place was clean. Why the one star rating? I ordered a breakfast with decaf coffee. It's now 1 o'clock in the morning and my heart is still bea…

p
pat obrien

Terrible service. The waitress was decently respectful but the young boy was extremely rude as I called out to him as he walked by our table to ask him a question and he completely ignored us and just kept walking. The hamburger meat was not seasoned at all and tasted bland. We won't be back....

Raulie Soto
Raulie Soto

Long time customer, I go there once or twice a month with my wife and always leave a generous tip (normally $20). Tonight I had a terrible experience. First my waitress seemed like she wanted to be any where but there (very unfriendly) and second the fries I received look like what was left at the bottom of the bag. I didn't touch them, but I called over the waitress and asked if I could get them replaced. She asked the manager Vanessa and with out looking at them, she said NO, but said that if I wasn't happy with those I could purchase some others. I then asked the waitress to show her them, she took my plate, showed the fries and the manager glanced at it and said NO again that they looked fine (many fries were short and over cooked). Overall truth is that the food is just okay, not as good as Black Bear, Sizzles, Harry's Hofbrau, Manor Grill or Elios. But has a nice 50's vibe. Again, it was such a bad experience I don't think I'll ever go back. I'm going to call corporate Monday and share my experience with them.

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About Original Mels Express

How to get there

15011 Hesperian Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94578

Alameda, CA 94578

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Original Mels Express
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Highlights

Good Rating
4.2/5 stars
💬
Many Reviews
1694 reviews
💰
Moderate Price
Price level
👨‍🍳
fast_food
Cuisine type

Services

🥞 Breakfast
🥐 Brunch
🍽️ Lunch
🍾 Dinner
Coffee
🍰 Desserts
🥡 Takeout
🚚 Delivery
🍴 Dine-in

Dining Options

🍽️ Dine In
🥡 Takeout
🚚 Delivery

Restaurant Info

Status
Verified by owner
🕐 Hours Today
7AM-10PM
Rating
4.2/5
💬 Reviews
1,694
💰 Price Level
$$
📞 Phone
+1 510-878-1144
🌐 Website
originalmels.com

Amenities

📶 Free WiFi
🅿️ Parking
Wheelchair Accessible
🚻 Restroom
💳 Credit Cards
📱 Mobile Payments
🏘️

The Neighborhood

Location

15011 Hesperian Blvd, San Leandro, CA 94578

Alameda, CA 94578

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Halcyon Park

park in Alameda County, California, United States of America

A 725m
Toyon Park

park in Alameda County, California, United States of America

A 900m
Heath Park

park in Alameda County, California, United States of America

A 946m
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