Although none of the San Francisco locations are actually drive-ins, iconic, retro West Coast diner Mel's Drive-In celebrates the music, food and carhops of the 1950s and 1960s. Mel's son, Steven Weiss, opened the current chain of diners in 1985, but the original Mel's Drive-In on South Van Ness Boulevard dates to 1947. It also served as the inspiration and set for George Lucas' classic 1970s movie American Graffiti — anyone for a double Chubby Chuck? Today, Mel's has locations in both Los Angeles and San Francisco — some booths sport individual jukeboxes filled with throwback rock-n-roll classics. A burger, fries and a milkshake clearly are the holy trinity of the diner. The third-pound burgers include beef, fish or veggie options. Shakes or malts come in flavors such as strawberry, vanilla, pineapple, coffee and classic chocolate. Soups, salads, broiled pork chops, fish and chips, meat loaf, and chili are also available. Breakfast options include house-specialty French toast, freshly baked muffins, buttermilk pancakes, three-egg omelets and corned beef hash.
Kids' menu. Beer and wine available. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Open 24 hours Fri–Sat at Lombard and Mission locations.
" ... When you get that urge for a chocolate shake and banana cream pie at the stroke of midnight -- or when you want to entertain the kids -- no other place in the city comes through like Mel's Drive-In."
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Frommers
Although none of the San Francisco locations are actually drive-ins, iconic, retro West Coast diner Mel's Drive-In celebrates the music, food and carhops of the 1950s and 1960s. Mel's son, Steven Weiss, opened the current chain of diners in 1985, but the original Mel's Drive-In on South Van Ness Boulevard dates to 1947. It also served as the inspiration and set for George Lucas' classic 1970s movie American Graffiti — anyone for a double Chubby Chuck? Today, Mel's has locations in both Los Angeles and San Francisco — some booths sport individual jukeboxes filled with throwback rock-n-roll classics. A burger, fries and a milkshake clearly are the holy trinity of the diner. The third-pound burgers include beef, fish or veggie options. Shakes or malts come in flavors such as strawberry, vanilla, pineapple, coffee and classic chocolate. Soups, salads, broiled pork chops, fish and chips, meat loaf, and chili are also available. Breakfast options include house-specialty French toast, freshly baked muffins, buttermilk pancakes, three-egg omelets and corned beef hash.
Kids' menu. Beer and wine available. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Open 24 hours Fri–Sat at Lombard and Mission locations.
" ... When you get that urge for a chocolate shake and banana cream pie at the stroke of midnight -- or when you want to entertain the kids -- no other place in the city comes through like Mel's Drive-In."
—
Frommers