Local and been going here for over 20 years. Always friendly, efficient staff and Mel even drops in now and again. Clean and inviting. The best hotdogs. I get the Mighty Mel basket, it's a good deal. Sometimes I even drop by to get a portion of their cole slaw to go. Really, this place elevates hotdogs to a real treat and I will always come here.
I loved the food. I had the bacon cheese hotdog with the hot peppers. Yummy. My husband had the fried chicken sandwich. My mother in law had the Rueben dog and my father in law had the Chicago dog and Mel’s special dog. They said it was yummy too. I recommend this place. Great food, great atmosphere, and great customer service.
Excellent, the food was great. Comfortable seating's. Very Friendly Staff. I recommend this place to anyone.
Hands down the best dogs in Tampa. Can you really compare an all beef Vienna dog with your average hot dog stand? The options are endless and the quality is unmatched. If you haven’t been, go. If you haven’t been in a while, go. If you’re currently going, continue to go. 5 stars all day.
Great people, great food ... get "The Special" and then go back and get one "your way." Don't forget the fries ... best "plain" fries I think I've had, and the chili-cheese fries are fantastic!
Absolutely the best hot dogs!! This is one of Tampa’s gems, I’ve been going since I was a little girl and have only had wonderful experiences. We love taking out of town guests for a fun nostalgic local place.
Mel’s is a Tampa icon. The quality of the food is incredible and always consistent. You can’t go wrong with a warm, poppyseed bun.
As a child to now, one of my favorite parts of going to Mel’s is seeing customers’ travels framed on the walls when they have taken Mel’s memorabilia along. Such a wonderful place.
The hot dog was amazing and the fries were the best i have ever had. They were cooked to perfection and lightly salted. I didnt need ketchup for them i loved the way they tasted. I live in mississippi and wish they were there so i could eat there more often
We always stopped here after our Adventure island trips all the time every summer. Now I'm here with my grand daughters! Starting a new tradition! Love, love , love this place! Jessica was awesome yesterday! Oh, and I remember coming here when it was just the little place, way back in the day! Gosh, how long ago was that!
There is no better hidden treasure in Tampa than Mel’s! My favorite is a Chicago dog!
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I was born and raised in Tampa, I even spent most of my adult life in the area. I’ve always known Mel’s was in my nearby, however, it still took me four decades to step foot in the door. On 12/24/23, I finally did it. Walking through the front door confirmed my suspicions, Mel’s was a well preserved nostalgic blast from the 70’s past; I smiled from ear to ear as the folks behind the counter welcomed me in. The menu was rather larger, but after a few minutes, I landed on the Chicago style dog with fries and a Coke. WOW! The dog was unbelievably good. The seeded bun was soft, warm and fresh and the frank had that snap when you bite into it. The fries were also fresh and perfectly golden brown and salted. I finished the Chicago dog in the blink of an eye; I had to try something else on the menu. So, I ordered the Mel’s Special which was also very enjoyable. I’ll continue to beat myself up for not visiting Mel’s sooner in life, oh how I’ve missed out. I look forward to visiting again soon to explore more of the menu!
Amazing dogs. The service was very good too. I enjoyed the quality bun along with the dog, a medium drink, and fries for a little over 10$! Kids get a gummy hot dog along with the kids meal. The condiment selection was sublime. If you want a great hot dog, I’d highly recommend this place.
The best hot dogs around for 50 years now!
I've been coming here for 25 years and each time, it's been a good experience. The employees are friendly and helpful, the prices are reasonable and the hot dogs are outstanding!
If you're feeling hungry, make sure to upgrade your dog to a 1/4 lb Mighty Mel - the small upcharge is worth it and it'll fill you up when paired with the fresh, hot fries.
Amazing hot dog store. Delicious hot dogs with excellent fries. The staff are delightful and helpful. The decor just adds to the experience. Why would you go to a chain when fantastic independent stores like this exist.
Perfect for a post-Busch meal.
The perfect classic hot dog experience in an adorable old fashioned diner setting. The day we were there Mel was there too! He was wearing these adorable hot dog print shorts and happily handing out cake pops in celebration of the restaurant’s 50th anniversary! Seeing him there and interacting with customers after all these years was so cool. I get in a hot dog mood when very once in a while and this hit the spot 🥰
Bratwurst always are delicious. We are always Happy to see when Jessica is working . It was crowded but the employees work quickly. Good quality ingredients.
Mel's is a great old Florida hotdog and hamburger joint that does a pretty good Chicago style hotdog. Mel's been around for decades and although Mel has recently sold the restaurant, the food hasn't changed. If you're in the area near Busch Gardens, stop in and treat yourself to a one-of-a-kind experience.
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1st time visitor, made it a point to do so once we heard this long time institution would soon be undergoing a change of hands. Between myself and my wife, we got a Fire Dog, Chili Dog, cheeseburger, fries and onion rings. The fire dog is a spicy number, kicked with cayenne in the beef sausage and small but mighty sport peppers, kissed with sweetness from grilled onions and red peppers. My ONLY complaint was chewy, slightly toothsome bread without much flavor. The answer to that, my wife ordered the fire dog itself on the regular hot dog bun, it was DELISH. The chili is really good, reminds me of my home state of NC a little❤️, rich in flavor but not overpowering. The hot dog itself was meaty and perfectly salty but would benefit from a hard sear or fry to really bring out that skin snap. That cheeseburger... y'all, NEVER getting a cheeseburger from anywhere else! That flamed grilled flavor is front and center, the patty was juicy and was set off with a colorful mix of condiments, that cartoon green relish💚, ketchup, mustard, mayo and chopped onions and pickles with THEE most perfectly toasted bun, a slept on kaiser roll was king in the time of brioche saturation. Lastly, the fries and onion rings were on point, contrasting between salted crisp/fluffy potato goodness and crunchy, sweet onion joy! It was clear walking in that the neighborhood loves this place and I pray it continues to serve the same high quality, delicious food, can't wait to go back! Mel, you really did something great here, thank you for it the right way, it shows! Enjoy your retirement!
1st time for us and will definitely be visiting again. Great experience. Chili cheese fries are amazing as was the other food we ordered.
Mel retired last week, and the love and work he put into his beloved Mels lives on with his original staff who are determined to continue the fabulous tradition of a fun place to have a delicious fresh hotdog and fries in a warm and friendly 1950's parlor vibe atmosphere.
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