Mel's Drive-In

From hearty breakfasts to classic diner plates, the menu at Mel’s Drive-In has something for everyone no matter what time of day you stop in. Start your morning with fluffy pancakes, a hearty omelet, or a plate of steak and eggs. For lunch or dinner, you’ll find everything from crisp salads and stacked sandwiches to juicy burgers and homestyle comfort foods like fried chicken, meatloaf, and short ribs. Don’t forget to save room for dessert: especially one of their thick milkshakes. Their signature Penguin milkshake (one of our picks for 20 Best Route 66 Foods to Eat in California), blended with marshmallow and chocolate syrup, is a nostalgic favorite that’s as memorable as the stop itself.

Here are some more highlights from the menu:

Breakfast Favorites

• Avocado Toast: Topped with poached eggs, sea salt, and red pepper flakes.
• Nutella French Toast: With strawberries, bananas, and Nutella drizzle.
• Homemade Corned Beef Hash & Eggs: Served with grilled potatoes or hash browns.
• The Lumber Jack: 3 eggs, ham steak, pancakes, and grilled potatoes.
• El Rancho Breakfast Burrito: Chorizo, eggs, cheddar, salsa, and sour cream.
• Biscuits & Country Gravy: Buttermilk biscuits smothered in house-made gravy.

Omelettes & Scrambles

• Denver Omelette: Ham, Swiss, peppers, onions, and mushrooms.
• Stevens Favorite: Ham, avocado, cheddar, with sour cream on top.
• Elvis Scramble: Chorizo, green chilies, and Monterey Jack cheese.
• Hangover Omelette: Filled with Mel’s famous chili and cheddar cheese.

Starters & Salads

• Short Rib Nachos: Topped with braised short ribs, beans, cheese, salsa, and guac.
• Debbie’s Chili Fries: Loaded with chili and cheese.
• Santa Fe Salad: Chicken breast with avocado, cheese, salsa, and dressing of choice.
• Very Berry Salad: Spinach, strawberries, blueberries, feta, and candied walnuts.

Soups

• Grandma’s Chicken Soup: With noodles, a house favorite.
• Clam Chowder: Friday only, served in a sourdough bread bowl.
• Debbie’s Homemade Texas Chili – A family recipe with onions and cheese.

Burgers & Sliders

• The Famous Melburger: Classic Angus beef burger with cheese and all the fixings.
• Sunset Burger: Topped with bacon, cheddar, and avocado on sourdough.
• R-66 Burger: Angus beef with fried onion strings, cheddar, lettuce, tomato, and Mel’s 1000 Island.
• Short Rib Slider: Braised short rib with pickles and horseradish aioli.
• Impossible Burger: A vegan option with fresh veggies on whole wheat.

Sandwiches

• Mel’s 3-Deck Club: Turkey, bacon, lettuce, and tomato on toasted sourdough.
• Short Rib Grilled Cheese: Gooey cheese and braised short ribs on sourdough.
• Reuben Sandwich: Corned beef, sauerkraut, 1000 Island, and melted Jack cheese.
• Creole Fried Chicken Sandwich: Buttermilk fried chicken with coleslaw, mustard, and pickles.
• French Dip: Thin-sliced roast beef on a baguette with au jus.

Dinner Plates

• Mel’s Southern Fried Chicken: Crispy, juicy, with fries, slaw, and a roll.
• Slow Braised Short Rib Dinner: With mashed potatoes, vegetables, and demi-glace.
• All American Meat Loaf: Served with mashed potatoes, veggies, and gravy.
• Grilled Fresh Atlantic Salmon: With asparagus and rice pilaf.
• Homemade Turkey Dinner: With stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, and veggies.

Sides

• American Fries, Sweet Potato Fries, Onion Rings, Mac & Cheese, Coleslaw, Quinoa Salad.

Fountain & Desserts

• Thick Milkshakes & Malts: Chocolate, vanilla, strawberry, Oreo, banana, and more.
• Spiked Milkshakes: Like the Caramel Dream (with bourbon sake).
• Mel’s Deluxe Sundaes: Hot fudge, caramel, or strawberry.
• Banana Split: Classic diner treat.
• Homemade Pies & Cakes: Apple, cherry, berry, chocolate fudge cake, cheesecake, and more.

Juice & Smoothie Bar

• Popeye Power Juice: Spinach, kale, parsley, celery, apple, and lemon.
• Hangover Helper: Orange, apple, turmeric, ginger, and lemon.
• Pink Panther Smoothie: Dragonfruit, mango, strawberry, banana, and coconut water.
• The Wake Up Smoothie: Peanut butter, banana, coffee, and almond milk.

Drinks

• Classic sodas, lemonade, iced tea, hot chocolate, espresso drinks, and nitro cold brew.
• Craft Beers: Including Santa Monica Brew Works Route 66 Blonde Ale and Firestone 805.
• Wine & Champagne: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet, and Mimosas.