Amazing Chicago dog! I think the basket was a bit disproportionate if you want more hot dog and less fries, I'd opt for the 1/4 lb version and maybe share the basket of fries with someone because I was more than satisfied with them and still threw half away. Super busy, vibrant restaurant with very energetic workers. The food is awesome, better than others I have eaten in the area, and if you love them, you can even get a souvenir shirt of your voyage to this Tampa staple that locals have loved for decades! I highly recommend to anyone looking for a great Hotdog! They even serve Italian beef sandwiches, doughnuts and more! It really felt like good old American food with a lot of history, kind of like a family environment
Great, as always. Mel's Hot Dogs is legendary and lives up to its reputation. Chili dog today. Marvelous!
I am not a hot dog person, but I do like trying well-established places that are not big chains. I came here with my husband and a friend, both of whom love hot dogs. Do not take my preference discourage a visit because I am picky when it comes to hot dogs. The few times I do eat hot dogs, they are all beef or otherwise kosher. In that regard, Mel's was good. The relish is such a vibrant green, like lime jello or grass, but it is good. My friend had the slaw dog and Mel's special and said they were both really good but the special was better. My husband enjoyed his chili dog.The fries were also great! I love fries, so I was happy eating them. I'm sure we will be back at some point in the future, and I can try one of the other sandwiches.TL,DR: Would I recommend? Yes, even if you don't like hot dogs (they have other menu items). Would I return? Yes.
Great vibes here and hot dogs beat my dreams! Stopped by here after Busch Gardens and so happy i did. Friend told me about this place. Thank you!!!
I’ve been going here since I was a child. It is still the same 20+ years later. It’s a classic hot dog, chili dog, Vienna sausage joint with a diner theme inside. Get the chili dog the way they recommend it!
One of the best local restaurants around. The employees are friendly and amazing. The hot dogs are high quality and delicious. My favorites are the Chicago Style and Chili Cheese dogs. You can also order the fries with chili and cheese, I highly recommend this as they are the best around. If you are planning a trip to Busch Gardens it's a great place to stop as it is located right next to the park.
This locations whole staff are always on their game! The food is amazing every time.? They're the fastest fast food restaurant I've ever been to. I love how clean this place is too. ? You can see they all work on a team. The cashiers are always very nice, cheerful and informative. I just love going here!??
Enjoyed trying Mel's after spending the day at Busch Gardens. My husband and I both got the chilli dog basket. The bun, fries and toppings were fresh and delicious (the bun was so fresh and soft it really is what I remember most). I'm not a huge fan of boiled hot dogs which made the hot dog a little bit tougher to chew. I also did try the Cole slaw, was basic creamy dressing without much flavor; wouldn't really recommend for the extra cost. This will definitely be a place we stop at Busch Gardens to try different types of hot dog toppings.
I was properly greeted at the front door and treated like you really want to be by the entire staff. A Chicago dog, fries and 2 sweet teas later and I'm writing this review thinking that Mel and his staff set the bar damn high here on East Busch Blvd in Tampa, Florida!!Well done Mel, well done!!The food was prepared quickly and was spot on!!!(Trouble)
I definitely enjoyed this place! It really reminded me of Chicago, they had the famous hot dog photo! The food reminded me of how Chicago Italian Beefs and Sauages are! If you’re missing the Chicago was of doing things, I believe that this is the perfect place to get a taste of home!As far as flavor goes, it was wonderful! Make this your family fun spot and enjoy some great food!