Mel's Hot Dogs

Reviews

• SZ

  Sean Z

  Feb 20, 2026
  1.0
  We stopped by Mel’s Hot Dogs before heading to Busch Gardens with high expectations, especially since it’s so close by and has a great reputation. Honestly, I would have been better off just eating inside the park lol. Our order for 3 people took a little over 30 minutes. When I got the food to our table we noticed few items from our order were missing. When I pointed it out, I was asked for my receipt. (I did not print my receipt to save paper - my mistake ) they had to look up my name and print the receipt to prove to themselves that they were in fact wrong. Hotdog didn’t even seem like an all beef hotdog, kinda low quality, thin, pale pink, and completely lacking any snap. It tasted and looked like a longer version of a canned Vienna possibly even thinner. The fact that they seem to pride themselves on Chicago style using chopped tomatoes rather than a half moon cut is criminal. I watched them microwave both the hot dogs and sausages, and everything else seemed to come straight from freezer bags, including the corn dog. Such a letdown. Overall, the restaurant has a really cool, retro vibe but ends there.A yeah, I was like hey, like coleslaw he asked if I wanted genuine blast from the past. Too bad you do not get a blast from the past with the food quality. nothing like the classics. Very underwhelming for a spot that’s supposed to be a Tampa icon.
• ET

  Elaine Taylor

  Feb 16, 2026
  5.0
  Just want to Thank Jessica the Manager. She's always kind and caring and makes your visits to Mel's great.
• BJ

  Bernice Jensen

  Feb 11, 2026
  5.0
  Service was fast around lunch time. There were only a few other customers at the time. Tasty broccoli cheese soup and chili dog was quick lunch.
• CR

  Chris Rambeau

  Feb 9, 2026
  4.0
  Awesome dogs here if you can think of it they can make it 😀. Better to order in person then online though cause they seem to mess up on the Slaw dog everytime
• PS

  Phillip Shadid

  Feb 3, 2026
  3.0
  Place has lost some of it's quality since it was sold. The fries were flapping in the wind, like a dancing noodle at a car lot. I mean I got home and put them in the air fryer for another 10 mins... I mean it's not the end of the world, and i'd some-what understand if it was busy and they were trying to get the orders out quickly. But it wasn't busy at all. I also understand moving items on and off the menu, price change, etc, etc. But cutting the menu in half? Mel's has always been super amazing. You don't need to change what works.. Been going there since the 80's and will continue. The hotdogs are the best in Tampa, the chili is really good, especially dipping CRISPY fries in it. Not flappy potatoes.