Mel's Hot Dogs - Hot dog restaurant in Tampa - 4136 E Busch Blvd, USA

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!