This place is about as dingy, dark and greazy as they come and most would be scared to eat here, but fuck it....I'm not most people. I have lived in Logan Square all my life and this place has been here for a long time and I hope it stays.
2 hot dogs, fries and a drink for $3.99.....aiight.
Grab a pizza puff while you're there....you're not a true Chicagoan if you don't like pizza puffs. They are delicious deep fried pizza in a blanket. You're heart WON'T thank you for it.
Solid lunch joint. lot of neighborhood character. I liked that it wasn't sterilized. I got the chili dog it was good. I wish they didn't put nacho cheese on by default since it's advertised as just "chili dog". My only other complaint is that they just have Fox News on all the time. Ewwww
Review Source:All the locals told me, "Little Mel's is kinda greasy and dumpy, but their pizza puffs are awesome."
This place reminded me of many a burger dive back home in Los Angeles, and anyone from LA will tell you that the frumpiest burger joints often have the best food. I was told that if I go to Chicago and I do not eat a pizza puff, I'd be disowned and excommunicated, so off I went to Little Mel's.
I suppose I should mention that this is the only experience I have ever had with a pizza puff, but it was a stellar experience. It sort of reminded me of a cross between a stromboli and a calzone: fried, crispy, not too doughy, and stuffed with pizza sauce and sausage: an utter and total guilty pleasure.
To step outside into the cold, bite the corner off of one of these bad boys, and smell that hot, spicy steam waft out of the crispy little pocket is certainly one of life's little pleasures.
The hot dogs are below average, the burgers are kinda gross, the fries are nothing at all special. Why the 4 stars? The pizza puffs! Seriously. Like another reviewer stated the pizza puffs from here are awesome. I don't know why, but they're better here than anywhere else I've ever had them. Also... they're dirt cheap as well.
Review Source:Pretty durn good. Â The gyros are nothing amazing, but they are quite good. Â Also the fries and onion rings are tasty. Â And while I like the cheese sticks, they are so rich that I can only handle them every so often. Â Its also not the fastest food I've had from a joint like this, but I take it as they don't just have some of this ready and sitting under a heat lamp for when the next person orders it. Â Right by the blue line, so after work dinner is easy. Â This is for sure my neighborhood hot dog/burger/gyros/good greasy food place!!
Also, the number for this place doesn't work. Â Yes, this is the correct number, but its been disconnected, so no calling in orders. Â boo.
Fatty? Yes! Cheap? Yes! Yummy? Yes!
This place has all the makings of a fab greasy spoon. It's small and the decor is not so good but what can you expect? It's a neighborhood dive. It's super convenient being right off the blue line. I get out of the L station and right into Little Mel's.
Two words: Â ONION RINGS. Â Omg. Â I crave these twice daily. Â
The burgers are top notch grease dive burgers, the gyros are DELICIOUS, and the chicken sandwich is tasty, too. Â Didn't like the chicken wings, however. Â
They give you free fries with every purchase!
I was going to take away a star because not all of the food is great, but a lot of it IS, so for what the place is, definitely a cheap, greasy 5 STAR joint.
Allow me to address one issue that I've noticed myself struggling with upon reading the already-posted reviews of Little Mel's (2) (hereon to be referred to, by all, as "LM2," and/or "Lil' M-SQAUWED"):
...Dirty?
Th...this place is...dirty to you people?
Huh. Ya know, I'm just gonna go ahead and assume that this is the West-by-GAWD-Virginia upbringing coming out in me saying this, but...jebus, more than half of the big-name chain restaurants I've EVER been in are at LEAST as "dingy," if not FAR more so than "Mel's." Geez. You guys need to eat at Hill Billy Hot Dogs in Huntington, WV, where it's QUITE debatable whether what you're sitting on comes from a novelty store or from a dumpster -- and even if it's the latter, it's intentional.
But, I digress, and begin a Lil' Mel's experience of my own:
Recently, upon a journey to the California blue-line stop with my girlfriend in arm, we decided to drop by our mainstay hot dog disbursement center for a quick bite, as we'd missed the el on account of...I dunno, she had to put on make-up, or I had to chug several beers, something of either of those sexist-but-ever-so-accurate stereotypes that we all fall into.
All either of us ever get from Mel's are hot dogs, and onion rings. No burgers, and god knows, no pizza puffs (no offense to the pizza puff lovers. They...they just seem too much like Hot Pockets, and...I lost a family member to Hot Pockets...well, he wasn't really a FAMILY member, and he's still alive, but he's not really doing all that well financially and...you know how it is. You ARE pizza puff lovers).
So naturally, being of a larger/more muscular-yet-OBVIOUSLY-not-pudgy...size than my girlfriend, when she told me she wanted a single hot dog with just mustard, I automatically assumed I could consume around twice the amount of food as her, as I usually tend to do (she orders a modest 10 oz filet...I order the 24 oz Porterhouse...and finish it...plus the fat and gristle...I'm not fat). Â
A single 'dog meal is the Number 1. A TWO 'dog meal...is the number 6.
I ordered a number 1 with just mustard...and a number 2 with just mustard...because I assume that numbers should correspond.
Orders come up, and I get a hot dog with just mustard and a cheese...burger...with just...mus...
Uh-oh.
I was wrong. I know it. And I know WHY I was wrong, and I know HOW I assumed I was RIGHT before, because I ASSUME that at a HOT DOG STAND, if a number ONE is a single hot dog, a number TWO should be TWO hot dogs, and NOW I'm getting anxious because even though I KNOW I was wrong, I SHOULDN'T have BEEN wrong in the FIRST place because the very PRINCIPAL of the matt --
And as I think in this rambling fashion as I often do in a split second of time, I hear a calm, yet commanding voice in front of me say, "Gimme a dollar."
I of course have no choice but to obey, as any mortal would.
And in less than thirty seconds, I receive a hot dog. With just mustard. And a smile from the register.
I later calculated up the difference I made, being able to keep the burger and fries along with paying a dollar extra for a hot dog I should have ordered correctly in the first place, and found that I had SAVED a bit of cash throughout all the discombobulation on account of a language-barrier-passing understanding of error between a merchant and a customer, with good, quick service on each individuals' minds.
Normally I would give Lil' M-SQUAWED a 4 out of 5...for...Christ, being TOO quick, convenient and cheap considering the MIND-NUMBING TEMPTATION of greasy, unhealthy hot dogs and burgers all day long as opposed to taking an hour to cook a balanced meal...
But this single experience in customer service took the cake for me, thereby gaining and extra, deserved star for Little Mel's.
...YES, I ate the burger, the fries AND the hot dog. I'm NOT FAT, DAMMIT...I'm...southern.
This place has been close to where i rest my bones for 3 years and I have been getting the grilled cheese w/ french fries and a soda this entire time for just over $3.00. Can't beat that.
I must warn if you are looking for anything more than a quick and simple bite you might wanna try somewhere else as this food is as basic as it gets. Staff are always polite and friendly.
While I'm giving Little Mel's four stars, keep in mind that these are not the same stars I would give to a fine dining establishment. These are quick, greasy stars. With fries.
The prices here are as retro as the decor ($2.85 for a burger AND fries at the time of this review), and it's the cheapest milkshake on the northwest side (but far from the worst). The fuzzy TV in the corner and bright orange booths don't win any style points, and the service comes without frills, but this place is consistent, inexpensive, and just right if you're craving fast food.
The tortas are especially good - the bread is always fresh and they don't cheat you on the fixings.
it's dirty, but it's CHEAP
the food's greasy and kinda bad, but it's CHEAP
the place has not been remodeled since inception, but it's CHEAP
you see the theme here?
CHEAP...I'm talkin' homeless guy cheap.
2 dogs, fries and a drink for $2.99 cheap
bacon double cheeseburger, fries and drink for $3.99 cheap
it's not Gibsons...that's for sure
CHEAP!!
This place has two things going for it - cheap and convenient. This was my favorite place to grab some chow on my way in or out from the California stop. What I used to love the most was grabbing some lunch (usually a patty melt with fries), holding the paper bag all the way on the train on my way to work, and wiping off all the grease from my hands before engaging in my meal.
You shouldn't waste your time or stomach with the hot dogs or whatever it is they're calling pizza, but I personally give the patty melt a near truck-stop quality thumbs up.
I miss cheap salt and grease.
Y'know, there's really nothing too special about this place. Â It is just like any number of other beef/dog joints, with fast curt service and low prices. Â I have a soft spot for it as it is so astoundingly close to my house, and generally has served perfectly acceptable fast food time after time. Â The earlier reviewer hit it on the head when they said the signs are ancient...even the ones displaying the sodas available look like they're from 1975. Â
No one's going to claim that they have the "best" anything, but you can't beat the prices. Â Under 6 bucks for 3 dogs, fries, and a drink? Â Sweet. Â I gotta wonder if this place will stick around given the way the neighborhood is going, and I for one would be sad to see it go. Â Unlike the bakery.
when im low on cash mel's is the best. Â down to earth greasy hamburgers, hot dogs, gyros, Italian sausages ect... Â and a side of fries for 99 cents... i mean yes its the anti-diet but its good chicago style food. Â you honestly cant go wrong. Â
small location sitting right next to the California blue line stop. one of my favorite places Chicago.
To celebrate Leap Day(!) and The New Job(!!) I decided to chow down on my monthly allotment of red meat. Little Mel's double cheeseburger is just what the doctor ordered... people to stay away from. Delightfully, deliciously greasy. $3 for the burger with a side of salty, greasy potato shards (commonly referred to as 'fries') is a deal! I'll probably wind up 'paying' tonight in other ways, but I'm pleasantly full of burgery goodness right now.
If Strawberry NesQuik is cocaine, Little Mel's strawberry shake is crack. More sugar and more fake strawberry flavor, you'll be bouncing off the walls like a kid off his Ritalin (or a misdiagnosed kid ON his Ritalin, but I digress...) I sincerely doubt whoever created the flavoring even knows what a strawberry is, but I couldn't stop drinking it.
Little Mel's is what it is. If you're at the California Blue Line stop and you want a greasy burger, there you go.
J'adore pizza puffs. Â And my neon pink strawberry shake. Â And the misspelled sign is just precious.
This place.. Â ooooooh the pizza puffs. Â I only come here when Tastee Freez is too crowded/closed, but damn. Â You know how pizza puffs are usually under or over cooked? Â These people have managed to serve me the pizza puff that you see on those pizza puff posters. Â Seriously. Â Ever single time, it's prefect golden brown greasy delicious goodness. Â The wax paper in the basket is clear as day before I even get it the 5 feet back to my table. Â And then I devour it. Â And sometimes I get two. Â It's like smoking. Â I know I should stop, it's not pretty to watch, it disgusts my friends, and I reek afterwards, but I can't stop!
Let's not kid ourselves here. Â This place is to food what Blatz is to beer: it's cheap, it's dirty, it's not good at all, but I CANNOT STOP.
Exhibit A: the sign outside has "gyros" spelled as "gyross" and "carry out" spelled as "cary out." Â Wow.
Exhibit B: there are about 4 tables inside, all of which probably came from a bowling alley in the 80's. Â Most of which have a thin layer of grease on them.
Exhibit C: the menu is about 30 items deep, all of which are dirt cheap and covered in grease. Â Like to the point where it soaks through the wax paper AND the bag.
Exhibit D: they have Nehi Cola. Â I don't even know what the hell Nehi Cola is. Â But they have Nehi Cola. Â I don't know what to think of that one.
Exhibit E: they put some kind of narcotic in the food that makes me unable to stay away.
Verdict: some sort of stomach cancer, most likely.
Why, why, why oh god why do I love this place so much even though I know it's terrible?
This place is cheap, I'll give it that.
And let me state for the record that I love me some grease pits, from diners to hot dog stands, to taquerias. Â But this place is something else all together.
I tried a pizza puff and a hot dog... both were pretty much inedible. Â Ugh, damn, gross. Â The hot dog is a sorry excuse for its namesake. Â Sam's Red Hots on Armitage & Western is a million times better than this pit.
last time i checked, a hot dog with everything (in chicago at least) didn't entail only mustard, onions & non-radioactive relish. the fries are pretty decent though, and it's cheap as all get out.
update...i've bumped little mel up a star. i finally gave him another chance, not with the hot dog since i was thoroughly disillusioned by it, but i ordered a steak torta and it was actually quite decent.
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