Cheap Eats: Mel's hot dogs

(Credit: Elizabeth Atkins)

Mel’s Hot Dogs has one of the best locations in Tampa for attracting the kind of people that are probably craving a hot dog. Next door to Busch Gardens, and just down the street from USF, the clientele ranges from the hungry family amped-up by roller coasters to the hung-over college student looking for something greasy to make the throbbing in their head stop.

The scene: Mel’s is really nothing more than a fancy hot dog stand. The long, thin building has a neon red sign, and the extensive menu of hot dogs and other fatty fare covers a huge part of the wall by the cash register. Guests order and pay at one window, and pick up their food at the next. You can see everything that happens in the kitchen, which is great for those who have been paranoid about eating out ever since they saw “Waiting.” But the cheerful atmosphere and extremely playful and friendly staff are enough to bring you back to the good old days, when it was easy to find joy in a family dinner or a few rounds of Galaga on the arcade (available at the back of the restaurant). Oldies music fills the joint, and the paraphernalia of the wall tells the story of Mel’s, and takes you on a walk through the decades.  

The dogs: You wouldn’t think that something as simple as a hot dog could possibly be so complex, yet Mel’s somehow makes the carnival-staple into quite the dining experience. There are nearly 20 hot dog choices, not including the limitless combinations available in the “Mel’s My Way” option. I tried out the Chili Dog ($3.25, or $5.24 for a basket with fries and slaw) and added cheese, onions, and mustard, per Mel’s recommendation. It was like heaven on a bun, and I definitely wouldn’t classify myself as a hot dog lover. The chili was sans-beans, and I found great satisfaction in biting into my dinner and feeling the chili run sloppily down my chin.

My partners-in-crime kept it simple: one got a cheese dog, ($3.25, or $5.24 for a basket) and the other got a chicken sandwich ($5.25, or $7.24 for a basket). Both practically licked their baskets clean. Everything else on the menu sounds interesting, especially the Fire Dog – a ¼ lb. beef sausage made with cayenne pepper and served with onions, green peppers and hot sport peppers ($5.25, or $7.24 for a basket).

The damage: We here at Metromix classify something as a “cheap eat” if you can manage to feed two people for under $20. Usually I have to cheat a little – get water to drink, skimp on the sides, etc. – to keep the tab down. But at Mel’s, I didn’t even have to think about my budget. Two of us got dogs with baskets and drinks for a cool $16, and we loaded our dogs up with extras. With dogs starting at just $2.25, you could easily feed a family of four for less than $20 (just share some sides and drink water). The most expensive thing on the menu (the Chicago Beef and Sausage Combo) hardly breaks the bank at $10.99 for a basket. Even the beer is cheap, at $2.75, or $7.50 for a pitcher.

Insider tip: Mel’s only accepts cash, and the fee at their ATM is a whopping $2. Combine that with the charges your own bank will give you, and you’re looking at $4 just to get the money to pay for food that might not even cost you that much. Be prepared: bring cash.

The bottom line: This old-fashion hot dog stand is the very definition of a cheap eat. Full servings and yummy food will keep you coming to Mel’s. Plus, their trademark hot dog car, though ineligible for road driving, is great for risqué photo-ops.

Mel’s Hot Dogs

4136 E Busch Blvd
Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 985-8000

www.melshotdogs.com