Mel's Hot Dog (Tampa, Florida)

USA / Florida / Temple Terrace / Tampa, Florida / East Busch Boulevard, 4136
 restaurant, hamburger restaurant, diner
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Hot diggity dog! A veritable institution in Temple Terrace for more than a decade, Mel's Hot Dogs is quite frank-ly the go-to place for franks in the Bay Area. Located not far from the gates of Busch Gardens, Mel's has the feel of a roadside diner with few frills (e.g., it offers counter service and doesn't accept credit cards). There's not much in the way of decor, except the kitschy memorabilia covering the walls.

Mel's saves the embellishments for the dogs. Their Chicago-style wieners are all-natural beef and served atop steamed poppy seed buns with your choice of fixin's -- from sauerkraut and slaw to tomatoes and hot peppers. You can also choose from a slew of Mel's specialty dogs, like the chili dog, reuben dog or the Mighty Mel, a quarter-pounder slathered in mustard, relish and pickles. Non-frankophiles, meanwhile, can chow down on veggie burgers, chicken or smoked sausage.

As owner and Tampa's unofficial hot dog king Mel Lohn puts it, business is ''on a roll.'' Sounds more like he's the king of the corn dog. -- Kerry Speckman



Try the Angus Beef Burger....best burger in town!
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Coordinates:   28°1'58"N   82°24'44"W

Comments

  • Mel's is housed in the last standing structure of Henderson Army Airfield. (see the big, mysterious 'X' to the North)
This article was last modified 14 years ago