Mel's Drive-In — Restaurant in Osaka

Don't bother if it's busy.

There is no seating reservation system, so it becomes the Hunger Games when you look for somewhere to sit. It's a full-on battle royale with 25 other sweaty, tired groups, some of which with screaming toddlers.

Meanwhile, the high society people with tables, after waking up from their 30-minute naps, smugly look down on you like you're a peasant fighting to the death, laughing while you desperately fight husband's getting the stink eye from their wives.

Finally, after winning the battle royale and shamefully causing at least 3-4 divorces around you is where the disappointment will apex.

Your prize for 20 minutes of all-out free for all and dunking on that last family for a table is... a premade high school cafeteria lunch hamburger from a small town in the US saved from 1998 warmed to...

On the expensive end for what you’re getting, but perhaps that is to be expected since it’s USJ. It cost 550 yen for a handful of French fries, 550 yen for a few onion rings. They have decorative seating that are reminiscent of the 1950s American dining experience, but they are just decorations… The jukebox on the tables don’t actually work, so you can’t line songs up or anything.

One thing they do have is the low-allergen meal that you can get at several food outlets at USJ, but it’s bland because it’s a one-size-fits-all solution where they take out everything that makes a meal delicious. It’s edible though. :/ So if you’re in need of gluten free, dairy free food, this meal set may be your only option...

Typical Mel's diner at any Universal Studios. All beef options. No vegetarian except for the desserts, drinks and sides.

Was pleasant until it was service time. Ordered 3 drinks with less ice and the server gave different levels of drinks between them. Asked why but the server could not communicate and gave the frustrated look. We probed further and only then did she explain, so we asked to add ice and she rolled her eyes. Tried to take a few small cups and she snatched it back without saying anything. It is quite sad to see the amount of drinks having paid 200¥ extra for the mega cup with most of it just ice instead of soda.

First time I've encountered such curt service. Truly...