Mel's Hard Luck Diner Menu (Update 2025)
Mel's Hard Luck Diner in Branson is a lively spot that combines good food with entertainment. With a retro vibe and talented singing servers, this diner offers a unique dining experience. The menu features classic diner dishes like onion rings, chili cheese fries, and hearty soups like the Ozark Hillbilly Chili. The sandwiches range from a traditional BLT to a creative Chick-A-Boom Croissant. The Sweet Surrender Club and the nostalgic Peanut Butter, Banana, Raisin & Caramel Concoction are must-try desserts. The generous portions and high-quality ice cream sundaes are highlights here. Overall, Mel's Hard Luck Diner is a fun and delicious spot in Branson that should be on every visitor's list.
Appetizers
Onion Ring
Thick cut Onions lightly breaded and flashed fried.
Mozzarella Cheese Sticks
Dusted with seasoned bread crumbs, deep fried, served with marinara sauce.
Jalapeno Poppers
Stuffed with cream cheese, breaded and flashed-fried for a great crunch.
Chili Cheese Fries
Crispy fries topped with a generous portion of chili and melted cheese.
Fried Green Beans
Crispy green beans lightly battered and fried to a golden crisp, served with chipotle Ranch.
Soup or Salad & Sandwich Combo
Your Choice of a cup of soup or a salad and half of a sandwich: ham, turkey, chicken salad or grilled cheese
Jimmy Crack Corn Chicken Chowder
A bowl of our creamy corn and chicken chowder served with a cornbread & crackers
Ozark Hilbilly Chili
A bowl of our hearty diner style chili with loads of meat, beans & spices, served with cheese and onions
Mel's Way Chili
Our Chili served over spaghetti noodles sprinkled with cheese and onions
Southwest Chicken Salad
Mixed greens with your choice of grilled or crispy chicken, tomatoes, peppers, cheddar cheese, jalapenos, onions & corn all tossed in our Chipotle Ranch dressing. Topped with crispy tortilla strips. Ranch, Bleu Cheese, Honey Mustard, French
Blue Suede Salad
Mixed greens with ham, turkey, boiled egg, tomato, cheese, cucumber, bacon & croutons
Groovin' Grilled Chicken Salad
Mixed greens with grilled chicken, sliced almonds, boiled egg, tomato, cucumbers & croutons
Sweet Sensation (Seasonal)
Mixed greens with grilled chicken, sliced almonds, strawberries & mandarin oranges, served with raspberry vinaigrette
Mel's Way Sweet Sensation
Mixed greens with grilled chicken, sliced almonds, strawberries & mandarin oranges, pecans, cashews & a banana served with raspberry vinaigrette
Garden Salad
Mixed greens topped with tomato, red and green peppers, cucumber, onion, cheese, sunflower seeds & croutons
Soups and Salads
Sandwiches
Grand Village Cheesesteak
Tender slices of roast beef smothered with onions, peppers, mushrooms and cheddar cheese, served on a sourdough hoagie
Hit the Road Jack Grilled Chicken
Boneless seasoned grilled chicken breast with Swiss cheese, bacon, lettuce, tomato, onion and pickle on a whole wheat bun
Hawaiian Grilled Chicken
Boneless seasoned grilled chicken breast topped with grilled pineapple, our special seasoning, Swiss cheese and bacon on a wheat bun
The BLT Classic
A generous portion of smoked bacon, lettuce, tomato and mayo stacked between three slices of bread
Romeo Reuben
Traditional corned beef with Swiss cheese, sauerkraut and our house made secret sauce on marble rye
Chick-A-Boom Croissant
A tasty blend of grilled chicken, grapes, yellow onion, apples and pecans served on a light and flaky croissant
Southwest Chicken Wrap
Boneless seasoned grilled chicken breast with peppers, jalapeños, onion, corn, lettuce, tomato, cheddar cheese and chipotle ranch dressing in a our tortilla
All Wrapped Up
Your choice of turkey or ham with lettuce, tomato, cheese and our special cream cheese spread in a our tortilla
Mel's Way Grilled Cheese
Melted American, Swiss & Cheddar cheese with ham & bacon
Sweet Surrender Club
Surrender yourself to ham, turkey and bacon stacked on white toast with lettuce, tomato and mayo
Mel's Peanut Butter, Banana, Raisin & Caramel Concoction
Chunky peanut butter on toasted raisin bread with sliced bananas, caramel syrup and a sprinkle of brown sugar - then layered again and a side of caramel for dipping!
Hard Luck Cheeseburger
Our original burger with American cheese served with lettuce, tomato, onion and pickles on the side
Hard Luck Combo
Enjoy either our Hard Luck cheeseburger or hamburger and fries with choice of one of our hand dipped milk shakes or malts
Sixteen Ton Chili Burger
Emanuele Fontanini's favorite burger! Open-faced burger on a bun topped with tons of our delicious chili, cheddar cheese and chopped onions
Hard Times Patty Melt
Grilled marble rye bread, sauteed onions, two cheeses and our secret sauce make this burger an old time favorite of our customers
Hawaiian Burger
Our delicious burger topped with grilled onion, bacon, Swiss cheese and grilled pineapple tion of seasonal sorbet
Smoke Gets in Your Eyes Burger
Our delicious burger topped with bacon, Cheddar cheese, BBQ sauce
Memory Maker Mushhroom and Swiss
Grilled mushrooms and Swiss top your burger
Honky Tonk Hot Dog
Our all beef Nathan's foot long hot dog with onion and relish on the side
Chili Cheese Dog
Our all beef Nathan's foot long hot dog with chili & melted cheese with onion on the side
Burgers
Entrees
Mel's Way Grilled
Cheese Melted American, Swiss & Cheddar cheese with ham & bacon
Ice Tea
Lemonade
Coffee
Hot Tea
Milk
Chocolate Milk
Orange Juice
Apple Juice
Beverages
Soda
Coke
Diet Coke
Coke Zero
Orange Fanta
Mello Yellow
Sprite
Powerade Berry Blast
Fruit Punch
Root Beer
Dr Pepper
Diet Dr Pepper
Devilish Chocolate Cake
Layers of chocolate cake drizzled with hot fudge topping and served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream
Say Cheese Cheesecake
Have our cheesecake served with your favorite toppings: Strawberry, Pineapple, Hot Fudge, or Caramel
Homemade Pies and Cobblers
Cobbler Ala Mode
Mel's Favorite Carrot Cake
This gourmet cake is loaded with coconut, pecans, pineapple, cinnamon, spices and topped with a cream cheese icing, then nestled next to a scoop of vanilla ice cream and topped with a drizzle of hot caramel
Shake, Rattle & Roll
Served the old fashioned way! Choose a shake or malt: Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry, Pineapple, Banana, Cherry, Root Beer, Cookies 'n Cream, Orange Dreamsicle, Birthday Cake or Peanut Butter
Sundae Kind of Love 1 Scoop
Hot Fudge, Caramel, Chocolate, Strawberry or Pineapple topped with sprinkles, whipped cream and nuts
Sundae Kind of Love 2 Scoop
Hot Fudge, Caramel, Chocolate, Strawberry or Pineapple topped with sprinkles, whipped cream and nuts
Great Balls of Ice Cream 1 Scoop
Chocolate, Vanilla, Orange Sherbert, Strawberry, Cookies & Cream, Birthday Cake, Today's Special Flavor, No Sugar Added Vanilla
Great Balls of Ice Cream 2 Scoops
Chocolate, Vanilla, Orange Sherbert, Strawberry, Cookies & Cream, Birthday Cake, Today's Special Flavor, No Sugar Added Vanilla
Rockin" Floats
Your favorite soft drink with vanilla ice cream
Old Fashioned Sodas
Chocolate, Strawberry or Cherry
Chocolate Nachos
Cinnamon sugar tortillas topped with M&Ms, marshmallow cream, chocolate & caramel syrup, vanilla & chocolate ice cream, whipped cream, cherries & sprinkles
Krazy Kringle Cookie
A giant chocolate chunk cookie topped with vanilla & chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, caramel, whipped cream and cherries
Rock Around Chocolate
Two fudge brownies topped with nuts and piled high with vanilla & chocolate ice cream, hot fudge, marshmallow cream, whipped cream, M&Ms and cherries
Build Me Up, Banana Cup
A huge old fashioned banana split with vanilla, strawberry & chocolate ice cream, pineapple, chocolate and strawberries, topped with whipped cream, nuts and cherries
Climb Every Mountain Ice Cream Avalanche
Enough to feed the whole family! On a bed of 12 scoops of ice cream (2 of each of our 6 overs) topped with cookies, bananas, brownie crumbles, pineapple, strawberries, hot fudge, hot caramel, marshmallow cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, nuts, sprinkles and M&M's
Soda Fountain
Kids Menu
Corn Dog Bites and Fries
Macaroni and Cheese with Applesauce
Grilled Cheese and Fries
Cheeseburger and Fries
Hot Dog and Fries
Spaghetti and Meatballs
Chicken Fingers and Fries
Shrimp and Fries
Chicken Salad Sandwich
A tasty blend of grilled chicken, grapes, yellow onion, apples and pecans