The Melt
RestaurantsCalifornia, United States201-500 Employees
The Melt is a mid-sized, San Francisco-based fast-casual restaurant concept offering made-to-order MeltBurgers, grilled cheese, macaroni and cheese, and fries. Its menu relies on all-natural ingredients free of artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, sweeteners, and hydrogenated fats, with an emphasis on simple, customizable comfort foods for casual dining. The company is led by CEO Ralph Bower and Founder/Chairman Jonathan Kaplan, and its board includes former Apple retail head Ron Johnson along with notable Silicon Valley investors and chef Michael Mina. In 2026, The Melt expanded its California presence, opening a new San Marcos location in April and signaling continued growth in Southern California; involvement in the Bellflower expansion was also announced. To accelerate franchising, The Melt appointed Greg Vojnovic as head of franchising in February 2026, aiming to drive expansion beyond the West Coast.