Black Bear Diner Menu Prices & Club Discounts (2023)

If you enjoy big servings of classic American comfort food in a unique atmosphere with more bear photography and art than you’ve ever seen there’s no better destination than Black Bear Diner. With its warm, rustic ambiance, it is a crowd favorite for a lot of families seeking a All-American dining experience that isn’t too expensive. 

Planning to visit a Black Bear Diner near you? Before heading out, check out Black Bear Diner’s latest menu prices in 2023. I also share my favorite ways you can save money on breakfast, lunch or dinner.

New! Breakfast For Dinner

Seasonal Specials

Hungry Bear Breakfasts

Classic 2-Egg Combos

Omelettes & Scrambles

Pancakes, Waffles & French Toast

South Of The Cave Breakfasts

Bear’s Benedicts

Specialty Breakfasts

Little Less Breakfasts

Fit & Focused Breakfasts

Breakfast Extras

Burgers And Baskets

Signature Sandwiches

Super Salads

Little Less Lunches

Fit & Focused Lunches

Homestyle Dinners

Carving Station Dinners (After 4 p.m.)

Full-Course Dinners (After 4 p.m.)

Steaks

Diner Deals

Fit & Focused Dinner

Cub Breakfasts

Cub Lunches & Dinners

Beverages

Desserts

Black Bear Diner menu poster.

Ways to Save at Black Bear Diner 

Dining at Black Bear Diner has never been more fun with the different ways you can save money with every visit. 

Bear Lovers e-Club

If you’re a patron of Black Bear Diner but are not an e-Club member, you’re missing out on a lot of cool things!

Bear Lovers e-Club is Black Bear Diner’s membership club that lets loyal patrons enjoy discounts and special offers. e-Club members also get updates on the diner’s latest happenings such as new menu items, fun events, exclusive offers, and many more. 

If you’re not an e-Club member yet, it is easy to join. Just visit their website and create an account to join. Black Bear Diner is committed to sending that warm fuzzy feeling to its e-club members that they’re giving each new member a free meal when they join and on their birthday. 

Coupons

Currently, Black Bear Diner doesn’t have coupons available but they do give out coupons every once in a while. Here are some of the past coupons at Black Bear Diner.

• 2 Free Kids Meals with the purchase of one regularly priced adult entree
• $2 off your next breakfast
• Free Bear Claw and a Cup of Coffee
• 10% off your next visit
• Buy One Get One Free when you order an entree and two beverages and regular price.

2 free kids meals coupon

$2 off your next breakfast

Passport Program 

Travel the country and dine at Black Bear Diner’s locations to earn fun prizes and more! The passport program encourages customers to dine at different Black Bear Diner locations, scan the QR code with every visit and level up. You will earn different prizes as you visit more locations. You’ll also get major street credit from other Black Bear Diner customers. 

Gift Cards

Make birthday presents more special with Black Bear Diner gift cards. You can purchase an online gift card or a traditional gift card to make someone’s day a lot better! Unfortunately, Black Bear Diner doesn’t offer military and senior discounts. 

Black Bear Diner coffee mug.

Who is Black Bear Diner owned by?

Black Bear Diner was co-founded by Bruce Dean and Bob Manley in Mount Shasta, California in 1995. They sought to create a dining experience that evoked a traditional, family-friendly atmosphere with an emphasis on hearty, home-style comfort food.

Bruce Dean, who also serves as the CEO of the company, has extensive experience in the restaurant industry. Prior to co-founding Black Bear Diner, he held various positions in other food service companies, enriching his expertise in managing and expanding restaurant chains. Under his leadership, Black Bear Diner has grown from a single location in rural California to a well-recognized brand with over 100 locations across the United States.

Related Reading: Waffle House Menu Prices: Your Favorite Items 

Bob Manley, the other co-founder, brought his love for community and art into the diner concept. His connections to the art world played a key role in establishing the unique rustic, outdoorsy, and bear-themed decor that has become a hallmark of Black Bear Diner. Even as the company grew, Manley ensured that each new diner preserved this distinctive character.

Both Dean and Manley worked tirelessly to establish and maintain the warm, welcoming atmosphere and the high-quality, homely food that customers associate with the Black Bear Diner brand. Their successful partnership and shared vision for a unique dining experience have enabled the company to thrive and expand while preserving its core values and identity.

Burger stacks anyone?

When was Black Bear Diner founded?

Black Bear Diner was founded in 1995. Since its founding in 1995, Black Bear Diner has undergone significant expansion, largely due to the vision of its co-founders, Bruce Dean and Bob Manley. Starting from a single diner in Mount Shasta, California, the duo embraced a unique concept: combining an atmosphere of old-fashioned, family-friendly dining with a menu featuring comfort food, all wrapped in a distinctive bear-themed decor.

Over the years, Black Bear Diner has steadily expanded its footprint. The company entered new markets and built a loyal customer base, leading to its recognition as a significant player in the casual dining segment. By 2018, it had expanded to over 130 locations across twelve states, primarily in the Western United States.

Black Bear Diner has not only expanded in size but also improved its menu offerings, decor, and customer experience. Its menu continues to feature a variety of comfort food items, with an emphasis on all-day breakfast but has also evolved to cater to contemporary dietary preferences.

In 2018, PWP Growth Equity, a private equity fund, invested in Black Bear Diner, aiming to accelerate its growth and expansion across the United States. This strategic partnership aimed to fuel the company’s momentum while preserving the restaurants core identity.

Breakfast with a side of fruit at Black Bear Diner.

Is Black Bear Diner a chain or franchise?

Black Bear Diner operates as both a chain and a franchise. Some of the locations are directly owned and managed by the company, which makes it a chain. However, many locations are operated by franchisees, individuals, or entities who have purchased the rights to use the Black Bear Diner’s branding, recipes, and business plan in exchange for a franchise fee and ongoing royalties. 

Black Bear Diner began franchising in 2002, seven years after its founding in 1995. This move allowed the company to expand beyond its initial base in Mount Shasta, California, and reach a larger customer base. The franchising model has been a key part of Black Bear Diner’s growth strategy, allowing it to grow its presence throughout the western United States and beyond while maintaining the quality and consistency nationally.

Celebrate the weekend with Black Beary Diner’s Raspberry Sunrise Mimosa

Where are the most Black Bear Diner Locations?

You can find the most Black Bear Diner locations in California where there are 68 restaurants, accounting for 45% of all Black Bear Diner locations in the country. 

What are the Hours of Operation at Black Bear Diner?

Most Black Bear Diner locations are open from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM 7 days per week. 

For the sweet tooth: cookies & cream cheesecake

Is there a gluten-free Menu at Black Bear Diner? 

Black Bear Diner doesn’t have an official gluten-free menu. They also do not follow special food preparations to make sure your order will not be contaminated by gluten. With that said, there are still items from their menu that you can order if you want to eat gluten-free meals at Black Bear Diner. 

Related Reading: Denny’s Menu Prices: 20% Off Your Next Visit 

For breakfast, here are your options:

1. New York Steak & Eggs: Replace the New York steak with beef and you’ll be good to go. 
2. Joe’s Hobo Omelette
3. Bruce’s Meat Lover’s Omelet
4. California Omelet
5. Denver Omelet
6. Vegetarian Omelet
7. Shasta Veggie Scramble
8. 2-Egg Classic Combos: You can ask the staff to replace the biscuits with fruits to make sure it is gluten-free. 
9. Classic Bear’s Benedict
10. California Bacon Bear’s Benedict: Have this without the English muffin
11. Fit & Focused Chicken Sausage Scramble: Opt to have the toast removed when you order this item
12. Fruit bowl: Sliced strawberries, fresh-cut melons & grapes.
13. Bob’s Red Mill Steel Cut Oatmeal
14.  Little Less ham and cheese omelet: This meal comes with a biscuit, make sure to ask the staff not to serve the biscuit if you’re ordering this. 

Inside a Black Bear Diner.

A lot of Black Bear Diner lunch options are burgers and sandwiches. With that said, you can always replace the buns with lettuce wraps instead to make them gluten-free. 

1. Western BBQ Burger
2. Bacon and Cheddar Burger
3. California Burger
4. Shasta Cheeseburger
5. Chili Cheddar Cheeseburger
6. Patty Melt
7. Bob’s Big Bear Burger
8. Bacon Cheeseburger Salad
9. Tuna Chef Salad
10. Little Less Housemade Chili

Gluten-free dinner options at Black Bear Diner:

1. BBQ Ribs
2. New York Steak
3. BBQ Ribs & Tri-Tip
4. Santa Maria Tri-Tip