Black Bear Diner Menu With Prices: The Complete 2026 Guide
Walk into any Black Bear Diner and the first thing you notice is the carved wooden bear standing guard at the entrance — usually twelve feet tall, always a little goofy, and somehow exactly right for what’s inside. The second thing you notice is the portions. This is not a restaurant that believes in small plates. If you’re planning a visit and want to know what to expect before you sit down, this guide walks through the Black Bear Diner menu with prices for every part of the day, from the first cup of coffee to the last bite of pie.
Black Bear Diner started in 1995 in Mount Shasta, California, when Bruce Dean, along with Bob and Laurie Manley, took over a small mountain-town diner and rebuilt it around a rustic, cabin-in-the-woods feel. Three decades later, the chain has grown to more than 160 locations spread across roughly 14 states, with the heaviest concentration still in California and the broader Western U.S., though it has pushed steadily into Texas, the Southeast, and beyond. The formula hasn’t changed much: scratch-made comfort food, oversized portions, and a homey atmosphere that leans hard into the bear theme without ever feeling like a gimmick.
A Quick Note on Pricing
Before diving into the numbers, it’s worth being upfront about something: Black Bear Diner does not publish a single national price list. Because locations are a mix of corporate-owned and franchised restaurants, pricing shifts from market to market — a plate that runs $16.99 in a small town in Oregon might be $19.99 in the Bay Area or Southern California. The figures below reflect compiled national averages drawn from multiple pricing sources and recent visitor reports, so treat them as a realistic ballpark rather than a guaranteed receipt total. For an exact number, your local restaurant’s printed menu or their online ordering page is the final word. With that caveat out of the way, here’s the full breakdown.
Black Bear Diner Breakfast Menu With Prices
Breakfast is really the heart of this place, and it’s served all day, not just until 11 a.m. The menu is broken into several sub-sections: a build-your-own option, specialty plates, the oversized “Hungry Bear” breakfasts, omelettes and scrambles, classic combos, and the griddle favorites like pancakes and French toast.
The build-your-own breakfast lets you pick two eggs any style, a protein (sausage links, ham steak, or thick-cut bacon), and a “treat” such as biscuits and gravy, pancakes, waffles, or French toast. It’s the most flexible option on the menu and a good starting point if you’re not sure what you want yet.
The specialty breakfasts are where things get more elaborate — think benedicts with hollandaise, a chorizo breakfast burrito the size of a forearm, and the Original ScramBOWL, which piles scrambled eggs, three meats, and country gravy over red potatoes. Then there are the Hungry Bear breakfasts, which are exactly what they sound like: the BIGFOOT Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs, the 10 oz New York Steak & Eggs, the Big Bacon Breakfast with six slices of thick-cut bacon, and The Grizz, which somehow fits pancakes, bacon, sausage, ham, and three eggs onto one plate.
| Breakfast Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Build Your Own Bear’s Choice Breakfast | 2 eggs, choice of protein, choice of treat | $12.99–$14.99 |
| Classic Eggs Benedict | Poached eggs, ham, hollandaise on an English muffin | $15.99 |
| Bacon Avocado Benedict | Bacon, poached eggs, avocado, spinach, tomato | $16.99 |
| Chorizo Breakfast Burrito | Sausage, potatoes, eggs, cheese, salsa | $15.49 |
| The Original ScramBOWL | Scrambled eggs, three meats, potatoes, gravy | $16.99 |
| BIGFOOT Chicken Fried Steak & Eggs | Breaded, fried steak, gravy, 3 eggs, 2 biscuits | $19.99 |
| 10 oz New York Steak & Eggs | USDA Choice steak, 3 eggs, 2 biscuits | $21.99 |
| Big Bacon Breakfast | 6 slices thick-cut bacon, 3 eggs, 2 biscuits | $17.99 |
| The GRIZZ | Pancakes, bacon, sausage, ham, 3 eggs | $18.99 |
| 3-Egg Omelettes (various) | Meat Lover’s, Denver, California, Vegetarian, and more | $15.99–$17.99 |
| 2-Egg Classic Combos | 2 eggs plus ham, sausage, corned beef hash, or steak | $14.99–$18.49 |
| Pancake or Waffle Stacks | Sweet cream, blueberry, or chocolate chip | $11.99–$13.99 |
| French Toast (various) | Classic, cinnamon roll, bread pudding, bear claw | $12.99–$15.99 |
| Little Less Breakfast | Smaller-portion plates for lighter appetites | $9.99–$12.99 |
Add-ons are worth mentioning too, since they’re where the bill can creep up. Extra cheese, avocado, or a side of fruit typically adds $1 to $3, and swapping in a premium protein like a 6 oz ranch steak on the build-your-own breakfast bumps the price up noticeably. Anyone tracking the full Black Bear Diner menu with prices closely will notice that breakfast, more than any other daypart, is where the upgrades and combos really shape the final total.
Black Bear Diner Lunch Menu With Prices
Lunch splits into burgers, handheld sandwiches and melts, baskets, and a lighter section covering salads, chili, and soup. The signature burger here is Bob’s Big Bear Burger, a 10 oz Angus patty named after co-founder Bob “Papa Bear” Manley, loaded with grilled onions, pickles, and homemade Thousand Island dressing. Below that sit the standard Angus burgers — Western BBQ, Bacon & Cheddar, California, Shasta Cheeseburger, Parmesan Sourdough, and Mushroom Swiss — all built on a grilled brioche bun.
The sandwich lineup leans into diner classics: a triple-decker Turkey Club, a Chicken Avocado Club, a Reuben piled with corned beef and sauerkraut, and a Tri-Tip Dip served with au jus. The melts, including the Pot Roast Melt and Chicken Caesar Melt, are built on Parmesan-crusted sourdough and tend to run a couple dollars above the standard sandwiches.
| Lunch Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Bob’s Big Bear Burger | 10 oz Angus patty, grilled onions, Thousand Island | $16.99 |
| Angus Burgers (Western BBQ, Bacon & Cheddar, etc.) | 1/3 lb Angus patty, various toppings | $14.99–$16.49 |
| Turkey Club | Turkey, bacon, ham, triple-decker | $15.49 |
| Chicken Avocado Club | Grilled chicken, avocado, bacon, Swiss | $16.49 |
| Reuben | Corned beef, sauerkraut, Swiss, marble rye | $15.99 |
| Tri-Tip Dip | Shaved tri-tip, ciabatta roll, au jus | $16.99 |
| Pot Roast Melt / Chicken Caesar Melt | Sourdough melts with premium fillings | $16.49–$16.99 |
| Cheeseburger Basket | Smaller patty burger with fries | $13.99 |
| Chicken Strips Basket | Crispy chicken strips, fries | $14.99 |
| Taco Salad | Fried tortilla bowl, beans, choice of protein | $15.99 |
| Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad | Chicken, bacon, egg, avocado, bleu cheese | $16.49 |
| Caesar Salad | Romaine, croutons, Parmesan | $13.99 (add chicken +$3) |
| Homemade Chili | Bowl with cornbread, or cup | $8.99 / $5.99 |
| Soup of the Day | Bowl or cup | $8.49 / $5.49 |
Black Bear Diner Dinner Menu With Prices
Dinner is organized around the “Hungry Bear’s Dinner” section, which comes with soup or salad, a cornbread muffin, and two sides — a structure that makes the entrées feel closer to a full-course meal than a single plate. The New York Steak, BIGFOOT Chicken Fried Steak, homemade meatloaf, and slow-cooked pot roast anchor this list, and all four are consistently mentioned as the restaurant’s most-ordered dinner items.
Beyond that core group sits the “Diner Classics” section, home to the four-piece Southern-style fried chicken, Mikey’s Homemade Chicken Pot Pie, blackened salmon, and the classic Fish & Chips. There’s also a Carving Board section featuring tri-tip, roasted turkey, and prime rib carved to order, plus a Friday-only all-you-can-eat fish fry that’s become something of a local tradition at many locations, typically running from 4 p.m. onward.
| Dinner Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| USDA Choice 10 oz New York Steak | Topped with crispy onion straws | $21.99 |
| BIGFOOT Chicken Fried Steak | Breaded, fried, smothered in country gravy | $18.99 |
| Homemade Meatloaf | Beef and sausage blend, beef gravy | $17.99 |
| Slow-Cooked Pot Roast | Vegetables, herbs, beef gravy | $18.49 |
| 4-Piece Homestyle Fried Chicken | Southern-style, fries, cole slaw | $17.99 |
| Mikey’s Homemade Chicken Pot Pie | Creamy chicken gravy, flaky crust | $16.99 |
| Blackened Salmon | Cajun-seasoned, sautéed spinach | $19.99 |
| Fish & Chips | Battered cod, fries, cole slaw | $14.99 |
| Chicken ‘N Waffle | Belgian waffle, crispy chicken strips | $15.99 |
| Bacon Mac & Cheese Bowl | White cheddar, bacon, Parmesan toast | $15.49 |
| Santa Maria Tri-Tip (Carving Board) | 10 oz marinated tri-tip | $19.99 |
| Roasted Turkey (Carving Board) | 8 oz turkey, gravy, cranberry sauce | $16.99 |
| Prime Rib (Fri/Sat only) | 10 oz slow-roasted prime rib | $23.99 |
| Friday Night Fish Fry (All-You-Can-Eat) | Breaded pollock, fries, hushpuppies | $18.99 |
| Little Less Dinner portions | Bear Paw CFS, mini tri-tip, mini pot roast | $13.99–$15.99 |
Black Bear Diner Dessert Menu With Prices
No trip is really complete without dessert, and this is one area where the diner’s homemade reputation shows through. The pie case rotates seasonal flavors, but banana cream, coconut cream, and chocolate cream pie are near-permanent fixtures, alongside fruit cobblers, a four-layer fudgy chocolate cake, and a carrot cake loaded with pineapple and pecans. Milkshakes and malts round out the section, hand-scooped and served with the extra in the metal tin, which is a small touch that a lot of regulars specifically mention when asked why they keep coming back.
| Dessert Item | Description | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Homemade Pie (slice) | Banana cream, coconut cream, chocolate cream, seasonal | $6.99 |
| Fruit Cobbler | Blackberry or apple, warm | $7.49 |
| Carrot Cake | Pineapple, coconut, pecans, cream cheese icing | $7.49 |
| Fudgy Chocolate Cake | Four-layer, chocolate crunch coating | $7.99 |
| Classic Cheesecake | Graham cracker crust, seasonal flavors | $7.49 |
| Homemade Bread Pudding | Pecan praline sauce, whipped cream | $7.49 |
| Bear Claw Pastry | Classic almond or blackberry filling | $5.49 |
| Brownie Sundae | Brownie, vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup | $7.99 |
| Milkshake or Malt | Chocolate, strawberry, vanilla, huckleberry, mocha | $6.49 / $6.99 |
Kids’, Senior, and Beverage Prices
The kids’ menu, branded as “Cubs,” covers the usual bases — chocolate chip pancakes, grilled cheese, chicken strips, a biscuit burger, and a build-your-own breakfast — generally priced between $7.49 and $8.99, and each comes with a drink included. Several sources also point to a senior menu offering smaller portions of favorites like a country breakfast or pot roast dinner at a reduced price, usually somewhere in the $10.99 to $13.99 range, though not every location carries a separate senior section, so it’s worth asking your server.
Beverages are straightforward: brewed coffee, iced tea, and soft drinks generally land around $3.49, fresh-squeezed orange juice and lemonade run closer to $3.99, and the creamy iced coffee options (vanilla or mocha) are typically a dollar or so more than a standard drip coffee.
| Category | Examples | Estimated Price |
|---|---|---|
| Kids Meals (Cubs) | Pancakes, grilled cheese, chicken strips | $7.49–$8.99 |
| Senior Breakfast | Smaller two-egg plate with meat and toast | $10.99 |
| Senior Dinner | Smaller pot roast or meatloaf portion | $12.99–$13.99 |
| Coffee / Iced Tea / Soft Drinks | Bottomless refills at most locations | $3.49 |
| Fresh-Squeezed Orange Juice | Large or small glass | $3.99 |
| Lemonade (regular, strawberry, huckleberry) | One free refill | $3.99 |
Family Meals and Weekday Specials
For anyone feeding a group, it’s worth knowing that several locations offer family-style breakfast bundles designed to serve four or more people at once, typically built around a stack of pancakes or French toast, a shared platter of eggs and meats, and enough hash browns to go around. These family breakfast packages generally start near $33.99 and scale up depending on how many proteins and sides get added, which usually works out to meaningfully less per person than ordering four separate Hungry Bear plates.
Alongside the standard menu, many diners also run a rotating weekday specials board — often posted as table tents or mentioned by servers rather than printed in the main menu — that swaps in a lower-cost lunch or dinner combo on slower days like Tuesday or Wednesday. These specials aren’t part of the core Black Bear Diner menu with prices that stays consistent nationwide, so they’re really a bonus rather than something to plan a visit around, but they’re worth asking about if value is the priority.
Why the Portions Change the Math
One thing that comes up again and again in reviews and comparisons with chains like Denny’s, IHOP, or Cracker Barrel is that Black Bear Diner tends to sit a notch above those competitors on price — but the portions are large enough that a lot of guests either split a plate or box up half of it for later. That changes the actual value equation quite a bit. A $19.99 chicken fried steak that easily serves as two meals functions differently than a $14.99 plate you finish in one sitting. It’s not that the diner is cheap; it’s that the math works out better than the sticker price suggests once portion size is factored in.
It’s also worth noting that the restaurant runs limited-time weekday specials in many markets, aimed at giving regulars a lower-cost way to get a full meal on slower days. These specials rotate seasonally and aren’t standardized across locations, so checking with your specific diner — either by phone or through their online ordering page — is the most reliable way to catch them.
How to Order and What to Expect
Black Bear Diner operates through in-restaurant dining, online ordering for pickup, and third-party delivery through services like DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub. Catering is also available for offices, parties, and larger gatherings, with breakfast platters typically starting around $40 for smaller groups and lunch or dinner trays running roughly $70 to $180 depending on how many people you’re feeding. If you’re weighing whether to dine in or order for a group event, the catering menu tends to offer noticeably better per-person value than ordering individual plates, largely because the trays are portioned for sharing rather than for one appetite.
Most locations are open early, typically from around 6 a.m., and many stay open into the evening, which is part of why breakfast is genuinely available all day rather than just as a morning-only special. Hours do vary by market, so it’s smart to confirm before making a special trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is breakfast really served all day at Black Bear Diner?
Yes. Breakfast items are available from open to close at most locations, not just during traditional morning hours. That’s one of the more consistent features across the chain, regardless of state or market.
How much should I expect to spend on a typical meal?
For one person, a full breakfast or dinner plate generally falls between $15 and $22, while lunch items like burgers and sandwiches tend to land between $14 and $17. Add a drink and possibly dessert, and a solo meal usually comes out somewhere around $20 to $28 before tax and tip.
Does the Black Bear Diner menu with prices vary a lot by state?
It does, and the gap can be meaningful. Locations in higher-cost markets, particularly coastal California, tend to run a dollar or two above the national averages listed here, while smaller-market or rural locations often price slightly below average.
Are there vegetarian or gluten-free options?
Yes to both, though the selection is moderate rather than extensive. Vegetarian choices include a veggie scramble, vegetarian omelette, and salads that can be built without meat. For gluten-free needs, the diner offers gluten-free bread and can swap several sides, though shared kitchen equipment means cross-contact is possible, so it’s worth flagging any serious allergy directly with staff.
What’s the most popular item on the menu?
The BIGFOOT Chicken Fried Steak is consistently named the signature dish — a hand-breaded steak that covers the entire plate under a layer of country gravy. The Grizz and the Bear-Sized breakfasts are close behind in popularity, especially among first-time visitors looking to try the “bear-sized” reputation firsthand.
Is there a discount for kids or seniors?
Kids’ meals are priced separately and include a drink, generally in the $7 to $9 range. A reduced-portion senior menu exists at many, though not necessarily all, locations, so it’s worth asking when you arrive.
Can I order Black Bear Diner for delivery?
Yes. In addition to online ordering through the restaurant’s own site for pickup, most locations partner with DoorDash, Uber Eats, and Grubhub for delivery, though menu availability and pricing on those platforms can run slightly higher than in-restaurant prices.
Does the restaurant run any weekly specials?
Many locations run limited-time weekday specials and a Friday all-you-can-eat fish fry after 4 p.m. Availability and exact offerings differ by market, so checking with your local diner is the best way to confirm what’s currently running.
Are family-size meals available for groups?
Yes, several locations offer family breakfast bundles meant to serve four or more people, generally starting around $33.99 and scaling up from there. These aren’t listed on every version of the Black Bear Diner menu with prices online, so calling ahead to confirm availability at your specific location is a good idea before planning a group visit around one.
Final Thoughts
Comfort food chains live and die on consistency, and that’s really what stands out most about this one. Whether you’re eyeing the towering Hungry Bear breakfasts, a straightforward burger, or a slice of homemade pie to close things out, the Black Bear Diner menu with prices reflects a chain that’s built its identity around generous portions and homestyle cooking rather than trend-chasing. Prices have crept up gradually in recent years, in line with the rest of the restaurant industry, but the core promise — big plates, scratch-made food, and a cozy bear-cabin atmosphere — hasn’t really shifted since the first location opened in Mount Shasta three decades ago. For the most current and location-specific numbers, the restaurant’s own ordering page or a quick call to your nearest diner will always be more accurate than any general guide, this one included.
