Black Bear Diner Locations Near Me 2026
Quick answer: There are roughly 160 Black Bear Diner locations across 14 states, with the biggest cluster in California. Most diners open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM, and breakfast is served all day. To find the closest one, use the official Black Bear Diner location finder on blackbeardiner.com or search Google Maps.
If you’re craving one of those giant Black Bear breakfast platters, the first question is always the same: is there one near me? Honestly, if you live anywhere in the West, there’s a decent chance the answer is yes. This mountain lodge style chain has been quietly expanding for years, and most people are surprised by how far it has spread from its California roots.
I looked into this because the chain keeps popping up on road trips. Before you plan your visit, it’s also worth browsing the full Black Bear Diner menu with prices so you know what those famous platters cost.
How Many Black Bear Diner Locations Are There?
There are roughly 160 Black Bear Diner restaurants across 14 states. The company itself reports around 168 locations, while independent trackers put the current count in the low 160s. Either way, it’s one of the fastest growing family diner chains in the country.
The story started in 1995 in Mt. Shasta, California, where Bruce Dean and Bob and Laurie Manley opened the first diner with a simple formula: a cozy mountain cabin feel, carved bear statues out front, a newspaper style menu called The Black Bear Gazette, and generous comfort food portions. Nearly 30 years later, that formula is running in diners from Oregon to Texas.
Where Are the Black Bear Diner Locations by State?
California has the most Black Bear Diner locations by far, roughly a third of the entire chain. Texas comes second, followed by Arizona, Utah, and Oregon:
| State | Approximate locations | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| California | 50+ | Home state; spread from Redding to San Diego County |
| Texas | 20+ | Strong presence around Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio |
| Arizona | 10-15 | Phoenix, Tucson, and northern Arizona towns |
| Utah | 10+ | Salt Lake City, Ogden, St. George corridor |
| Oregon | ~10 | Portland, Bend, Medford, and along I-5 |
| Nevada, Washington, Colorado | A handful each | Las Vegas, Reno, Spokane area, Denver suburbs |
| Idaho, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, Illinois | 1-4 each | Newer and expanding markets |
Here’s the thing: these counts shift as new diners open, and franchise partners keep announcing new builds. The table above reflects the current landscape. If you want exact counts for your state, the official locator is the source that updates first.
How Do I Find a Black Bear Diner Near Me?
The fastest way is the official Black Bear Diner location finder on blackbeardiner.com. Type in your city, state, or ZIP code and it shows the nearest diners with addresses, phone numbers, and hours. Each location has its own page on the site, which is handy because hours can vary from diner to diner.
Three practical tips from someone who has done this on the road: call ahead on holidays, since Thanksgiving and Christmas schedules change; check the diner’s own page on blackbeardiner.com rather than just the map pin, because map hours sometimes go stale; and watch for new openings, since the chain is actively expanding and a “coming soon” diner in your town might already be serving pancakes.
What Are Black Bear Diner’s Hours?
Most Black Bear Diner locations are open daily from 6:00 AM to 10:00 PM. That’s the standard schedule you’ll see at the majority of diners, and it’s consistent across weekdays and weekends. Breakfast is served all day, so the early morning rush and the late evening crowd both get the full menu.
That said, hours are set per location since many diners are franchises. A diner next to a highway might open earlier or close later than one in a shopping center. Holiday hours are the biggest variable: Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day schedules differ, and some locations close entirely on Christmas. When in doubt, check the Black Bear Diner Working Hours guide or the diner’s own page before you go.
What to Know Before You Visit
Walking into a Black Bear Diner feels less like a chain restaurant and more like a lodge someone actually lives in. Expect log cabin walls, plaid booths, bear carvings, and that newspaper menu. The portions live up to the reputation: the breakfast platters with pancakes, eggs, hash browns, and bacon are genuinely huge, and regulars swear by the chicken fried steak, pot roast, burgers, and milkshakes.
A few things worth knowing: many locations offer takeout and curbside pickup, the whole pies are a sleeper hit for feeding a crowd, and the Bear Lovers E-Club on the official site gets you deals and menu updates. If you’re counting calories before your visit, check the Black Bear Diner Calories & Nutrition guide first, and for money saving ideas there’s the Black Bear Diner Deals & Coupons page.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many Black Bear Diner locations are there near me?
It depends where you live. The chain has roughly 160 locations across 14 states, heavily concentrated in the West. California has the most by far, followed by Texas, Arizona, and Utah. Use the official location finder on blackbeardiner.com or Google Maps to see exactly which diners are closest to you.
What states have Black Bear Diner locations?
Black Bear Diner locations are in California, Texas, Arizona, Utah, Oregon, Nevada, Washington, Colorado, Idaho, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Kansas, and Illinois. California and Texas account for well over half of all locations combined.
What time does Black Bear Diner open and close?
Most locations open at 6:00 AM and close at 10:00 PM daily, including weekends. Hours vary by franchise location and on holidays, so confirm with your local diner before visiting, especially on Thanksgiving or Christmas.
Does Black Bear Diner serve breakfast all day?
Yes. Breakfast is served all day at Black Bear Diner, which is one of the chain’s signature draws. You can order the giant breakfast platters, pancakes, and omelets at dinner time too.
Finding Black Bear Diner locations near you takes about a minute with the official locator, and with roughly 160 diners across 14 states, there’s a good chance one is closer than you think. The consistent 6 AM to 10 PM hours and all day breakfast make it an easy stop on road trips and lazy weekend mornings alike. Just confirm holiday hours before a special trip.
Prices last verified: October 17, 2026. Menu details are based on the brand’s official site: blackbeardiner.com.
