Cancel

Open app

Search

Black Bear Diner Arvin

3.5 (831 reviews)
Open 6:00 am - 10:00 pm

Order Black Bear Diner Arvin Takeout

Black Bear Diner Arvin Photos

Business Info

From this Business

BLACK BEAR DINER ARVIN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Touristy
Casual
Good for groups

Recommended Reviews - Black Bear Diner Arvin

Your trust is our priority, so businesses can't pay to alter or remove their reviews. Learn more about reviews.
Yelp app icon
Browse more easily on the app
Review Feed Illustration

Reviews With Photos

Ham Steak breakfast
Terry C.

It was pleasing that this restaurant has two, clean, expansive dining areas and personnel were very friendly. As one enters, their specialty pies and desserts greet customers as well as a small area selling souvenirs and Black Bear products. One of us ordered the Ham Steak breakfast and the other had the Meatloaf dinner. The breakfast consisted of two huge pancakes, two large eggs with a thick slab of ham steak. The pancakes were a bit chewy and could have been fluffier. My "over easy" eggs were cooked too long and the yolks didn't stay runny after frying on both sides. The smoky, clove-infused hamsteak was quite good. The Meatloaf dinner however was a disappointment. Look at my photo. The breading was falling off the onion rings, which arrived "just warm", not fresh from the fryer. The meatloaf was a small portion covered in brown gravy that didn't look so fresh. The coleslaw was the highlight of this order - it was creamy and full of crunchy flavor. All in all, we like the homey vibe with their clean looking atmosphere and the friendly & helpful employees, but the food was a miss.

Crispy Chicken Cobb Salad with Thousand Island dressing
Carolyn F.

On the road again and stopped for lunch. Quick to get a table at a booth. Again very good service. Chicken melt sandwich for me & a Cobb salad for my hubby satisfied our appetites.

dirty back of the fork
Annie G.

Food: 3.5/5 Service: 5/5 Atmosphere: 5/5 But they had dirty silverware! I only felt it on the back of the fork after I had eaten half my food, and afterwards I felt a bit too grossed out to continue eating. Picture attached The decor is always cute in here and they have some merch at the front like pajamas or other things that seem to be decent quality, I think the pajamas were 100% cotton I ordered the little pot roast with the sides the soup of the day (creamy potatoes) and fruit while my partner got the pot roast melt with mashed potatoes. The fruit was relatively ripe and fresh, mashed potatoes were done well and flavorful, and the soup was hot and paired nicely with the crackers. It was a bit too buttery/oily for me but still nice. The carrots and lettuce in the pot roast were cooked well enough although carrots could be cooked a little more. The beef was cooked well, the sauce was a bit salty but overall enjoyable. Service was also fast and attentive and got our water and huckleberry lemonade to us pretty quickly. The lemonade is good but we prefer it a little watered down so we just added some water to it! I would rate 4/5 otherwise but dirty silverware is a big one for me, not sure if I'm really expected to inspect all areas of my silverware before using it every time we eat out?

Front entrance
Randy B.

I have wanted to try a Black Bear Diner for quite some time. Let me say this review is a mix of me probably ordering the wrong items, I am sure if I ordered comfort food, it would have been better. Starting with the service, decor and parking. There is a large lot with plenty of spaces, near the outlets and hotel, so that's a plus. Decor inside is all things bear, very kitschy and homey feel, I liked it. My service was very nice and made sure I had what I needed, speed of my food coming out was OK, seemed a little long, but not too bad. Now to the food, as I said, I am sure if I got a bacon cheese burger and fries, it would have been amazing, but I wanted something smaller and tried to make a little better choice so I went with the little less diner with the Santa Maria 6 oz. Tri-tip, came with two sides and I got a side salad with blue cheese. The good here is they give very large portions, even ordering the smaller dinner. My salad came out first with a homemade cornbread muffin, I would say the salad with their blue cheese and the cornbread were my favorite parts. Would have like another piece of the cornbread, very tasty. The tri-tip was decent, maybe a bit over done and I ordered medium rare, seasoning was nice though. Added some of the habanero sauce and made it a bit better. My sides, I tried to choose better than fries or beans with bacon, Cole slaw, etc. and ended up getting corn on the cob and a baked potato (minus the cheese and bacon, mistake). The corn on the cob seemed like it had been sitting in the water way too long, came with melted butter, but even that could not make it very good. The baked potato came with butter and sour cream (no chives or green onions BTW, that's a first and would have improved it) but same with the corn, seemed like it had been strong heated for way to long, dry and just not good, even smothering it with butter and sour cream. Probably would have been OK with bacon and cheese, that always makes things better, but it still would be not very good. All in all, decor inside is unique, homey vibe, service was good, food was a let down though. With that said, I would give them another shot and this time order some true roadside diner fare and I would imagine a much better experience food wise. Enjoy!

The scram bowl
Jackie G.

Great service with a smile and welcoming attuide. Food was awsom. And the place very clean

Chocolate chip pancakes,  delicious!
Karen T.

Arrived at 6 pm on a Saturday evening. We are headed home to Arizona and are staying the night in the area. We were greeted within 5 minutes and seated. Server came within 5 minutes also. The place seems clean, diner clean anyway. I ordered chili with corn bread, chicken and waffles for my son and chocolate chip pancakes for my daughter. All was well at the Black bear diner. Good job guys!

Scrambled eggs, bacon and waffle with strawberries.
Tami W.

I was on my way to Atascadero, but stopped here for breakfast. I hadn't planned on doing a review, because, it's bacon and eggs. How hard is that? However, my server asked if I wanted strawberries on my waffle and that sounded so good, so I said yes. The strawberries were so delicious! Cold, sweet, juicy, ALL the things! Caveat, I didn't realize they cost extra and if she'd told me that, I might have declined, but I'm glad I got them. Shout out to Alex, my server. The place was hella' busy and she was still professional, attentive and efficient. She's definitely a keeper. 10/10, would return.

Charles D.

This place was SHORT STAFFED for a lunch rush. I felt terrible for them. The first thing I noticed was that the bathroom was filthy and the water wasn't running to the toilet. I informed my waitress about the issue but it had not been solved when I went back to the bathroom about 20 minutes later. When I came out, someone was already starting to clear my table. They were nice and replaced the coffee that they had taken away, but overall I got the message from the staff 'We are barely keeping it together and we don't have time for niceties.' The food was still great. I had pancakes and French toast.

Pancakes are bomb!
Lisa R.

This restaurant is a must stop at when we go to El Tejon Outlets. Today's visit was not as good as the others. It was busy when we got there, MAYBE that's why we waited about an hour for our food and MAYBE that's why our food did not taste fresh and was a bit cold. But we are not ones to complain, well we do but just to eachother. I got my youngest the happy cub cake. Well just look at the picture, I was a bit bummed. My oldest liked her turkey club and I liked my chicken ceasar melt and my husband liked his taco salad. We all just agreed, the food tasted as if it stayed sitting for awhile. Our waitress was not rude at all but she did neglect us a little bit, unsure if it was intentional or not. But I've been to restaurants where they seem short staffed and the food was great. My oldest daughter and husband said they noticed people who got there after us and they were fed before us. I didn't notice that but my back was towards everyone. Of course we will still come here after a El Tejon trip but hopefully the food is fresher.

Child eating breakfast
Sonya E.

Thank you Carolyn for the extra friendly service and amazing food. This was the perfect resting place. You were so great in accommodated our needs.

Regine A.

Stopped by this black bear on our drive to San Diego and I'm so glad we did! Black bear was our go to diner in our first home town living together. So this place already holds a special place in our hearts! The decor is classic. Love the merchandise being sold in the front. Our servers were very sweet and our food came out quick! I got the stuffed berry French toast, which was more like a stuffed bear claw to me. It was yummy, but I probably wouldn't get it again. The bread was too thick. My husband got a country fried steak -- always a good choice. My daughter loved her berry pancake.

Menu
iAwe Y.

Today I got the Volcano which came with everything you need for breakfast. The bacon portion was great. The service was really nice, but they were heavily understaffed for breakfast. The seating is comfortable with nice design. We had to wait at least 40 minutes until the food came. There was only one waiter for the whole side of the room which was full of people so be prepared for a long wait. Also, the fries are okay. They're crispy but little dry. McDonald fries are better imo.

Fred O.

Stopped here for a solid breakfast with my son on our way up to a Metallica concert in NorCal. I've been to this location before during a business trip a few years back, and it was nice to return. We both ordered the Italian Sausage breakfast--mine with a side salad, his with hash browns. The sausage was just as good as I remembered: hot, flavorful, and satisfying. Eggs over easy were cooked perfectly, and my son said the biscuit reminded him of the ones they serve at school--which, surprisingly, is a compliment coming from him. I usually get the coffee here. Something about their coffee just pairs so well with the food. But I had to skip it this time since I was driving, and coffee tends to hit me quick when I'm on the road. This location sits right off the freeway and caters mostly to travelers, so it's not as loud or crowded as some of the other Black Bear Diners I've been to--and that's a big plus. My son's a fan of their Original Pepper Sauce "Baby Burn," while I go for the Habanero "PaPa Burn." Another great experience at Black Bear. Consistent food, good service, and a nice quiet stop before a big day.

See all

Photo of Kim L.
25
61
3

1 year ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of R T.
7
56
3

7 months ago

Good food and portions are worth the prices. Just a chill quiet place to eat and relax

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0
Photo of Nazik H.
107
10
3

4 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of D H.
0
37
4

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 2

3 years ago

Helpful 4
Thanks 0
Love this 9
Oh no 0

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Amy P.
34
374
1485

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Aw, shucks, you're making us blush!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Irene S.
32
21
45

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 1

3 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 1
Oh no 0

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Shawn J.
0
107
10

6 months ago

Such a great alternative to fast food and truck stops when you're on the road. It's a favorite stop when we are going to or from SoCal.

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Shawn, thanks for your 4-star review! Keep Feeding Your Inner Bear!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Sat down, ordered and left after 30 minutes of waiting for food to arrive. The wait staff didnt seem to care

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of John G.
468
12
10

7 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

10 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 1
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

8 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Aw, shucks, you're making us blush!

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 1
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of John P.
0
58
19

9 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 1
Thanks 1
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

2 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0
Photo of Taylor D.
315
20
10

1 year ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

11 months ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

3 years ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

5 months ago

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

1 year ago

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

6 months ago

Trisha was an Amazing waitress, the food was excellent, we will be back to visit and see Trisha for a great experience...

Business owner information

Photo of Black Bear Diner

Black Bear Diner

Helpful 0
Thanks 0
Love this 0
Oh no 0

Page 2 of 21

Black Bear Diner Arvin Reviews in Other Languages

Ask the Community - Black Bear Diner Arvin

Do the pancakes and waffles have dairy in them?

Of course!

Do you offer any gluten-free items for breakfast? My daughter cannot do gluten or dairy, and I was wondering if you offered gluten-free pancakes. Thank you!! :)

Good question Mr. M.! And, I hate to be the bear-er of bad news... however, we do not have gluten free pancakes. Here is a link to our menu so you can take a look and see what we do have: www.blackbeardiner.com/menus

Can u reserve?

Great question and Adele is pretty much on target with her feedback! We are a family dining restaurant and want to provide a relaxed and comfortable environment for all of our families and friends who choose to dine with us. In order to have that… Read more

Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

Verify this business for free

People searched for Breakfast & Brunch 216 times last month within 15 miles of this business.

Verify this business

Black Bear Diner Arvin - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

Loading...
Loading...
Loading...