Hungry Bear

Hungry Bear Hungry Bear located in Burlington, IA has been serving delicious food to Burlington and the surrounding areas since 1976.

We feature an all-American diner style cuisine at an affordable price. Breakfast, lunch, dinner is available for dine-in or carry out Kitchen closes 30 min before closing time.

Friday special is a chili frito bowl served with a grilled cheese $8.50
10/02/2026

Friday special is a chili frito bowl served with a grilled cheese $8.50

Chicken and dumplings served with a dinner roll $8.50
10/01/2026

Chicken and dumplings served with a dinner roll $8.50

Wednesday special is a taco salad $8.25
09/30/2026

Wednesday special is a taco salad $8.25

🧡🤍😋
09/30/2026

🧡🤍😋

🤍 Specials for the week 🧡
09/29/2026

🤍 Specials for the week 🧡

Tuesday special is a philly cheesesteak sloppy joe served with waffle fries $8.75
09/29/2026

Tuesday special is a philly cheesesteak sloppy joe served with waffle fries $8.75

❤️🐻 Yesterday marked 8 years of owning Hungry Bear Diner, but somehow, 8 years doesn’t even begin to tell the story.Long...
09/29/2026

❤️🐻 Yesterday marked 8 years of owning Hungry Bear Diner, but somehow, 8 years doesn’t even begin to tell the story.

Long before I was the owner, I was the kid who grew up here.

Some of my earliest memories are tied to this place. My mom worked here throughout my childhood, going all the way back to the Lamb’s Diner days and into Hungry Bear, so this little diner has pretty much always been a part of my life. I grew up around the familiar faces, coffee being poured, conversations across the dining room, and all the little things that make a small-town diner feel like home.

Then came high school and college, when I spent 8½ years working here myself for the previous owners. Back then, I never imagined that one day I’d be the one holding the keys and calling this place mine although it was always a dream of mine to own a restaurant.

And now, somehow, 8 years have passed since I became the owner.

When I look around Hungry Bear, I don’t just see tables, booths and a kitchen. I see pieces of my life.

I see people I’ve known since I was a kid, coworkers who became friends, customers who became family, people we’ve celebrated with and people we’ve sadly had to say goodbye to. I see early mornings, packed dining rooms, laughs from the kitchen, endless cups of coffee, and memories tucked into just about every corner.

There have been hard days, exhausting days and days that tested me, (don't get me started on this September 😬) but there have been so many more that remind me why this little diner means so much to me.

Hungry Bear isn’t just a business I own. It’s a place I grew up in. It’s part of who I am. ❤️

8 years as the owner.
8½ years as an employee.
And a childhood spent growing up around it all.

I’m incredibly thankful for everyone who has been part of this story—past and present—and for every person who continues to walk through our doors and support Hungry Bear.

Here’s to where it all started, how far we’ve come, all the people and memories along the way, and hopefully many more years of memories still waiting to be made.

❤️Jacque Ott🐻

09/25/2026

Friday special is a grilled ham and cheese croissant served with onion rings $8

Thursday special is a chicken salad croissant served with chips and peaches $8.75
09/24/2026

Thursday special is a chicken salad croissant served with chips and peaches $8.75

Wednesday special is chicken bacon ranch pasta served with garlic toast $8.75
09/23/2026

Wednesday special is chicken bacon ranch pasta served with garlic toast $8.75

Address

1700 Sunnyside Avenue
Burlington, IA
52601

Opening Hours

Monday 6am - 1pm
Tuesday 6am - 1pm
4pm - 8pm
Wednesday 6am - 1pm
4pm - 8pm
Thursday 6am - 1pm
4pm - 8pm
Friday 6am - 1pm
Saturday 6am - 1pm
Sunday 6am - 1pm

Telephone

+13197530673

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hungry Bear posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category