Hungry Bear — Restaurant in Burlington

Tucked away in the heart of Burlington, Iowa, is a hidden gem “Hungry Bear”that serves up the perfect country breakfast. From the moment you walk in, the smell of sizzling bacon and fresh coffee welcomes you like an old friend. The cozy, no-frills atmosphere makes you feel right at home, with friendly staff who greet you with a warm smile and treat you like family.

A classic, hearty breakfast that hits all the right taste buds. From the fluffy and buttery biscuits, smothered in rich, homemade sausage gravy, eggs cooked just the way you like them, paired with crispy hash browns that have the perfect golden crunch, you’re bound to start your day off right.

Beyond the food, the service is small-town hospitality at its best. Refills on coffee come without asking, and the staff genuinely care about making sure you leave happy and full. Whether you’re a local or just passing through, Hungry Bear is the kind of place that makes you want to sit, savor, and stay a little longer.

If you’re looking for an authentic country breakfast that reminds you of home, Hunger Bear is your place.

It’s cash only, so bring your old style pocket book and enjoy your home...

Update following recent visit. My former review is below and is from a long time ago. They were busy...really busy. But the service from our waitress was timely and friendly. Food took a while, but was hot, tasty and priced right. I'll be back!

Last week my family brought home some bad chocolate ice cream. Thought it was a fluke. This week we bought a quart of vanilla and a quart of chocolate. Both were sour. Truly sour...by smell and taste. The manager said it probably was because the machine was running too cold when we purchased the ice cream. She poured a sample for me from the machine. It, too, was sour. She told me "I'm not going to argue with you" then got on the phone to call the owner. I told her not to bother. She said she can't issue a refund, only the owner. I told her "it's okay, I don't want a refund". As my kids and I were leaving, we overheard her say to the patrons at the counter " you heard me right? You heard me offer a refund.". In short, the experience left a sour taste...

So we stopped to eat brunch/lunch at The Hungry Bear in burlington while in town for a soccer tournament. It was myself(45), Payton(14) and Grayson(16). It was a smaller restaurant with a nice comfortable feel. The tables were clean and ready to go.

We got seated and they wasted no time greeting us and getting drinks while we browsed the menu!

Payton and I ordered Country Fried Chicken, Eggs, Hashbrowns and an English Muffin. Grayson ordered the Large Pork Tenderloin Sandwich with Fries and Baked Beans.

Food took about 15 minutes and was brought all at once. Everything was cooked perfectly and tasted delicious.

The service was outstanding and I was even brought a refill without asking.

5/5 from the "Malin "Boys" We highly recommend, wether visiting or a resident, pay this eating establishment a visit and show them some love! Especially during these rough times!

Cleanliness: 5/5 Service: 5/5 Food:5/5

Would recommend to...