Running Bear Pancake House

About This Establishment

The Grizzly Bear bites back with a tender chicken-fried steak and thick, peppery gravy that clings to eggs and hashbrowns. Cinnamon Roll Cakes puff up fluffy and swirled with frosting, like a breakfast carnival in your mouth. Walleye Tacos snap with crisp fish and a jalapeño-creamy kiss, while huckleberry lemonade cuts any grease with bright, tart notes. This place wears its diner DNA on a bear-mascot sleeve and never pretends to be fancy—just real, hearty breakfast and lunch heat.

At a Glance

The Order Strategy

Skip the generic breakfast; get Grizzly Bear and Cinnamon Roll Cakes; for coffee, Jailhouse Rock Latte; for non-coffee, choose huckleberry lemonade

The Vibe Check

This is a family-diner HQ: casual, bustling, and welcoming; not a place to grind on a laptop

The Crowd Factor

Weekend mornings bring more families; lines grow as the sun climbs

Eat Here If / Skip If

EAT HERE IF: you want a hearty, park-gateway breakfast or lunch. SKIP IF: you need a quiet, solo meal or a formal scene

What Makes It Special

Bear figure in the rafters; hearty diner classics at park gateway

Must-Try Items

Signature Dishes: Grizzly Bear; Cinnamon Roll Cakes; Walleye Tacos

Grizzly Bear; Cinnamon Roll Cakes; Walleye Tacos

Best Time to Visit

Open 6 a.m.–2 p.m. daily. Arrive at opening (6:00 a.m.) to beat weekend lines; peak times hit during typical meal hours, especially mornings.

Skip If

Travelers seeking quiet dining or laptop-focused work

Family Info

Kid-friendly with high chairs and a children's menu; bustling atmosphere

What Diners Say

Pancakes are light and fluffy; chicken-fried steak tender with rich gravy; generous portions and friendly service; prices align with value