22 Best American Restaurants in Big Bear Lake

“Coming straight off the PCT with serious hiker hunger, I needed a spot to seriously replenish those calories — and this place delivered. I went with the O.G. Burger and a full basket of garlic fries, washed down with a refreshing lemonade. The food was excellent and the portions were no joke. I struggled to finish the fries, but my trail appetite wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. Challenge completed!
The restaurant is very clean with a solid selection of beers on tap. The staff was super friendly and helpful. I only wish I hadn’t missed karaoke night — guess I’ll have to come back!
Thank you for the great meal and vibes. Highly recommend for thru-hikers and locals alike.“

“This is a hidden gem. If you're driving into Big Bear stop for lunch or breakfast on the way. No problem parking and you will feel very welcome. Food is excellent and much cheaper than you will find farther in toward the center of town. It is family run and feels like it with excellent personal service. Burgers are great as is everything else I've ever tried on the menu. Indoor seating as well as a great back patio away from the traffic noise. Enjoy!“

“I will start this by saying if we could give more than 5 stars for service we absolutely would!! Janet! She is simply a gift. From the second we opened the front door her beautiful energy welcomed us so wholeheartedly. Her smile, her personality and her patience hearing out our special dietary needs were all above and beyond any expectations we could have had. We travel a lot and not only dine out but have worked extensively in F&B for decades. Janet sets the bar and she sets it high! We cannot wait to get back to Big Bear to go hug her at Bennys!“

“Is a wow 🤩 place to eat everything is amazing and super delicious 😋 And the team super synchronized ,fast and focused this is our breakfast place now 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️“

“Good food - relaxing atmosphere“

“Best avocado salad, pozole and horchata ever! My husband and I went to Gaby’s every time we were in Big Bear. It was our favorite restaurant. We have since moved out of state but I still think about Gaby’s all the time. Do yourself a favor and go to Gaby’s and order everything I mentioned. You won’t be disappointed!“

“Great food, nice music, ambience, will be back for sure!!!“

“I was born here in Big Bear. let me tell you the food at this place is amazing. I'm impressed. everything that came out the window looked epic. The service is top notch. I'm definitely making this a place I go often.“

“Excellent food courtesy friend servers. My first time and I will definitely return Thank you for good food good service and excellent dining experience“

“I enjoyed a satisfying dinner after a relaxing wellness day at Soothing Canna Massage and Wellness. It was an amazing pairing that I highly recommend. PROS: Located in the heart of Big Bear village, this rustic, warm, and cozy restaurant provided wonderful amabiance for a Spring evening meal. Hostesses and greeters welcomed us with smiles and friendliness. Our server, Leticia, provided courteous, professional, and knowledgeable service. We ordered the outstanding macademia nut crusted crab cakes with a wonderfully balanced chunky mango salsa. Not since the heyday of Citrone's in Redlands crab cakes have I delighted so dearly of these crustacean delicacies. The baked brie accompanied with toasted pine nuts, and chipotle rasberry sauce paired deliciously with grilled ciabatta. The freshly baked bread added a nice yeasty element with butter. The entree of pistachio crusted chicken with orange dijon sauce complimented each other sweetly. The buttery sweet potato mash contributed to the nutty tangy protein. I enjoyed dipping the freshly prepared vegetables with the sauce and mash! CONS: The salad that comes with the entree seemed like an after thought and definitely did not compare to the freshly made soups. The dishes are slightly overpriced compared to other places with similar food selections. So, the value is not exactly there. OVERALL: With a dirge of options at the quality and professionality of Peppercorn Grill in Big Bear, I highly recommend this spot for a wonderful dinner with friends and loved ones. ⚜️💚⚜️“

“Great service from owner! Treated my family as if they were her own! Plan to eat here again.“

“Great staff! Unfortunately, next weekend is the end😢“

“One of the best chicken sandwiches I've had in a long time. I was skeptical about door dashing a cocktail but I was SO surprised when it came in a mason jar. Honey mustard was so tasty I used on my sandwich instead of the pickles. The pickles were good but a bit breaded for my taste. Regardless, this was the perfect pick for BB for my first night.“

“When I was California I lost my backpack with wallet all cc money and DL. I was at Big Bear lake. The beginning of our trip. Well the owner of Big Bear Brewery found me on FB messenger mailed my backpack with all its belongings. Even the cash. Good people do exist Richard thank you! I encourage everyone to try Big Bear Mountain Brewery. The Ruben sandwich is the real deal!“

“Authentic American breakfast.Large portions. Great service. Pancakes are fluffy and filling.“

“Great service and great food.“

“Oakside Restaurant was an amazing discovery! We had lunch there today, Saturday, April 5th, at a table for three. We are visiting from French Polynesia, and this is our first time in Big Bear. The meal was absolutely delicious, and we couldn’t have asked for a better experience. We will definitely remember this place and hope to return soon!“

“Great service, great food, great drinks and wonderful covered patio area. Highly recommend. Parking can be tough.. Go and enjoy!“

“Great place to get some work done or host an event, staff is great and friendly 💥💥💥💥💥“

“We want some room service and decided on Applebee’s for late night meal. Forgot to take pictures as it was inside of our room and I was starving. Lol. The wait wasn’t too bad. It was about 8:15 PM on a Thursday night. We ordered a couple of dishes and I must say I was very impressed. I had the new lemon chicken with mashed potatoes and broccoli and it was cooked perfectly. Nice and tender and a very thick piece of meat. Nice portions. The broccoli was perfectly with wonderful seasoning. Will definitely go in there and eat at some point to get the atmosphere part of it. I recommend!“

“Second time my wife and I have eaten here and the place has been a solid choice. Good food, reasonable prices, and great views of the lake. The beautiful drive to Big Bear Lake is an added plus!“

“The bartender tonight was awesome! She was very helpful and funny. She made great recommendations on food and made my wife some amazing cosmos, highly recommend“