San Diego County health inspectors have once again ordered the Black Bear Diner in El Cajon to cease operations after documenting a major vermin violation and several additional food safety deficiencies during a routine inspection, continuing a years-long pattern of recurring health issues at the restaurant.
According to inspection records from the San Diego County Department of Environmental Health and Quality, inspectors ordered the restaurant at 1025 Fletcher Parkway closed on August 6 after identifying a major vermin violation, along with minor violations involving holding temperatures and hot and cold water. Inspectors also cited the restaurant for multiple out-of-compliance conditions involving nonfood-contact surface cleanliness, equipment and utensil storage, and premises maintenance and exclusion measures.
County inspectors returned later the same day for a site investigation and reported no remaining violations. However, as of publication, publicly available records did not yet show the restaurant had received official approval to reopen.
The latest shutdown marks the fourth county-ordered closure for the El Cajon restaurant since it opened. The location was first ordered closed on February 21, 2023, after inspectors documented major holding temperature and food-contact surface violations. It was shut down again on November 5, 2024, because of a major sewage disposal violation. On March 23, 2026, inspectors once more ordered the restaurant closed after finding major vermin and holding temperature violations. Less than two weeks later, on April 6, the restaurant was again ordered closed during a site investigation after inspectors documented another major vermin violation.
Even between closures, inspection reports reveal recurring concerns. Over the past several years, county inspectors have repeatedly cited the restaurant for minor vermin activity, improper holding temperatures, equipment storage deficiencies, sanitation issues, facility maintenance concerns, plumbing problems and other operational violations. Although follow-up inspections generally resulted in passing "A" grades after corrective action, the repeated closures stand out compared to most restaurants operating in San Diego County.
The El Cajon restaurant's latest closure also follows health problems at the franchise owner's second San Diego County location. On June 23, Black Bear Diner's Vista restaurant, located at 605 West Vista Way, was ordered closed just 28 days after opening after inspectors identified a major sewage disposal violation along with numerous additional sanitation and operational deficiencies. That restaurant was approved to reopen the following day after corrective actions were completed.
Combined, the two Black Bear Diner restaurants owned by local franchisee Karan Gogri have now been ordered closed five times by county health officials. The latest closure also comes just weeks after an unusual dispute involving SanDiegoVille's reporting on the Vista restaurant's health shutdown.
On July 20, Instagram removed SanDiegoVille's post covering the Vista closure after receiving a copyright infringement complaint. The complaint identified Karan Gogri, who owns both the El Cajon and Vista restaurants, as the reporting party. According to his professional biography, Gogri has been a Black Bear Diner franchisee and developer since 2014, has served as a Jack in the Box franchisee and director of operations since 2005, and has also been developing and operating Qdoba restaurants throughout California since 2020.
The removed Instagram post summarized publicly available county health inspection records, the temporary closure of the Vista location, and directed readers to SanDiegoVille's original news article. Instagram advised SanDiegoVille that the content would remain removed unless the reporting party voluntarily withdrew the complaint.
Founded in Mount Shasta, California, in 1995, Black Bear Diner has grown to more than 150 locations across the United States and is known for its oversized breakfast platters, comfort-food menu and rustic lodge-themed restaurants.
SanDiegoVille has contacted Black Bear Diner and Karan Gogri seeking comment regarding the latest health closure, the restaurant's recurring inspection history and the prior copyright complaint. This article will be updated if responses are received.
Black Bear Diner is located at 1025 Fletcher Parkway in El Cajon.
Originally published on August 7, 2026.
