I heard great things about this place and I got to finally try it! Walking in we were greeted right away. The server told us to look at the menu when we're ready to order we can go to the front and order with someone once we ordered we were able to find a seating and the server who greeted us told us to sit in where we want so we chose a seating in the back near the drinks fountain. We ordered a premium New York steak dish and a regular beef dish with a drink, and we ended out getting some diet Pepsi. Near the drink fountain was sauce and utensils, which we tried both soy garlic and sweet and sour sauce. When the food came, it was super hot, so be careful when you have a little kids. We had to cut the steak into small pieces to make sure that we can share it together and also mix it with the rice which was in the separate bowl. The other beef dish was easier to mix, and we ended up using the white garlic for both because it tastes the best vs the other sauce. The New York steak was very tender. Definitely enjoy the size portions and loved the variety of vegetables it comes with. My son enjoyed the New York State more than the beef bowl. The place is very nice. I think I really enjoyed how we were able to choose our own seating after ordering. They even had a restrooms in the back, which are very clean. read more

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This place has really gone downhill for us recently. It used to be one of my family's favorite spot to get a quick, decently priced pasta meal in the SGV. But recent experience really didn't quite do it for us. The place feels grimy and sticky everywhere, the tables, chairs, and even the doors. The big order panel doesnt even work and you have to order at the counter, which is also taking phone orders. I had to wait for the staff to take a 5 minute phone order while I stood at the counter awkwardly. They also rolled out a kids menu, and my daughter was very excited about the pasta option on there because on the drawing it looked like pasta with a tomato sauce. It came plain with bits of dry chicken. Very disappointed. The food from the main menu is still decent but I doubt I would be going back as often as before now. read more

The staff is friendly, an very considerate. Usually they assign your seating the toddler I was with was on the brink of letting out his zoomies. I gave the kid the task of finding us a seat to sit in. When the cashier assigned us a table I asked for the table the kid was sitting at and he made it work for us. It's been a little while since I last ate here, either my belly got bigger or the meat portions got smaller. Usually one of these plates would fill me up. read more

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My husband and daughter love eating here! They get the same entree everytine.... beef curry. Sat outside front patio. Wish tgey can make their door not make the screeching noise it scares me. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

First tried Pepper Lunch in Japan years before it came to America, and was of course excited when it opened here. Over the years, the meat portions have noticeably decreased and rice proportion increased (shrinkflation). It's understandable, and prices haven't increased much compared to other restaurants. Still a great meal with fast, friendly service and a comfortable casual atmosphere read more

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I haven't had Pepper Lunch in years (the last time was in NorCal) and I was craving it, so I decided to stop by. I was surprised (and lowkey disappointed) that there wasn't an udon option anymore.. I ordered the Kimchi Beef Rice with cheese, and unfortunately the meat-to-rice ratio was really disappointing. For $18, it felt like I was mostly paying for a plate of rice and kimchi. The beef pieces were tiny and there were probably only about 6-8 pieces total. I wanted to love it for the nostalgia, but this visit didn't quite hit the same. I will not be back. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Beef with Cheese Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

My first time trying Pepper Lunch for dinner. There was just a little wait for a Saturday dinner. The ambiance is casual and cozy. We ordered the beef pepper lunch. The food came quickly, smelled really amazing. After adding the garlic sauce and some black pepper, it was even better. The portion is perfect for a hearty dinner. I will come back to try other entree, the pasta dish looks great too. read more

Pepper Lunch - Pepper Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Pepper Lunch isn't particularly good nor bad. The dishes weren't anything special flavor wise. I got the Jumbo Beef Pepper Lunch which is just the standard meat and rice. I do like crispy rice that forms on the bottom if you let it sit as well as choosing how rare you'd like your meat as well. Aside from that service took a bit longer to get food which was around 30-40 min mins. Which seems a bit long especially since the concept is the food cooking partially on the plate infront of you. If you just wanted a standard beef and rice bowl with a twist and aren't looking for a huge flavor experience then visit Pepper Lunch. read more

Came here craving Pepper Lunch and the food itself was solid--flavors were good, though we can understand concerns about the small meat portions. The really negative part of our visit was witnessing one of the workers drop a fork on the floor and then put it back with the clean utensils. That's just not safe and really disappointing to see. Because of that, we won't be coming back. read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

While it's a fun concept, i probably wouldn't come often due to value. The meal itself is 75% rice and a whole piece of butter to make it flavorful. I took out most of the butter - just a little of it was enough to make it taste good. The regular only gives you 2-3 pieces of meat. It just looks like more because they are long and stretched around. Staff was nice though! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Wow so delicious! Never heard of this place but decided to try it out. Really love this place. Food itself is simple (rice and meat) but the hot stone and the food is exceptional. I ordered the hamburg and beef curry. Portion size is good amount but I find the price to be a bargain. I could see other places charge more for this type of meal. What I didn't like was that they provided us with fork and spoon but no knife. I needed that knife to slice my hamburg. Also there's assigned seatings, they told us to sit at a particular table when the restaurant literally just opened and all tables are empty. Also drank water from the fountain machine, has a taste to it when it's not supposed to. Would definitely recommend and will come back. read more

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I stopped by Pepper Lunch for dinner and tried the Tofu & Veggie Curry. When my plate came out, I noticed that the carrots and green beans had freezer burn. The curry sauce was very salty and the food did not have any flavor to it. For the price point, I do wish that the ingredients were fresh and had some sort of flavor. There is plenty of seating and the staff is very nice but I don't think that I will be returning. read more

Pepper Lunch - Sizzling Curry - Tofu & Veggie - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Good value meal when it comes to portion and meat quality. I think it's the perfect size for a meal. The shrimp pepper lunch came with 8 large pieces! But overall, it's very mild tasting and even after adding more black pepper and soy sauce, they didn't make much of a difference. Food came out within minutes of ordering. read more

Everything is good!! Just the right portion! They were quick to serve us and inside was very casual and dim. It was a nice vibe. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Solid, tasty, no frills, satiating, and affordable place to get a meal. It's straightforward, comforting, and delicious. The ones in Asia do taste slightly better for some reason, not sure why but I would say the ones American still aren't far off. Good spot for a quick bite without breaking the bank. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

The food was good the curry was a little bland missing some flavor however a random homeless man enter the restaurant not noticing that employees at the front the homeless pass by with them and enter the bathroom soo it was odd and weird that they didn't know if he was a customer and suddenly ignored the fact I don't know what the homeless contain in the bathroom it was weird but overall the fries was great and crispy overall everything is okay service needs to be updated with menu's. read more

Came here as a party of 2 for the pepper lunch and it did not disappoint. The food came out within a few minutes, and the staff were super kind and friendly. The food was given in large portions and all super fresh. We got the steak and salmon, and it was full of flavor (the butter and pepper helps!). I love this place and frequent Pepper Lunches in Singapore, so it was a wonderful first US experience at a Pepper Lunch. read more

Pepper Lunch - Classic Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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There is a free public parking lot down first on the south side of main. You can easily walk to the restaurant from there. The ordering process is a little confusing because they have kiosks which tell you not to touch them and serve only as a menu. You order at the register and then are seated at numbered tables where they bring you your food. The order takers and servers are mostly friendly and efficient. Restrooms are in the back. We got the Karaage chicken and hamburger and grilled chicken breast with not hamburger and double chicken instead. As the instructions say online, you pour the side of curry over the meat and/or rice in the iron skillet and let it simmer a little before eating. The karaage chicken was like panda orange chicken and the grilled chicken was superior. It is basically like having katsu curry but healthier without the fried katsu. The portion is enough for two meals if you are not super hungry and sufficient if you are hungry. The drink selection is somewhat limited. As others have said you might be able to get veggies instead of rice, but those on Keto or low carb should consider that curry is NOT a low carb food and does NOT work with Keto or low carb diets. We definitely would come here again to get a health alternative to katsu curry. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

The food at Pepper Lunch is really good, but I think you're really just paying for the spectacle of it. It's cool to see and hear the sizzling hot plate come out with the raw meat that you need to turn over yourself. But when it comes down to it, it's rice and meat and some vegetables. And not even combined in a complex way. The quality is there for sure, and it tastes good. But when it comes down to it, I feel like it's really easy to recreate the same dish at home. I will say, it was a pleasant surprise how saucy everything becomes when you mix it together. I was worried everything would be too dry. But they do include some compound butter that sauces everything up. read more

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This restaurant is one of the ones my husband and I consistently come back to eat. The beef pepper rice dish is comforting, flavorful, and delivers on the pepper advertising. Service is limited to the person taking your order, though friendly, is not the highlight of their restaurant, nor is the ambiance. It's all about the food. Portion size is generous for me, though a little more rice than meat. So I'd recommend getting double meat if that's your preference. read more

Pepper Lunch - Classic Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Took my friend here for the first time and she loved it. We were saying this place was good for fast eaters cause you really gotta wait for your food to cool down. read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Stopped by for lunch in Alhambra. The food was actually good, but just a heads-up: the photos online look quite different from what you actually get. You'll need to look at the menu, order and pay at the counter, then wait a long time for your food. If you're not in a rush, it's worth a try, but don't come starving read more

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Very simple and yummy food that gets that job done but nothing really stood out. It's good for when you want some comfort/simple food or when you're sick. Prices are a bit steep for what you're getting, I wish there was a bit more meat or another simple veggies added to the plate for the price we paid. read more

Pepper Lunch - Chicken karaage, Miso Soup - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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My first time.. Food is good, good portion, service is fast staff are nice & friendly.. the place is clean, the condiments are organize next to the fountain drink. read more

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This is a good place for a quick sit down lunch. This was my first time trying this place. The menu was displayed right as you walk in. The workers were nice and friendly. We ordered the Beef Pepper Rice, and the Tofu & Kim Chi Vegetable Rice. Both plates arrived sizzling off the hot plate. You can see the meat turning from pink to a nice cooked brown color. And as you mix your rice in with your beef, you can smell the flavors as they're being fused together. The Kim Chi vegetables had a nice spice to them. And it paired nicely with the pepper beef. I would definitely come back to this place. They have a decent seating inside as well as an outdoor patio. read more

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First time trying pepper lunch in US and totally not disappointed. I try their famous beef pepper rice. It's delicious but the meat portion consider small compared to the rice. I also try the ribeye steak. The meat is tender and well cooked. There are two sauce available beside the fountain drink that we can take. I like to combine both sweet and garlic sauce together. The service is fast and the staff is nice. The parking lot is behind the building. There are free parking structures available. The restaurant is clean and has outdoor dining area. Will come back again for more!! read more

Pepper Lunch - Angus Rib Eye Steak 8oz - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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I enjoyed Pepper Lunch! I've been wanting to come for years and am glad I could finally try. I got their beef pepper rice and it is such a simple but tasty dish. I love that you can add sauce to your heart's desire and that it's in a hot stone. This location was nice too, with a parking structure nearby and lots of other spots nearby in Downtown. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Pepper Lunch I knew my cense would always leading me to the good food. But, sometimes even I can feel the taste of um... would still go in to prove that I am right. Service ok, place ok, but the most important things it is the taste of the food. you can feel the pepper and salt every strong(with the chinese stomach), that not good for the taste and health, meat with no flavor but only strong seasoning. I am only writing these for my recode so... next time! read more

Not good service. I dont know how to eat the food here. I ordered cream pasta but the cream came with onion ring. I thought that is for onion ring... No hot water, no warm water either. Not good overall. read more

We got the classic beef pepper plate and the curry steak and hamburg. There's 2 sizes on the beef pepper plate, classic or double. Double means double meat. I figured classic was going to be enough plus I added an extra egg. It wasn't enough. Go for the double, if you can. The curry plate was just enough for my other half. This was a busy place. Come around 3pm where there's less people and better opportunity for a open table so you don't need to wait. Parking is located in a 5 level parking structure behind the restaurant. Parking is free. There's street parking too. Nice place to take a family of four. Not good for large groups. It's a cozy place. They do have 4 or 5 tables outside. Go give them a try. It's pretty tasty. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for a while now and so happy I did! It's a moderate sized restaurant with a decent sized patio area for seating as well. There's 2 kiosks available for ordering but didn't work when we walked in. You order at the cashiers and the food will be brought out to you. We were welcomed when we first walked in. There was no wait but I were here at 4 PM on a Sunday. The place can definitely get packed during normal dining hours. WARNING: All meals come on a sizzling hot plate. Beef pepper rice - 10/5 SO DELICIOUS and the meat is so tender. Only complaint is the amount of beef is pretty minimal. I'm going to have to get the jumbo portion next time for more meat. Angus diced cut steak - 5/5 definitely a healthier option without all the rice. Theres a large portion of vegetables for those who don't want all the carbs. It does come with a side of white rice if you're more hungry. The garlic sauce is so good. Must add to your sizzling plate for a cohesive bite. It really combines your meal. Side note, leftovers are delicious the next day too. I brought it work and everyone was asking where I got it from. Must try! read more

Pepper Lunch - Classic Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Quick lunch after a ciclavia event. Food was piping hot. I think I still really love the regular thinly sliced steak here than the actual steak. But affordable prices. A simple yet satisfying meal. They have a self served drink station. Service was good. They also have a self checkout area -- good for people like me who takes time to look at the menu before ordering (+ added pictures). Place looks dark inside but could probably just use better lighting. read more

the food is good. i ordered the curry beef rice without onions. they got that correct. the thing is when you come in you look at the menu and tell them how many people. you then walk up and order at the front, THEN they'll seat you. place is nice, outside and inside seating, their door to leave has a loud creak because it touches the floor and i sat at the table right next to it.. its loud but i mean. the door is scraping on the floor. what can you do. so when you get your food, the meat is still raw, you cook it on your plate to your liking, i like that. the only issue is the rice can get burnt if you just leave it, i usually mix it and keep it moving so it doesn't get hard, its also the reason why i get curry, it helps. it is a bit pricey though, so if you can justify that, it's a good place to go to for a quick filling meal. read more

Great food, small portions The food was actually amazing! I love how fresh and hot the meal was. The sizzling rice goes really well with the beef but the portions were too small. The beef quantity was significantly smaller than the photo, so I was still pretty hungry at the end of the meal. It also wasn't cheap for a small meal, it was around $15 read more

I have been meaning to try Pepper Lunch for the longest time. It was always intimidating how long the line looked like it would be and how popular it is here. I placed an order for food online and I came in and picked it up. I went with the kimchi chicken rice and got it to go. There are a lot of people dining inside and I look like people are enjoying their meals. When you first come in you order at the kiosk and lots of different sizzling options. I thought at first getting my food to go was going to be a little bit hard to replicate what it was supposed to actually feel like but it was still very tasty. I will be incorporating Pepper Lunch into my rotation of restaurants. There's parking in a structure just south of here that you can access from 1st street even the more hidden route from Garfield. read more

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Very casual place. Friendly staff. Parking can be found in a structure behind the place For the price, portions are on the smaller side. Menu pictures are very misleading like a lot of places. Lots of rice and minimal protein. See picture as I got the jumbo and it looks like there's barely any more meat than the regular portion That being said, I think it's delicious. I love the sizzling plate dishes, just wish they were more honest about the portions and what you pay for. The garlic and sweet sauces are flavorful, especially when you add it to the meat as it cooks. I would come back again, but would pass on the jumbo as it's essentially the same portion read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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The perfect meal. I ordered the chicken pepper rice which sizzled to perfection. I was amazed by the abundance of flavors. The pepper is surprisingly not too overwhelming where it ruins the whole meal, it adds a balance burst of flavor. I add the garlic and vinegar (?) sauces as well. Quick service. Smaller restaurant. Not too crowded on a weeknight. The perfect savory experience. Friends of mine replaced the rice for noodles in the past but they have unfortunately discontinued this. 10/10 recommend this delicious meal! read more

Pepper Lunch - Classic Chicken Pepper Rice and Sweet Potato Wedges - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Went here with my friends & the server Tiff was amazing to us. She made sure to keep checking in on us if we ever needed anything, super nice & great customer service. Good food too read more

We visited Pepper Lunch on a Sunday night after some friends recommended it. There was no wait, and the ordering process was straightforward: view the menu, order at the counter, and wait at your table for your food. On this particular night, they were only accepting cash. We tried the Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice, which is thinly sliced raw beef around a bowl of white rice, topped with corn, and served on a sizzling hot plate with garlic butter. The beef cooks to your liking as you stir it on the hot plate. The dish was hearty and flavorful. Overall, if you're looking for a filling and flavorful meal, this is a solid choice. read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Came here around 11:40am on Friday and we were the only ones there. The restaurant was bright and clean. We ordered beef pepper rice and hamburg and beef curry. The food came out fast. Everything is served on a sizzling hot plate. The beef pepper rice came with thin sliced beef, rice and corn. The beef was raw but cooked quickly on the hot plate and you mix everything together. The hamburger patty was like a beef patty that you get at a school cafeteria with so so quality. The curry sauce was good. There are two different sauces on the table you can mix into your beef and rice. I found it's a bit too oily as they put a good amount of oil on the hot plate so the food won't stick. It's an ok meal that definitely gets you full but not a gourmet meal. By the time we were leaving around 1pm, the restaurant was full with lunch crowd. read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef pepper rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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