They did it again dag nabbit. I forgot to take my photo before eating while the food was sizzling. It was superb. I tried it without the sauce and it was already well seasoned and the sauce only made jt even better. I was allitle sad because i ordered the regular which i though would come out like the menu photo however way less meat to which i would recommend if you want it to look like the menu photo i suggest eating it with double meat. Only reason i gave it a 4/5 stars was due to myself feeling like i got played read more

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

I had Pepper Lunch when I was in Australia, and was excited to see it here. Some memories should just stay memories. When my friend and I arrived at Pepper Lunch, there was a wait. We put our contact information down and walked around to kill time. I never received a call, and when my friend and I circled back, they gave our spot away. They said they called, but I never received incoming calls within that 1 hour. I recount this incident just to say Pepper Lunch needs to figure out a better way to deal with customers that need to wait. Onto the food: The food is suitable for a rainy or cloudy day. It's not that special, in all honesty. Too salty, not enough stuff in their curry... small things could make it so much better. Would I come back again? Naw. read more

$20 for this. $20 can buy a combo somewhere else with side dishes and a drink. So disappointed. I can lift the bag with my pinkie. read more

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

See all

Aside from the long lines that usually stretch pretty far down the street, Pepper Lunch isn't all that bad. I opted for their kimchi rice option which came with beef and a dallop of sprinkled cheeses. I lovee kimchi fried rice so once I saw that they had this option, they definitely sold me. The kimchi was crunchy and sweet, and their beef was delicious! I like that we finally have a location here closer to home for when I'm craving this since Irvine is a pretty far drive. read more

See all

Absolutely love the flavor of the classic pepper beef. I always add cheese and mushroom to mine. The cheese is absolutely a must as an add on ! Just elevates it that much more. For seating during covid, theres only about 3 tables outside so if you dont feel like waiting, take it to go but the sizzling plate adds to the experience. read more

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

This was my first time here and the food was pretty good. The cashier helped us place a order and offered us a free make it a deal which includes the side and drink for free in return for a review. We got sweet potatoe fries as our side. The rib eye steak came medium cooked and continued to cook on the sizzling hot plate. The meat was perfect with an addition of the added garlic sauce (savory) on the table. The rest of the veggies continued to cook and tasted better as I ate. The sweet potatoes are the perfect thickness and crispiness; definitely one of the best I've had. We came around 6:45 and was able to get a table. The line got longer and there was a wait as we ate. You cannot order until there's table available for you. I would definitely come back. read more

See all

A little pricey (considering it's meant to be "lunch" prices) but solid food. Underwhelming seasoning if you're used to fusion food, but that also makes sense considering it's a Japanese chain. We ordered takeout: * Eel Sizzling Plate: Okay amount of eel, nice flavor * Beef and Hamburg Sizzling Curry: Great curry! I like their hamburg's texture but felt it was a little overcooked. The beef was fantastic though - I'd get this again as a single meat sizzling curry. Probably wouldn't do it for takeout again, but I'd love to try their dine-in post-pandemic. read more

Love the concept of this restaurant: a Japanese DIY sizzling plate. Came here around 9pm on a Friday night and the line was out the door. Didn't expect to be seated so quickly! Waited 10-15mins tops and then ordered using one of the iPad kiosks. You basically build your dish, whether that's a signature rice plate, pasta, or a salad and then you have options to add several different fixings like cheese or garlic chips or extra protein. The add-on's are a little pricey per item, so choose wisely! You also have the option to add in a regular side like (an extra) rice or miso soup or a premium side like fries or onion rings. - Classic Beef Pepper Rice: definitely a signature peppery dish! Tastes even better once you add in some of the garlic soy sauce. Meat comes raw and red and you're able to cook to your liking. - Eel Pepper Rice: soo good when you douse it in the honey soy sauce. Let the eel cook 'til it gets a nice crisp before you mix it up. - Sizzling Curry with Hamburg Steak and Beef: tastes great but the rice doesn't get super crispy because of the sauce. Hamburg steak is juicy, has almost a meatloaf texture. Tips: * they generally halt customers from making any new orders if there are no tables available. * let your rice just sit for a minute or two so it gets extra crispy before you add in any sauces, especially if you order the curry * SAVE some curry sauce to dip some fries in! read more

See all

Decent food at an above average price. The food was okay but nothin memorable. The entire meal was much too salty. The add-ons are how they get you; each add one adds another dollar or two to your meal and it can really add up. I got the jumbo pepper rice with corn and egg. The beef was fresh and I definitely recommend adding the garlic and sweet sauces that are on the table. I would come again if I was in the mood for casual teppenyaki, asking them to go light on the salt if possible. Overall a fun experience and a decent meal. read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo classic pepper rice with corn and egg - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I love Pepper Lunch, I've gotten food from here so many times and I'll be coming back for more soon too! My favorite dish is the salmon rice one, as well as the curry beef (the curry powder is the one I get). Hint for Pepper Lunch lovers: they offer Stamp cards! I didn't know until last time I went, I wish I knew earlier because my card could've been full by now. But it's okay, more excuse to get Pepper Lunch again. read more

This was our first time and it will not be our last! We loved the place and the fun little strip of restaurants in the neighborhood. read more

I spend $55 order two ribeye steak with white, look what I got, 5 slices pieces meat and some corns. That is. How come this worth $28. Will Never order again. Don't even bother to try!! read more

Pepper Lunch - Ribeye steak $28 worth ever - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Parking: I parked at the plaza where Sprout is and walked over so I don't have to deal with finding street parking or going into a small parking structure. Customer Service: Not much interaction with the staffs here. We ordered from the kiosk and asked the staffs where we should be sitting. They just bring out your food based on your order number and that's about it. Inside: The inside is a little bit too crowded for my taste. That's also probably because it was during dinner rush hours and a lot of people are eating there. It was pretty much a full house. Food: I ordered the large beef pepper lunch dish (I forgot the actual name). The dish came out sizzling hot, that way, you can see the thinly sliced beef being cooked right in front of you. They added soy sauce (I think) on top of the rice, so the dish is a bit on the salty side. I also added in the garlic sauce and the sweet soy sauce that is on the table to my meat for extra flavor. It was a good dinner and I was really full afterward. For me, this is my guilty pleasure because of the amount of rice that came with the dish. A lot of carb goodness! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Food was delicious and served hot right to the table. The service was nice and quick. Outdoor and indoor seating allowed for best experience. Ambiance was good. read more

I love Pepper Lunch's curry! It was my go to place for a decent lunch when in the Alhambra area. Unfortunately, and the reason for the low rating, their prices have gone up but their meat portions have gotten much smaller. When I pay that price for a double meat curry and get hamburger that is flat and smaller than an egg with a few pieces of beef and am left with a bowl of rice of curry sauce, I know I was definitely meat robbed and price gouged. read more

My first teppan experience and it did not impress. Meat to rice ratio was very small and maybe it's not supposed to be seasoned, but everything tasted bland. After eating, my whole throat was slimy with grease and didn't feel good. The hot plate overcooked the beef. When it was served to me it was already very fully cooked on one side. Kinda tasted like fried rice at home. No water provided either. read more

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

See all

Came here for lunch, and this place was good! Got the basic beef, pepper, rice, and added kimchi and mushrooms, it, and it was fulfilling. read more

Pepper Lunch - Classic Beef Pepper Rice with mushroom and kimchi added - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Cane here for the first time and it was a different experience. You first order and then sit. You either order through a cashier or a machine. I ordered the regular beef one. It is 9.99 and you can add sides and toppings for an additional cost. For first timers, i recommend doing the reg size vs the jumbo just so you can get an idea of it tastes like. It comes with the meat, rice and corn. Oh.. and a whole lot of pepper. The food comes out on a sizzling plate. You mix it yourself and they have condiments on the table. Overall, its a fun experience. Next time, i shall ask for easy pepper. read more

The food here was decent at best and I thought it was overpriced for the portions and quality. Not likely to return.

flavor is above average. portion is soooo small just look at my pic.... expected more from payin $18+tax/tip/delivery fee. read more

Pepper Lunch - really? lol double meat that cost me over $21 after delivery fee and tip this is not a joke - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

The food is so yummy! Anytime we have a company lunch & learn at the firm I think of Pepper Lunch as the best place to order food! Good is so tasty read more

ordered to go at cashier. cashier got my name wrong and food was sitting there for a long time. Currently eating cold rice as I'm typing this. Very unnecessary given that i was only person that order to go at the cashier [everyone else were dine in or online orders]. one employee behind kitchen [asian male] came out to the front and was super helpful straightening out the situation. rest are miserable people that is just there for a paycheck. read more

Parking structure available on 1st, just south of main, or else you can street park. Came during lunch before the rush, and there was no wait getting a table on a weekday. We got a bunch of dishes and shared it family style, everything was great! read more

Best place ever!! Never have I ever ate anything like this before. This is my second time coming here & they never disappoint. The service is amazing and the waiters & waitresses are so nice. AND the food comes out super fast!! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Wow where can I begin this place has really gone down since covid. I came in today to dine in because food taste better dine in. They charge us $.85 for each bottle water and the service was so bad. All the workers did was dance around and shaking their asses. They never once offer us water or anything to drink. They use to have sauces out but we had to ask but of course the workers didn't offer us since they were busy shaking their asses off to music. In terms of food the portion was really small. I wish I never tip them since they once never service us and just stood around while talking to one another. Food was just oily and horrible. Never coming back again. read more

We have this in Manila and tasted the same. Ordered regular beef pepper lunch it was good. Staff was nice , friendly and accommodating considering we were 10 people they were able to seat us together even thou their place is not that big for big groups. read more

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

The food is good, but overpriced. Ordered the jumbo pepper steak with added garlic chip and no sides. Total was $18.20. The meat is thinly sliced like what you would get when you order kbbq brisket. Was delicious but just not $18 worth. read more

A safe and reliable option for a meal! Honestly, Pepper Lunch is kind of the same everywhere. I've had Pepper Lunch in Canada and in the US and the quality and taste is always fairly consistent. I stopped by for lunch today because I had been wanting it for awhile, and it totally satisfied my cravings. I got the Kimchi Beef with Cheese meal and it was really good! Very flavorful and the beef was nice and tender. The kimchi added some much needed acidity and crunch to the meal. The whole thing is basically a heavy fried rice, so the tartness kind of alleviates some of that heaviness, and the crunch provides a textural break from the monotony of plain soft rice. I also checked in and got some sweet potato wedges as a free side :) It was also the perfect amount of food for one sitting, and I left feeling satisfied: neither disgustingly full nor wanting more. But if I had any complaints about the food, I think I'd prefer if they were just a little more generous with the beef and cheese. Also, be wary of the sauces! The sweet sauce and garlic sauce are both super flavorful, and the garlic sauce in particular is really salty, so definitely go easy with it! Overall, I had a really nice dining experience! Food was good and the service was great. Very friendly employees and the food comes out super fast! But be warned that it tends to get busy quickly, so definitely come around opening time! read more

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

Wait a minute. Why do people line up for this place? I just had dinner here and was extremely underwhelmed. So the food comes out on a sizzling hot plate, but its just hype. Tasted like Chinese cafe food. Theres no table service and they only have bottled water for purchase. Super lame experience, hard pass. read more

Had gone last year before covid and really enjoyed the meal. Felt there was decent value for food and everything tasted really good, bottom line. Unfortunately, after covid, calling in to confirm how their items are sealed, led me to not place a delivery order recently. I may update if I order for pickup, but consider how they 'seal' your food if choosing delivery. They simply tie the bag handles together which, if a driver were so inclined, could easily untie the bag, sniff around and re-tie it. Not what I'm looking for or want to think about, but here we are. Hopefully they reconsider their food sealing protocols. read more

Good place to check out if you've never had/are craving japanese style teppan steak. There aren't many of these kind of restaurants around. The outside seating area is pretty limited, I think only 3 tables, but most times when I drive past it seems like there are open tables. Beef pepper rice is excellent and the steaks are also good. It is a little pricey though, but good to have once in a while if you are craving this kind of food. read more

Finally something exciting to eat near work! People and nice and helpful. Can't go wrong with a classic pepper beef rice and Kim Chee with cheese rice! Tip: come here early to beat the lines! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

After seeing countless friends eat at other Pepper Lunches, I was really excited to find that one opened up near me. I went on a Sunday for dinner and we luckily didn't have to wait long. The way to wait in line is confusing as other reviewers have mentioned, but luckily a worker was able to direct us. I ordered: - Kimchi beef w/ cheese (4/5): As others have also said, they don't give you that much meat. I would say that the spicy level was mild, so don't be intimidated by it. Although it was good, I wouldn't say that it is spectacular. The cast iron pan is definitely the selling point of this place, but I don't think that it adds much value besides slowing down my eating. - Fries (3/5): The fries weren't bad but I just prefer thinner, crispy fries while these fries were on the fatter side and kinda crispy. I just shared them with a group, but I wouldn't order again. Overall, I don't regret trying this place, but I also don't find myself craving it either. For the amount of food they give, I don't think that it is worth the price. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi beef w/ cheese - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I've had Pepper Lunch in Hong Kong but first time here in California. Service was good and this place gets very packed with lines out the door around lunch time. There's outdoor and indoor seating. Self-serve fountain drinks available. For the price, portions were a little small. There was a combo with larger portions but cost close to $20 after tax. For that price I'd rather go elsewhere. Worst part was leaving hungry. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

See all

NOMS! Me and my sister were so excited to try Pepper Lunch and have heard so many good things about it. We arrived around 1PM and the line was out the door. However, the line moved quite fast as the staff was attentive in turning over tables and giving people their food. We probably only waited about 15-20 min before taking our order and getting seated. Both of us ordered the classic beef; my sister added garlic chips and onions, I added garlic chips and cheese. Garlic chips and onions were delicious with it, but I could probably pass on getting cheese again. It seemed like there was an iPad system to order and seat yourself, but perhaps because it was so busy when we came, they stopped that method and just had people order at the counter and seat themselves. Definitely will be repeat customers to try the other plates! read more

The service was friendly and they were fast with our food. We had the classic beef rice and the cream pasta with seafood. The pasta was delicious, they give you the sauce on side to add in based on your preference. We checked in and got two free sides. The onion rings were a little oily and the salad shake was mixed greens w corn. Limited outdoor seating during covid. read more

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

I don't know why the employees have the door closed at 9:55 when the restaurant closes at 10 o'clock and I'm trying to pick up my food order and they're too busy standing around socializing instead of paying attention to customers trying to pick up their food. read more

What's not to like about beef and rice on a sizzling plate? Add the peppery and garlicky flavors= perfect combo. Wish the portions were bigger but other than that, I highly recommend and also order an egg on top for that perfect finishing touch read more

I remember when all my friends would come back from Japan and reminisce about all the great places to eat there and one that always kept popping up was Pepper lunch. Thankfully, I was able to remember that when I recently visited Irvine. It was a quiet Sunday afternoon and I thought that all of the restaurants would be packed but to my surprise, no wait at Pepper lunch. My daughter is an OC transplant now and she raved about this place too so she recommended the jumbo beef pepper plate. It was a great surprise that it came out on a sizzling cast iron plate and I was able to mix my plate on my own and control the flavor a bit more with the sauces on the table. My personal fave was the sweet stuff to balance the pepper. One thing I will caution new pepper lunchers is to be mindful of the hot fork, that shit hurts! You must practice patience after mixing and ensure your fork is cool or you'll pay like I did. read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo beef - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

See all

I got here on Friday 1/26/2024 at 9:19 pm and they were out of rice. Fridays are likely busy, but I would assume they would try to account for that given that rice is a major ingredient on their dishes. I was trying to order the hamburg steak, given that it comes with a side of rice they offered to switch it with a miso soup. I asked if I could get either more veggies or something else and the cashier said they could not, so it was either miso soup or nothing. By this point I was disappointed. It's ridiculous that they cannot be more flexible with their replacements especially when they run out of one of their main ingredients. I like pepper lunch and I've come here before, but they definitely need to plan better whenever they run out of main ingredients. read more