Had Ashley as our server at Pepper Lunch and she was awesome. She was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything came out perfectly. Great energy, great service. Will definitely be back! read more

Ok "sizzling plate" LOVE!! Fantastic First time Experience! I recently dined in at the Pepper Lunch in Irvine for the very first time, and it was a fun, delicious, and unique experience! I ordered the Rib Eye and Salmon combo, which was served with rice and a side salad. The meal arrives hot iron plate, letting you cook and mix everything together to your preference. Both the rib eye was incredibly tender, and the salmon was fresh and perfectly flaky paired together so well. The mix of their signature sweet and savory sauces into the hot rice along with the meat juices took the flavor up a notch for sure!! The side salad was crisp and provided a nice, refreshing pair to the rich main dish. The atmosphere was great for a casual dine-in meal, and the live cooking aspect made it really fun. I'd highly recommend it to anyone looking for a hearty and satisfying meal in Irvine. I will definitely be coming back! I had the pleasure of being served and answered all my questions by Darren. Very polite and knowledgeable of the menu. Energy is everything for me when trying new spots and he brought that personality right in. Thank you Darren and Pepper lunch. Wish I got a photo of my food !! next time!! read more

We had such a great experience at Pepper Lunch, and Ash made it even better! Ash was incredibly friendly, welcoming, attentive, and genuinely made us feel taken care of from the moment we arrived. The service was excellent, and everything was handled with such a positive attitude. The food was delicious, fresh, and came out perfectly. Great food combined with outstanding service really makes a difference, and Ash definitely went above and beyond. Thank you, Ash, for making our visit such an enjoyable one! We'll definitely be coming back. Highly recommend Pepper Lunch -- and if you get Ash, you're in great hands! Thank you Ash you didn't have to top off our waters we got somewhere else, but you went on ahead and did it!! Thank you for being so kind. The World needs more people like you!!! God Bless you!!! Eddie, Anamaria, and Cristian Rene read more

We came here around 11am today and everything was perfect! The chicken and beef combo was delicious especially when you add the sauces! My son loved the cream pasta! It was a success! They gave our kids crayons to keep them busy which was nice! I wish they had an area for sides ( ketchup) and small plates, bowls, napkins, utensils so we didn't have to keep going to the front to ask for these items. It was really hot inside but it was also a warm day and they had just opened. Overall staff was very nice and accommodating! Food was delicious! We would definitely return! read more

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Wow, this was good! I stopped in for dinner with a few friends after seeing a movie at the Spectrum. We live in San Diego, where there are not yet any Pepper Lunch locations, so we were eager to try it. We had to wait in line for 10-15 minutes, but the wait went by fast, likely because the food is served so quickly. Once you get to the front of the line, you order on a kiosk. We all got beef pepper rice (or slight variations - one of us got kimchi beef pepper rice), since that appeared to be the specialty dish. Honestly, it was a perfect food: crisp rice, sweet corn, thinly sliced beef, and LOTS of black pepper. Simple, but an unusual and surprisingly good combination of flavors. I think I'm going to be adding it to my list of foods I dream about. As we were eating, one of my friends said, "This is so good I want to cry." I hope to come back to try more of their menu items (the curry looks delicious too), and I hope they open up in San Diego soon! read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

What a fun dining experience!! Never really had a sizzling plate before so glad that Pepper Lunch showed me how it's done!! Chicken Karaage Sizzling Curry 4/5 - Good overall!! Just a bit dry and I preferred the sauces on the table tasted better with the Beef option. Also wish there was more veggies included, but it's an extra cost. Meals also come out so fast!! Service was great. Beef Pepper Rice 5/5 - Very delicious, esp adding the flavorful sauces provided on the table. Love how hot the food comes out and how interactive it is to stir up your meal haha. Very memorable dining at this fast food spot!! Good quality ingredients and a great concept. read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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Came here with my friend and parents for the BOGO promo, which was for the Beef Pepper Rice only. It was 4th of July weekend and the line was long, especially for the promo! Service was good, we ordered on the kiosk (the only option) , then food came out pretty quickly and servers were really nice in bringing the other dipping sauces to us. Food was pretty good too, but I would've preferred more options for the BOGO promo. Ambiance - nice, but I think the Diamond Jamboree might be a little more spacious. The Irvine Spectrum location is unbeatable though, with tons of convenient desserts and shopping options in the mall for a walk after lunch. Would recommend and will likely come back! read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef Pepper Rice 7/3/26 - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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Stopped by around 1:30 PM on a Saturday and, as expected, it seemed busy. We had about a ten-fifteen minute wait, but tables actually turned over fairly quickly. We ended up sitting outside, which worked out well because of the nice weather and it was fun seeing everyone and their dogs walking by. It gave the meal a lively atmosphere without feeling too hectic. We ordered the Jumbo Beef Lunch to share, and it was just enough food for two, although my partner doesn't eat too much. The beef was incredibly tender, and the sweet brown sauce is what really made the dish. We doused it in the rich, savory, and slightly sweet sauce. Service was attentive from the start. Our server brought water out right away and checked in throughout the meal without being overbearing. The prices were also very reasonable, especially considering the portion size. Overall, it's a great value, and I'd definitely come back again. read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo Beef Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

I've been wanting to try Pepper Lunch for a really long time, and today was the day. Unfortunately, this place didn't live up to the hype. It was almost 90 degrees outside & they had their doors wide open, which just made the entire experience uncomfortable. I couldn't wait to get out of there, didn't even care to finish my food. I was sweating my a** off, swatting away flies and junebugs - just not a pleasant dining experience whatsoever. Aside from the heat, the restaurant is self serve. I don't think self serve should mean you don't get any customer service whatsoever.. Had I not asked any questions, their team would have not interacted with me at the counter - or at all. Food is mid.. I found myself adding so many rounds of the sauce offered on the table + salt & pepper. It's bland fired rice at best. I really did want to like Pepper Lunch, but it really fell short of my expectations. It does look great on camera, that's about it. read more

First timer at this location! Located at The Spectrum. Weeknight dinner. No wait. Spacious and clean. Very friendly staff. You can easily order at the kiosk or with someone. Our food came out fast. Reasonably priced, decent portions, and it was tasty. read more

We were surprised how quick the food came out. You basically have to cook your meat while the pan is hot. You smell all beef and peppers as you mix the plate. Inside is crowded but clean. Staff is constantly cleaning the areas. Food was sizzling hot!! Was a great family experience especially if you have hungry boys. read more

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The service wasn't bad. I used a self serve kiosk, and the employees were going around keeping things clean. The wait wasn't long, which was nice. The food was very mediocre to me. I had to add a lot of the different sauces and seasonings to make the food taste better. They also didn't add much meat to either of the plates. The add ons are kind of pricey, and I don't think it's worth how much you pay. The meal just felt like something I could recreate at home. I will definitely take inspiration and try to. read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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Pepper Lunch is located at Irvine Spectrum near the movie theater. It has ample indoor and patio seating. You can order different combos and it comes out on a sizzling hot plate. The food is delicious and well seasoned. The service was good and it was very nice to sit at the patio and people watch. read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

Great option for a casual dining in the spectrum. Order at kiosk, grab a number, grab a table and they'll deliver your food Great options for all, from pepper steak to salmon to curry burger patty, don't skimp on their chicken karage Overall recommend it to check out read more

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Review 54/365 Day Challenge Finally trying pepper lunch w my mommie besties. Came here on a Friday right b4 they open at 11 a.m. was waiting patiently for them to open. What i ordered Jumbo beef sizzling rice plate. I liked the bowl. Was hoping to love it since I've seen it around and a friend told mee about it. It's a bit on the bland side. Even adding the garlic soy like sauce. I added a lot too to give it some more flavoring. It's more on the peppery side and can taste the oil from the butter. Like a Peppery & buttery taste. They use Iteon brand green teas. It's good. One of our fav green teas. Associate Ashley Is friendly. Restaurant is a fast food eatery. Received our plates pretty fast but possibly since we were one of the 1st customers there when it opened at 11 am. They have an ordering kiosk where you order, put the # of your buzzer that's next to the kiosk. so associate know which table you're siting at if your dining there. Restaurant is clean with lots of table indoor and covered outdoor patio seatings. Located in Irvine Spectrum next to THE DIVE & SilverLake ramen. Lots of Parking in the parking structure or parking lot area. Highly suggest parking towards Javier's restaurant or Improv comedy side. read more

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Brings you back to food courts in Asia. You order your food via computer screen. They bring out your dish super fast; you dine and dash! Food is consistent and delicious and beats a fast food option. Price is reasonable and service is great. read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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We wanted to try something new and this place seemed to be like hot stones places I been to before. I regret going in with expectations but when the sizzlin hot stone came out I got really excited. Overall this place was a solid 3/5 and keep going to see why! You order on a kiosk to get it delivered to your table. That is always nice but the cost for the feed feels like it should be a table service experience. I got the salmon and beef pepper rice combo. You get the hot stone with the meat uncooked. Don't make the mistake I did and forget to season your meat before cooking it. My partner did that and we noticed a flavor difference but overall the flavor was not the best. For a placed called pepper lunch, and not tasting it in the dish was pretty surprising, however I was happy to see the salt and pepper shakers at each table. It gives me the feel that is may be how the place works. The salmon was pretty bland but the beef was solid. If I were to come back I would not get any type of salmon and to their beef dishes. My partner had the chicken and beef and would agree. It gets a 3/5 due to the overall flavor, taxte and cost read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

I was having a small need for a brunch fill and this place came in hot literally on stone and it was served fast. I wasn't disappointed with the portions either. I recommend the dine in it more calm to eat inside the. Out. I would also take to go for tomorrow work for it seems to be great for reheating. Yummy read more

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Very late to the game, but finally got to try Pepper Lunch after seeing all of their sizzling plates on my feed! We went here for OC Restaurant week and got the beef kimchi and salmon (+ kimchi) pepper rice. They were both so yummy but my favorite was definitely the beef kimchi. It was so fun to cook the meat and mix it all up. The food also came out super fast. read more

Pepper Lunch - Salmon Pepper Rice & Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

This is my second time stopping by here and both visits have been very pleasant. The food was delish and the service was great. Darren's awesome, I noticed him working it in the back and also jumping in to help things go smoothly on the floor. Definitely appreciate the effort and friendly atmosphere! read more

Love this place in the heart of spectrum plaza. We just came from the hospital my friend passed away and we found this place in Yelp. The food was hotly delicious. Our server named Reggie was very friendly and helpful. The rest of the server and hostess are all very welcoming. The place was clean and neat. We definitely will come back here! read more

Pepper Lunch - Beer Batter Onion Rings - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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It was my boyfriend and I's first time at this location. Overall, the dine in process and service were just okay. When you walk in, you order from a kiosk and then find an open table. It was really busy around dinner time, and the restaurant was very hot with limited seating. I usually go to the Alton Parkway location, but I wanted to try this one. The portions were fair, but I didn't like having to ask for things like sriracha, ketchup, and water cups instead of having them easily available. read more

Great hot food for a cool night on the town. Food came out pretty quickly and was very fresh! Eating outside was nice, with cool looking spots inside to eat as well. Staff were friendly and helpful. read more

I had Pepper Lunch once 2years ago when I was in Bangkok. The restaurant was located inside the big Princess Hotel where we stayed. But it's pretty popular in the Asia, mostly in the malls and at the food courts. All locations appeared to always being busy with long wait. When I saw it at the Irvine Spectrum, thought I'd give it a try and see if it's any different here at our hometown. Had the beef pepper rice, their main item and most selling on the menu, I think. It's good but too basic for me (just beef and rice). I wouldn't go out of my way to find it but it's convenient while you're shopping but don't have much time and just wanted a quick bite. read more

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Love the food. We ordered beef and chicken combo & chicken aglio olio (one with rice and another one with pasta) and both were good but i prefer the rice one. The place is not enclosed so flies were flying around. Service is good. They're pretty busy but constantly checking if we need anything. read more

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Was visiting the area and glad to have stumbled here. We beat all the rush of customers as the Mandalorian & Grogu movie was released that day. The smell of their dishes lured us here. Welcoming and friendly server greeted us. Great food options and even the kids meal was a great portion. Each was very flavorful. Would highly recommend this place and returning when we're in the area again. And the 2 sauces available on the tables were delicious as well. read more

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Our first experience at Pepper Lunch was a great experience! The staff was very friendly and Nate was great! Since it was our first time here, Nate took the time to suggest their most popular dishes or to choose a combo if you can't decide which protein you want to try. We opted to order the beef and salmon combo. When the sizzling plate was delivered to the table Nate gave us some instruction and explained the sauce options on the table. We appreciated him taking the time to do this. Initially we tasted the beef without the sauces and it was a little bland. After adding a LOT of both sauces, salt and pepper there was more flavor. I am actually surprised there was very little pepper taste given the name of the restaurant. It would be nice if the proteins were marinated in a sauce of choice to give it more flavor. I now understand why add ons like garlic chips and onions are available at an extra cost of $1.99 each as it would add more flavor to the dish. It's just a shame you have to pay for the extra flavoring. You also want to make sure you start stirring the proteins as soon as the sizzling plate comes to the table to avoid overcooking the proteins since we like our meats and fish cooked to a perfect medium. All in all we enjoyed our first experience of cooking our lunch on a sizzling plate, we really had a nice lunch and will be back! read more

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Decided to pop in for lunch during a stroll around Irvine spectrum. Ordered through a machine and the food came out maybe 5-7 mins after. The staff here are very friendly and accommodating. Food is great. I enjoyed the crispiness of the rice. Make you you leave it untouched for a few extra minutes so it can crisp up. The sauce is good. I mixed what they had available to the ratio I liked read more

I honestly am very in the middle with Pepper Lunch. The meals are good when you're hungry or want something different than typical fast food. If you cook, you can easily replicate these meals at home. The combo meal choices are primarily choosing a type of protein, a vegetable/garnish, and you get a scoop of rice with some extra fixings. You can also add more toppings for an additional charge. All the combos are served on a sizzling hot plate and your rice is going to have that burnt crispiness on the bottom. Your meal will come with some sort of sauce, especially the curry combos. On my last visit, I got the as-is Curry Hamburg, which is just ground beef that's like burger patty, but more dense. It came on the hot plate with steamed rice and corn. It was a decent meal, nothing too extravagant. The curry sauce was pretty good. The combo was about $16 including tax. It only kept me full for maybe about two hours and I was hungry again - and it's the same experience at other Pepper Lunch locations. I think the portions are likely just too small for me. But this location is clean and located inside the Irvine Spectrum, and very close to the Regal Theater that's just a minute walk away. read more

Located at the Irvine spectrum, parking was easy to find. The place gave fast food vibes because you order through the kiosk and find a seat. The food arrived at a reasonable amount of time. Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice was okay. We were barely able to taste any kimchi on our Kimchi Beef Pepper Pasta. Not worth the price. Overall, it was an okay experience, but not something I would be eager to repeat. read more

It's been such a long time since I've had Pepper Lunch--I really missed it! You order on the iPad, take a number, and find your seat. Service was great; water was brought out right away as soon as we sat down. The location at Irvine Spectrum adds to the fun ambiance with so many restaurants nearby. Everything came out piping hot! I ordered the curry beef with hamburger meat and mixed the rice right into the sizzling plate--so good. I also added cheese and it made the dish even more delicious. My mom ordered the salmon and beef, and surprisingly, everything on her plate was also perfectly hot and fully cooked. My husband ordered the same as mine, just without the cheese. Overall, such a satisfying and nostalgic meal--I can't wait to come back again! read more

Pepper Lunch - Hamburg & Beef Sizzling Curry Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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Quick service meal - fast paced, order and sit down. This location's flavor was lacking. I'm used to having more umami in the meat/sizzling plate, but even after adding the table sauces it was still unfulfilling. I missed having a pepper lunch around us but this one didn't hit the spot at all. read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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We had such a great experience at Pepper Lunch! The food was delicious, fresh, and so fun to cook and customize right at the table. But what really stood out was the service. Reggie was absolutely amazing! He was friendly, attentive, helpful, and made sure we had everything we needed. You can tell he genuinely cares about making sure customers have a great experience. We'll definitely be coming back, and hopefully we get Reggie again! Highly recommend Pepper Lunch -- great food and even better service! read more

This might satisfy some people, but to us it was a pretty mediocre meal with lack of flavor in the meat and the overall meal is that of a weekday quick meal you whip up in a pinch. You order at the counter and it took awhile for our food to come, and the ambiance is just a quick fast food place at the spectrum mall. One of the handful they they have. Glad to try it, but will not be returning read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

Have been here several times. Good food and good service. Shoutout to Ash who was super polite and helpful on our visit today.

Been a Pepper Lunch fan ever since highschool and I would mob all the way from South San Jose to Milpitas. Was going to get dinner with a friend and we decided on Pepper Lunch and I was so happy. Such a great spot to get a sizzling plate of beef with rice that soon becomes crispy when it cooks. Comes with some corn and onions on top and has garlic butter under the meats. I recommend getting the Jumbo beef because the normal meat doesn't fill me up and it isn't that much meat. Highly recommend this spot if you are in a rush or just wanting to get that fun experience of cooking your meats. Pepper Lunch is a new spot in the Irvine Spectrum center and was hard to find at first so we called the restaurant! read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

I've had pepper lunch before at the diamond jamboree location and had to try this new location at the spectrum! There was a bit of a wait when my bf and I got there. I think it was about a 10-15 mins wait so not too bad. The wait staff had us select an open table for two and then we could order via their large digital screens. The food came out fairly quickly and looked delicious! I got the kimchi beef pepper rice and my bf got the beef pepper rice. I really enjoyed mine and it was the perfect portion for me! My bf however felt that the meat portion wasn't justified for the high price tag. I would definitely come back and try their other dishes!! read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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Located near Regal and Silverlake Ramen, this spot is great for a quick bite. There's plenty of seating both inside and outside, and ordering through the self-service kiosk makes everything fast and easy. Service was quick and smooth. We ordered the regular and jumbo beef pepper rice ($36 total). The dish itself is flavorful and the meat is tasty, but I do wish there was more protein for the price. Still, a solid option when you want something quick and satisfying. read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

Soooo good. The waitress was super friendly and helpful. There was a line but it went by fast so don't worry about the wait. There's a wait for a reason! For being beef and rice the flavors were exception and the brown sauce took it next level. Nice experience with it coming out sizzling. I would say the prices were super reasonable for quality and experience. Loved it and will be back! read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef pepper rice, add onion! - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

I came here with my wife on a random day and we both really enjoyed this place. I got the beef pepper rice, she got the kimchi beef pepper rice, and we shared a side of onion rings. Simple, straightforward dishes (literally beef, rice, corn, green onions, and pepper) but the flavor was spot on and it was very satisfying. We've tried to come here a couple times before (but failed miserably due to the long lines during rush hour) but we came at an off time and were able to seat ourselves very quickly. Ordering is done through a kiosk and the portions are generous for the price. Inside, there are plenty of tables and seats thought it definitely fills up quickly during peak hours. Parking isn't an issue since it's at the Spectrum. Overall, tasty food, quick service, and a great spot! We'll definitely come back again. read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef pepper rice, kimchi beef pepper rice, and a side of onion rings - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California