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    Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum

    4.6 (589 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese, Fast Food
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Order Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum Takeout or Delivery

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    PEPPER LUNCH - IRVINE SPECTRUM ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Salmon Pepper Rice & Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice
    Sarah T.

    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.

    Nancy L.

    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.

    Martin Q.

    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

    Sizzling plate of Salmon & Beef Pepper Rice Combo
    Leanne D.

    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!

    Curry combo
    Danica V.

    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

    .... The aftermath....
    Luigi J.

    Food is GREAT!! Will definitely come back! Please open one near Disney! We'll sure to get our grub and sizzling fix!

    Menu 3.20.26
    Mimi J.

    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.

    Christina Z.

    AMAZING SERVICE !!! Annette and Amy were super accommodating as we had a big party yet they were able to make it work and have our party of 10 sit together!! The food is great like always and the portions are epic too. Definitely will return SHAKAAA

    Beef Pepper Rice
    Mary A.

    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.

    Betty G.

    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.

    Mylinda T.

    Quality was decent, about what I usually expect here,it was my first time at the spectrum location and the service was very friendly. The main reason for my review is the portion size it was surprisingly small and barely covered the bottom of the skillet, which felt pretty underwhelming for the price. Keep in mind the dish pictured doesn't come with mushrooms and I added them on for an additional (1.99) which is the price for any additional topping such as green onion, corn, egg, cucumber, onion. So if I didn't add a topping even more of the skillet would be showing.

    Salmon & Beef Pepper Rice Combo
    Kevin P.

    The food was great came out quick and was hot! The service was great. Had people come and checked on me regularly. The ambiance was busy and seating can be limited, especially on a busy weekend.

    Beef Pepper Rice
    Vincent V.

    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

    Hamburg & Beef Sizzling Curry Rice

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    7 months ago

    Great food and great service. Very reasonable for the quality of food you get. Was able to get a nice meal before going to catch a movie.

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    4 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    10 months ago

    Pretty good food. Love the smell of sizzling meat. Portions are decent. Feels like individual kbbq plate.

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

    Came with my family for the first time. Great food and service. Thank you for making it a great experience, Reggie!

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    8 months ago

    Life-changing meal and service from Kara and Amy, great time overall. We will be returning asap, thank you for the demon slayer prep

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    10 months ago

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    2 months ago

    food was great, no line, and fast service! lance and aidan went above and beyond to make sure we were happy customers.

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    10 months ago

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    7 months ago

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    11 months ago

    Food is great as the other stores, but the customer service at this particular branch is awesome! Shoutout Nate and Vina!

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    10 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    4 months ago

    Had dinner with friends, food was great and service was amazing! shout out to our server Chase for the great hospitality

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    11 months ago

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    Page 8 of 15

    Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum

    J&G Fried Chicken - Irvine - (R) J&G Popcorn Chicken 香香炸雞: signature crispy fried chicken bites, made w/50 year old J&G recipe & choice of sauce | $7.89

    J&G Fried Chicken - Irvine

    3.5(181 reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    J&G Fried Chicken is one of the better Taiwanese fried chicken spots in Irvine. The popcorn chicken…read morewas super crispy on the outside while still juicy inside, and the seasoning had that perfect savory Taiwanese flavor. The oyster mushrooms were also surprisingly good -- crispy, light, and addictive. The staff was friendly, service was quick, and the outdoor seating made it a nice casual place to hang out. Portions were solid for the price too. Definitely a great late-night snack spot if you're craving Taiwanese street food vibes. Will be coming back to try more items on the menu!

    good but not great. it comes crispy but if the box comes closed (which it did for me) do be aware…read morethat the steam will soften the crisp if you aren't eating it right away. also remember to grab a utensil into the bag before you leave since they didn't give me any or tell me to get any. it didn't taste like other Taiwanese popcorn chicken i've had, more like a western style especially the sauce. the chicken is super juicy though and it was seasoned okay. for the price, the quantity wasn't much, and it also took pretty long to be ready even for the small box. also even more disappointed to see that they use AI to automate responses to all their yelp reviews and presumably don't take in the feedback...probably this review too...?

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    J&G Fried Chicken - Irvine - Counter

    Counter

    J&G Fried Chicken - Irvine - (R) J&G Popcorn Chicken 香香炸雞: signature crispy fried chicken bites, made w/50 year old J&G recipe & choice of sauce | $7.89

    (R) J&G Popcorn Chicken 香香炸雞: signature crispy fried chicken bites, made w/50 year old J&G recipe & choice of sauce | $7.89

    J&G Fried Chicken - Irvine - 台式甜不辣(Fried Taiwanese Fishcake)

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    台式甜不辣(Fried Taiwanese Fishcake)

    Georgia's Restaurant - Chicken and waffles - great quality

    Georgia's Restaurant

    4.1(288 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    I have enjoyed each experience I have had at this restaurant - the food is good and unique, the…read morestaff are friendly and there are a ton of options. My go to is the 8 chicken tender bucket because it is a great value. For $28, you get 8 tenders, 2 large sides and 6 cornbread. I feel that is generous considering other wing and chicken tender place will charge you more for less. The tenders were also really big size as were the sides. I really like the Cajun fries and their baked beans. The baked beans have a lot of BBQ flavor, they do not taste like the plain out of a can type beans. The food last me several days to eat it all making it a very affordable per-meal value. I've also tried their chicken breast plate ups with mashed potatoes and other sides and everything is good and well-made. I like having these kinds of businesses in and around Irvine. Something unique and different than the ubiquitous boba and other Asian style food spots. I recommend people give this location a try as they have a ton of options on their menu. If you dine in person they give you a complimentary corn bread with your plate up which is a nice personal touch! They should also include this one corn bread with their to go orders. I will continue coming back as long as they have the chicken tenders bucket deal!

    Ate at Georgia's on a Sunday for a late lunch. It wasn't too crowded so we were easily able to get…read morea table. You order at the counter, and they'll bring your found out to you. I was debating between the flat iron steak and tri tip, but the staff at the counter let me know they were actually out of tri tip that day. The flat iron steak was good, and the chimichurri was great! I asked for medium rare, but just a couple slices were a bit too rare. The collard greens and coleslaw were both delicious. My collard greens portion seemed to have a bigger pork ratio than I'm used too, but my friend ordered collard greens too and his definitely had more greens. It's a nice casual spot we just found by chance, and I'm glad we decided to try it.

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    Indoor seating area

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    Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - japanese - Updated May 2026

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