Had an awesome experience at Pepper Lunch. The food came out sizzling hot and full of flavor. The beef was tender and the rice had the great seasoning. Everything tasted fresh. The whole experience of cooking the meat on a hot plate made it even better. The ambience was really nice. Even when busy and packed it was very clean and i always felt comfortable. Huge shoutout to Anette for her service. She was super friendly and attentive to make sure i had everything i needed. Really loved her positive attitude. Definitely coming back here. read more

Pepper Lunch is one of the newer additions to the food scene at The Spectrum. They're conveniently located near the movie theater and specialize in fast casual sizzling rice dishes. This is the type of place where you order at a kiosk and seat yourself. Normally I'm all for kiosk ordering but it's a little inefficient here. When you have so many options and people don't know what they want to order, it makes the ordering process go slow. Once we finally ordered and sat down, the food came out quickly. Being my first time, I got the Beef Pepper Rice ($14.69) and added garlic chips ($1.99). The plate came out sizzling hot with rice, corn, garlic butter sauce, green onion and a small portion of meat. They forgot my garlic chips at first and when I got them, the amount was not worth the price. Overall it was a tasty dish as long as you like the flavor of pepper (hence their name). I would upgrade to the jumbo size if you're hungry. My parents tried the shrimp pepper rice and salmon with veggies. They thought they were okay but nothing they'd get again. The shrimp and salmon themselves were lacking flavor. From their reactions, I would probably stick to beef here. It's an okay place for an easy meal but the prices are a little high for what it is, especially if you start adding on extras. read more

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To be honest, I don't understand why Pepper Lunch is so popular. The food is fine, a little expensive for the amount of meat you get. Maybe it's the fun of having a sizzling plate that makes it so appealing. Pepper Lunch is counter service, so you order at the counter and find a place to sit. I got the Beef Pepper Rice ($14.69). I was a little disappointed to see how much beef there was, but it looked a whole lot better after I mixed it into the rice. There's garlic butter but the one flavor that seems to dominate is black pepper, and the dish needs the addition of the sauces on the table to give it a little more oomph. The only veg you get is corn - maybe I need to try the teriyaki dishes which have more veggies. Rounding Pepper Lunch up to four stars since service was attentive. I had feared the worst after reading some reviews, but we were constantly asked if we needed anything else. My husband got the Chicken Pepper Rice and said he would ask for hot sauce on the next visit. If it's up to me, a next visit is highly unlikely. read more

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Decent selection and combinations. The hamburg steak was good not too fatty. The curry was decent. Let the skillet cool down or burn your mouth. The ordering system thru the kiosk is a bit daunting and cumbersome. Especially if you're new here. But good flavor. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Hamburg & Beef Sizzling Curry Rice....soooo Sizzzzzzzling - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Absolute LOVE Pepper Lunch and awesome to see they have a newish spot in Irvine Spectrum. Came here with a group and we got 4 different sizzling plates and shared them. Everything was super delicious and got to try out some I've never had before. Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice - A simple classic, I pretty much get this everytime. Never can go wrong, it's bomb. (4.5/5) Hamburg Sizzling Curry Rice - Hamburg tasted really good and the curry hit. I enjoyed this one and would recommend if you feeling curry. (4.5/5) Beef Aglio Olio Pasta - First time trying the pasta at pepper lunch and honestly might be a new fav. Really enjoyed this one! (5/5) Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice - This is a good plate if you like kimchi. Out of all the plates I tried this was my least favorite but still good nonetheless. (4/5) Can't really go wrong with anything at Pepper Lunch. Price is pretty reasonable for the food you get and would be back to any of the Pepper Lunch locations. Glad to see this one is the same as all the other ones. read more

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Staff are friendly, quick to clean up empty tables. Order at kiosk is easy and convenient. A good inexpensive option for any meal, hope for a bigger location. Does get busy during lunch/dinner hours. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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First time trying this place and it was the best. The hot stone pot just makes the rice and food taste so much better. A good deal for sure. And if you're even hungrier, they have the combo. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

had to check out the newer irvine location. irvine spectrum is really crowded all the time, so pepper lunch blends right in. you dont wanna be here at peak hours. its about half outdoor seating as well, which i liked but i know not everyone wants that vibe. food was high quality as always, absolutely loved it. pepper lunch my beloved read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Lovely service! The food tastes decent, probably a 6-7/10. A great lunch spot if you work nearby. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

This Pepper Lunch is in Irvine Spectrum. Enter near Entrance 1 or 2 near the AMC is closer to find it. I had their surf & turf plate, which was very delicious. It has steak, tempura shrimp, veggies and rice. The steak came medium rare but if you wait until the plate stops sizzling, it becomes a well-done steak. Sides are just ok, but the sizzling plate was extremely good. Lovely vibe too. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Fast service! The staff were fantastic and very accommodating. The food was pretty good, but the chicken was ok. Not super flavorful. I put some of the brown sauce that they have on each table and it definitely made it taste a lot better. Definitely a causal place to eat at. I like that you can order just off a kiosk or you can easily just ask for staff to just take your order. read more

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I wanted to like this place, but both of us were disappointed with the quality and the price. The staff were super nice and the electronic ordering was relatively painless. The dishes are kind of expensive and many of them are missing what I would consider essential parts that are pricey add-ons (onions, mushrooms, eggs). Food came out quickly but seemed to have virtually no flavor out of the kitchen. They had a sauce at the table but the one bottle was so settled we couldn't get it to mix. The other was good but we ended up adding substantial amounts to make the dish paletable. A lot of the beef was gristle. Coworker ordered the salmon one and it was unremarkable flavor. The white sauce provided was bland. Neither of the our plates were hot enough to completely cook the vegetables. I wish they had more sauce options to have added before ordering to get a nice carmelization. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - CAB - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Came by during one of the grand opening days and interestingly, my first experience with Pepper Lunch (at any location). An interesting experience to the say the least. We ordered two different pepper rice, one chicken and one beef. Perhaps my taste buds are not as accustomed as some others but the dishes could be a bit more flavorful, IMO. The portions are moderate and for the price, I will try again for the experience but if I'm hungry, I would likely spend close to $30 if I want to be full. Service was okay as it took about 15 minutes for our food to be ready. Interior is clean, as expected, since this is a new addition to the Irvine Spectrum scene. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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We came on a Saturday for a late lunch/early dinner and there was a line but we waited maybe 10 minutes before we were seated. Not too bad. You order at the kiosk and find a table and they bring it to you. Dog friendly outdoor seating! Service is super friendly. If this is your first time, get the beef pepper rice. It's the original and the best. We also got the curry hamburger and it was mehhhhh. The curry actually comes cold and I wasn't super impressed by that. The dishes are a bit greasy but that's why it's good right? I feel like the ingredients are pretty simple and you can make it at home but the gimmick/appeal is the sizzling stone pot and the crispy rice at the bottom!! Yum. Overall I think it's a bit overpriced but worth a try. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Beef pepper and curry hamburger - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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My husband and I went to Pepper Lunch on a Saturday evening after our movie. There was a line out front so we waited in line. It's very odd how the staff comes to get you from the line and tells you that you can order. There were a couple tables open but no one was ordering to sit in them. It seemed very unorganized. We finally got to order after waiting in line for about 30 mins. Some of the staff told me to sit at an open table and never came to clean it off, I had to ask someone to clean it off when she was cleaning off other tables. The karaage came out first it was ok, quite a few of the pieces we got were just batter no chicken even in it. I ordered the beef pepper rice and my husband ordered the same thing just the jumbo. The waiter who brought out the hot plates asked if we wanted water but we told him we had ordered a drink. Again, unorganized. The food is good, I just don't know what the hype is about. They serve you raw beef and rice that you cook yourself with the hot plate I feel like the turn around time on waiting for food wouldn't be as long as it is. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Beef Pepper Rice, Chicken Karaage - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Was walking around Irvine Spectrum feeling hungry and this amazing smell hit. It was Pepper Lunch. Went in to check out the menu and it was right up my alley. Sizzling beef and rice, how could you go wrong? I ordered the jumbo peppered beef with an egg and it came out a few minutes later on a sizzling cast iron skillet. Let it cook for a few, stirred up and went to town. Nothing fancy just well seasoned meat and rice. Servers were very fast even though it was a busy weekend at the spectrum. Prices were decent and there was ample room for sitting inside or in the patio. They have other options like seafood, chicken and some higher quality steak. Will definitely be back! read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Beef pepper rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Amazing food! We ordered the kimchi beef pepper rice and the beef pepper rice. The beef was so tender and chewy and the rice with the green onions and corn was so good. I also added cheese to mine which made it very good. We did wait since there wasn't many seats but the overall service was good. I'm so happy they opened one in Spectrum, would definite come back more often! read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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It's best to visit this Irvine Spectrum location on weekday nights to avoid the weekend crowds, resulting in a 20-30 minute wait. As for the Angus Ribeye Steak, the side dishes were nothing special, but the steak had the right moisture and tenderness, which made it truly high-quality Angus beef. For a medium-rare steak, take it off the hot plate right away. However, $35.69 for a not-so-large piece of Angus beef was seriously overpriced! When compared, the sizzling beef at Phở Vie in Westminster, with tastier sides and meat, was just $17... 週間晚上來這家爾灣光譜分店最理想，避免週末時段一堆人像傻子般排隊等二三十分鐘。 安格斯鐵板牛排的配菜很一般，但牛排具備該有的水份和嫩度，確實是品質上乘的安格斯牛肉。想吃五分熟的話，就趕快把肉從鐵板取出。 只是，區區五塊牛肉要價35.69美金實在太貴！越南區Phở Vie的鐵板菲利無論配菜和牛肉都更好吃才17美金... read more

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Newly opened at the spectrum near the theater. First off the bat, there was just self-serve kiosks. Came in around opening and the kiosk was still... "updating?" Didn't take very long, but kinda funny/awkward that we were just staring at the updating screens while there were workers right behind it looking back at us. This is the world we live in now. Pretty straight forward menu. Order, get your number and beeper, find a seat and place the beeper in the middle of the table. They will bring your order out. You also have to ask for water because they have it behind the counter. There are two sauces on the side for you to add to your dish to your liking. What we got: Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice (5/5): Comes out sizzling piping hot! Added onions and mushrooms to my order. Buttery and yes... peppery! Meat was tender. Chicken Karage Curry Rice (4/5): Curry was standard. My only gripe is that it felt like it wasn't that much chicken for the meal. It came crunchy, but some pieces felt more on the hard side of crunchy. All in all, a little pricy, but worth it if you are craving a "simple," comfort meal. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice added mushrooms and onions - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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This place is so good! I don't live near here but will go out of my way for Pepper Lunch. The staff are super friendly and helpful. Big shoutout Reggie and Kai who were working today. read more

OMG, I don't even know where to start! It was my boyfriend's and my first time here, and we had no idea what to order. Tiff recommended a few items that sounded so good, my boyfriend ended up getting both and finished them! We loved the vibe, the energy from the staff, and the great customer service. We'll definitely be back to try the pasta! read more

For a location that seems cursed, Pepper Lunch feels like it can reverse the trend and become a mainstay for the Irvine Spectrum. While viewed as more of a sit-down fast casual place because of the nature of the dish as a sizzling plate, especially given the level of service and time at other locations, this place offers that level of quick service you would think of when it comes to Japanese standards for customer service, ensuring that customers get their food quickly and fresh and allowing for a healthy rate of customer turnover to facilitate business. They were definitely equipped to handle the level of business for opening weekend, but they seem like they have a clear handle of operations to keep a certain consistency. The beef pepper rice plate is an easy classic, and it's all the familiar flavors of the franchise. Be sure to add some sauce while it's cooking for that extra flavor, and you have a reliable meal at fairly affordable prices given the cost of everything going up these days. They seem to have a number of premium options and upgrades and toppings I'm looking to try in the coming days when the crowds die down a bit, but in the meantime I will celebrate their success. It's conveniently located next to the movie theater as well as the best gelato shop in the area, so they're in good company and a perfect place to get a substantial meal in the middle of a shopping trip or before a movie. TIP: Be sure to add their sauce to your dish while it comes out hot and piping. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Went here about a week after their grand opening. It was a very rainy night, so I was lucky it wasn't packed and I was easily able to order and get a table inside. I ordered the pepper beef, jumbo, and added several extras. In my opinion, the upcharge for every little item was excessive...charging for green onions? Come on, now. After additions it came out to a whopping $36. For that price, I was expecting a masterpiece FILLED to the brim with meat. What I received was a very small portion of meat, and a normal portion of rice. While it was delicious, I was disappointed in the high cost and the tiny portion of beef, particularly as I paid extra for a jumbo portion. I would try again, but perhaps a different location since these are a franchise. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - jumbo pepper beef - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Food, 10/10 Service, 10/10 Ambiance, 7/7 Love me the beef pepper rice with mushies. Dope spot tho. Get you the sizzle! read more

Yummy food and great service by Chase and Kyle! If you're a kimchi fan I recommend trying the kimchi beef rice.

Got to see this place in action on soft opening day. Was fortunate enough to see and meet some of the people responsible for this opening such as Mona and Thomas (And yes, this review is not biased). BTW, thank you Ann Marie for having me. Believed this place used to be Taquitos. So now, you can come here and get a boba afterwards at The Alley. You can order at the kiosk or with the cashier. The new menu has more choices than before. I really didn't like the karaage chicken. The batter and texture reminded me of school lunch nuggets. You really ought to try their onion rings and order a side of curry sauce to dip it in instead. It's a much better choice. The creamy salmon pasta was what I had ordered. The salmon comes half cooked and will fully cook once you mix mix together with the sauce on the table. I believe one of them is sesame oil based. The pepper is heavy handed here, just wanted to let you know. But that is what makes pepper lunch well, pepper lunch. Food comes out pretty quick, maybe 10 minutes tops. Can't guarantee this weekend when it will be flooded with customers though. They have a bogo special if you arrive early enough on beef plates. Teas here were just okay I thought. I would probably skip that and just order two portions instead. Overall, tasty quick and easy fast casual dining experience. Find parking close to the movie theater. read more

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Great addition to the Spectrum! I've always enjoyed Pepper Lunch and have visited many locations. This one is close to the Regal Theaters and has both indoor and outdoor seating. Although it looks small from the outside, when I went in, I counted over 50 seats! There was a huge crowd with several hundred people in line for their grand opening promotions but surprisingly they were able to efficiently serve over 100 people in under 90 minutes. You can order on the kiosk and bring your number to a table and they will serve you. My beef pepper lunch came out piping hot, and was delicious. Very consistent with what you would expect from any pepper lunch location! Given the location, delicious tasting food, and the speed of service, I think this will be a very successful restaurant! Congratulations on your opening! read more

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My total time in line until finishing my meal was 3 hours. This was a big time investment. I was already in it, needed to see it through. I was able to try this restaurant and it is very tasty! The sizzling hot plate is a nice touch. Tried the pepper beef plate. Fresh, hot, and well seasoned. The plate was so hot that the rice is fried to crispy like the crispy rice you get at the bottom of the rice cooker but more cripsy! I came for the grand opening and wished the organizing team communicated to patrons in line in the rain when the first 100 guest promotion reached capacity. They're all very helpful and welcoming. Place is clean and organized. A bit hectic since the space is small. They had a lot of corporate members present. Great customer service. I hope they keep this up. I will revisit and grade you all again! Despite not getting in as the first 100 guest promo, they did offer BOGO free pepper beef entree. See images below. I enjoyed my meal and learned a bit about the brand. I am looking forward to their corporate store location that is in the works to be opened in America. Very early stages but hopefully soon within the next 1 or 2 years! I'd love to see how it compares with franchised locations. Fun facts: This was born in Japan but when I was there. I never saw them. I'll have to pay attention on my next trip! NO MSG. Yay to that! They are mostly in Asia and their 2nd largest market is Singapore. - It's grand opening day and it's been more than an hour waiting to check in. I really hope this wait is worthwhile. I've never had Pepper Lunch before. I'm excited to give it a try. Waiting and waiting. Guess this will be a progressive review that'll be pending real-time updates. I hope they do not leave customers waiting outside like this in the rain for too much longer. It's already been an hour. This list will really determine if I return and what I share with others. We'll see... stay tuned! read more

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1st time at Pepper Lunch! Ferhat our server was welcoming and helped us seat our group of six. The whole staff was very attentive. I ordered the Beef Pepper Rice, it came out sizzling. The rice and beef had their delicious trademark pepper seasonings. Ordering was fast and easy through their digital kiosk. Would definitely recommend! read more

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Pepper lunch !!! I love pepper lunch and to finally have a location closer to me!! I love fried rice so this is up my alley .. like getting a fresh fried rice on a hot skillet!! Food here is cooked perfectly . I like to take my proteins off the hot skillet right away so my food stays cooked exactly how I want it.. all the sauces are so good Service was excellent . My first time ordering through the kiosk and she walked me through every step. Food came out fairly quick as I sat on the pet friendly patio. Overall all excellent experience. Will definitely be on my lunch rotation read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - So good - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Yay Pepper Lunch is now at the Spectrum! Love the ordering kiosks with the pictures. With so much variety, it was helpful to see all the options. Super customizable with extra add ons and ease of removing any toppings. The Strawberry Passionfruit drink is really good, not overly sweet while still flavorful. Very nice staff, food came out quickly. Thank you to the team and Kara for the great service! read more

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Quick and casual spot with good food. Convenient location to stop before the movies or show at the Improv. read more

Service is awesome. It's hot out today so they came out to offer refills for water. Food is always consistent here and at other locations. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Ferhat was honestly amazing and made our whole experience at Pepper Lunch in Irvine so much better. She was super friendly from the start, explained everything clearly, and had such a warm, welcoming energy. You can tell she genuinely cares about the customers and isn't just doing her job, she goes out of her way to make sure you're comfortable and enjoying everything. She checked in at just the right times, was really attentive without being overwhelming, and just had the sweetest attitude. It made such a difference. If you go, definitely look out for Ferhat, she's the best! I'll be coming back and hopefully she's working bc she made it a great experience read more

Holy smokes, this place is . Stopped by for a late breakfast‑early lunch, and walked in as they were opening--perfect timing. The team working was amazing--super friendly, fast, and made you feel right at home. I went with the "Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice" (yes, that's the actual name lol), and added an egg on top. Pro tip: drown it in their garlic‑soy sauce. Seriously, best flavor combo ever--savory, garlicky, with that egg yolk melding everything together. It's so good I was scraping the plate clean. Everything was hot, fresh, and cooked just right. From the moment I said "good morning!" to when I left with a full belly and a big grin, the whole experience was spot-on. Bottom line: if you're in Irvine and want a bomb beef‑and‑rice fix, hit up Pepper Lunch. Amazing food, awesome staff, zero complaints. read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

First time here and we had a very good experience. Staff are friendly and helpful. Tiffany was our server and she was excellent. Although it can be a little pricey, the food was delicious. read more

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I had a really good experience at Pepper Lunch. The whole concept is super fun--your food comes out sizzling hot and you get to mix and cook it right at your table, which makes it feel way more interactive than a typical meal. I ordered the beef pepper rice, and it was honestly really solid. The meat was tender, the rice soaked up all the buttery, savory flavors, and everything tasted fresh. The portion size was good too, especially for the price. Service was great overall. Tiffany was friendly, attentive, and made sure everything came out right, which definitely added to the experience. Overall, great food, cool experience, and definitely a spot I'd come back to when I'm at the Spectrum. read more

Was so excited to see that Pepper Lunch opened at the spectrum, much closer to me than the location off Jamboree. Same great selection with a spacious and airy seating area and nice decor. We ordered on the big touch screens and the food came out quickly. The staff were very friendly and the food was delicious, though the servings were a bit smaller than what I typically get at the Jamboree location. Overall I really enjoyed my experience at this Pepper Lunch location and will likely return! read more

I think this place just opened? My wife and I just happened to be here to watch Superman opening day. And just wow... Very unique signature the sizzle, caught my wife and I off guard in the best way. Simply delicious, customisable, price is reasonable. At first the plate looked real pretty I was so hungry I stirred it together to fast to get a picture of the before. But I definitely got an after picture I inhaled that despite how hot it came out . T was our waitress, very friendly and attentive 5 stars for pepper lunch read more

Pepper Lunch - Irvine Spectrum - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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Fun concept with sizzling platters, perfect for the cold weather. Came with my family and everyone enjoyed their dishes. Good side sauces to complement the meat. Friendly helpful staff who showed us how to mix the rice and meat for us first timers. thank you Rob, Alvin, and Paul!! read more

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