I heard so many good things about Pepper Lunch so I was very excited to try it but it's overall just okay. There are so many good options in this plaza that I'd rather go elsewhere if I already found a parking spot (hahaha iykyk) POSITIVES 1. Yelp check in bennies! Get a free side when you order a meal! 2. The add ins can totally change the flavor and are super fun BUT can get pricey - I tried the original beef pepper lunch with garlic chips and cheese and that topping really changed the dish from being bland to having a garlic bomb (which I liked) 3. Out of the sides, I liked the sweet potato fries the best but they are those thick wedges so if you're not into wedges I would just stick to the regular fries or onion rings. NEUTRALS 1. Like I mentioned, the food is so mid AND it's drowning in butter/oil which I really disliked but it's palatable and if I was starving.... Well actually if I was starving I'd rather go get boba at sunright in the same plaza or get a pastry from 85 because it would be quicker and tastier (especially if the fat and carb content is going to be that high) NEGATIVES 1. I absolutely HATE trying to find parking in diamond jamboree BUT if you can come at an off hour, it's not so bad. Overall, not worth the macros or the search to find a parking spot. If I were to come to Diamond Jamboree, it would be worth it for a handful of places (Meet Fresh, Coco Ichibanya) read more

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Excellent and fast service. Food was excellent and price was great too. Will definitely be back

Solid meal! If you love a hot & comforting meal, this place will hit the spot! The food comes out piping hot, you can hear it sizzling when they bring it out. What I love about it, is the food consistently stays hot and the meal is highly satisfactory :) Ambiance is casual. Love the concept. Service is quick. You order at the counter and they bring the food for you after you place your seat! read more

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

Pepper lunch is always consistent. Food is served incredibly fast, with great ambience, extremely polite service. It's been many years since I last visited (pre-covid) and was craving their staple beef pepper lunch with an egg just for good measures. Would definitely recommend this place to anyone looking for a quick, tasty hot meal! Everything on the menu is solid, hard to make a bad choice! read more

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The food was amazing and the experience is unique. It's placed in a bustling area of Irvine Spectrum so the foot traffic is heavy, but the line to be seated is fairly short. Once you go in, you are able to order your food on a kiosk and then you're given a device to take with you to the table to signal when food is ready. When the food servers bring your food, you're met with a super hot skillet that is cooking up your food in the process. I got the Kimchi Chicken Pepper Rice and omg, it was so good. I loved that the cheese was cooking nice and slow and got crispy, It was so good. My boyfriend got the Curry Pepper rice and the curry comes on a gravy boat that you can add as the meat is cooking, we're definitely coming back. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Chicken with Cheese Pepper Rice Curry Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Kyle and Kara were very attentive to making sure we had everything!! the food was also amazing and it was my first time (**)thank you guys!! -from trina( =＾＾) read more

Pepper Lunch - beef pepper rice with corn, kimchi and egg! - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Paid $19 and the entree only came with 2 small bites of meat. Not even joking. The stinginess of this place is actually remarkable.

This place is so slow and the service is meh. Their food is so plain and mediocre. I wish I didn't waste my money here. Never coming back here again read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef w rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Pepper Lunch is one of my fave local lunch spots. According to their website, 1994 marked "The Birth of Sizzle" in the heart of the bustling metropolis of Tokyo. Since that time, Pepper Lunch has established itself as the "Original DIY Teppanyaki" and expanded to 15 countries with more than 500 outlets! Service is always friendly at Pepper Luncb...simply place your order at the counter and it'll be delivered directly to your table. With a full menu of sizzling selections, follow their recommended steps of Sizzle - Stir - Sauce - Savor to sizzle it your way. I'm always a fan of combo meals, so their Combo Deluxe option is my go-to. Choose any 2 meats from the following options: Hamburg, Chicken, Angus Cut Steak and Salmon. The meal is served with corn, veggies, onion rings and a bowl of rice. Add Garlic Sauce and/or Sweet Sauce for additional flavor and enjoy! read more

Pepper Lunch - Front Entrance - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

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My friend and I came in for lunch on Sunday. It was lively but spacious for seating. We got the beef pepper rice and the beef sizzling curry. The meat quality is amazing and each bite was delicious. Shout out to Micheal for such great service. Definitely will be back. read more

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

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Pepper Lunch is a great place to grab a quick bite. It's a fun experience receiving the sizzling hot plate and mixing the ingredients together. There are outdoor and indoor seating options; however, I prefer the outdoor patio as sometimes the music is too loud inside, and the interior decor feels a bit dark. Service is always fast; from ordering to completing the meal, in and out in 30 minutes. The menu includes rice, udon, combo plate, salad, curry, pasta, and tofu options for vegetarian diners. PEPPER RICE: yummy like home made fried rice, but usually have to upsize or double the meat for (beef, kimchi beef, and seafood) as the standard portion won't fill you up when you're hungry. The Chicken Pepper Rice is a bit too dried/hard compare to the teriyaki chicken entree TERIYAKI CHICKEN: healthier option of pepper rice as teriyaki sauce comes on the side, and this plate includes more vegetables; the block of chicken tastes more moist and tender than the chicken pieces in Chicken Pepper Rice. YAKI UDON: quite tasty too, but every time I add cheese topping, it's WAY too salty. COMBO DELUXE: tastes healthy but bland, needed to add more sauce on your own PASTA: average and not memorable. SWEET POTATO WEDGES: fresh, crispy and delicious, perfect side with the rice entrees TIP: grab a stamp card to accumulate free add-ons or extra stuff on future orders. read more

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Love pepper lunch! It's simple food and I feel clean eating it (love eating this before/after a workout) Love the stone pot! Pretty good portions! read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Beef with Cheese Pepper Rice and Classic Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Kahyn has excellent service and made us feel very welcomed. He constantly asked if we needed anything and was efficient. Amazing guy! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Went in for a weekday lunch and the wait was not bad! I opted for no pepper lol, and enjoyed it way more than the first time I had it. If you do like black pepper, perfect as they put a ton. I do think you need to get the jumbo size, the regular size does not have enough meat. I was stuck with mostly rice midway through. The rice is so tasty and sweet but definitely wish I did the jumbo! read more

Food was soo good and we received great service, especially from a worker named Sam!! The atmosphere was nice as well!! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

The food being served on a hot plate is a game changer. The beef pepper rice is so good! Service is nice and quick too. read more

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

I had been craving this but since I live in murrieta it's a long drive. I finally had an excuse to be in Irvine and stopped to get pepper lunch. Usually I get the beef rice plate but I tried it with kimchi and I love it. I will say that this location does add a BIT too much pepper to their plates but it's nothing off putting. The service is quick and the ambiance is pretty casual and chill! They also have indoor and outdoor seating. I love coming here. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Had the kimchi tofu pepper rice which wasn't impressive. Seems like the carrots and green beans were previously frozen. Order at the counter, they assign you a table number and they deliver your meal to you. Casual setting. Have indoor and outdoor options. Also appreciate wall outlets as I worked whole eating. They also offer complimentary Wi-Fi which is a plus. read more

Pepper Lunch - Tofu and Veggie Kimchi Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I went to Pepper Lunch for a quick meal. I ordered at the front and the food was brought to me where I was seated. The seating was first come first serve but there was a lot of available seating when I came in. For lunch I ordered the beef pepper rice. It came out fairly quick with the aroma of beef and the spices filling my nose. The beef was tender and the seasoning was the right amount of salt and pepper. Eating at the restaurant was definitely the right decision. The ambiance was similar to a fast casual type of experience. Very ideal spot for a quick meal during lunch hours on a weekday. Overall I would come back if I were craving a hot rice dish for lunch. read more

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

Had dinner here for a party of four. It was busy and wait wasn't too bad. But when it came to where to sit, all the sudden there's certain tables that are supposedly reserved. The cashier could of been more suggestive or helpful when asking at least what was most popular depending on our preference. Maybe the ordering would of been quicker, you think? She just seemed like she didn't want to bother. Now the food made up for the service. We ended up ordering beef peeper rice, chicken pepper rice, jumbo classic beef pepper rice, combo deluxe of salmon and burger steak with mushroom, plain rice, miso soup, and kimchi. Food was all tasty. Only thing was the portions were a bit sparse for the price. As much as the food was good..not sure if this would be a first choice in this plaza. read more

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Located in Diamond Jamboree plaza; parking can be a pain but there it's a huge free lot and structure (just equally as many people) You first order and pay at the counter and then you go to a table and wait for your food (to be brought out). Everyone (staff) was super efficient and helpful. Food-wise: I think most or all plates come on the sizzling cast iron and have cheese (so say something if you don't want or can't have cheese). The food is pretty good. The only thing is table will get oily as food continues to cook. Utensils also didn't feel that super shiny/clean feeling. I wonder if it's that oily buildup or residual. read more

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Plenty of friends told of us how great this place was and they were 100% right. The inside was rather busy with people and smelled amazing. Their walls are lined with menu items and great drawings of the food. The menu is extensive to choose from and because of the add ons they have so many options. We ended up choosing the hamburger and beer curry with egg, tofu and veggies. They also have a variety of teas and drinks to choose from. They bring it to your table and it's sizzling hot. You can mix what you want and watch it cook, they put a paper label to prevent burning yourself as well. Also the prices are completely reasonable! Check this place out! read more

Pepper Lunch - Hamburger Curry Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I ordered the beef pepper rice and it was delicious! It was my first time here, and Masami took the time to show me how to eat it the right way. Thank you, Masami -- you're the real MVP! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Very good foods. We all love this place . Very popular place so sometimes long lines. Be aware when and what time you go. Portions are great with price too! read more

Giving 4 stars since the food is good, but nothing to really speak out about that would put it over the moon. It's the type of place that I wouldn't be opposed to eat at but not go out of my way. I usually get the Classic Beef Pepper Rice, no add-ons. Solid, but nothing crazy. Service is good, and overall vibes are good. I think that giving 3-stars is a little harsh, so 4 stars is a fair rating. read more

One of my favorite comfort meals when I'm in the area! You order first then you are seated. The food comes out piping hot so be careful! I love adding garlic sauce to my plate to give it more flavor. read more

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The food is incredible! The service is amazing! The ambiance is cozy when there isn't a lot of people, but it can definitely get crowded during the rush hours. All the dishes come out piping hot on the skillet. read more

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

I've had Pepper Lunch in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it. However, I feel as though the quality has definitely gone down from my previous visits. There isn't as much meat as before, and it also isn't as flavorful as it used to be. However, the service has improved greatly. My food was ready minutes after I ordered it, and I even received a free side for checking in on Yelp. The servers were very attentive and answered all of my questions. The ambiance inside was great, not too loud and very well lit. Parking also wasn't too difficult on a Tuesday night. Unfortunately, many of the tables were missing the two sauces, so I had to make do with only the garlic sauce. I think my meal would have tasted much better if I had access to both, so I would suggest to request both sauces at the front beforehand. read more

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There was no line when I showed up. Ordered the Pepper Beef. It was delicious and the environment was bright and welcoming. The servers were kind, helpful and knowledgeable. I will be returning to try other things! read more

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

I had an amazing experience at Pepper Lunch in Irvine Spectrum, and I have to give a special shoutout to Julian for his outstanding customer service. From the moment I walked in, he greeted me with genuine warmth and a big smile. He was incredibly knowledgeable about the menu, offered great recommendations, and made sure our entire dining experience was smooth and enjoyable. Julian checked in with us at just the right times--never intrusive, always helpful--and made us feel truly valued as customers. It's rare to see someone so passionate and attentive in fast-casual dining, and he absolutely went above and beyond. The food, as always, was delicious and sizzling hot. But honestly, Julian's hospitality was the highlight of the visit. He's a true asset to the Pepper Lunch team. read more

Nice spot to have lunch when you are around business areas in Irvine. Pretty packed during lunch time. read more

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Great food! Wife and daughter love this place and enjoy it in Japan and here in Irvine. Goid prices and quality. We have eaten all of their dishes and very tasty. Service is also great! read more

It's our go-to place when we're in the area. The buttery rice goodness and DIY Teppanyaki experience is like soul food. The ambiance is fresh and cool, with an open patio. The food reminds me of my travels to Japan. The service is efficient and friendly. Be sure to mix the dish to your liking and add any sauces you'd like. I like it just as-is. read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo Beef Pepper Riced right when it got served - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

I wish I could give this place a 3.5. I got the XL pepper beef lunch, which initially looked pretty impressive, but the bowl has a bump at the bottom which makes the plate look like it has more food than it actually does (for example, there is nothing underneath the rice in this picture). The food consists mainly of peppered beef slices, corn, and rice. The taste is pretty good, but a bit on the oily side (and ironically feels like it needed more pepper). This place is in diamond Jamboree, which consists primarily of a large cluster of restaurants. As such, there is a decent flow of people through this place (so you can be sure that the meat is fresh). The people there are also nice, and service was relatively fast for the number of people there. Reduce the oil and bump up the quantity of food and this place is a 5/5! read more

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

Prices have gone up and meat quantity seems to have gone down. Overall, it still tastes really good and I enjoyed my meal. There's a yelp check in deal where you can get a free side with 2 entrees, so bring a friend. read more

Pepper Lunch - Sizzling Classic Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Irvine, California

Fun yet casual. Service is fast, seats can be limited but the whole plaza is always packed so that's always a fun time. One of those healthy and easy to order places. I love the whole plate thing and there's options to customize it at the table. read more

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

Tried Pepper lunch in richmond, bc, Canada and also in NY. I like it, simple and fast. Their sauce is the best. I can just eat a bowl of rice with the sauce. The place is pretty full of customers eating. I ordered the sliced beef curry, shake salad, and ribeye+ny combo. Yummmm..... The restaurant is clean ...they pretty much were running around, delivering food to customers table, and cleaning. There's plenty of seating area inside and also outside. Plenty of parking since it is in big complex. read more

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Pepper Lunch is always a solid choice--flavorful, simple, and super satisfying every time. The staff is friendly, and the place is clean, which makes the experience even better. That said, we'd love to see some improvement in the side dishes. The onion rings and popcorn chicken were a bit stale and too heavy on the batter. A little tweak could make them just as enjoyable as the mains! read more

Pepper Lunch is the go-to in our friend group for any celebration or post-hangout dining spot. Something about the feeling of sizzling, hot meat drizzled over with garlic sauce and luscious cheese just satisfies me so thoroughly. We've had many wonderful evenings out on the porch area, watching the sun fade into twilight as we joke, catch up on life, and share a delicious, comforting meal in the cool Summer air. Food is always super quick, and the staff always seem to miraculously make the long line whiz by. There's always a spot somehow, even when it's rush hour. I first went to pepper lunch at its Akihabara location, and was thrilled that there was one in my own city! Love this restaurant so much, and wish it the ultimate success :) read more

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

This Pepper Lunch is located in the Diamond Jamboree plaza. Parking can get a bit challenging during prime hours. You place and pay for your order at the counter and they give you a number to be seated. My son and I ordered the beef pepper rice and the sizzling teriyaki salmon. Love the concept of the food being served sizzling. We enjoyed our meals and would love to come back and try their other options. There's plenty of seating indoor and outdoor. There's a clean restroom available. read more

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