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We used to LOVE Pepper Lunch! But lately the lack of lead/managers shows in the unorganized kitchen and stressed staff. We came in on a Friday night and we thought it would be a quick meal, there was no line at the entrance. AFTER we ordered at the self serve kiosk we were the kitchen was backed up. Normally orders come out as quickly as 15 minutes, we expected 30 minute wait. Our order took 50 minutes! When our order finally arrived the onion rings and tempura shrimp came out burnt. When we mentioned it the server Mari said "yeah they look toasty, do you want them or not". She did not to remake them saying our order will go behind the cue. We tried to eat them but they were too burned. We requested a refund for the uneaten onion rings and were told they would need to refund the entire amount, and charge us again. There was no manager onsite on a Saturday night to resolve the issue. Two stars because the meal itself was good as always.Not sure its worth the stress!
Dropped by for a quick lunch because I've always wanted to try this place. I ordered the bibimbap, and my husband got the Spaghetti Pork Cutlet. I have to say, comfort food is always the best. I was pleasantly surprised by the spaghetti--it was way better than I expected and really hit the spot. The bibimbap didn't disappoint either. It's always my go-to rice dish, and this one was fresh and flavorful. The lady who served us was also very nice and attentive. She checked on us a few times and made sure we had everything we needed.
I had no idea what "hot plate teppanyaki" was, but now that I have been introduced to this exceptional Japanese cooking style, I will never be the same! There aren't enough words to describe how utterly fantastic this place is. While the dishes are a bit pricey ($17.89 for my Two Meat Sizzling Curry), it's worth the cost. Each plate comes with a warning label around it, to remind you of how hot it is. On the plate is a fluffy rice patty with a divot you can fill with corn, but I ordered an egg instead. Next is your protein. I chose beef and shrimp. Then you add your veggies, and for me that was onions and carrots. While the rice is cooked, everything else is raw. Once at your table, you do the cooking to your liking! Then you top it all off with their rich and creamy curry. There's a bit of spice to the sauce, but if you're a fan of curry, it's nothing you can't handle. There is seating both inside and out, and seats fill up fast. If you live in the area, you can benefit from the stamp card they offer, which gives great benefits once complete. Service was quick, and our server very helpful. This was my first time here, but I would go back in a heart beat. A great dining experience that felt like an adventure.
This is one of the two restaurants that I think are worth the parking situation at diamond jamboree because of how good it is. Although it is a simple dish, the preparation and speed of the service make it worth coming back. With that said, it is quite pricey for a simple dish, but I think it coming out on a stone plate speaks for itself. There usually isn't really a wait here as it's an order first table side service. there's always room and it's clean inside.
steak with curry sauce, and I was seriously impressed. The patty came out hot, juicy, and full of flavor. The curry sauce was rich and delicious, with a nice little kick that stayed with you after every bite. So satisfying. This is definitely a new favorite on my list of sizzling curry dishes. If you're a curry fan, I highly recommend giving it a try. The service was okay, it's more of a grab-and-go type of place, but the staff were friendly and helpful. If you're looking for a quick lunch that's packed with flavor, this spot won't disappoint.
Pepper Lunch is always such a yummy and filling meal! I love how big the portion is and how many toppings there are that you can choose from. I love to add corn because it adds that extra crunch to the plate. Everything is always quick and fresh, as when they bring the plate out to you it's still sizzling. I also love the garlic soy sauce they have at the table. Only thing is that the Diamond Jamboree plaza can be crazy in terms of parking but imo it's worth it for this spot!
One of my favorite spots for lunch out in the Diamond Jamboree. By far my favorite is the Sizzling Curry! Such good flavor and a great portion. I love the option to eat inside or outside to pick an ambiance and the staff offered great suggestions! If you get a side, the sweet potato wedges dipped in the curry are next level!
It was my first time trying Pepper Lunch, and highly recommend trying it out! We waited about 30 minutes to get seated, but it's totally worth the wait. Highly recommend trying their most popular pepper beef meal or one of their curries. I love that the food is on a sizzling plate, and the serving portions are huge. I can't wait to go back!
Have heard lots about Pepper Lunch and was looking forward to trying when I was in Irvine but it was underwhelming, especially for the price. Both the steak my husband got and my combo with beef and salmon were underseasoned, lacked any flavor besides butter, and was overall very bland. We did see a cart of some sauces that we could add ourselves about halfway into the meal but it was still nothing memorable. We ordered a side of fries which were very crispy that were great. Tables were also really sticky and the sauce bottles on the table were dirty. Located in Diamond Jamboree so parking is always hard to find. For the price, portion, and flavor, we probably would not come back.
The food was amazing, the pepper rice definitely met my expectations. I loved the style of food they offered and the meat was perfectly tender. I ordered the new Brisket Pepper Rice which I would definitely order again. The food was really oily and a touch too salty especially if you added their sauces. I personally thought the entrees were better without sauce. The presentation was also underwhelming because I pictured meat piled on and surrounding the rice. In reality, there is only a few pieces of meat scattered around the rice. It's not to say they did not portion correctly; after mixing, there was a perfect combination of rice and meat. Just a warning that the food does not look like the menu pictures is all. Service was amazing. Tip your servers! Though kiosks are used to pay, workers brought out the food, checked in frequently, and cleaned all the tables in a timely manner. All in all, great experience, 9/10!
I had Pepper Lunch for the first time and can't believe I was missing out on it this whole time! Pepper Lunch is a good restaurant, with ample seating located in Diamond Jamboree. I came on a Friday night, so if you know this area - parking was a mad house! The food was delicious; I ordered the Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice and boy was it good. It came out sizzling on a hot plate and the taste was amazing! The experience reminded me of Benihana just with my own plate lol. The food plate is basic (meat, corn, rice), but you have the options to spice it up more with add-ons like egg, cheese, kimchi, etc. Yes, the ingredients are basic but the flavor is still yummy! I especially liked when I let the rice crispen a little on the plate! The tables are also set with a sweet brown sauce and a garlic soy sauce, just in case you want extra flava. Service was relatively quick after ordering and the servers are nice! The restaurant is self-seating with self-serve drinks so you can stay and leave as you please. I will say they also have some tasty tea's that I enjoyed! I will definitely will be coming back.
Pepper Lunch is not about fancy decor--it is all about hot, fresh, flavorful food with fast service. The real star is the signature sizzling hot plate, arriving at your table steaming and crackling with an aroma so strong it could turn heads from miles away. I ordered the sizzling curry with shrimp, and it was such a fun experience because the shrimp arrived raw and cooked right on the hot plate. The rich curry gravy was the perfect finishing touch, especially poured over the rice for every savory bite. We often come here when we drive up from San Diego to visit our uncle.
This place brought back childhood memories for my wife of eating at Pepper Lunch in Japan, so we had to give it a try. We ordered two Pepper Beef plates -- one with cheese and one with an egg. The food came out fast and piping hot (seriously, be careful -- that skillet is no joke). Everything was cooked fresh right in front of us, which we liked. Flavor-wise, it was a little on the bland side at first, but they have sauces on the table so you can season it exactly how you like. Once we added a bit more sauce, it really came together. We also ordered the onion rings. They were nicely fried and crispy, but the seasoning was a bit heavy for our taste. Overall, it's a solid spot for a quick and easy meal, especially if you're craving that nostalgic Pepper Lunch experience. Would definitely come back when we're in the mood for something fast and satisfying.
1 year ago
JUMBO BEEF PEPPER RICEEEE SOO GOOD. Exactly what I crave when I want KBBQ without committing to the whole KBBQ outing. The beef comes out sizzling, mixes in with the rice, corn, and that peppery sauce... buttery, savory, and absolutely delicious. Every bite just hits the spot. Lowkey think some pickled radishes on the side would take it to the next level, but even without, it's already perfect comfort food. Lots of seating, the servers were really nice! Only complaint? WHY ISN'T THERE ONE NEAR ME RAHHHH read more
3 months ago
Came here on a Saturday evening. Parking was super bad but it's in a small plaza. Food was delicious! I didn't know there was a location in US. I tried their location in Singapore for the first time--hence why I wanted to come here again! The counter where they took our orders had soooo many flying bugs, it was disgusting!! The employee tried to clean it while taking my order and even though it didn't touch me, I can feel it. Hopefully they learned to clean the counter thoroughly before helping guests. The meal was good and Mom approved too! read more
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
Food is very good, service is fast, comes hot and stays hot due to the 260C plate food is served on. Everything was fresh and very flavorful, staff is friendly and attentive. Just under $80 for 3 including tax and tip. Had the chicken curry and pepper chicken, the egg is a nice addition to the pepper chicken. Highly recommended. read more
8 months ago
It has a slight beefy smell, but I think it tastes the same as the Pepper Lunch I used to eat in Japan. My recommendation is to add the cheese topping. Even if the flavor feels a bit light, you can adjust it to your taste with the sauces and salt and pepper on the table. read more
5 months ago
8 months ago
This restaurant completely lived up to my high expectations and the beef & shrimp pepper rice I had was so amazingly delicious that I ate every last grain of rice possible from the sizzling hot bowl. The sauces available at the table are both fantastic. This place really hits the spot, especially when it's colder outside! read more
2 years ago
Walking up to the open doors of Pepper Lunch greeted me with amazing smell of its sizzling beef. You can either order to eat there or to go but still order at the front desk and they'll give you a number to choose your own seating to eat there. There were mostly indoor seatings with the option of sitting outside I believe. I ordered the classic beef pepper rice. I thought there should have been more protein to rice ratio but it was still delicious and filling! Tables also had garlic sauce and a spicy sauce but if you love garlic be careful as my mouth did have a strong garlic aftertaste (I still love the sauce). read more
Pepper Lunch delivers a unique sizzling dining experience, with rice developing a good pan crispiness and meat that cooks incredibly fast on the hot plate, ensuring a relatively quick meal. However, don't expect a burst of flavor straight from the kitchen - seasoning is definitely needed as it can be quite bland. I took off one star due to the pricey add-ons and the meal can be a bit on the greasy side. Staff were very attentive to keeping the tables clean for the next party. read more
8 months ago
I was honestly skeptical of getting salmon because I thought it would be underseasoned or fishy. But it was decently good! The kimchi also really helped. read more
2 years ago
Prices have gone up over the years but I still love the flavor of the delicious signature beef pepper rice. I sometimes add garlic chips as a topping. The onion rings are a really good premium side. There's a Yelp check-in offer if you purchase 2 entrees. Service is friendly and no nonsense. You go to the counter to order and they give you a number for your table and deliver the food to you. There's a soda fountain to get your own drink with free refills. read more
10 months ago
The place isn't bad. It's a good spot for a quick lunch and I love that the food comes on a sizzling platter. But lacked flavor and my curry was on the cold side when it was served. read more
2 years ago
5 months ago
portion was perfect, food was perfect, everything was amazing here. pepper lunch is consistently top tier here, really have to give it major props. its just so good every time and i dont even feel bloated afterwards. love it. very cozy place too, i always enjoy coming here even while im waiting for the food. food usually doesnt take long, today the wait at the table was a bit longer than usual though. regardless, i will always come back here for more pepper lunch. read more
2 months ago
Business owner information
Justin B.
Tessa, that means a lot. I am so glad the service made you feel so…
This place is always good. It's a comfort meal at a fast casual dining place. Classic Beef Pepper Rice + cheese- 4/5: Tried it with the cheese topping and it was okay. The cheese didn't add much flavor to the dish and burnt really quickly. Could have done without it. Otherwise the dish tasted great. Curry Beef Pepper Rice- 4.5/5: This one comes with the curry sauce on the side that you pour over. Personally this one is my favorite dish there. I think the curry adds extra flavor. read more
Tried this place for the first time, and it did live up hype, the beef was tender and the rice was cooked properly, I thought it's going to be too peppery but once you start mixing everything it creates a perfect balance, not sure what the sauce, but I mixed both and it turns out so good! The place is clean and well maintained we were there during lunch time and the wait for the food was not bad at all, this is a budget friendly restaurant to try! read more
5 months ago
First time here and I can only say great things about this place! The quality of the food is amazing! With such a diverse menu, there is something for everyone. Arrived around 12:30 pm on a Sunday and surprisingly the wait wasn't long at all. You stand in line to order and they will ask if you prefer inside or outside seating and will sit you correspondingly. We waited in line for about 10 minutes. We got the kimchi beef with cheese + hamburger/beef curry and both were exceptional! Like how the food comes sizzling and keeps the food hot the entire meal. Food also came out pretty fast. They even offer garlic sauce, salt/pepper, sweet sauce, and chili to spice up your meal. TIP: If you check in, you get a free side! We chose french fries which were just avg tasting fries, nothing special but it was free and complemented our meal nicely. Good amount of seating inside and outside. Umbrellas for outside for shade. Definitely check this place out for your next lunch spot! read more
10 months ago
I like pepper lunch for the sizzling plate because I eat slow and my food stays hot for the whole duration of my meal. I hadn't been in a while and my only qualm was that it seemed like they put less beef than I remember from previous times. Service was quick in a Wednesday night. Our table was missing the sauces so I had to go ask for them and then they pointed me to a self serve station when I saw that other tables had bottles of the sauces, which was confusing. Ambiance is casual. Nice place to go to when you're lazy and don't feel like cooking and don't feel like waiting too long at a restaurant. read more
Had to have this for lunch with the girls on our first day to visit. It's been a fave from Japan and we've been missing it! Got the regular pepper lunch and it hit the spot! Soo good! Service was fast and we got there on time before the line got long. We sat outside because we didn't want to smell like food lol. read more
Keep in mind that this restaurant is in diamond Jamboree Plaza so parking here can be kind of a nightmare sometimes. However food is pretty solid and comes out petty quick. The food portions may be a bit small for some people but it was perfect portion size for me. Another caveat is that the food comes out sizzling hot so you should expect to smell like food when you leave the restaurant. read more
Finally got to try out the FAMED pepper lunch, and thankfully this location has no wait (unlike the Bay Area location). You order and pay first at the cash register, and they bring food out super quickly to a table they assign you. The concept is super easy- you mix the protein and rice/noodles together while the plate is still sizzling, and add pepper, salt and their signature garlic sauce and/or sweet sauce for more flavor. We ordered the jumbo beef rice and yaki beef udon, and both our dishes had lots of pieces of bone, fat and cartilage in the meat which was annoying to pick out. I also thought that the portions could be a bit more generous for the price that we paid, as we walked out satisfied but not completely full (even with the jumbo). Overall, a cool concept, although I've had something similar in the bay with better execution and food quality. I recommend checking them out (if you haven't yet) for the experience, but this probably wouldn't be a spot that I come back to often. read more
2 years ago
Wow, an amazing sizzling entree restaurant! I really enjoyed the food here; it was so flavorful and new. I've never tried anything like this, in a good way! I got the Tofu & Veggie Kimchi Pepper Rice. It was a great vegetarian option in the store. The kimchi added a nice spicy tang to the whole dish and the veggies were well cooked and crunchy, but not soft and over cooked. I highly recommend this menu option when you go here. The line can get a little long so be prepared to wait for a little bit, but it moves very fast. There is inside seating, but again, since it can get pretty busy it can be a little difficult to find a table for your party. They are located in Diamond Jamboree which can get very crowded, especially on weekends, so be prepared for limited parking and a little waiting. Overall, this place was amazing! I can't wait to return. read more
5 months ago
2 years ago
Pepper Lunch offers delicious sizzling rice and pasta plates. I usually order the kimchi beef rice with cheese, and my food always comes out fast, making it a quick and easy meal. It's also affordable; my meal is about $14, although some dishes can go over $20. I do wish the dishes came with more meat, as the meat-to-rice ratio isn't ideal. I should note that the sizzling plates are quite oily, so this isn't the healthiest option. Overall, it's a convenient spot for a tasty meal. I do appreciate the pet friendly outdoor seating. read more
My family loves dining at Pepper Lunch when we are in the area! My favorite is salmon pepper lunch. I add onions and mushrooms. It's always busy but the line moves quickly. They choose your table based on availability. I love their garlic and sweet sauces. My only gripe is the parking! It's always packed and it takes time to find a spot. read more
7 months ago
Pepper Lunch never disappoints, there I said it! My boyfriend and I usually always get the pork belly pepper lunch at the Santa Barbara location (now called Sizzling Lunch). So being our first time at the Pepper Lunch in Irvine, we didn't see Pork Belly as one of the meats and so we decided to try the Eel Pepper Lunch! It was so so good. We devoured it and loved how our meal stayed hot and sizzled for a long time. read more
More info about Pepper Lunch
2750 Alton Pkwy
Ste 101
Irvine, CA 92606
Westpark
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(949) 387-6290
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https://www.pepperlunchrestaurants.com
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Ask the Community - Pepper Lunch
Is this restaurant dog-friendly?
Not inside as usual, but there are plenty of tables available outside and they can serve you there too.
Do any of their food contains nuts?
Is the meat you guys serve is halal?
I don't think so since they are originally from Japan
Is there a outdoor area for lunch?
Yes, there is outdoor seating. During the weekends sometimes these tables could be taken up by big parties.
Is indoor dining available?
Yes indoor dining is available as well as outdoor. About a week ago it seemed liked 50 percent capacity indoor.
Are the phones not working?
Phones ARE working. Got my phone call order for lunch today. :D
How will a pepper rice plate be packaged and prepared for a to go order?
It will be cooked by the servers in the front on the counter. Then you will get the food along with both the garlic and sweet sauce and plastic utensils in a bag.
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Pepper Lunch - teppanyaki - Updated October 2026
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