Very busy place in Alhambra. Tried for the first time. Ordering was easy and straightforward. Seated us immediately upon ordering. Lines of people waiting for to go, delivery services, and on site. Their fulfillment system (cooks to servers) were lacking - they kept missing orders and forgetting about the on site diners. Seemed like they were focusing on the to go and delivery services orders. Need more staff to handle such a large volume of people. My food was excellent and the hot skillet was nice to finish cooking your food the way you want it. Salty was the only issue I had - the salmon, butter rice, and curry were over salted. They need to bring out the salt shakers and cook their food for those that are hypertensive on medication folks. read more

Pepper Lunch - Pepper rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Pepper. lunch. What more needs to be said. If you haven't tried it, DO IT. I'm a huge fan of the concept ever since coming across it in Singapore. Pepper lunch in the US does not disappoint. Get the extra beef and thank me later! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I loved my Pepper Lunch experience in Japan so I was excited when they opened the Alhambra location. Pepper Lunch specializes in sizzling plates with beef, chicken, seafood, or tofu with veggies. The classic pepper rice option comes with your choice of protein and rice topped with corn but you can opt for pasta noodles for a surcharge. Each pepper rice comes with a dollop of garlic butter which I smother all over the rice and corn. I highly recommend spreading the rice while the plate is still sizzling so it can get nice and crispy. They have sweet soy sauce and garlic soy sauce available at each table for you to season your food with. My personal favorite dish has to be the sizzling beef plate with curry sauce that they serve in a gravy boat. Service is extremely fast and all the employees I've encountered were friendly. Both indoor and outdoor dining options are available. Street parking is available as well as free parking in the structure across from Alhambra Civic Center Library which is about a block away. FYI, If you're ordering at least two entrees, don't forget to check into Yelp so you can redeem your free premium side. read more

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Exciting concept. Sizzling meat cooked on your plate in front of you along with the rest of your meal. Wanted to love this place, but thought the taste was okay. Loved the free sweet potato wedges. Customer service was great! read more

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Came right before lunch rush so 10 of us got to come in, order, and eat without a problem! They take orders one at a time while people wait in line near the door. You have the option of sitting inside and outside as well. Checking into yelp gave us free appetizer and we chose sweet potato fries! Pepper beef - I seen this on social media and my first thought was it looks easy to make. So while being on the edge of choosing this as a place to eat I still had to try it while coming here. Overall a very simple dish, the plate comes out piping hot so it cooks the beef. Overall I think the dish compliments each other very well. Beef was good quality, sweet corn was a nice texture mixture, and the sauce (two that I can't remember what they were) adds depth to the flavor. Would love to try and make this at home myself but this place is great for a quick bite. 7.6/10 Curry - this one surprised me, but I might just be a sucker for curry. We got beef and hamburger as the two meat curry option. The hamburger was amazing. Packed meat, juicy, and flavorful I was quite surprised. The curry itself tasted like curry so I loved it. No need to add sauce to this bc of the curry. 8.2/10 read more

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had a really good and quick experience here at pepper lunch! we came in during dinner time and there was no line. you order at the counter and take a seat at one of the tables. they brought out our food pretty fast, and came piping hot. we wanted to try something different this time and the curry beef plate hit the spot - the curry doesn't completely overwhelm the usual beef plate flavors, and the curry taste itself is pleasant. the resto was very clean and they also have extra condiments and stuff towards the back of the resto. there's plenty of parking across the street where the movie theater is. read more

Good food, great service, casual chain restaurant decor. Could use more meat, more veggies and more rice! Small portions.

I love Pepper Lunch mainly because when I lived in Southeast Asia this was my go to! Once I moved to LA, I was so happy to see it here as well! With COVID and the lockdowns, I never got a chance to go until now! During peak times, there can be a wait but it's usually not too long. Put your name down and wait outside! There's some seating in the patio area and quite a bit of seating inside. However, during peak times- it may not be enough! I took my kids and wanted my usual which is the classic pepper beef rice. I add some garlic chips and mushrooms on top which were so good! My sons got the chicken teriyaki and really liked it! The food comes out on sizzling hot plates which make the food so nice and hot! It's just the way I like it! The rice can get crispy on the bottom if you don't put sauce and mix it up quick enough. I love crispy rice so I don't mind! Anyways, I'll definitely be back to try some of their other items like their curries and pasta. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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After all the hype, decided to finally try this place for lunch. I ordered the original beef pepper lunch at $11.50. No need to order at the machine as you now order and pay at the counter. Remember to check in as you get a free side. I chose the seaweed salad and pored it over my pepper lunch. I love that the food stays warm throughout the meal as it arrives on a sizzling teppan style plate making it a great option especially on cold days. Which is why it's probably better and more interesting to dine in than to get this as a take out. Although I enjoyed the food, I wish it was a bit less salty and oily. However, it did not leave me feeling too full. If you have not been, I would say to at least give it a try either at this location or in any other country since they appear to have it world wide! read more

While I don't always crave hot plate styled meals Pepper Lunch is so consistent that I can't help but wonder why I don't come back more often. Overall the meal was as you'd expect, you order at the cashier in the front then take your number to your table. Water and general utensils are self serve so just be wary in case you were expecting tables to be set up, it's not The food honestly took longer to decide which order than for it to come out. I would estimate it took maybe around 3 or so minutes after fully paying and quite honestly it could have been because it was late but I enjoyed the fact the food was served so quickly Food is as expected for all Pepper Lunch locations, rice is properly cooked, the meat thinly sliced and searing on the hot plate and decently well seasoned. If I were to reconsider I may get the curry version just for that extra kick of flavor to meld the rice and meat together a little more but the meal hits the spot at a great price point too Location was fairly clean with it facing out towards the main road but not too loud that would interrupt a group dinner. All in all, I would come back and recommend a good solid meal to friends read more

Pepper Lunch - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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COVID-19: Social distancing is enforced at this establishment. All of the staff wears a mask. All customers are expected to wear a mask too. Some of the staff also wears gloves. There are some hand sanitizers available for customers to use. This place is available for take outs and has some indoor & outdoor seating available with limited capacity. They are also sanitizing in between customers. COVID-19 Vaccination Proof: This establishment currently does not require proof of vaccination. While I was grabbing my food from this establishment last night, I asked if they had any special offers and they weren't offering any at the moment. They currently don't have happy hour. They also do not allow pets in their establishment. Parking: The parking lot for this establishment is located on 1st street. It's a big parking garage. Parking is easy to find if you come during odd hours of the day. Otherwise, these lots get full very easily and quickly. Food: I ordered the jumbo beef pepper rice. Big portion. Lots of beef. It also had scallion, corn, garlic chips, and onion slices. So fricken good! I love coming here. The beef was so tender and juicy. The rice was very peppery, so it had a small kick to it. Staff: The staff here are very fast, friend, and welcoming. They accept both cash and credit cards. There is no credit card minimum. read more

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I've passed by this place so many times and decided to try them out. I've had pepper lunch in Japan a few times long ago, so I knew what to expect. I came at around 2:00pm afternoon on a weekday and there was no wait. I ordered a classic beef. My order arrived within 10 minutes of ordering on a sizzling iron pan. The beef was soft and tender, while retaining the flavor even as it was being cooked. The addition of green onions, butter, and corn gave the rice and beef more flavor. My only problem with it was there was a bit too much butter. The oiliness made my stomach feel a bit weird. Aside from the excess amount of butter, the classic beef pepper rice was delicious. It was a bit more expensive than the price I remember in Japan but quality was relatively acceptable. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Love the casual vibe of this place, food comes out quickly and staff is quick. This is definitely one of my go-to food chains.

This place is great! I really love the concept and the price is pretty affordable. However you can also go ham and get premium meat if you so choose. First, parking was pretty easy. There's a nearby lot and while it was quite full we managed to get a spot right as someone was leaving. When you walk in you can see the menu on a digital screen that rotates through the various options. You can also look at the paper menu which is printed in black and white. You order at the counter and then you sit down and wait for them to bring you the food. I went with the classic beef rice and it was delicious! Seriously I was not expecting it to come out sizzling but that's their cool concept. The food is really hot and the meat cooks right in front of you. There's butter in the center and you have condiments like garlic and sweet sauce. It was a great meal and I would definitely go back. It deserves all the raves. read more

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

Best food ever here - but tonight had a really incredible experience at pepper lunch. Drove a long way and got to the restaurant after they had closed the kitchen. When I explained how far we'd traveled - the manager Andrew insisted on helping us, reopened the kitchen, made our food, even told us about what gave it its flavor -- seriously the nicest guy ever. Always love the food here -- but have to say, the genuine care and kindness Andrew and the staff at this Pepper lunch show is a model for how people should treat each other! read more

Very yummy a little pricey lots of pepper (lol) but definitely a must try place. Place does get packed employees are polite and it's a clean restaurant. read more

The food is delicious and they serve very fast. Most popular menu is the beef pepper rice and the beef sizzling curry. Both are basically the same but the curry gets curry sauce and onions. You can get extra rice, extra meat, extra egg all for an additional cost. Portion are small for the price. About $30 for 2 w/o any add ons w/ tip included. But they taste clean and won't drag you down for the rest of the day. Very basic; beef + rice + black pepper + sauce. The cast iron will sizzle your sauce and make sure to get the crispy rice in the bottom. Make sure to look at the menu ahead of time. You will order first at the counter and they'll bring the food to you. But you will be guaranteed a seat b/c they won't take your order unless your seat is ready. read more

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It's a good place for lunch or dinner. The AC is strong enough to keep you out of a hot and hangry mood. I feel the cheese topping makes the beef taste too muted. Since it's just pure beef cooked on the hot plate, the cheese blends in with the rice and beef, coating everything with a thin layer of 'cheese', making everything taste kinda bland especially when your plate gets colder. It's okay. The kimchi add-on with the beef and hamburg curry plate is excellent! If you stir-fry the kimchi with the beef and some drizzle of the soy garlic sauce the moment you get your plate, the flavors just smack. I didn't try the kimchi cheese plate since I guess cheese would do the same as the first time I've tried it, I'm sure it tastes good since it's a popular combination read more

The novelty of it is cool i guess. Fast food that comes out on a sizzling plate. Got the chicken and hamburger curry sizzling plate and the chicken + hamburger just looked sad. It didn't taste terrible just very meh. An ok lunch spot if you work in the area but i wouldn't go out of my way to eat here read more

ALWAYS Amazing food! This is one of my most favorite restaurants in Alhambra. My favorite dish is the chicken sizzling curry I always add mushrooms. We also get a side of fries to dip into the curry. Great service! The staff are always attentive and helpful. It's average noisy. I have probably been here more than 10 times. I am a committed fan read more

Pepper Lunch - Sizzling curry chicken with mushrooms and a side of fries 11/4/22. Yummy - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Love the food here! Everything tastes so delicious and for the price it's good. My favorite dish to get here is the beef teriyaki.

I've been meaning to come here forever and just haven't had the chance. We came in on a weekday way after lunch rush so wasn't busy at all. You order at the counter and they'll give you a number to bring out to your table. My bf got the classic beef and I ordered the teriyaki beef. Teriyaki beef (5/5): This was so good! I loved that the rice and sauce came on the side so I could control the amount that I wanted. It came out sizzling with the beef and veggies. The sauce was sweet and savory and perfect. Classic beef (4/5): obviously their most popular one but I preferred the teriyaki since that came with more veggies than just corn and I like the teriyaki flavor better. Sweet potato wedge fries (4.5/5): came out hot and fresh! We love sweet potato fries and liked this version of wedges. Definitely plan to order this again. We parked across the street in the plaza where the Sephora and All that shabu is and walked over. Also convenient since it's near the theater and other shops as well. I would also say it's a good deal for what you get too! Will be back! read more

Pepper Lunch - Teriyaki Beef - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I personally think pepper lunch is a bit on the pricier side but it's definitely super delicious and a good treat to have every so often. The food comes out super fresh and very fast since it's all on the hot plate. The restaurant itself is pretty average, good place for dinner or lunch. The food came out pretty quickly and the line goes by fast as well. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Tight space, workers are not too nice yet they ask if you wanna tip 15% to take your oder at the counter, hand your food to the table, and pout at you. Food is ok. Very greasy, good amount of rice, and tiny amount of beef (FOR THE JUMBO) which will cost you 18.99 plus tax. People who hand you your food wear the same gloves they use to handle the cash at the register and the same gloves they use to bus dirty tables. read more

My family loves getting the stone plate rice dishes here. You place your order on the kiosk, grab a number and have a seat. Food will be brought to you when done which reminds me some of the food vendors/restaurants in South Korea. Service is quick and friendly and it's usually busy during rush hour. If you're a big eater you can add extra meat and other add in to your choosing. There is indoor and patio seating which is nice. read more

Checked out this Japanese DIY Teppan rice place in Alhambra CA. It is recommended by a foodie friend and finally got a chance to come with my foodie partner. ⁣ ⁣ We ordered the Classic Beef Pepper Lunch, it comes with prime beef, corn, garlic butter, garlic sauce and white rice. ⁣We really enjoyed the experience and the good quality food. As we walked in, there are photo menu everywhere so it's very easy to see what you want to order. Staffs are friendly and we are seated and served quickly. On the back of the restaurant, there is a sauce station that you can make your own sauce that you want to add in your sizzling rice. Very convenient. read more

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

Stopped by for lunch for some sizzling beef pepper rice and was happy to find out that it's still just as delicious as I remembered from pre-covid. You order at the counter and seat yourself. Service was friendly, quick, and efficient. There is plentiful outdoor seating. The food was brought out almost immediately! I usually get the classic beef pepper rice or sizzling curry with mushrooms. Although the flavors are not mind blowing, the sizzling from the stone plate that makes the rice and meat crispy and keeps your food warm paired with the simple but tasty sauce additions provided on the table makes it almost feel comforting to cook and eat. The portion sizes are quite large too. Overall, a solid meal with a good price point and pretty unique experience. Make sure to check in on yelp to get the free side when you order 2 main dishes! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Pretty delicious food. My dish was great. Although my friends thought their dishes were underwhelming. I had the BEEF AGLIO OLIO PASTA. Perfectly cooked pasta with simple and delicious ingredients. Service we a bit slow and shaky. The floors were dirty. And considering the doors had just opened, it shows a lack of overall cleanliness. The fresh juice drinks were delicious though. I still enjoy the food, but will probably never return. read more

Pepper Lunch - Inside. The floors were sticky as hell. - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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I've driven by Pepper Lunch so many times and have always wanted to try it. I found out that it's a chain. Ordering was a bit confusing, but I'm sure it's something you get used to. It was semi busy when I visited, so it bought me some time to figure out the menu while I was in line. I just went with the Jumbo Classic Beef Pepper Rice, since that seems to be the popular and basic dish a lot of people were ordering. It reminded me of a similar dish I had years ago at Green Island Restaurant in Temple City. I'm not sure where the original inspiration came from, but I'm glad for it. I love the freshly stir fried flavor of the beef. Strong flavor but a good complement to the white rice. I'll come back to try other options. read more

I have always wanted try pepper lunch especially a few years back when it wad trending around my area. It was such an iconic dish that people would replicate recipes on social media. When I walked in we looked through menus on the screens and menu sheet and ordered/payed before heading to our seats. I asked for water cups and saw that they have the sweet sauce and the soy garlic sauce by the drink station. When we sat our appetizer came out which were the fries. The fries looked a little disappointing but to our surprise it was pretty crispy and the seasoning was really good. It reminded me of a familiar flavor, but I wasn't able to grasp exactly what it tasted like. Then, after a few bites, the beef rice bowls came out. I got the classic beef pepper rice and my boyfriend got the jumbo beef pepper rice, but I couldn't really differentiate one from another appearance wise. However, when mixed in, the jumbo definitely had way more meat than the regular. I added the sauces that were at the table to my likings and took a bite. I would say it was a pleasant meal yet nothing special. I felt like it was definitely a recipe I can try to replicate at home for a quick yummy meal. I would recommend this place to those who haven't tried it before or enjoy the japanese bbq type of slightly sweet flavor. read more

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I've been aware of Pepper Lunch for many years since it was a popular restaurant where I used to live, but I only got the chance to try it recently. My experience was fine but I feel that the food isn't bad but it is definitely overhyped. I don't think I would go again, especially given all the other awesome food options along this street. You order at the counter, find your own seating, and they bring the food to you. There is a condiment station and each table has different sauces for your food. You can get a free side with Yelp check-in, and we chose the fries. My friend ordered the curry sizzling plate and I got the classic beef sizzling plate. The fries came out in a little cart, which was super cute. They tasted freshly fried, with a crisp exterior and fluffy interior. Unfortunately, the sizzling dishes fell short of my expectations. The only standout feature of my beef sizzling plate was the sizzling plate, which allowed the rice to get perfectly crispy on the bottom. However, the beef portion size was just meh and without any added sauce, my food was bland (and I'm saying this as a HUGE pepper lover). I used the garlic sauce and while it made my food saltier, I didn't really taste much garlic. My friend noted that her curry was a bit too sweet, and was similarly lukewarm about the rest of her food. I love crispy rice with a passion, but for the price, I think that I would prefer to buy a hot stone bowl myself (they are pretty cheap in ktown!). Pepper Lunch is novel and kinda fun but the food ultimately did not stand out to me. read more

Pepper Lunch - Free fries (Yelp check-in) and Classic Beef Pepper Rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

The yelp check in mentions a free side. My party wanted to use one yelp check in offer per entree purchase as we all were able to check in on yelp, but the employee mentioned you can only redeem one yelp check in per 2 entree purchases. Definitely caught us off guard since it wasn't listed in the yelp check in description. We all got the classic beef and the flavor was lacking. The additional sauce on the tables didn't really help much. You also only get 4-5 thin slices of beef per plate. Will not be back. read more

Swung by last night for last minute dinner and to check out the spot after driving past it a couple times while passing thru the area. I ended up ordering the jumbo beef dish which was pretty good. The teriyaki marinade and the rice definitely stole the show though. My only complaint is there isn't a lot of meat with the dish so you end up mostly paying for rice and everything else you want a La carte. Otherwise for a quick eat it's a decent place to check it out! read more

I have always seen this place up on my social media, and I've been longing to try it. So glad I was able to for dinner! I decided to go with the classic beef pepper rice with the add-ons of mushroom and an egg (I believe it was $1.50-.75 each). The dish came with a big scoop of rice, corn, sliced beef, and other garnishes. I thought the portion size was pretty decent for its price. There was a pretty good amount of everything in the sizzling pot. The meal was delightful! I thought that everything paired well with another. The entire thing was especially filling. There was also a whole bunch of sauces on the table. I decided to go with their garlic sauce to drizzle on my food and thought it enhanced the flavors by so much! I love how the sizzling pot kept my rice and meats crispy. I look forward to coming here again! read more

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

Efficient and tasty pepper beef and rice spot in Alhambra! We recently (Oct 2021) discovered this spot while looking for a quick but tasty dinner place nearby the Alhambra theater complex and were very happy to find this area. Street parking or lot parking (near the Citibank, can enter either from 1st St or Garfield Ave) is available. Oct 2021: Once you enter you are faced with menus at the automatic kiosk which is NOT on during COVID - place your orders at the counter! SERVICE: We've been here a couple times - first time the person taking our order let us take our time getting acquainted with the menu and the second time the other person seemed impatient with us as we were deciding - but in any case once your order is taken you get a number you can bring to your table to wait, and service thereafter is fast and efficient! FOOD: I am here for the BEEF PEPPER RICE, served in a sizzling stone bowl with a protective paper ring around it reminding you that the bowl is hot (!!) and be careful not to touch! The rice is cupped around a seasoned pat of butter so be sure to mash your rice and butter down to get it all melted and incorporated. Sweet corn is included and the beef slices are arranged around the outside, and it's nice to be able to stop the cooking as you wish if you like the slices more rare by putting the slices on top of your rice. The BEEF CURRY RICE was my partner's favorite (even more so than the Beef Pepper for him), with Japanese style sweet curry, which pairs really well with the sizzling pot searing flavor. This feels like something that you can really only appreciate in person. The SEASONED FRIES are my favorite style of fry - served in a personal side basket and with a thin crispy exterior with a light and fluffy interior, generously seasoned which is how I like it. The sauces on the side help you with upping the garlic flavor or sweet sauce flavor as you please! Wonderful spot, quick and sizzling and filling, in Alhambra. read more

Pepper Lunch - IPad ordering available now! April 2022 - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Eh it's ok, everything was salty, wayyyyy salty! I got the pasta lol and even that was salty! Service was great though! Waiting I didn't even get a picture of my pasta! read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Fun twist on some classic dishes. The steak and veggies were yummy. Fried rice was good but a little more flavor and maybe an egg would make it great! The food comes out on a sizzling plate so you can cook the meats to your liking. Only downside is if you want well done that's not really possible on a sizzling plate. read more

Pepper Lunch - Wild Angus & Ribeye Steak - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Unfortunately I drove all the way to this location and got here at 9:30pm & they told me their kitchen was closed. Kitchen shouldn't be closed that early and the place wasn't even packed. I hope the manager sees this yelp review and does something about it since we were not the only people they told they were already closed. read more

Food was served quickly & was pretty tasty! Inside of restaurant was clean and wasn't crowded. read more

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

Got the beef pepper plate for dinner, and the service was FAST. We were seated immediately without wait. Our food arrived almost instantaneously on a hot skillet. The trick, as many know, is to let it simmer on the skillet for about 5 min to get that extra crunch to the rice. The rice and beef were super flavorful, and living up to its name, full of peppery punch. Would def come back again just for the plate! Of note, we have ordered take out before, and the taste experience is def not the same without the skillet, so recommend dining in if you can! TIP: remember to check in on YELP to get a free side with purchase of two main meals or more. read more

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