It's been a while since I had this, so trying it again after a long break was delicious! I got the eel rice and it was delicious! Don't forget to do the Yelp check in for a free app if you buy 2 entrees! The service was very fast, we didn't really wait long for our food. Inside they have a good amount of tables and there was plenty of space. read more

Delicious I love pepper lunch itbwas very good also very cheap would come back agian read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Ordered 2 of the classic beef pepper rice with the upgrade of double meat. The food wasn't the problem but their music was. Holy poop, it was like hardcore house music and felt like a rave. My ears were bleeding. I don't think that's appropriate for dinner. Maybe they should play it when they are closed? I ate my dish so fast and regret not eating outdoors. read more

Pepper Lunch - Classic Beef Pepper Rice with the upgrade of double meat - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Quick, casual, and delicious lunch/dinner option! Service is fast and I've never had to wait. I always get the beef pepper rice, which comes with corn, green onions, and garlic butter. The garlic sauce on the side is a must. I wish they offered udon like the location in the Bay Area but yummy nonetheless! read more

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

Came here for a weekend dinner and it wasn't too busy. It's a casual spot with adequate seating for groups. I liked my sizzling chicken karaage curry and it was a good portion. I liked seeing my food sizzle while I poured some curry on it haha. If you're dining inside, you order at the counter first, they give you a number, and then they serve your food to you. It wasn't a long wait for our party of 3. Service was quick and efficient. I'd come back to try other options on their menu. read more

Pepper Lunch - Sizzling Chicken Karaage Curry - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I got the eel pepper rice and it good and peppery. My bf got sizzling curry - double meat with sliced beef and hamburger. They give like 4 slices of meat and 3 little pieces of hamburger. The curry that comes with it was tasty but not worth it. It was almost $20 for that small plate. If you're a grown man and starving, do not come here unless you plan on ordering two entrees. Now I see why people called this place overhyped. It makes sense! read more

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

Can't believe I never had Pepper Lunch when I walk by it a million times whenever I'm in the area. Came here on a cold night for a quick dinner. The food comes out sizzling hot. I got the sizzling curry with beef and it feels like comfort food. I also ordered their fries and it was delicious! I'm definitely coming back for more read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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This place always hit, I mean it's rice and meat. The concept of the sizzling pot is cool and it keeps your food warm. The quality is definitely there and there are tons of sauces on the side to add to it. My personal favorite is just the original beef pepper rice, which you can load up with your favorite sauces after. You pay up front and get a number while food is delivered to you at your table. Don't forget to do a yelp checkin, you get an premium add on which I got sweet potato fries which was pretty dank. I don't think I'd wait in a line for this food but if I'm in the area and it's not crowded would totally be back! read more

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Went here for lunch w/ my parents. There was a electronic menu on the right you can view. Unfortunately the screen wasn't available for ordering, so we went up to order at the register. The staff took our order and asked if we had a preference for seating. Ordering was quick and efficient, they handed us a number and we sat at the table they asked us about when we were ordering. Water is self-serve towards the back. When the food came, it was sizzling hot so I liked that there is a paper that wraps around the sizzling plate to protect you. There are sauces you can add but I thought the food was a bit too salty for me, so I didn't add any. My parents and I enjoyed our food, but we did agree that it is a little on the salty side. It was a smooth sailing lunch experience and it was my second time here, I would come again if I crave peppery-rice again. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi beef pepper rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

This place is good. Tip: let the meat sear a bit before mixing. Got the kimchi chicken pepper rice but without cheese. The plate is hot and everything was great. read more

I've always love sizzling plates when I was in the Philippines so I was excited to see Pepper Lunch and wanted to give it a try. Note, we got here when outdoor dining was allowed. There were only 2-3 tables outside so seating is pretty limited. The staff were super nice and accommodating. They let us know when they think they'll have our table ready, what are they doing to make sure it's been sanitized and took our orders with their full attention. My fiancé and I got the Classic Beef Pepper Rice, I got their Kimchi Cheese Beef Pepper Rice and we also ordered a side of sweet potato. I think the sauces and the combinations are really good but mine was too peppery (i didn't add pepper either) so I wasn't able to finish the whole thing. I will give it another try next time and see if I will like it. Give them a try again when you are in the area. read more

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First time trying pepper lunch and while it was pretty good the beef was better then the chicken the portion of meat you get is so so little. I was still pretty hungry afterwards. But prob will go back since the taste was there but wouldn't make it a regular stop 4 sure read more

The sound of sizzling meat on a hot plate. Pepper lunch specializes in serving their food on a hot plate so that the meat you order will cook in front of you. I ordered the beef with curry with extra rice and sweet potato wedges and it was quite the comforting and satisfying meal. For around $15 you get a solid amount of food. The hot plate makes it so that your food stays hot while you are eating, which is really nice. Checking in gave me a free side as well which I thought was a really nice deal so I will definitely come here again. When you come in, you order and pay first then the food is brought out. So you'll be tipping before the meal. Servers are nice and the food comes out quickly so I thought the service was great. read more

The food was surprisingly underwhelming. I had higher expectations after looking at the reviews and pictures online. I ordered the jumbo beef pepper rice plate. There is nothing jumbo about it (except for the actual plate itself). There were still gaps in the plate where there should be meat. I usually can't finish a meal like this in one sitting, but I left this place still feeling hungry and unsatisfied. Although they are known for "pepper" in their food, I was hoping for more flavor. read more

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

Food was good as usual. Took a friend with me for their first time and they loved it. Sweet potato wedges were cooked perfectly and had a nice crisp to it without being overly cooked. Only reason I gave 4 out of 5 was due to the seating. Patio was limited and had to wait until a table cleared out. Not much can be done with since of social distancing. It would be good to know ahead of them when to come and eat so that you can be seated immediately. read more

Pepper Lunch - Two Sizzling Curry - Double Meat, Kimchi Beef with Cheese Pepper Rice, Sweet Potato Wedges - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Everything was very peppery so if you have acid reflux, don't go here. But if you love pepper then you'll enjoy. Portion wise was very little but the price is high. read more

not the best thing in the world but satisfying for my hangry tummy! wish they had udon noodles or bring back the curry pepper beef pls read more

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

Pepper Lunch is my go to place when I want a no hassle meal of carbs and protein. The first time I even heard of it, I thought to myself, "It's just carbs with some meat and corn on a sizzling plate. I can do this at home. Why am I even here?" Because it's freaking delicious. I always go with the classic pepper beef rice, sub for noodles, + an egg (if you check in and are dining with someone else and ordering two entrees, be sure to yelp check in for a free app!) . It's the mix of that butter and garlic sauce. I'm usually pretty picky when it comes to "too much butter" on noodles but the amount they add is just right. You can taste the flavor of it but not be overwhelmed. The sauces are on the table if you dine in. I would suggest doing a taste of the dish before you add sauce. It's pretty flavorful with just the butter they use so you can add the sauce casually to adjust to your liking. Sometimes I just use one sauce, sometimes when I'm feeling reckless and living life on the edge, I use both. Tips: - If you like your meat cooked well, gather it all under your carb (either rice or pasta) and leave it to cook for a bit before moving it around and eating it. - Onion rings are delicious. They're very light and have a great batter to onion ratio. - You order first and then sit down (they have seating inside and outside). - Parking is plentiful. If you can't find parking on the street, there are several nearby lots that are free (although the parking spots are usually pretty tight). read more

I heard about this concept on YouTube and rushed to try it myself. It was amazing! The service was quick and friendly, and before I could take two sips of my soda, I had a steaming skillet of beef pepper rice in front of me. I considered getting the jumbo, but the amount of beef was perfect for me. I loved being able to cook all the ingredients to my liking, and the food was fresh and tasty. This Japanese chain is a welcome addition to the Alhambra food scene. I will definitely be back soon! read more

Honestly super disappointing. We got a the double beef and the vegetable curry. The beef wasn't very large sizing despite it being the extra meet option, when i opened it it looked like a beef fried rice, lacked flavor, and just overall not a great flavor and not even a good texture. Sprang for add ons like garlic and egg and mushrooms in case those were missing pieces to the meal but the whole experience was a big let down too - doesn't help that I was craving beef and this was pretty flavorless. Dropped like 40 bucks for what tasted like food you'd get in a food court... Also their parking is awful. read more

I went here with my wife and kids for lunch on a weekend since we were in the area. I was so excited to try this place again after many years. My wife got the beef and I got the chicken pepper rice. Both were absolutely awful. Very little portions, very oily, and overly salted. It was almost not eatable due to the amount of salt that was in the rice. For the amount, taste, and price I would not go back. Not sure what happened to this place. I highly recommend checking out other options nearby. read more

Where's the beef? It was mostly rice. For the price being charged, the amount of protein didn't justify the cost. Sweet potato fries were not crispy. Overall, very salty in all items. read more

Fantastic mouthwatering concept with underwhelming taste. Pepper Lunch has delicious smelling sizzling Japanese flavored meat and seafood rice plates that does a great job at luring curious stomachs in. A typical item on their menu is combining a garlic butter with pepper rice with some kind of protein like steak, eel, or salmon. This is a great concept, but the taste has been bland and I have been dissatisfied every time I try it out. There's just not enough taste, and the meat isn't great quality and overcooked most of the time. I have eaten here 3 times already because the smells makes my stomach crave this savory taste Everytime only to taste a mediocre dish. I would recommend the curry dish just because there's more flavor than the original. 3 stars because the price is decent, you get filled up, and the smells are so darn good. read more

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

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I hadn't been to Pepper Lunch in YEARS (probably not since pre-pandemic) and so happy to know that it's still as amazing as I remember it. Pepper Lunch specializes in sizzling hot plates with meat and rice (name a more iconic duo). You order your food on a tablet, but when I went it seemed their tablets were down and we just had to order up front with the cashier. Though it looks pretty small from the outside, it's pretty spacious with ample seating outdoors and indoors. Ordering is quick and simple, and most of the plates are pretty affordable. After ordering, you get a number that you take to your seat. The plates always come out relatively quickly, hot and sizzling. I always order the basic beef pepper rice (you really can't go wrong with the basics). I feel like it's the perfect single person portion for a good homey meal. They have sauces on the side near the drinks station with options of siracha, honey soy, and garlic soy. I like all the sauces and use all of them LOL. My boyfriend got their curry rice, which was interesting since it still comes out in the sizzling. The curry itself was really good, comparable to dedicated curry houses like coco ichibanya. Overall, love pepper lunch and love to see it consistently make delicious food. read more

Pepper Lunch - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Came in here Sunday afternoon, it was pretty busy. Basically before you get a table you have to order at the kiosk or if the cashier is available you can order through the cashier. Customer service is good. Since it's my first time here I asked so many questions regarding the menu and the staff was nice to answer them all. I ddnt like that our table is dirty but someone cleaned it for us. The food is good. I like the sauce, meat, seasoning and the seasoning on the side too. I think it's a bit pricey. The food that we order they put so much rice but less meat which is sucks coz I think we are just paying for rice? I think lol Other than that I like the place. I will definitely come back. read more

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Setting/Service: Setting is pretty nice. Staff was very friendly and attentive. They were definitely the standout of my experience here. Food: This was my first time here. I ordered the classic beef pepper rice and added an egg. The experience of receiving a hot skillet with fresh, cooking beef was interesting for sure. The dish comes together rather quickly right in front of you. As for the flavor, it was heavy on the pepper for sure. Tasted rather one-dimensional, with the strong pepper flavor taking over the dish. I would have preferred some more vegetable options to add on to help cut through some of the strong pepper and butter flavor. Overall: The service and overall experience of this place makes me want to go back! I'd recommend ordering something with more flavors, like a curry. read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef pepper rice (as it's cooking) - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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Overall, we felt like it was a good find. Super quick and pretty reasonably priced. The peppered beef, though, was a bit chewy and the taste of the pepper was a bit overpowering. The curry and the hamburger patty was much more enjoyable. My husband liked his kimchi fried rice so much that he found Pepper Lunch near his work and went for it only two days after we had dinner at the Alhambra branch. Finding street parking wasn't too challenging. Staff were friendly and efficient. read more

Pepper Lunch - Sizzling Curry Double Meat - with garlic chips added for additional charge. - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I love peper lunch i had them in other places and I was so excited to come to this one since its near where I live and this was a disappointment the workers seems like they were so annoyed when people come in and they had to work it takes a long time to get there attention when it wasn't even busy that time and they were more interested in talking to one another and it seem the supervisor that was there had a Stock up nose feeling shes doing us a favor for being there I hope management will fix the staff because that the only thing that is wrong nothing else read more

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Simple concept executed well. We love the food here and the staff has been great the three times we've been. My favorite is the salmon beef combo. The karaage chicken curry is pretty good, but the karaage itself was not impressive, so I'll stick to other places when I'm looking for that. read more

Was super excited to try this place since I saw it all over TikTok. But unfortunately, I have to say that it did not live up to expectations. The restaurant itself is quite roomy and they have both indoor and outdoor seating options. You order at the front and then they bring the food to you. You can grab sauce and chopsticks by the fountain machine in the back - I actually really liked the two sauces they provided in small cups (honey soy sauce and garlic soy sauce I believe). Sizzling curry with beef ($15) - It came with a lot less meat than expected, especially when compared to the beef in the Classic beef dish. There was a lot of rice compared to the other components (corn, onion, beef) so it felt like I was just eating curry rice (which wasn't too crispy because of the curry). The curry is comparable to Japanese curry. But the sizzling plate was cool and kept the food warm for a long time. Also picked up the wakame seaweed salad, which was nothing like what I expected. It was just spring salad mix in a cup with corn, tomato, and just a little bit of seaweed. Got it through the Yelp check-in but would not be worth the $5 since the cup made it super difficult to eat. No dressing, but I think they provide some in small packets in the back (ranch, etc). read more

Pepper Lunch - Sizzling curry single meat - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Pepper Lunch is located on the corner of Main St. and Garfield Ave. diagonally across from Edwards Theatre. Parking is available at the public structure behind the restaurant. There was no wait for dinner on a weekday night. We were provided with menus upon entering and found our seat. Once we were ready to order, we were given the option to order at the self service tablet or at the cashier. We were then given a number for the table and the staff brought us our food. Drinks are self service at the fountain area. My party ordered the pepper rice, curry rice, and steak plates. Portion sizes were generous and all three were delicious. It was cool watching everything sizzle! I liked that I was able to get fries instead of rice for my side. It seems the hype died down since they opened so I'll definitely be back! They offer a stamp card reward system so be sure to ask the cashier to stamp your card if ordering at the self service tablet. read more

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We got the classic beef pepper rice. It came out really fast and there was no wait. The food itself was good, but there wasn't a lot of meat included. read more

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

3/5 stars for Pepper Lunch. As a food lover, I wanted to be transparent and write an honest review. I don't mean any shade on Pepper Lunch at all! I just hope that my feedback will help the community and the restaurant itself. Pros: Service was fair. We were able to get seated shortly after viewing the menu and ordering. In comparison to other places, it was an interesting twist ordering first before getting seated! Cons: My group (7) couldn't eat together :( We needed to split tables because we weren't accommodated for our large group during that time. Another thing I noted was the portion size and flavor. The portion size of the Classic Beef Pepper Rice (most popular) was quite small and the rice to beef ratio was not what I expected. There wasn't much beef :( In terms of flavor, I think needs a bit more work. The dish was bland and I couldn't taste much pepper. Neither of the complimentary sauces made a dent in the flavor which was also disappointing. I hope this helps. read more

I heard amazing things about this from Taiwan and even people who lived in the Anaheim area! I was super hyped to try it, but I'm sad to say that I was super disappointed. I think Pepper Lunch looks better in pictures than it actually tastes in person. :/ PARKING: Some street parking but it is limited. There are free parking structures around the blocks, but it can be a pain to find parking on a crowded weekend night. TIPS TO EATING PEPPER RICE: 1) Press the rice and mix very well as there is butter in the middle. 2) Mix your meat until it is cooked to your preference. 3) Taste before adding sauces-I felt like it didn't need any and thought it was actually on the salty side already. #3: CLASSIC BEEF PEPPER RICE: You can also choose chicken, but I went with beef as it was most popular. It comes with rice, beef (or chicken), and corn. I added an egg for a $1 as an extra topping. Other extra toppings include for $1 (cheese, onion, kimchi, mushroom), for $1.50 (sausage, bacon bits), and for $2 (garlic chips). I was mostly disappointed in the lack of meat and the majority of the dish was made of rice. Just felt like it was overrated and not worth paying considering how little meat you actually get. read more

Pepper Lunch - Classic Beef Pepper Rice (with Egg added). - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

I barely made my first visit here after hearing all the hype about it and I kinda get it? I certainly see the appeal of eating peppery cheesy rice off a sizzling plate though. Beyond the initial appeal though, I probably won't frequent this place unless I'm with friends. The food is decent, a bit on the saltier side depending on what you end up ordering. I got the kimchi beef cheese rice and the flavors were pretty potent. I could actually smell the kimchi and when combined with the cheese and the beef, I ended up wishing I had more rice to balance out all the salt. I would definitely give this place a few more tries before I officially decide if this is a good place to hit up regularly. I probably will order something that is lighter on the flavors and we'll see how that goes. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi beef cheese rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

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I was kind of skeptical of this place at first because I wasn't entirely convinced a sizzling thing of rice was worth paying for, but my boyfriend insisted I try it because he enjoyed it once before. I decided on the kimchi beef with cheese because I love grilled kimchi. We ordered at the counter and sat down. The food came out in about 2-5 minutes! No need for service really. Just order, eat, and enjoy. The grill was hot and I smashed my rice down to get the bottom crispy. It smelled delicious and the stone remained hot for a good period of time, which I appreciated. The flavors were good and the meat portion was sufficient. Definitely a cool place to check out and somewhere that can accommodate different tastes and preferences. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi beef with cheese and added egg - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

It was my parents and my first time here and I'm very impressed! The staff was nice and when I asked the worker who took my order what she recommend I ordered it but I also asked if this dish is more popular with noodle or rice and she told me rice so decided to try it... My mother got the curry and my father got the eel... We all liked our own dishes. The food arrived to our table so fast and we was all amazed by that! There's a good number of tables and chairs indoors and outdoors and when we came it wasn't too busy but by the time we were almost finished eating (about 7:30) there was a line starting to form! I would definitely come back here read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef and rice with mushroom and corn - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Total fan! The first time I had this was in Taiwan and my second time was in Japan. I can't even begin to explain how ecstatic I was when I found out it was not only here in the US but local to me. Like most food, we always wish we could add a little bit of something or take away something and it almost seems like the more complicated you make it how to restaurant the harder of a time you were giving them or they upcharge you. The best part of this place is you can customize everything to exactly how you want. I keep it original and always get the classic beef pepper rice. I end up adding my own toppings though. I usually add additional cheese, garlic chips, and mushrooms. Flavors are just perfectly suited to me. My only major complaint is that by the end if you get anything outside of their basic menu it's super easy to spend at least $15 for pretty much a fancy fried rice. A tad bit on the pricey side. I'm not sure how they would fix it but I feel like they need a slightly better waiting and seating system as well. Seems a bit messy read more

Pepper Lunch - Custom classic beef pepper rice - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California

Food was good but the service was the worst. I was eating with my nephews and a worker goes up to me towards the end of our meal and tells me that my payment didn't go through and I have to get charged to do it all over again. So I went to check my app to see if I was charged the first time around and I was charged and showed them the actual charge from my banking app. The owner kept insisting that I pay them again and had threatened to call the cops on me if I don't. I paid them again just to avoid the hassle, afterwards I called my bank to confirm and was advised that I actually got double charged by this place, they reviewed the charges and after a few days the bank ended up refunding me. So my last thoughts would be to please be aware of this establishment they will double charge you and threaten to call the cops if you don't pay up even if you have proof. It's either people that work there are rude, crass and incompetent or they're doing this on purpose. Be aware. read more

After repeatedly driving by this place and seeing a long line, I finally understand what the hype is all about. I ordered the jumbo classic beef pepper rice and it was so satisfying. There was a decent amount of beef, the corn added a good texture and overall it was very flavorful. The presentation is also fun since it's sizzling! At times, the line can be long but I think it varies. It was okay when my friends and I went on a Saturday night at 7, but then it got busy shortly after we got our food (which was quick). Anyway, I'm so happy I finally got to try this place and I will definitely come back for more! read more

Pepper Lunch - Jumbo classic beef pepper rice! - Japanese Near Me - Alhambra, California