I came to grab a quick lunch and was greeted with warm smiles and offered an overview of the menu. Karol was so welcoming and suggested I add egg to my meal and it did not disappoint. I will definitely be back! read more

The service was amazing and the food overall was great. Our Server Ash was so nice and caring. Really went above and beyond especially when we needed refills and a new pepper grinder. Absolutely one of the better Pepper lunch locations read more

Definitely recommend this place! It was our first time going so we weren't sure what to order. Ashley, one of the servers, took the time to explain the menu and give us excellent suggestions. The food was delicious. The staff were helpful and friendly. Not to mention the restaurant was clean, spacious, with a relaxing ambience.. read more

I've eaten at a few different locations and I love their food. I order the same thing all the time, which is the jumbo beef. It's very good but for some reason I always leave still feeling a little hungry. So I wish the portions were a little bigger. You order through a kiosk and the food comes out fairly fast. Very casual vibe. There's indoor and outdoor seating. read more

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

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

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Visited this place for OC Restaurant Week and it was great! Service was helpful and quick. The food came out quickly and was delicious! There was lots of indoor and outdoor seating. I had the kimchi beef and the flavors were a great combination and so fresh. I will definitely be back! read more

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

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

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

Pepper Lunch - Beef pepper rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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In all honestly, you can make this at home lol. Husband and I have always wanted to come here and we were finally in the area to try it. We were pretty disappointed. Though, we did try, I believe it's their original beef pepper rice? It was just super oily and bland. Employees were really nice and patient with us when we were looking at the menu. Maybe we'll try something different on their menu next time but if you just plan on trying their original beef pepper rice, just make it at home. read more

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

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

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

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Place was really good! Nice ambiance. Food was served fast server was very nice! It was pretty cool to be able to cook the food to my own liking. read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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Food is just ok, I think chain is trying to cut cost by giving less beef. I order the double beef but there was. Barely enough beef to go with the rice. read more

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

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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

Pepper Lunch - jumbo pepper beef - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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

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

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

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I always love pepper lunch, but I got more impressed by the customer service, specifically Ashley! She demonstrated great patience and service when I had questions about my order. She went above and beyond to make sure we were satisfied with our food . Really great employee! read more

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

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Literally so amazing! Food was piping hot, fresh, and packed full of flavor. An experience and a delicious meal. I had the pepper steak and it was one of the new favorite meals. The staff were so attentive and kind -- explaining how to mix the food and giving drink refills such a cute place with amazing vibes! read more

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

Pepper Lunch - So good - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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

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I came here on a saturday night for dinner. The service was really good but the food was disappointing. No butter on my rice and my beef pepper lunch was lacking flavor. I felt disappointed with the food and it wasn't worth the $61. For the price of what I paid for I at least expected it to have butter on my rice. Usually at other locations they put a sauce all over the rice and beef but ours came out...sauceless. read more

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

I stopped by Pepper Lunch at the Spectrum and had a great experience. The food came out sizzling hot, and it was fun mixing everything together on the hot plate while it finished cooking. The beef was tender, the rice was flavorful, and the portion size was satisfying for the price. The restaurant was clean, the staff was friendly, and service was quick even though it was busy. It's a great spot if you're looking for a fast meal that still feels fresh and made to order. Overall, I'd definitely come back when I'm at the Spectrum. If you enjoy hot, customizable meals with good flavor and quick service, Pepper Lunch is worth checking out. read more

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

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

I had a beef teriyaki today on Tiffany's recommendation and I really enjoyed it. Great size and price. Despite the rush, tiffany was truly accommodating and helpful. I will be returning. read more

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

It's better than expected. Really yummy! Tiffany was very helpful. Remember to add the curry sauce. I got the garlic brisket pepper rice.

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

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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

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

Pepper Lunch - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

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We tried Pepper Lunch for the first time with our kids. We arrived around 1:45 p.m. on a Sunday afternoon. A staff member at the entrance asked how many were in our group and said they needed to clean a table for us. After waiting outside about 15 minutes, we were invited in to find our seats. Ordering was done through a self-service kiosk. We had the Beef Pepper Rice, Cream Beef Pasta, Beef Sizzling Curry Rice (upsize rice) and Chicken Karaage. The food was decent, but a few things stood out: * The upsized rice didn't seem larger, even though we paid an extra $1.99. * The Chicken Karaage was overcooked and lacked the crispiness. * If we want to order more food during the meal, we need to line up at the kiosk again. I personally don't enjoy waiting in line once seated - this isn't McDonald's or a food court, and it takes away from the overall dining experience. Since this is a semi-self-service setup, it would be more convenient if water, utensils, and plates were available at a central station for customers to grab as needed. The staff didn't really handle those items anyway, so this small change could make things smoother. Will definitely return if we are in Irvine spectrum center again. read more

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I had an unsatisfactory experience at the Diamond Jamboree location, so I decided to try the Spectrum location. Ali provided outstanding service and significantly improved my experience. read more

Pepper Lunch - Chicken & Beef Pepper Rice Combo Beer Batter Fries Shrimp & Beef Pepper Rice Combo Beef Pepper Rice Miso Soup - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here to eat an early dinner around 5 ish pm on a Saturday, so it was just before the dinner rush so we got seated right away. The restaurant was notably a lot hotter inside, so we chose to eat outside. There were two kiosks but they weren't working so we had to order with the cashier. When we were confused about what the kimchi beef included, she took the time to explain what was in it and was incredibly patient with us as we ordered. As for the food, I got the kimchi beef with onion and mushrooms added on. For the price of the add on ($2 each for the mushroom and onion), the portion really does not justify the costly price as the amount of each of the add ons I was given was so small especially considering the fact that onions and mushrooms are pretty inexpensive. Flavor-wise, I enjoyed this meal as we could add as much garlic soy sauce we wanted. Another aspect I wanted to note was the great service as we were seated, and the server explained to us the differences between the two sauces on the table were. Overall, the service at this location is really great, but the food itself is pretty basic and expensive, especially when you add extra items. I would recommend just going with the meal without anything on top. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Beef with onion and mushroom add on - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

Food was good, Reggie provided great service, was attentive and had a great attitude.

We wanted to grab a quick meal before heading back home and walked by Pepper Lunch. Concept seemed interesting. We ordered using the kiosk and it was super straight forward. Husband got the regular beef pepper lunch and I got the kimchi beef with an egg. We both agreed that it was super tasty. You need to add the sauces they provide on the table and you're golden. The kimchi has great flavor. We like our rice a little crispy so our tip would be to let it sit and cook for a while before stirring it all up. Also, staff were super nice. Always checking in on us and other guests. We'd definitely come back. read more

Pepper Lunch - Kimchi Beef Pepper Rice with Egg - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California

The Beef Pepper Rice was the best thing I've eaten in 6 months, so much flavor, especially after adding the table sauces which were absolute umami bombs. Service was outstanding, incredibly friendly staff (shoutout to Maddie) who helped us navigate the menu and answered all of our questions, being first-timers. Everyone working had a great attitude which was a refreshing experience! We ate outside on their patio area, which had a moderate noise level, but conversation between my wife and I was easily understood, and the table spacing made the experience feel slightly intimate. read more

Pepper Lunch - Beef Pepper Rice - Teppanyaki Near Me - Irvine, California