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    Pepper Lunch

    3.9 (1.6k reviews)
    Open 11:00 am - 10:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Pepper Lunch Takeout or Delivery

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    PEPPER LUNCH ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Pepper Lunch

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    Beef Aglio Olio Pasta
    Alice M.

    We came in around 2PM on a Sunday and were pleasantly surprised that there was no wait. It's a casual setup - you order at the counter and seat yourself. The worker also gave us a stamp card that offers free items and a free meal after 10 stamps (valid for six months after the first stamp), which was a nice bonus. FOOD We ordered the Hamburg & Beef Curry and the Beef Aglio Olio Pasta. It was satisfying watching the dishes arrive sizzling on a hot plate. Both dishes were flavorful, though I personally preferred the sliced beef over the hamburg. Next time if I'm craving curry, I will probably order the Beef Sizzling Curry instead. I'd recommend mixing the noodles right away while they're still sizzling. I spent a little too long taking photos and the noodles ended up getting crispier than I would've liked. SERVICE The worker was friendly and helpful. Our food came out quickly after ordering, which made the experience even better. OVERALL Even without the stamp card, I'd definitely come back to try more dishes.

    Jared K.

    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.

    Sizzling Curry - Chicken Karaage
    Jackie B.

    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.

    Steak
    Rebecca T.

    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.

    Classic Beef Pepper Rice
    Steve Y.

    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.

    Dia N.

    I never really understood what the hype was about Pepper Lunch, but after going today, I get it! I came here for lunch with a friend and got the kimchi beef and cheese regular sized plate. This spot offers outdoor and indoor seating, and it's actually pretty large! There were plenty of seats to choose from, and the food came out pretty quick. When it comes out, it's sizzling, so they put the paper thing around it. You get to mix it up yourself, which makes lunch a little more fun. I didn't care too much for that interactive part, but I really liked the flavors and how filling it was! The whole dish was about $17 + tax. It's located in the Diamond Jam plaza, which is known for terrible parking, but during lunch it wasn't too busy!

    Rachel C.

    I got the beef pepper lunch and it was really good' they were generous with the meats and I loved the concept of the sizzling pan because it made my rice crispy. The service was also good too. I came here for lunch so parking wasn't bad but I could see it being hard to find parking towards dinner time. Other than that, great spot for lunch or dinner

    Beef Aglio Olio Teppan Pasta
    Shirley S.

    My first time and I thought this place was fun and yummy. The server was very helpful and came from the counter to help me place my order. I was questioning the menu but good to know they are willing to help those that are not tech savvy. I tried the Beef Aglio Olio Teppan Pasta I added an egg and kimchi and it was delicious. My friends ordered their signature Beef Pepper Rice and Salmon Cream Teppan Pasta. We ate it all. I added a side of Onion Rings and they were done well. However the Karaage Chicken was a bit overcooked. It was the only item we didn't demolish. I would definitely come back to try the dish with rice and curry,

    Classic Beef Pepper Rice with Egg and Cheese
    Vincent M.

    Pepper lunch used to be a staple restaurant of mine when I was a student and I still enjoy getting it every now and then. Parking here can be very difficult because this plaza gets crazy packed so if you're coming on a Friday or weekend night expect to search for parking for a few minutes. The inside is clean. You walk up to order your food and then assigned a table number. The staff here is always friendly. I got a beef pepper rice with egg and cheese. Beef Pepper Rice 6.5/10 - The plate comes out sizzling and you can tailor the flavor to your liking with the sauces at the table. Pretty solid dish. My only critique is that I'm convinced over the years the amount of meat they give you has gotten smaller and smaller but for the same price. I still enjoy it, but for the price and amount of meat you get, I would only consider getting this if I'm already in the area.

    Pepper Classic Beef Pepper Rice w/ egg
    Melanie H.

    The iconic Pepper Lunch sizzling plate is one of the greatest draws of the restaurant. We came here on a Monday lunch time and there wasn't a wait. We ordered at the counter and grabbed a seat to wait for our order. I got the regular classic beef pepper rice with an added egg (+$2). I absolutely love the combination of the sizzling crispy rice and black pepper flavor. At each table, there are some additional sauces and seasonings you can add to elevate the meal. I enjoyed the sweet brown sauce to contrast the savory dish.

    Sara C.

    Service was good, fast, and kind. Food was good, a nice lunch but nothing too crazy. Would come back again for a quick lunch !

    Beef & Chicken Pepper Rice and Salmon Pepper Rice
    Chrizelle M.

    I have no complaints about the food. I will say it's a little pricey but you get the unique experience of getting your food served on a sizzling plate and it is extremely delicious. Service was just ok, I don't think Pepper Lunch is a place where you can dilly dally inside LOL I think it's moreso to eat and go. However, if you're craving meat and rice, Pepper Lunch is the place for you.

    Menu
    Vince P.

    Pepper Lunch is a famous fast casual chain from Japan known for their hot sizzling plates of deliciousness! This location is at the Diamond Jamboree. There is a good amount of parking in the plaza, but spots can get tight depending on the day and time you come. Inside, they have a spacious setup with a good amount of seating. You order up at the front and then you grab a seat wherever you like. For their menu, they have nice selection of different rice, pasta, and curry dishes to choose from. I ended up getting the Jumbo Beef Pepper Rice and it hit the spot. Overall, you really cannot go wrong with anything you order here. All of the staff are friendly and welcoming. There is definitely a reason why this spot has over 1,000+ positive reviews!

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    Pepper Lunch Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Pepper Lunch

    Do they take cash here?

    Yes, when I was there they accepted cash and cards.

    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

    Are they open for indoor dine-in?

    No, only outdoor seating for now.

    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.

    Halal or kosher?

    I doubt that eel is kosher

    View All 14 Questions

    Koki's Teppanyaki Grille

    Koki's Teppanyaki Grille

    4.2
    (976 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    I have been going to Koki's for over 27 years. I have never…read morebeen disappointed. I went last night and had the Chef's special. i was worth writing about today and in all these years, this is the first review i have written. The Fried rice is the best and I always get two orders. Probably my favorite restaurant.

    Update: Owner responded back about our separate checks, we didn't mind paying in one check but it…read morewas offered so we were ok let's do it. Second, we knew ahead of time that they shared tips as there is signs everywhere, we tipped the chef cash and some of us left a tip on the bill with our cards. So if you total both we left a gracious tip. We all worked in the food service industry before and know how important tipping is. So please next time don't use that as an excuse and write something that is not true. Also, other tables were getting excellent service and received their appetizers and refills in a timely manner even though they had big groups like ours. Thanks. We visited on Father's Day. We knew it'd be busy ahead of time so made a reservation 3weeks ahead. Pros: We got sat right away and our chef was amazing. We enjoyed the food and his show. Cons: Our waiter was not very attentive. I understand it was busy but when you see she's focused more on one table and that every other table was constantly getting refills and their appetizers while we sat and waited more than 30 min to get a refill it's a problem. We had to flag someone down for refills. Next our appetizers never showed and our chef was almost done cooking our meal so we had to flag someone down and ask, while other tables had gotten their appetizers before the chef even arrived (keep in mind these tables arrived after us). We had more help from the bus boy and bartender than our actual waiter which we really didn't interact with until the check came or when we flagged her down.

    Photos
    NEW HOURS
*Reopen for lunch (only Friday)* 11:30 am- 2:00 pm
**Extended dinner hours** SATURDAY & SUNDAY 12:00 pm- 9:00 pm (Dinner menu)
    NEW HOURS *Reopen for lunch (only Friday)* 11:30 am- 2:00 pm **Extended dinner hours** SATURDAY & SUNDAY 12:00 pm- 9:00 pm (Dinner menu)
    We are open!
    We are open!
    Our patio dining

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    Our patio dining
    Tabi-Ji Japanese Cuisine

    Tabi-Ji Japanese Cuisine

    4.6
    (1.3k reviews)
    7.6 mi
    $$$
    Family-owned & operated
    48 years in business

    HIDDEN GEM. Always impressed with the service, food and…read moreexperience. Tonight we sat at the teppanyaki grill & celebrated our anniversary. Once the whole party was seated & our order was taken, we received our delicious ginger salad and miso soup quickly. When our chef arrived he was ready to put on a show! He was so fun, engaging and very genuine. All of the food was amazing. I got the filet mignon steak w/ fried rice and my husband gets the sumo steak. The filet mignon is definitely worth it but if you prefer more meat, the sumo steak is the way to go. The drinks are affordable and compared to other teppanyaki places, the food is affordable and absolutely worth it. They also offer a happy hour in the dining room only - does not include the teppanyaki grill area. Truly one of our favorite places!!

    Easy parking lot in front!…read more This is a review only for the sushi bar We ordered the - mango Cali roll - Philadelphia roll - chirashi sushi (comes with salad and miso soup) - nigiri (tuna, salmon belly, yellow tail belly, scallops) As the food was coming out, we didn't realize how much it was. The sushi chef let us hold off on our last roll (which we ended up not getting) because we got full. Both rolls tasted standard but bigger than usual. Good but I wouldnt get again Chirashi sushi had a nice mix of different fish cuts. But the star of the show was the nigiri pieces. I would not get anything else except MORE nigiri pieces. The pieces were $4+ for one but the were FAT THICK cuts. Melted in your mouth. Cant wait to come back and try more nigiri !!

    Photos
    Tabi-Ji trio family meal (4 people ) $99.95 + tax
    Tabi-Ji trio family meal (4 people ) $99.95 + tax
    Assorted sashimi
    Assorted sashimi
    Toro sashimi's

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    Toro sashimi's
    Miyabi Shabu And Grill

    Miyabi Shabu And Grill

    4.3
    (1.6k reviews)
    3.1 mi
    $$$

    When I saw the $27 lunch special for both hot pot and barbecue, there is no question that I had to…read morestop by. Can you join the lunch hour on a weekday and thankfully the crowd wasn't too busy. Service is a bit slow but we were able to get everything we need in terms of cooking the delicious meats within 10 minutes of sitting down period during lunch hour, you get the choice of a few selection of beef and chicken. The meat for the Shabu is thinner than for the barbecue here. Meat quality is pretty up there, and you can't go wrong with any of the options. The Shabu also comes with vegetable and noodles, either Ramen or udon. But wait, there's more, once you're done, the lunch special comes with different types of ice cream as a dessert, including mochi ice cream. Our server was extremely helpful and prompt. Interior is pretty sizable and each of the table comes with a grill and a hot plate for the hot pot. Can't wait to return!

    Great Shabu joint in the heart of Irvine !…read more We were seated and served relatively quickly at this establishment. There are many tables to seat generally parties of 4. I thought that their menu was pretty clear and easy to understand. They offer a wide variety of shabu a la carte but also have AYCE options available too! My party decided to go for the AYCE option and it definitely did not disappoint. We got the bronze option and loaded up on the wagyu toro / beef belly, prime angus top blade, and M9 wagyu chuck eye roll. The meats were all good in quality and came out in small portion sizes (perfect for sharing). For the broth, I got the sukiyaki broth and it was definitely flavorful. The only thing of note about this place is that the veggie bar / sauce bar is really small (compared to All That Shabu nearby). Overall, I would recommend this place to those in the area looking for solid shabu!

    Photos
    Miyabi Shabu And Grill
    Part of the AYCE - Wagyu fried rice, yum!
    Part of the AYCE - Wagyu fried rice, yum!
    Cheers to delicious shabu and more of it!  :)

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    Cheers to delicious shabu and more of it! :)
    Teppanyaki Grill Supreme Buffet

    Teppanyaki Grill Supreme Buffet

    3.1
    (898 reviews)
    10.0 mi
    $$

    Came here with a party of 9 and we were assisted right away on a busy weekend. The place is clean…read moreand servers were very quick too they get the plates very so often and the owner was so nice to give my son a balloon. There's a wide selection of food - it was so good I was not able to try other dishes because I keep coming back for the ones I like!! Honey walnut shrimp, kung pao chicken, the teppanyaki noodles, and crab legs! I also tried the hot sour soup and it was surprisingly loaded and very flavorful - not the usual bland ones they serve in buffets. Yum! Make sure you come hungry so you can try most of their food!! Great service and great ambience, will definitely be back!

    Came here recently for a funeral reception. The family reserved about 100 seats. We sat in one of…read moretheir private reserved rooms. We arrived probably near when they just opened because it seems all the food was freshly made. The selection was ok. There is a teppanyaki station you where you choose your items you want on your plate and they make it for you. They have a decent amount/selection of menu items from sushi, veggies, chicken/beef/seafood items, soups and desserts. The flavor was ok, not amazing. The price point seemed fair. I think less than $20/person for lunch. The service was ok too. I don't have great things to say about it and I don't have bad things to say about it's it was mediocre.

    Photos
    NOV. 2025
    NOV. 2025
    Assortment of sushi
    Assortment of sushi
    Food

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    Food
    HONDA-YA Tustin

    HONDA-YA Tustin

    4.0
    (3.6k reviews)
    3.6 mi
    $$

    This place is a fantastic hole in the wall…read more We got lucky and walked up with no line. By the time we left there were at least 15 people waiting so plan accordingly. The food here is excellent and very reasonably priced. The yakitori skewers were as good as anywhere I've been and the sushi rolls were great as well. I especially liked their current special tuna roll and the bacon wrapped shrimp skewer. Service was attentive and friendly. Really felt like the value for portion sizes and quality was on point, especially compared to what you get in LA proper.

    Food - I order the oden hot pot, meatball, meatball w/cheese. Not in the picture garlic pork belly,…read morepork belly, beef, prime beef, Japanese beef and beef udon, As you can see in the picture oden hot pot what you see in the menu is what you get. It is 6/10 for me soup was very bland, hard boiled egg yolk had a very strong scent (which maybe boiled it for too long) didn't really get full from this. The skewers are always good and delicious. I think they have changed their menu also? There were some food items I was looking for but it seems to be discounted. The server were nice enough to explain each items in the menu but we weren't assisted that quickly as it was a very busy night. The decorations are very cozy and felt like you were in a authentic Japanese restaurant they also have a place where you can sit on the floor but that takes about 40 - 2 hours. Overall experience was great! Will go back and try other items.

    Photos
    Samurai
    Samurai
    Skewers (yakitori)
    Skewers (yakitori)
    【Spring special】
Vegetables Tempura w/curry salt $7.95
Cooked Bamboo shoots w/seaweed and dried bonito   $4.50

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    【Spring special】 Vegetables Tempura w/curry salt $7.95 Cooked Bamboo shoots w/seaweed and dried bonito $4.50

    Pepper Lunch - teppanyaki - Updated June 2026

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