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Recommended Reviews - Pepper Lunch
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My cousin told me he was craving to get some lunch here and I didn't plan anything so I thought why not. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. When we reached the establishment, there was a line, but it moved smoothly. I ordered the CHICKEN KARAAGE SIZZLING CURRY and can I say oh my gosh. The sizzling plate came with chicken, rice, onion, corn, and some curry. The chicken was crisp and bite size. It was moist, but had a nice crisp skin. I poured the curry over everything and to any foodie's delight, I was met with a great sizzling noise and the smell was so divine and inviting. The curry flavor was so full and heavy with savory notes. It was creamy and perfectly seasoned. It really added a deeper layer of sweet and savory flavor to the dish. The corn was a great addition because it gave the rice some sweetness and another texture to the softness of the rice. I got a little bit of everything in one bite, chicken, rice, corn, onion, and all with the curry. It was a taste of heaven. Flavors were so heavy, but complemented each other. Overall, I can't wait to come back here. The flavors were wonderful. I thought it was going to be simple and it looked simple, but it really packs a punch.
a much needed place to visit if your country or state doesn't have one!! my first time at pepper lunch was in hong kong & it was such an experience that when i saw it in sydney, i had to suggest it to my friends!! we got there pretty late for dinner so it was pretty cold since it was winter at the time--having a hot plate of food in front of you was what we needed! it was packed full of people though! although there was a line, it went by so efficiently & we grabbed the next free table! the food came so fast as well, this was seriously the best place to be!! we all ordered somewhat different plates, however, everyone was so satisfied with their meal we were still warm even after walking back to our hostel!
Located on George Street next to Event Cinemas, it is a fairly big restaurant which heaps of tables. The menu is extensive, but if you are unsure , go for some beef dish (because that was what got them famous years back!). I tried the kimchi beef with cheese pepper rice. The food literally arrived within 5 mins after ordering! It made sense because they just throw a bunch of raw ingredient onto the hot plat (aside from the rice) and you do the cooking yourself. Flavor wise, pretty decent....a little too much rice for my liking but it's good! If you order a plain beef rice dish, you probably should add some garlic or hot sauce (available at each table). It's a quick and cheap lunch......would probably be back again to try other dishes :)
So simple yet so delicious! Pepper lunch is definitely an unique experience where the menu basically contains all options that come out in a piping hot black stone plate where your food essentially grills on it. Went with their standard beef option, which came with thin strips of beef, and a side of rice and corn. Mixing everything together along with a thin slab of butter, the rice becomes very flavorful and rich and the tender beef just adds more richness. Very tasty!
I have been to Pepper Lunch few times actually and usually before the cinema. The food is good, yummy and cheap. Personally love the teriyaki salmon. Nice and sweet and comes with rice, egg and some veggies too. Next time I have to try the hot sizzling plates. Looks like everyone is eating them here. The staff is also nice and looks like they renovated a bit recently and looks good :)
The whole do-it-yourself steak house concept is huge in Japan, and this one on George street is surprisingly the only one in Sydney, so well worth a visit to try it out. The huge menu board that greets you on entry is a little confusing and daunting for first timers. The concept is simple though, meat dishes are served raw on a sizzling hot platter, and the heated platter cooks your food for you at your table. You select your meat pieces (steak, chicken and/or salmon), and extras, sauces, rice, salad, and 'cook' your own sizzling meal on a hot plate at your table, by stirring the food around the plate until ready. The steak is lightly seasoned with pepper, and the heat provided by the hotplate cooks the meat so it's nice and tender. Note, if you're not a garlic fan, or are on a pre-movie date and don't want garlic breath, watch out for the mustard butter served on the steak, scrape it off or specifically ask for no butter when ordering, as I found the garlic pretty potent. Entry is just off bustling George Street, look out for the yellow awnings and the intriguing pictures of plates of raw meat meals out the front.
I've had pepper lunch plenty of times back home in the states so I thought I might as well try out this favourite spot amongst friends in Australia. This one is a bit different that the one in California as it's a self serve/order type of deal rather than a full service restaurant. On my visit, I decided on the Kobe/wagyu steak plate which was roughly $30usd if I remember correctly... a pretty steep price for pepper lunch but I decided to splurge a bit for premium quality beef. When I received the food I was slightly disappointed as the steak was not as tender as I hoped and it lacked flavour for the most part. So my overall verdict is that the California one is better... and it's a full service restaurant.
Sizzling meaty goodness. Everyone that I've taken here is always amazed by how the food is served - on sizzling hotplates, still cooking! The menu can seem a little overwhelming if you've never been here before, but grab yourself a meat and chicken grill, or meat and fish if you'd prefer - you can't really go wrong. Chips are on offer too, as is plenty of rice. It's not really required though, unless you're starving.
Pepper Lunch is massive in Japan and Asia, it's a shame there's only a couple stores in Sydney. Today I ordered the Kimchi Beef with Cheese on rice. The meal comes out sizzling hot on a hot plate and you mix it up to cook the meat. The honey, and sweet soy sauce are delicious so make sure you add it to your meal (they taste good with EVERYTHING!). Caution: it's really hot, so don't dig in too quickly or you're going to burn your tongue.
Pepper Lunch is fast food with a difference. The menu is quite extensive with many options such as steaks, salmon, pork, chicken curries among more. You order at the counter and then the food is brought to you on a hot plate and you need to cook the food yourself. The hot plate arrives and it's 230 degrees. You cook your meat how you like with option for soy or chilli sauce. The portion sizes are good and they have options like add an egg or double the meat for $5. I chose the Pork and Kimchi and decided to double the meat as I love a protein hit. I felt for $15.90 I got a decent portion size and the cooking yourself is fun. The flavours are very good and meat is fresh. The venue is always busy but the staff always bring out the food very quickly. I have never had to wait longer then 5 minutes for my food here which is pretty awesome. The venue is close to Event Cinema so it's a good spot to go to pre movie. Happy with this spot when I'm craving a good feed and need it quick.
Affordable/Cheap. (where else can you get steak for under $15). Accepts cards. Convenient (right on George St - within steps from town hall). Tasty (tastes sooo good...). I don't think theres too much I could find wrong with this place as it ticks off most of the boxes for me. But if you're vegetarian, I'd probably stay away from this place as theres not too much (fun fact - theres no real word for vegetarian in Japanese)
Oh Pepper Lunch, you've taunted me for so long with your inviting neon menu and delicious name. Pepper AND lunch, two of my favourite things! I don't generally dig diners or "fast food" type of places but there is something very alluring about a Japanese one... I think for no other reason than that it reminds me of similar places I'd occasionally visit when I lived in Tokyo. Anyway, for all its' allure (it always looks busy and a lot of Japanese people eat here- good sign) and no matter how many times I've stopped by and gazed wistfully at the menu before discovering the magical Menya Mappen next door, Pepper Lunch has never had more than one sad, lonely, seaweed salad on the menu for vegetarians. If you're vegetarian go to Menya Mappen next door and walk out wearing a happy face!
This is place is just amazing! Reminds me of Japan, for example the welcoming sound of 'Irashaimase' from the staff . It means 'welcome' in japanese The staff are just so kind and very helpful and are always smiling ! When you go into the restaurant you'll always be greeted by a loud 'Irashaimase' ! The menu is fantastic and very cheap! The food's healthy and fresh! Great tasting and arrives quickly at your table. When you order , they give a number and you find a seat to sit down. When the waiter brings your food she/he tells you what it is again and you start to make magic, by stirring every ingredient and all the flavours inside the hot plate! The plate will be a round clay pot style dish and will be HOT! So don't touch it, it will have a safety paper around but you can remove it if you wish! It also depends on what you order , if you order beef and rice, you're required to stir it around , but if you get the steak obviously you'll have to flip it over once one side is cooked! Overall this restaurant is great! If you're a common foodie , a traveller on a budget or even a japanese food maniac you'll love this place as much as I did! Please please visit this place !
PEPPER LUNCH!! YES!!! We had the opportunity to try Pepper Lunch when we were in Tokyo a couple years ago, and absolutely loved it. We were thrilled, my mom especially, to find out that there was a Sydney location as well. Easy to spot right off of George Street, PL is small but they get tables turned over really quickly. My sister and I shared the classic beef pepper rice, with upsized meat and an egg added on. It was wonderful. We tried it with the various sauces offered on the table, as well as tons of spicy chili flakes. My favorite personally was the sweet sauce, but there was no going wrong with any of it. Be warned though, it's called pepper lunch for a reason--TONS of black pepper on everything! A huge plus in my book, but I can see how that wouldn't be for everyone. My mom and aunt shared the wild wagyu steak, which came with an assortment of veggies on the hot plate with the steak and a side of white rice. They said the steak was fantastic, and my aunt liked that it was into slices so that she could cook the strips a little bit more on the hot plate, as she likes her steak more well done than my mom does. Neither of them cared much for the cheesy potato that came with, but loved everything else. Service was really great here. My aunt is a bit... finicky. She requested long after she paid and we finished eating, that the server print the receipt for her--to be clear, this is a fast casual place where you order first and then seat yourself and wait for your food. The hostess/cashier was very patient in helping us find our order number and providing the receipt for us, and all of the other waitstaff was great as well. Definitely recommend if you're in the area looking for a delicious and quick meal that's reasonably priced, and it sits especially well on a chilly winter night. read more
4 years ago
I come into Sydney on business 4 to 6 times a year except missed a couple of years due to COVID. I have been watching this place for years and never had the guts to try it on my own. However, today a colleague and I decided to try it. We wound up sharing a traditional pepper beef lunch which was outstanding. They serve it on a hot platter. The platter cooks the meat and they give you garlic butter and pepper to stir into the rice and you can add whatever vegetables you want. We love onion rings so we added those as well and all in all it was an outstanding lunch. However, I will say that it is perfect amount for two people. Way too much for one. Service is quick, friendly and helpful. I strongly recommend this place! read more
My cousin told me he was craving to get some lunch here and I didn't plan anything so I thought why not. I wasn't expecting much, but I was pleasantly surprised. When we reached the establishment, there was a line, but it moved smoothly. I ordered the CHICKEN KARAAGE SIZZLING CURRY and can I say oh my gosh. The sizzling plate came with chicken, rice, onion, corn, and some curry. The chicken was crisp and bite size. It was moist, but had a nice crisp skin. I poured the curry over everything and to any foodie's delight, I was met with a great sizzling noise and the smell was so divine and inviting. The curry flavor was so full and heavy with savory notes. It was creamy and perfectly seasoned. It really added a deeper layer of sweet and savory flavor to the dish. The corn was a great addition because it gave the rice some sweetness and another texture to the softness of the rice. I got a little bit of everything in one bite, chicken, rice, corn, onion, and all with the curry. It was a taste of heaven. Flavors were so heavy, but complemented each other. Overall, I can't wait to come back here. The flavors were wonderful. I thought it was going to be simple and it looked simple, but it really packs a punch. read more
a much needed place to visit if your country or state doesn't have one!! my first time at pepper lunch was in hong kong & it was such an experience that when i saw it in sydney, i had to suggest it to my friends!! we got there pretty late for dinner so it was pretty cold since it was winter at the time--having a hot plate of food in front of you was what we needed! it was packed full of people though! although there was a line, it went by so efficiently & we grabbed the next free table! the food came so fast as well, this was seriously the best place to be!! we all ordered somewhat different plates, however, everyone was so satisfied with their meal we were still warm even after walking back to our hostel! read more
Located on George Street next to Event Cinemas, it is a fairly big restaurant which heaps of tables. The menu is extensive, but if you are unsure , go for some beef dish (because that was what got them famous years back!). I tried the kimchi beef with cheese pepper rice. The food literally arrived within 5 mins after ordering! It made sense because they just throw a bunch of raw ingredient onto the hot plat (aside from the rice) and you do the cooking yourself. Flavor wise, pretty decent....a little too much rice for my liking but it's good! If you order a plain beef rice dish, you probably should add some garlic or hot sauce (available at each table). It's a quick and cheap lunch......would probably be back again to try other dishes :) read more
7 years ago
So simple yet so delicious! Pepper lunch is definitely an unique experience where the menu basically contains all options that come out in a piping hot black stone plate where your food essentially grills on it. Went with their standard beef option, which came with thin strips of beef, and a side of rice and corn. Mixing everything together along with a thin slab of butter, the rice becomes very flavorful and rich and the tender beef just adds more richness. Very tasty! read more
I have been to Pepper Lunch few times actually and usually before the cinema. The food is good, yummy and cheap. Personally love the teriyaki salmon. Nice and sweet and comes with rice, egg and some veggies too. Next time I have to try the hot sizzling plates. Looks like everyone is eating them here. The staff is also nice and looks like they renovated a bit recently and looks good :) read more
15 years ago
The whole do-it-yourself steak house concept is huge in Japan, and this one on George street is surprisingly the only one in Sydney, so well worth a visit to try it out. The huge menu board that greets you on entry is a little confusing and daunting for first timers. The concept is simple though, meat dishes are served raw on a sizzling hot platter, and the heated platter cooks your food for you at your table. You select your meat pieces (steak, chicken and/or salmon), and extras, sauces, rice, salad, and 'cook' your own sizzling meal on a hot plate at your table, by stirring the food around the plate until ready. The steak is lightly seasoned with pepper, and the heat provided by the hotplate cooks the meat so it's nice and tender. Note, if you're not a garlic fan, or are on a pre-movie date and don't want garlic breath, watch out for the mustard butter served on the steak, scrape it off or specifically ask for no butter when ordering, as I found the garlic pretty potent. Entry is just off bustling George Street, look out for the yellow awnings and the intriguing pictures of plates of raw meat meals out the front. read more
I've had pepper lunch plenty of times back home in the states so I thought I might as well try out this favourite spot amongst friends in Australia. This one is a bit different that the one in California as it's a self serve/order type of deal rather than a full service restaurant. On my visit, I decided on the Kobe/wagyu steak plate which was roughly $30usd if I remember correctly... a pretty steep price for pepper lunch but I decided to splurge a bit for premium quality beef. When I received the food I was slightly disappointed as the steak was not as tender as I hoped and it lacked flavour for the most part. So my overall verdict is that the California one is better... and it's a full service restaurant. read more
Sizzling meaty goodness. Everyone that I've taken here is always amazed by how the food is served - on sizzling hotplates, still cooking! The menu can seem a little overwhelming if you've never been here before, but grab yourself a meat and chicken grill, or meat and fish if you'd prefer - you can't really go wrong. Chips are on offer too, as is plenty of rice. It's not really required though, unless you're starving. read more
10 years ago
Pepper Lunch is massive in Japan and Asia, it's a shame there's only a couple stores in Sydney. Today I ordered the Kimchi Beef with Cheese on rice. The meal comes out sizzling hot on a hot plate and you mix it up to cook the meat. The honey, and sweet soy sauce are delicious so make sure you add it to your meal (they taste good with EVERYTHING!). Caution: it's really hot, so don't dig in too quickly or you're going to burn your tongue. read more
Pepper Lunch is fast food with a difference. The menu is quite extensive with many options such as steaks, salmon, pork, chicken curries among more. You order at the counter and then the food is brought to you on a hot plate and you need to cook the food yourself. The hot plate arrives and it's 230 degrees. You cook your meat how you like with option for soy or chilli sauce. The portion sizes are good and they have options like add an egg or double the meat for $5. I chose the Pork and Kimchi and decided to double the meat as I love a protein hit. I felt for $15.90 I got a decent portion size and the cooking yourself is fun. The flavours are very good and meat is fresh. The venue is always busy but the staff always bring out the food very quickly. I have never had to wait longer then 5 minutes for my food here which is pretty awesome. The venue is close to Event Cinema so it's a good spot to go to pre movie. Happy with this spot when I'm craving a good feed and need it quick. read more
Affordable/Cheap. (where else can you get steak for under $15). Accepts cards. Convenient (right on George St - within steps from town hall). Tasty (tastes sooo good...). I don't think theres too much I could find wrong with this place as it ticks off most of the boxes for me. But if you're vegetarian, I'd probably stay away from this place as theres not too much (fun fact - theres no real word for vegetarian in Japanese) read more
Oh Pepper Lunch, you've taunted me for so long with your inviting neon menu and delicious name. Pepper AND lunch, two of my favourite things! I don't generally dig diners or "fast food" type of places but there is something very alluring about a Japanese one... I think for no other reason than that it reminds me of similar places I'd occasionally visit when I lived in Tokyo. Anyway, for all its' allure (it always looks busy and a lot of Japanese people eat here- good sign) and no matter how many times I've stopped by and gazed wistfully at the menu before discovering the magical Menya Mappen next door, Pepper Lunch has never had more than one sad, lonely, seaweed salad on the menu for vegetarians. If you're vegetarian go to Menya Mappen next door and walk out wearing a happy face! read more
13 years ago
This is place is just amazing! Reminds me of Japan, for example the welcoming sound of 'Irashaimase' from the staff . It means 'welcome' in japanese The staff are just so kind and very helpful and are always smiling ! When you go into the restaurant you'll always be greeted by a loud 'Irashaimase' ! The menu is fantastic and very cheap! The food's healthy and fresh! Great tasting and arrives quickly at your table. When you order , they give a number and you find a seat to sit down. When the waiter brings your food she/he tells you what it is again and you start to make magic, by stirring every ingredient and all the flavours inside the hot plate! The plate will be a round clay pot style dish and will be HOT! So don't touch it, it will have a safety paper around but you can remove it if you wish! It also depends on what you order , if you order beef and rice, you're required to stir it around , but if you get the steak obviously you'll have to flip it over once one side is cooked! Overall this restaurant is great! If you're a common foodie , a traveller on a budget or even a japanese food maniac you'll love this place as much as I did! Please please visit this place ! read more
4 years ago
12 years ago
So filling and delicious! I love pepper lunch, definitely a must try ! The best part is you can favour it to your taste with the soy sauce, garlic sauce and chilli bits. read more
Exactly why you expected from the place. While the portion looks small, it's actually pretty big. This place is self served, you pay, and they give you a number. They will bring up your food, for water and sauce you will have to pick it up from the counter. I ordered the kimchi beef. Loved it! read more
15 years ago
10 years ago
13 years ago
Cheap self cooking food at its finest. A little peppery for me but the sweet sauce made up for it. The smell is a lot better than the taste. Super fast turn around time. Tables are a little dirty which is understandable as people are mixing and flipping their own meals to cook to perfection. read more
8 years ago
10 years ago
Me and my friend ordered the Beef & Hamburg Sizzling curry and Salmon teriyaki. Im not a fan of curry but good thing that they separated the sauce from the sizzling. Beef and hamburg is still okay. But I loved salmon teriyaki its excellent and serving for a $9.90 is reasonable and serving size is just perfect for me coz im not a huge eater. Would definitely come back. Staff are nice too and theres a lot of people eating there thats why i tried it. read more
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Review Highlights - Pepper Lunch
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7 years ago
