(1) Affordable (2) Delicious (3) The owner who is a super adorable cute Asian lady once helped my brother get rid of a stain on his shirt. It was like she was our mom. I loved it! (4) Delicious (5) They need to hurry up and open one up in SD! (6) I'm gonna say delicious again cause it's FUCKING TRUE read more

"Its aight." Didn't live up to the hype for me and the bf. Its pretty exciting seeing your plate sizzling as its being served to you. Other than that, nothing too special about Pepper Lunch USA. One thing that's for sure though, they do have some cheap az prices! I can't say that this is the place for you if you want a quick bite to eat on your lunch break though...because you definitely need some time and patience with this place. It gets pretty packed around lunch time and there aren't that many tables to begin with. I ordered the #1- beef and rice. The food was kind of bland; I had to keep putting soy sauce on it for some flavor while it cooked....and cooked...and cooked. Lol, every minute my bf kept saying how hot the food was because the plate didn't seem to cool down. I'm really picky when it comes to the house water too. =/ Seemed kinda...unfiltered or something. You know, that taste you get when you drink from a public water fountain? Kind of killed it for me. read more

Wow, parking in this plaza around lunchtime is just terrible! Prepare accordingly and carpool, or come earlier than noon (or after the lunch rush, whenever that is). My friends and I congregated here during lunchtime to grab some Pepper Lunch, in which one of us has been a few times in the past. Even before we entered the door, I could smell how delicious this place was due to the aroma of sizzling meat floating on out to the benches that I was sitting at. The wait was not long, even though the restaurant itself was filled to capacity, and we were seated promptly and served water accordingly. After a few minutes of contemplation, I decided to order #2, which was Beef Pepper Curry Rice, for $6.95 with an addition of an egg for 50 cents more. It comes with a bowl of miso soup if you come around lunchtime, but I'm not sure if they do the same for dinner. As this place is known for, the meat comes raw on a sizzling hot plate, where you let it cook to your liking, then you can mix it with the rice or noodles or whatever you ordered it with. The beef pepper curry rice was basically some rice topped with corn, pepper, and curry powder, surrounded by a circle of beef on a hot plate (and the egg that I ordered somewhere on the side too). I thought the taste slightly bland, so I added a small amount of pepper and salt to my plate, then mixed it around. The portioning of the plate was perfect to the point where you would feel content but not bloated from the meal. The service is prompt and they kept refilling the waters. As is expected from any place where meat is cooked in front of you, I came out smelling quite a bit like the restaurant, but in this case that was fine with me. read more

While out with my cousin on a random adventure, we decided to go to Pepper Lunch for dinner. I had never tried it before and thought it sounded interesting. When we got to the place, I was surprised that it was a small place near a business area and not too far from Great Mall. The inside was pretty small but very clean. There also wasn't very many people there at the time either, maybe half-full. The menu is simple and easy to understand. I ordered the #3 which had the beef and noodles. My cousin had the #1 which was the beef and rice. When the food came out, I quickly mixed the food around trying to cook all of the beef thoroughly. Moving the beef to the center under the noodles seemed to help too. I'm glad I picked the noodles because they didn't get hard and crispy like my cousin's rice did. (I'm not a fan of crispy rice unless it's a popular breakfast cereal.) Overall, it was very tasty and satisfying. I did add a little bit of pepper and the sauce to add a little more flavor, but I don't think it needed much of anything. The portion was really good for the price too. I was stuffed afterwards and really surprised that I ate it all! Service was quick and decent. Nothing really to rave or complain about. Overall, I think this place was very good and would go back again when I'm in the area. For something quick and easy, it's a good choice. Just be sure to cook all of the meat before the plate stops sizzling! read more

When you want a lunch/dinner that's not a wallet breaker and still good, Pepper lunch is the spot. I suggest wearing clothes that you wont mind that smell. Food comes out on a sizzling hot plate. I always order #11 teriyaki chicken, comes with corn and spinach. Add a egg and extra beef, i believe egg is 50cents and extra beef is a $1.50, extra protein. Free salad and miso soup with your meal! The chicken is already cooked when its comes out but i leave it on the plate to get the skin nice crispy, so it taste like fried chicken. All i have to do is cook my egg and my beef. The corn and spinach work well with everything, i really enjoy this place because its tasty and its still pretty healthy Service is always super fast, Staff is always ready to refill my water and food comes out 10 mins after ordering. Great place to eat at read more

Pepper lunch is nothing special. Its meat, corn, and your choice of rice or noodles on a hot skillet. I've been here a few times, and I like it. I just hate that the ventilation sucks in here. The Pepper Lunch in Hong Kong puts this one to shame. read more

Pepper Lunch USA - Curry udon with beef - Teppanyaki Near Me - Milpitas, California

If you're coming here for some gourmet food better turn back now. If you want good cheap food served on a sizzling plate this is the place to be. It's quite the local favorite, but be sure not to be coming in wearing your best. You'll smell like your meal by the end of it. The most important tip for this place. Always get the garlic butter to kick up the flavor a notch. If you like eggs, get an egg with it. It's gonna be great. And remember though you may not be what you eat, you'll certainly smell like it when you're done eating here. read more

The quality of the meat has definitely lessened in value over the years, but that darn garlic butter keeps me coming back!! #8 all da way~~ read more

It's a good place for lunch. Simple menu. Food was good. What I hate is that they don't tell you exactly what's in it. For example like the corn (I don't like corn) or curry powder or what ever it was. read more

Pepper Lunch USA - #1 - Teppanyaki Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Pepper Lunch for dinner? Sure why not. I've never been but I've heard they are popular for their sizzling plates. However, I found the one my lady ordered unremarkable. She had beef with spinach topped with garlic butter on a hot skillet with rice on the side. Sounded tasty but it was a bit bland and she had to add a fair amount of sauce and spicy pepper seasoning. I suppose its better to leave it to the customer to decide how flavorful their food should be, but I'm always scared about over-saucing/salting a dish so it becomes inedible. I went with the currykatsu pork (no cooking necessary) which I did enjoy. The curry had pieces of beef and onion cooked into it and it was reduced so it was thick like a gravy. The pork katsu could have been juicier inside but at least it had some crisp. Overall, I think it was a pretty good option for japanese curry. read more

Great place like everyone raves. 10 min away from home, decently priced meals, and everything is delicious: as good as it gets. It tends to get packed on most days/nights especially Friday-Sunday and that's why I usually order to go- saves my clothes from smelling like food but then I don't get to experience the sizzling plates. To go orders are quick and easy and that makes it especially superb for when I order my bf lunch and deliver it to his work on days I'm feeling romantic (lol) Also nice that they are always willing to give me extra condiments such as extra garlic butter, garlic sauce, teriyaki sauce, and chili powder to go. Usually, when it gets busy they like to give guests free miso soup, which is a really nice touch! The owner is also really hospitable as well, went in with a friend of mines who happened to be in her military uniform (cammies) and she gave us free Italian soda with whip cream. So sweet. My only gripe is they're closed on Mondays and have a weird establishment schedule, as do most Asian places do, but it's not so much as a gripe but more so a let down lol. Will continue to come back. A+++ read more

I come for sizzling meat, I leave smelling like deliciously sizzling meat... Pepper Lunch is among one of the more unique kind of lunches you can have during a normal workday. You get to cook your own meat on your own tiny plate! There's a couple of options from the lunch menu, and my favorite is the curry udon because the udon is soft and tender. Can I even use tender to describe udon? Why, I believe I can! Part of the fun is cooking your own meat, and my fun was unfortunately disrupted one time by fellow Yelpers Thomas T. and Linh L. who cooked my meat for me when I arrived there late. Oops I meant, lovely fellow yelpers who cooked my dish to absolute perfection :D Snide remarks aside, Pepper Lunch is my default go-to place for a yummy mid-day meal. I recommend! Just remember they are closed Mondays - speaking from experience as too many times I've forgotten and ended up in front on a Monday, only to be bitterly disappointed with my own forgetfulness. read more

I used to come here a lot from around 2010 - late 2012, but not so much anymore. I definitely noticed the portions getting smaller and smaller every time I come back. I usually get the Number 1 with an egg added to it. I add the sauce that's on the table, I never found out exactly what it was, but it makes my rice and beef taste delicious so I add nearly a third of the bottle to my dish. Every meal comes with miso soup, and it's one of my favorite things about coming here. I used to always get the salad but lately it's had a weird bitter taste. After one of my recent visits, I ended up being sick the entire night afterwards, which I'm almost certain is from eating here. Not sure what happened, but it made me scared to go back for a while. On my more recent visit, I ordered curry katsu, because I was scared to eat raw beef from here again. The curry katsu was delicious, and I like how the curry comes on the side. Service is very inconsistent here. The servers are all nice and are working really hard, but sometimes they just take a really long time to get things to you like a spoon or the check. It's also hard to get their attention because they're constantly running around everywhere. I think the service got better when they hired more people to work though. I never expect to get my soup before my meal, and it's always a pleasant surprise when it does come out first. The owner gave everyone in the restaurant a Pepperlunch t-shirt during the holidays which I thought was nice of her. Overall, this place is mostly hype. After coming here for so long, I'm kind of over it. Still good food, but try to go when it's not busy. It's definitely something I think everyone should try out, but be careful and make sure your meat is cooked well! read more

This place is just simply amazing. Anything with a fried egg is AMAZING!!! This place is known for bringing out their meals still sizzling on a hot plate. It's almost like cooking your own dish within seconds. They have amazing seasoning and the proportions is perfect. You can also ask for extra meat for additional charge. They also give you miso soup, and their on top of their game when it comes to refilling your cup of water. The service is pretty quick and the prices are decent! Just remember... they are closed on MONDAYS! read more

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To be honest I was a bit disappointed with this place. Perhaps we ordered the wrong thing on the menu. I ordered #3--beef noodles and added an egg for $0.50. When they first brought out the meal it was impressive, and you get to cook the meat in front of you. However it didn't come with any sauce, and once the meat was cooked it was a bit tough. The noodles were dry--almost like the thin ramen noodles but with no liquid. I added red peppers and the soy sauce mixture on the table, but still was not impressed. I looked around and the other meals looked better, and for some reason included a side of sauce ? The miso soup was good, kind of thin, and included noodles. Never had noodles in miso soup before. But, the service was prompt and the food was reasonably fresh. read more

Always a must place to eat! Something I crave from time to time. Love taking friends here who've never had it before. I recommend ordering double meat if you order a sizzling plate. I also love to drench my plate with the teriyaki sauce! Omg so good! Also, ask for some garlic butter. That's hella bomb to go with your food. read more

Pepper Lunch USA - #1 with extra beef - Teppanyaki Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Was curious about this location, as it was not listed officially in the website. https://ca.pepperlunch.us/ I've had Pepper Lunch in The Philippines & Las Vegas, and this did not look like an official location. I tried it, and it was tasty, but definitely not up to the real Pepper Lunch standard. Branding and the signature paper collar around the hotplate was absent. I think they are operating under a slightly altered name "Pepper Lunch USA" which should alert people that they are not getting the real thing. read more

Walked by this place and saw a really big line. Waited maybe 45 minutes to get a table. I recommend coming early, this place opens late and closes early compared to other restaurants in the plaza and is very hyped right now. The food itself is very instagram-worthy but the taste isn't extraordinary. I recommend coming at least once for the picture! I got the regular but after seeing what my friend got, I actually prefer the chicken sizzling plate more! read more

Pepper Lunch USA - Very instagram worthy place to eat - Teppanyaki Near Me - Milpitas, California

Whats so special about this place? I came here today and Its aite food but like isnt ALL that to be raved about. I had a terriaki chicken sizzliing plate which was really hot and it stung me a few times. It got really dry soon so be sure to eat it when its really hot. The dish looked like they just decided to throw some corn on their and some veggies. Kinda whack. The place looks nice though. Its funny how all i see are mexican waiters and i didnt even see an asian worker. Must be in the back. read more

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pork katsu served on iron skillet are my usual dish, crispy panko outside juicy soft inside. my favorited Italian soda added whipped cream, not too sweet, blackberry soda syrup, stir it well then lift the straw to upper half of the glass for best icy tasting. this place always pack, service are VERY FINE here even during rushing hours, yes they're very friendly everytime I'm there, if you wouldn't get the same service, guess that's your personal issue then! ahaa :D read more

Pepper Lunch USA - Teppanyaki Near Me - Milpitas, California

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Ive been coming here since the place first opened! Yoko is one of the nicest restaurant owners around. She always remembers her regulars names, where they work, where they live and their fave dishes. She remembers my birthday and always adds a little something extra that week.....YES i said that week because ive got my whole business eating there at least once a week for the last 6 years! very friendly staff, GREAT food, fast service.....only downside is your "typical" lunch hours, the wait is long but well worth it! read more

Meh. I honestly think that's all I need to say. Don't come here and expect to be blown away by amazing flavors - there is none. I think the idea is to season it yourself. Get garlic butter on the side, it helps flavor it a bit (along with the soy sauce and teriyaki sauce, I put on it). There's also chili powder and salt and pepper available on the table. They seemed understaffed so the service was whatever, we had to remind our server a few times about napkins and whatnot. Super average, I don't think this is something I'd choose to come back to. read more

I came here with high expectations from all the raving reviews and word of mouth I've been hearing. It's a small restaurant so I can see how it can get packed during peak times. Ordered #3 or was it #4: the noodles + beef with no curry. It was aiiiight, came out in 5 minutes steaming on the clay pot. Lacking lots of flavor, so I used up the entire bottle of spicy pepper seasoning from the table. That made it spicier. The beef kept sticking on the pot, so had to keep moving it around. Should've gotten garlic butter like what everybody else was saying, but it slipped my mind when i was ordering. It was inexpensive, with tax and tip came out $10/person. I wasn't impressed with this place, thought it would had more flavor and the quality was subpar. It filled me up and it didn't taste bad, so I would come back here if my friends wanted to go. But not good enough that i'd ever crave it. read more

Absolutely good food here and very cheap to! The lines sure get long so I recommend hopping on the wait list before going there.

good very yummy very good food looking scrumptious i am adding more so i dont have to put it as a tip the food is are very good they udon and rice and corn and hot plate they bring out a hot plate and you cook your own food it is very fun delightful experience very good very smell yummy awesome amazing 10/10 would attend again read more

Still sizzling hot, still delicious. Asian comfort food... mmm. I still can't get over how this place is the only Pepper Lunch in the Western Hemisphere. I now frequent this place a few times a month and switch from rice and udon noodles. The lunch special is still a good deal, which is even available on the weekends, but they removed the soda. :( Don't forget to stir the sauce before pouring! read more

Great place for...well, lunch! I've never been here for dinner, but I'm assuming there's no difference. I come here for their angus steak and you should too. Honestly, you can never go wrong with their angus steak. It's fulfilling, delicious, and satisfies your stomach. The wait staff here is friendly and prompt with any requests you may have. If you're in the Milpitas Square area and are hungering for food, this is the place to satisfy your hunger. read more

This place is a must try. their specialty is beef, rice, corn and egg, with or without curry, served on a hot plate. The meat is served raw and you cook it yourself. The price is reasonable, which was one of the main draws when I first was introduced to this place. If you're in the vicinity of McCarthy Ranch, you gotta check this place out. I don't know what else to say except that it's good! read more

This is one of my favorite lunch spots! It's a small place. I usually get the salmon or chicken teriyaki. I love how it comes out sizzling hot on that skillet thing that they have it on. The grilled corn is super yummy! They give you more than enough rice. I've tried the fried oysters one time--and it was unfortunately, my last. The taste was unexplainable. Ugh..let's not go back there. On another note, order the strawberry Italian soda! Not a lot of restaurants have it so it's something different to try. read more

I had been dying to come to this place because all the food looked so good from the pictures and I have a crazy obsession with sizzling plates but this place really fell below my expectations. There is very to little flavor in the dishes and even asking for garlic butter and putting it on my dish couldn't salvage it. When I tried to add soy sauce to give my dish some taste it just ended up becoming a salty but still somehow bland dish. I think trying this place one time was good enough for me. read more

I came here totally clueless. I had no idea that when I got my plate that the meat would still be bright red. Yeah, both my mom and I were shocked that the meat would cook on the cast iron plate it was served on. I have self-diagnosed myself with minor ocd (not really), and had to stomach the idea of raw meat touching my already cooked rice. I lived and I liked it, a lot actually, enough that I would like to come back again. I had a lunch combo with curry powder on top. Get the extra beef! Maybe if i ask they'll put my rice on a separate plate? Haha, i'll just have to see for next time, maybe I'll just suck it up and leave it alone. *Edit: I forgot, they get an extra star for having cold tofu as an appetizer, $3.80. You're good to go with the cold tofu, scallions, and soy sauce. read more

After hearing raving reviews from all my friends I was super excited to try this place... but wtf?! The waiter banged his hand on our table to get our attention after he asked who's order it was that he brought out. Okay first of all... can you say rude?! We heard him and were in the process of figuring out who ordered it so can you calm your tits and give us a sec? Jeebus and before we could even answer he had already started a bang-ing. And after he hit our table I was in complete shock... never had I EVER had any server act in such a manner before As my friends and I looked around the table, giving each other looks like, 'what da fuhhhk?!' and 'did that really just happen?!,' we tried to regain our selves and enjoy our meal but I have to admit pepper lunch did not live up to the hype. If the above is not reason enough, it may also have to do with the fact that I asked for garlic butter with my meal and the waiter assured me he would put it on there but when it came... no garlic butter to be found! My friend had to spare me some of hers :[ All in all, MAY try again but probably not in a long while since there are so many other options in the area that I'd choose over Pepper Lunch. When I had suggested it my friends were like why this place?! And now I understand their apprehensiveness. Do not be fooled by the hype people! read more

I don't think I can find anything wrong with this place. I can always count on this place to give me such a good feeling after I eat. I get nothing but #1 with eggs. (sometimes with udon instead of rice though) Food comes out less than 10 mins, the owner is such a sweet lady, the busboys/waitresses are really nice although they don't speak that much english. They are all still nice and makes every trip there satisfying. the miso soup with 10 strands of noodles are kind of funny though, delicious of course. read more

Thanx to pearl m., I had an excellent dinner..my wife did not :-) I ordered #10 with garlic butter and egg and it was delicious. Specially with some salt, black pepper and red chilli powder. Ummm yummy. My wife ordered chicken teriyaki but it had not much flavor in it. Think I have to go back and try couple of other stuff too like Tonkatsu on rice. It was pretty kewl for me and shocking for my wife that the meat came in sizzling hot plate and it was raw...like completely raw and it cooks in front of you. But you have to be careful to move the meat around so everything is nicely and evenly cooked. read more

For a good two or three months, I'd eat here with my coworker one, maybe two times a week. I love this place! There's just something primally satisfying about watching pink and uncooked meat sizzle on a hot plate until it's brown and cooked and ready to consume. There are lots of little tips and tricks to eating here; things that hardened veterans of Pepper Lunch have down to a science. Things like: * Leaving your nice jackets and sweaters in the car, where they won't get stunk up. Because you *will* smell after eating here. * Reorienting your beef so that the rice or noodles are stacked on top of it, so you get the double whammy of hot plate + steam cooking your meat. I usually like my beef a little pink though so I'm not too obsessive about this. * Using liberal (and by "liberal", I mean *LIBERAL*) amounts of their special sauce to avoid dryness of the noodle or rice. * Getting an extra egg with your order. Yum! * Not getting extra beef. I can't tell the difference between this and the normal amount of beef. Ergo, not worth it. For a while, I was less inclined to go here because their portions seemed to be decreasing in size, but I've gone again several times recently and the portion sizes seem up to snuff again. Thumbs up all around! read more

If I have to eat the same dish EVERYDAY..for the REST OF MY LIFE.. I would not mind the #1 (the ORIGINAL) plate combo with extra meat and extra egg at Pepper Lunch. #1 plate = $6.00 extra meat = $1.00 extra egg = $0.50 Sriracha = free --------------------------- Total = $7.50 of the best sizzling food in the Bay. Who in Milpitas doesn't know about this place! read more

High five to Pepper Lunch!! I love this place!!!! I always get the usual: udon noodles with sizzling beef and egg on the side with a dash of curry powder on top along with raspberry Italian soda!! Now I'm making myself HUNGRY! read more

All my friends love this place so i thought i just had to try it out. I think the food is good for the price. Its very inexpensive and i like that it comes out on a sizzling plate and you get to mix it your liking. Its something different and interesting. i ordered the sizzling beef with both rice and noodles and topped it off with an egg which made it delicious! I also got the side salad and we ordered the potstickers as well. I really like the dressing they use for the salad and the potstickers were yummy too. I suggest if you have a big appetite to opt for the extra beef because they give you a lot of rice. We came on their anniversary so we got a free soda with our meal. Score!! overall, i really enjoyed this place. I am excited to come back and try the katsu and the salmon! mMmm. read more

This is by all means not a glamorous place. You leave smelling like you just jumped out of a frying pan, but this is a wonderful place for.. well, lunch. Just be sure to dress casually and not dry-clean only. I get the plate with the rice, corn, steak, and egg. The rice also comes with garlic butter on it, and it's incredible. The food comes out not yet fully cooked on a hot disc that cooks your food in front of you as you stir around the meat, rice, and etc. I like my meat on the rare side, so I keep it off the heat most of the time. The food is always delicious. It's also very inexpensive, so don't expect wagyu/kobe beef, freshly shucked corn, or any other frills. It's just delicious food at a great price. What more do you need? It's such a fun eating experience, and I can't wait for the next time I come back. read more

Omgahhhhhhhd I just went today for my first Pepper Lunch experience and it was uhhhhhmaaaazing! I've already head a lot of good from my friends, so walking into a wall of the yummilicious scent of sizzling meat only made me more excited to dine in. I got the #2 Sizzling beef with curry rice and corn and I was thoroughly impressed. I loved the way the meat got a little crispy and pouring on the teriyaki sauce made it even yummier! The only thing that coulda made it better was if I asked for a spoon so I could eat it faster. Service was pretty good. My cup was always being refilled with a quickness and the servers would check up on us regularly. I can't wait to go back :3 read more