Orange County is about to welcome its second Pepper Lunch, the Japanese-born, fast-casual DIY teppan restaurant, opening at Irvine Spectrum Center on Friday, February 7. Known for its signature “sizzle-it-your-way” experience, the brand has expanded to over 530 locations in 17 countries since debuting 30 years ago. It's original OC location opened in 2018 at Diamond Jamboree in Irvine.
At Pepper Lunch, guests take the lead in their dining experience, blending traditional Japanese flavors with a modern do-it-yourself teppan concept. The menu features bold, high-quality ingredients at an affordable price, with most dishes priced under $20.
The restaurant’s offerings complement the diverse dining scene at Irvine Spectrum Center, delivering an interactive experience where guests cook their own meal on a 570-degree iron plate. Signature dishes include Beef Pepper Rice, featuring tender beef, fragrant rice, flavorful pepper paste, and cracked pepper—served sizzling for the ultimate comfort food. Other highlights include:
- Sizzling Curry Rice
- Teriyaki Plate Teppan Pastas, such as Aglio Olio Teppan Pasta (light oil and chili flakes) and Cream Teppan Pasta (mushrooms and cream sauce)
- Pepper Salads with vibrant vegetables and a choice of protein
- Sides like Sweet Potato Wedges, Seaweed Shake Salad, and Miso Soup
- Beverages including ITO EN organic green tea and Tractor Beverage’s organic, non-GMO selections
Grand Opening Weekend
Pepper Lunch officially opens on Friday, February 7, at 11 a.m., kicking off a three-day Grand Opening Weekend Celebration with exciting giveaways:
First 100 guests each day (Feb. 7-9) receive a complimentary Pepper Rice Plate
Buy One, Get One Free on Beef Pepper Rice all weekend
Chance to win Free Pepper Lunch for a Year, plus gift card & merchandise giveaways (while supplies last)
Opening hours are 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
For more information and full menu, please visit pepperlunchrestaurants.com.
Pepper Lunch at Irvine Spectrum Center is located at 509 Spectrum Center Drive (near Regal Irvine Spectrum).
The Latest from greer's oc
BUILD Brings the Heavy Lifting to Newport Beach
BUILD, the strength-focused concept from the team behind BURN, has opened its second location inside BURN Newport Beach. The studio, which launched in August as BURN’s first location outside Los Angeles, now offers BUILD’s dedicated strength classes alongside its…
Sushi Ii Enters a New Chapter as Sushi Suhama in Newport Beach
Sushi Ii, the intimate Japanese restaurant on Newport Beach’s Mariner’s Mile, has entered a new chapter as Sushi Suhama.
The new name nods to both the restaurant’s Japanese roots and the coastline it calls home. Suhama is an ancient Japanese…
Sushi-Ten USA opens Sushi Blissba in Cypress
Sushi Blissba, the newest concept from SUSHI-TEN USA, has opened in Cypress. The group also operates Sushi Nigiriba in Culver City and Huntington Beach, and it created this latest restaurant with the Cypress community in mind.
The name pairs…
Foodie Heaven at The CAMP in Costa Mesa this Fall
Costa Mesa’s signature community dining experience is back for a Fall Edition on Thursday, Nov. 5, from 6-9 p.m. Hosted by small local businesses at The CAMP, Community Dinner is an immersive foodie event where you can sit back and…
Follow Greer on Pinterest
from the blog
- 10.20.26 – BUILD Brings the Heavy Lifting to Newport Beach
- 10.20.26 – Sushi Ii Enters a New Chapter as Sushi Suhama in Newport Beach
- 10.20.26 – Sushi-Ten USA opens Sushi Blissba in Cypress
- 10.13.26 – Foodie Heaven at The CAMP in Costa Mesa this Fall
- 10.13.26 – Gaby Moreno Brings Her Bilingual Sound to Musco Center
- 10.12.26 – Treehouse on PCH Casts A Halloween Spell
- 10.12.26 – Jerry Douglas Brings His Band’s Genre-Bending Sound to Musco Center
- 10.12.26 – Howl-o-ween Pup Pop-Up Comes to The LAB Anti-Mall
- 10.11.26 – Where to Eat Around the Newport Beach Film Festival
- 10.07.26 – Pups & Pours Pairs Premium Pours With Senior Dogs
- 10.04.26 – Ben Bliss and Christopher Allen Bring an Evening of Song to Musco Center
- 10.04.26 – Microbiome Scientist, AI Author Headline Library Lectures
- 09.28.26 – Surfing Heritage & Culture Center Opens New Laguna Beach Home
- 09.28.26 – Levain Bakery Brings Peanut Butter Cookie to Fashion Island
- 09.28.26 – Puesto Pours a Wellness-Minded Margarita With Cymbiotika
- 09.26.26 – Pete’s Spookeasy Returns to Huntington Beach This Fall
- 09.23.26 – SAVOR 2026 Set to Honor Orange County Legends Before Anticipated Sold-Out Crowd
- 09.22.26 – Ruin Bar Celebrates 10 Years at The LAB
- 09.21.26 – QUA Debuts Afternoon Tea With a Chinese Twist
- 09.21.26 – ENC Wine Walk Returns to Support Environmental Education
More Daily Doses
- 10.20.26 – Ambitious Ales Brings Its Award-Winning Craft Beer to Costa Mesa
- 10.20.26 – FARM Rio Brings Brazilian Style to Fashion Island
- 10.14.26 – Russ Bendel and Partners Open Creekside in Rancho Mission Viejo
- 10.12.26 – Tony Gilroy’s ‘Behemoth!’ to Close Newport Beach Film Festival
- 10.10.26 – Wild Strawberry Cafe’s Monster Cookies for National Cookie Month
- 10.06.26 – Newport Beach Film Festival Opens With ‘Frampton’
- 10.04.26 – Honda Center Serves Up New Eats and Big Shows
- 10.04.26 – StyleWeekOC Returns to Fashion Island Oct. 14-18
- 09.28.26 – NBFF International Spotlight Films Announced
- 09.28.26 – Pacific Airshow Celebrates 10 Years in Huntington Beach
- 09.18.26 – Roger’s Gardens Unveils Moonlight Masquerade for Halloween
- 09.18.26 – Get RELISH Ready: OC’s Premier Food and Wine Weekend Returns to Newport Beach
- 09.16.26 – Newport Beach Film Festival Turns 27, and the Lineup Is Stacked
- 09.15.26 – Purrs in Paradise Opens Its Doors at The CAMP
- 09.14.26 – Katella Commons Adds Five More Reasons to Get Hungry at OCVIBE
- 09.13.26 – Musco Center Celebrates 10th Anniversary Jubilee! With a Decade of Its Own Talent
- 09.09.26 – Maleza Brings Modern Mexican Flavor and Mezcal to The CAMP in Costa Mesa
- 08.30.26 – Zov’s Mediterranean Restaurant Set to Open on 17th Street in Costa Mesa
- 08.29.26 – Sweet Arrival: Levain Bakery Opens First Orange County Location at Fashion Island
- 08.26.26 – OCAPICA’s Tastemakers of Orange County Celebrates 10 Years of Community-Driven Cuisine
