Pepper Lunch — Restaurant in Irvine

I really enjoyed Pepper Lunch while in Japan, so to have a location nearby with a localized menu, I was very excited to try the menu and go down the list.

I had a feeling the first few months would be chaotic, so I avoided it like the plague. I probably made my way in about 6 months after and my experience had no mishaps. To confirm whether it would live up to my expectations, I had the Classic Beef Pepper Rice. I loved it...even though the skillet didn't get as hot as I'd like to achieve a crispy layer.

Eventually, I found my way back in with more friends and have been back and back again. I've had the Salmon Pepper Rice, Hamburg & Beef Sizzling Curry with egg, Beef Sizzling Curry and Eel Pepper Rice. I have had no complaints about the food and the adds on like the egg are superb. How could you not add the egg?! all the eggporn please

The only thing that's lacking is service, but somewhat expected with fast casual environments. If you choose to sit outside in the patio, there's nothing outside to make it feel like it's part of the restaurant - condiments are self served. If a table opens up inside, you are not allowed to come back in to "steal" the table since you agreed to sit outside, but if you opt to wait, they hold up the line until a table opens up to accommodate your party. Interesting setup, but I advise to avoid the busy hours, lol. It will spare you the parking...

Wow..after much anticipation this place was a let down after trying this place in asia.. paid $18 for a ribeye steak and my brother paid $14 for a jumbo classic (thats both after the $5 coupon that they entice you to come stop by with and you have to get a drink so its more like $3 off and i didnt know this till i got to the cashier. actually didnt realize how ridiculously priced their items were.. this is supposed to be a japanese fast food spot but i felt like i was ordering at Outback steakhouse.. too late now) and the size was a tiny bowl and it tasted so bland compared to the two times ive had it in Japan and Manila.. (got it to go because of the long wait for tables)... my $6 combo bowl at yoshinoya is way more fulfilling.. i hope the franchise owner realizes this place wont last!! i want my $18 back.. without the coupon ive wouldve paid $23 for what felt like a beef bowl at yoshinoya.. geezus.. i hardly leave reviews but this place deserves my extra 2 cents.. i already gave them way more than that.. the high reviews here are people that probably never had it in Asia for half the price or friends of the franchise.. i understand its their 2nd day but besides the food being bland, its mainly the price my brother and I paid for bland food..we both agreed and looked at each other in major disappointment.. i dont care if their irvine rent is expensive, they shouldve...

This restaurant somehow embodied every single thing I dread from restaurants. Small portions (like fancy $$$$ restaurant level of small), expensive for the genre, and one note AKA nothing special I'd rather cook at home. It's popular, with a long line on a weekday night, so I'm glad it's working for some people. Their famous pepper rice tastes like black pepper. Only!! The meat is completely unmemorable, I felt nothing eating it. Curry was the same, probably you can get the same or better from a cardboard box of instant Japanese curry (available at Asian markets). As mentioned, the portions are startlingly small. One curry had 4 katsu. One rice had a few strings of beef, maybe the total size of a small fist. So you can't even use it as meh food to cheap out on when you're tired, drunk, that sort of thing, when you want food that you normally find mid. Above all, nothing reminded me of Japanese food, which I've eaten a lot of, including in Japan. I could probably guess solely from the katsu's presence, but the flavours are distinctly not Japanese in my opinion. One of the worst restaurant experiences I've had. I looked forward to trying it and I don't know how it was so completely opposite of what I expected. note: I personally don't care at all about the quality of service at restaurants, but the staff are nice if...