Sizzling Lunch — Restaurant in San Jose

When I first came in, I noticed that it was pretty quiet. Fair enough, it was between man rushes. The wooden chairs and tables were nice and homey. There are two televisions, one on each side. There was also an informative panel on the back wall about how to make the food. The waiter was very welcoming. He told me to pick a table and came over once I selected a table. He offered three options, which is neither too many nor too few, so as to give the illusion of choice and control. I asked him if the restaurant was a chain, a franchise, or an independent. Turns out they are a Bay Area chain, though he was very reluctant to reveal that. Shrugs. I ordered two drinks, the hot tea and calamansi sugarcane juice. I was excited to see sugar cane on the menu for just over five dollars. However, the large size is just under ten dollars; the calamansi is a free modification. The sugarcane juice was pretty good, but certainly not as good as that at the farmers market. Eh, you get what you pay for. The hot tea at $2.50 has free refill. For food, I originally ordered the beef udon. However, I noticed that they had cold tofu, so ordered the hiyyako instead. To complement that, I ordered miso soup. But what about the sizzle, you may ask. For that, I ordered a plate of cooking vegetables. Boring, yes, and a teensy bit regrettable, but the sizzle tax has to be paid. The miso soup was phenomenal though, with inari strips and not-raw scallions. The bowl was pretty too; i like that dash of white amid the black. Sauce for tofu was great, and who’s gonna say no to cold...

Sizzling lunch is the superior option to Pepper Lunch. If you like pepper lunch, you'll like this place even more. It's one of my favorite restaurants in the bay area.

What we ordered:

pork belly pepper rice & extra beef: the pork belly was delicious, not too thick or too small a slice. the beef wasn't too chewy either. the crispy rice was top tier and the corn was delicious. 10/5!

pro tip: order egg and cook it with your rice, season your rice with teriyaki sauce and a bit of the garlic sauce, thank me later! ;)

Service & Atmosphere:

The service was mediocre. They didn't really refill our water when we ran out and came once to check in on us. However, the food did come out pretty quick. It was okay, could be better.

The atmosphere is lively and can get loud at times because of the sizzling noise but it makes you that much for hungry. The smell of the restaurant can be overwhelming but it smell of cooking meat to us so it was making us salivate.(lol!)

Overall, I can't recommend this place enough!!The food is delicious, the atmosphere is lively and smells wonderful. It's better than pepper lunch in all aspects. I will always come back to visit when I'm in the...

Sizzling Lunch on Oakland Road is known for its signature sizzling plates, where each dish is served on cast iron skillets to keep the food hot and flavorful throughout the meal. Popular options include Prime Beef Pepper Rice, Wagyu Hamburg Steak, and Black Angus Ribeye, catering to those who appreciate quality cuts and bold flavors. Beyond beef dishes, the menu offers sashimi-grade Atlantic salmon, allowing diners to enjoy a lighter yet rich alternative. The ability to customize meals with various toppings and sauces adds flexibility, making each order unique. Ordering is made efficient and seamless, thanks to tablet-based menus, allowing customers to select their meal without waiting for staff.

The restaurant maintains a casual but lively atmosphere, with quick service and reasonable pricing that typically ranges around $10 to $20 per meal. Whether dining in or grabbing a quick sizzling lunch, this spot delivers a fun and engaging dining experience with fresh ingredients and great...