Japan's Pepper Lunch Fast-Casual Restaurant Opening Several San Diego Locations

August 7, 2024

Japanese fast-casual restaurant chain Pepper Lunch, which has more than 500 locations in 15 countries, has announced it will open several outposts in San Diego.

Pepper Lunch is a popular Japanese fast-food restaurant chain known for its unique concept of DIY cooking and signature dishes served on hot iron plates. Founded by chef and restaurateur Kunio Ichinose in Tokyo, Japan, in 1994, the chain has grown significantly, expanding both domestically and internationally.

At Pepper Lunch, customers are served raw meat and vegetables on a scorching hot cast-iron Teppanyaki griddle, allowing patrons to cook their meal to their desired level of doneness right at the table. This interactive dining helped solidify Pepper Lunch as a household name in Japan's fast-food industry, and the concept now has locations in South Korea, Taiwan, China, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Australia, Canada, and the United States. 
Pepper Lunch has signed an agreement to bring up to five locations to San Diego, in partnership with 
TD Family Ventures, which is led by Bao Doan, co-founder of the San Diego-based bubble tea café Urban Bubble. Additional partners in the business include San Diego residents Jadelyn Wang, Elizabeth Tran, Aaron Tran and Cindy Tran. The group is currently looking for sites around San Diego, specifically North County, to open their first locations. 

For more information about Pepper Lunch restaurants, visit pepperlunchrestaurants.com.