Pepper Lunch is moving into the same shopping plaza as the newly relocated Zion Market off Clairemont Mesa Boulevard in Kearny Mesa. According to the ownership group, the team is targeting an early March opening, pending final inspections and permitting.
Founded in Tokyo in 1994 by celebrated Japanese chef and entrepreneur Kunio Ichinose, Pepper Lunch built its reputation around a simple but theatrical idea: serving premium meats, rice, and vegetables on a sizzling hot iron plate that allows guests to cook their meals to their preferred doneness right at the table. The interactive format helped the brand explode in popularity across Japan before expanding internationally, where it now operates more than 500 locations across 15 countries throughout Asia, Australia, Canada, and the United States.
Pepper Lunch’s menu is centered on its signature beef pepper rice, along with a range of steak, chicken, and seafood plates finished tableside on cast iron teppanyaki style platters. The concept was designed to deliver high quality proteins quickly and affordably, positioning the brand somewhere between traditional fast food and full service dining. The Kearny Mesa location is expected to offer the same core menu that has made Pepper Lunch a household name overseas, with options for dine in and takeout.
The San Diego expansion is being led by TD Family Ventures, a local ownership group previously announced as Pepper Lunch’s regional partner, and represents the first confirmed opening after the company revealed plans last year to bring multiple locations to the county. Kearny Mesa was selected for the debut due to its dense concentration of Asian dining, international grocery stores, and office workers, as well as its reputation as one of San Diego’s most competitive and food driven neighborhoods.
While additional San Diego locations are still expected in the future, the Kearny Mesa opening will serve as the brand’s local proving ground. If successful, Pepper Lunch’s arrival could signal broader momentum for Japanese fast casual concepts in San Diego, particularly those offering experiential dining formats that translate well to a diverse and globally minded customer base.
Pepper Lunch is expected to open in early March at 8322 Clairemont Mesa Boulevard, Suites 103 and 104, in San Diego’s Kearny Mesa neighborhood. For more information, visit pepperlunchrestaurants.com.
Originally published on January 15, 2026.
