This is not a drill – Pepper Lunch is coming to Florida in 2024!

Known for their “do-it-yourself” (DIY) “sizzling your way” teppanyaki, with dishes ready in 20 minutes for under $20, Pepper Lunch was one of my favorite “chain” restaurants that I tried during my visits to Tokyo and Hong Kong. The sizzling hot plates, the fresh meat, corn, butter on rice, and affordability of the plates all brought great pleasure to my palate while overseas.

Pepper Lunch, first established in Tokyo, Japan in 1994, has since grown to become one of Japan’s largest homegrown franchise restaurant brands with over 500 locations in 15 countries.

This week, Pepper Lunch announced that The Majestic Restaurant Group has signed on to develop 10 units over the next five years in and around the Tampa, Orlando and Gainesville markets, with the first location planned to open in Q3, 2024.

Boasting a legacy of developing and operating multiple successful concepts, each restaurant The Majestic Restaurant Group has brought to life restaurants that include nearly a dozen sushi, poke and dumpling restaurants including the acclaimed Zukku Sushi, which have multiple locations in Tampa, reinforcing the group’s market insight.

“Growing up in Indonesia, I have familiarity and admiration for Pepper Lunch,” said managing partner, Ferdian Jap. “The opportunity to bring Pepper Lunch to our home location in Tampa, Orlando, and Gainesville is exciting as it fulfills Majestic Restaurant Group’s mission to expand Asian focused concepts.”

Pepper Lunch is known for their affordable teppanyaki-style concept including a menu of sizzling Steaks, Curry Rice, Teriyaki and Pasta based dishes, and the signature Pepper Rice on the brand’s patented hot iron plate. At Pepper Lunch, each guest is the MasterChef, where they can ‘Sizzle It Your Way.’

“Pepper Lunch’s service and guest experience are unique and special, and the food is authentic, yet approachable,” said Pepper Lunch CEO, Troy Hooper. “We’re thrilled to continue our domestic franchise expansion by partnering with industry veterans who understand the gameplan which leads to success.”

We spoke with Mr. Ferdian Jap briefly about the announcement here at Tasty Chomps.

Interview with Ferdian Jap, Pepper Lunch

For those who have never been before, how would you describe Pepper Lunch?

Its an experience that you can’t get with any other restaurant concept. You can pick your own items to go on your personal hot plate and you choose how you like it, thus the “sizzle it your way” motto. Because you are sizzling your food in front of you, the food tastes the fresh. Once you try it, guaranteed you will crave it.