Pepper Lunch Address Yet To Be Announced Japanese “experimental” fast-casual concept Pepper Lunch is expanding into Florida with three cities confirmed—and one of those cities is Tampa. Currently boasting 500 locations in 15 countries, Pepper Lunch—a teppanyaki concept where customers grill their own meats and veggies on an iron griddle—hopes to establish a permanent presence in Florida. Photo via Pepper Lunch USA/Facebook Credit: Photo via Pepper Lunch USA/Facebook

Japanese “experimental” fast-casual concept Pepper Lunch is expanding into Florida with three cities confirmed—and one of those cities is Tampa.

Tampa, Gainesville and Orlando will be home to 10 Pepper Lunch restaurants starting in late 2024, the chain’s first locations in the Southeastern United States.

Currently boasting 500 locations in 15 countries, Pepper Lunch—a teppanyaki concept where customers grill their own meats and veggies on an iron griddle—hopes to establish a permanent presence in Florida.

On offer at the restaurant are steaks, curry rice dishes, teriyaki and even pasta. The chain prides itself on diners being able to get in, cook their meal, chow down and head back out the door in 20 minutes (if they so choose) with a price point under $20.

There is no information as of this writing on potential addresses for the Tampa franchises, but Tampa Bay Business Journal says Majestic Restaurant Group, the Tampa-based restaurateurs behind Zukku Sushi, signed the agreement to franchise 10 Pepper Lunch locations in Central Florida.

A version of this post first appeared at our sibling publication Orlando Weekly.

Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.

UPDATED: 12/28/23 12:38 a.m. Updated to note TBBJ reporting that a Tampa-based restaurant group is involved with Pepper Lunch’s expansion.