Japanese fast-casual chain Pepper Lunch to open in Pinellas Park this fall

There are more than 500 Pepper Lunch locations across the word, but the first ones in the Southeastern U.S. will be in Florida.

Today, the Japanese-born experiential fast-casual teppanyaki concept announced that its first Tampa Bay location hopes to open in Pinellas Park by September.

The restaurant at 4699 Park Blvd. will pack 38 seats into a 1,435-square-foot dining room, with 25 more seats on the 500-square-foot patio.

Tampa-based Majestic Restaurant Group—which operates Zukku concepts across the Bay area along with Lings Dumplings and the Han Hand Roll Bar—will own and operate Pinellas Park’s Pepper Lunch. The group has also signed on to open 10 more locations in and around Tampa Bay, Orlando and Gainesville over the next five years.

The press release adds that the Pinellas Park store “is also the first modern prototype design in the new era of Pepper Lunch since the U.S. parent group, Hot Palette America Inc., took over American operations for the brand.”

Founded in 1994, Pepper Lunch prides itself on getting customers in and out of its restaurants for under $20. Menu items include steaks, teriyaki and pasta-based dishes, plus “Pepper Rice”—all served in sizzling pans for patrons to mix and cook themselves.

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This article appears in Jun 6-12, 2024.