Pepper Lunch, the Japanese teppanyaki concept known for its theatrical dining experience, could be making its Austin-area debut in Leander, with two additional locations planned across the metro.
The concept, founded in Tokyo in 1994, centers on 500-degree iron plates brought sizzling to the table, where guests finish cooking their own meal. What Now Austin spoke with Bobby Shaw, Chief Business Officer of Sizzling Hospitality LLC, the Leander-based franchisee behind the expansion, who said the experience is unlike anything else in the fast-casual space.
“When you see that hot iron plate coming out at 500° still sizzling to your table, there’s nothing quite like it. Every visit engages sight, sound, smell, and taste, driving memorability and repeat visits,” Shaw told What Now Austin.
According to the Austin Business Journal, the teppanyaki concept is eyeing a roughly 1,800-square-foot space at 516 E. San Gabriel Pkwy., at the Northline development in Leander, with an opening targeted by the end of 2026. Two additional Austin-area locations are also in the works, one at NewQuest Properties at Kyle Park in Kyle, at the northwest corner of Interstate 35 and BeBee Road in Kyle, and another at Endeavor’s Hutto Shopping Center in Hutto, at the northeast corner of SH-130 and Highway 79, with both expected to open in late 2027 or early 2028.
Shaw’s connection to Austin informed the decision to launch first there. As a former 15-year resident who first encountered Pepper Lunch in California, he said the city’s food culture made it the natural home for the brand.
“Austin has a great food culture, growing suburban communities, and a strong economy. Is really a foodie town and the consumer is open to new experiences, we fit right in,” he told What Now Austin.
The brand’s signature dish — and Shaw’s personal recommendation for first-timers — is the Beef Pepper Rice. “It has a great combination of flavors and is just delicious,” he said. The dish features thin-sliced steak over rice with corn, butter, and proprietary soy-garlic and honey-brown sauces, all finished by the guest on the sizzling iron plate.
Shaw calls the overall proposition “fast-casual efficiency with teppanyaki energy”: counter ordering and rapid service without sacrificing quality or the premium feel of a freshly cooked meal. “We do create memorable moments for guests,” he said.
Sizzling Hospitality plans to open 20 units across Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, according to the Austin Business Journal, with seven leases already signed between both markets. The restaurant has 570 locations across 17 countries.
