Pepper Lunch is coming to the Las Vegas Strip! The Las Vegas Food shared the good news via a Facebook post, announcing that the DIY Teppanyaki Japanese dining experience is expected to open at the BLVD Las Vegas on the Las Vegas Strip at 3747 S Las Vegas Blvd.
As part of a 20-store deal with the Carl L. Karcher Group, the group behind the Carl’s Jr. burger chain, the plan is to open the new Las Vegas Pepper Lunch in the first quarter of 2027.
What Now Las Vegas reached out to the Executive Vice President of CLK, Domenic Bonacci, who confirmed the opening. Unfortunately, Bonacci was unable to share further details by the time of this publication. But with good reason. The brand stays quite busy.
CLK is a prominent quick-service restaurant (QSR) franchise operator led by Karcher—the grandson of Carl N. Karcher, who originally founded the iconic Carl’s Jr. burger chain. The group manages an extensive multi-brand portfolio of more than 120 restaurant locations spread across the Western United States.
“With both a US and international footprint, Carl’s Jr. Restaurants LLC and Hardee’s Restaurants LLC have over 3,800 franchised or company-operated restaurants in 44 states and 43 foreign countries and U.S. territories, the CLK website reads.
The agreement with CLK Group, “a titan in the QSR and fast casual restaurant space,” comprises 20 locations throughout Southern California and Las Vegas.
“The simplicity of the operation, the labor model, and the rise of Asian culture and food concepts in America are attractive and differentiated from other brands we could operate,” said Carl L. Karcher in a press release.
Described as DIY Teppanyaki, Pepper Lunch is a Japanese-born experiential fast-casual restaurant built around the theater of the sizzling iron plate. Founded in 1994 by chef and inventor Kunio Ichinose, who wanted to serve high-quality, affordable beef dishes to everyday diners without the need for expensive chefs. He designed the brand’s signature concept—allowing customers to finish cooking their own raw meals on superheated electromagnetic iron plates.
Hot Palette America, Inc., the entity behind the brand, is run by Chief Executive Officer Troy Hooper. What Now confirmed the upcoming Las Vegas opening with Hooper, who has shared details about the brand’s expansion across the country recently.
“Instead of receiving a finished dish from the kitchen, guests are served premium proteins, rice, vegetables, sauces, and seasonings on a patented 500-degree plate, then sizzle, stir, sauce, and savor the meal their way at the table. Guests are in and out in under 24 minutes for under $25,” Hopper explained.
“Every visit engages sight, sound, smell, and taste, which make a meal memorable and bring them back again and again. We are an experience-driven concept that guests can’t have at home.”
There are currently more than 570 Pepper Lunch locations worldwide, across 17 different countries. The plan is to continue expanding throughout the country over the course of the next 3-4 years.
For Las Vegas, it’s a return of the Japanese-born brand. The original Pepper Lunch location in Chinatown’s Shanghai Plaza permanently closed in mid-2026. Now relocating to a new rooftop space on the Las Vegas Strip inside BLVD Las Vegas, the excitement continues to mount for the brand’s expansion.
Check it out for yourself when Pepper Lunch opens on the Las Vegas Strip inside BLVD Las Vegas at 3747 S Las Vegas Blvd early next year.
