Pepper Lunch is planning a new location at 5222 Burnet Road, Suite 525, in Austin, according to a project filing with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation. The restaurant would replace Chi’Lantro, which closed its North Loop Plaza location on April 30, 2026.
The project calls for an interior remodel of 1,504 square feet, with an estimated construction cost of $850,000. Construction is scheduled to begin on February 5, 2027, and finish on July 15, 2027. An opening date has not yet been announced.
Pepper Lunch opened in Tokyo in 1994. Meals arrive on hot iron plates, and customers stir in sauces and finish cooking at the table. Options include the signature Beef Pepper Rice, plus steaks, teriyaki, curries, and pasta. Seafood and vegetarian dishes are available.
The Austin project is part of a wider Texas expansion by Sizzling Hospitality. They signed an agreement in 2025 to develop 20 Pepper Lunch restaurants throughout Texas.
In October, Pepper Lunch announced that its worldwide presence had surpassed 580 restaurants. The company operates in 17 countries, including Japan, Singapore, Australia, and the United States.
Follow Pepper Lunch USA on Instagram for updates on the Burnet Road location.
