Pepper Lunch is the original DIY teppanyaki fast-casual restaurant with 570+ locations, 17 countries, and 33 years of proof. Now, we're bringing the sizzle to North America with franchise territories available and the best operators in the business already on board. If you're a serious, multi-unit investor ready to build something extraordinary, your market is open — but it won't stay that way.
The smartest franchise operators in America aren't making decisions based on excitement alone. They're looking for strong fundamentals: efficient operations, a lean labor model, global brand validation, and meaningful whitespace for expansion. Pepper Lunch checks every box, with prime territories available in select markets.
Pepper Lunch isn’t just fun to eat, it’s powerful to own. Our interactive dining model fuels high demand, strong sales, and the kind of performance that makes franchise ownership truly exciting.
Join a powerhouse and bring a globally proven concept to your market. This isn’t starting from scratch, it’s stepping into a system built to scale and built to win.
Pepper Lunch is built for efficiency, not complexity. No chefs, no heavy labor, just a streamlined system that keeps teams lean, costs controlled, and viability strong.
You’re backed by a system refined across hundreds of openings. From day one through daily operations, you’ll have the guidance, playbooks, and support to perform at a high level.
From ingredient sourcing to final plate, Pepper Lunch delivers a higher standard of food, giving franchise owners a concept that naturally earns repeat customers.
Asian fast-casual has grown rapidly in the U.S. and continues to scale. Pepper Lunch gives franchise owners the opportunity to build within a category that already shows strong demand.
Hear directly from our CEO on what makes Pepper Lunch a powerful franchise opportunity, from our proven model to the vision driving our growth.
Pepper Lunch is the world's original DIY fast-casual teppanyaki restaurant, founded in Tokyo in 1994. Guests receive a proprietary 500°F iron hot plate loaded with fresh, premium ingredients — Certified Angus Steak, seasoned rice, vegetables — and cook the meal themselves at the table. The result: a premium dining experience in under 20 minutes for under $20 that is unlike anything else in the American fast-casual market.
This interactive format is the reason Pepper Lunch has built a fiercely loyal following across Asia for three decades — and the reason it's generating outsized excitement in North America today.
"We finished our first year at $2.6M in sales with over 20% EBITDA, and built a 4.6-star brand with 500+ reviews. Between the operational systems and franchisor support, everything is set up to scale—and we’re just getting started."
Pepper Lunch is expanding across North America with operators focused on long-term growth. With strong unit economics, a differentiated concept, and a scalable model, this is an opportunity to build something meaningful — not just open another restaurant.
“Our history brings confidence, but what matters most is execution. The ability to deliver the same Pepper Lunch experience globally is what truly sets the brand apart.”
Pepper Lunch is the original DIY teppanyaki fast-casual restaurant, founded in 1994. Diners cook their own meals on a sizzling 500°F iron plate served directly to the table. With 570+ locations across 17 countries and more than 30 years of operating history, Pepper Lunch is one of the most established Japanese restaurant franchise brands expanding across North America.
Pepper Lunch operates over 570 locations across 17 countries, built over more than 30 years of operation. This global footprint as an established Asian fast-casual brand gives North American franchisees the advantage of proven systems, international brand equity, and a tested teppanyaki concept from the day they open.
Pepper Lunch has prime single-unit and multi-unit territories available across North America. Major committed operators have already secured markets in California, Hawaii, and Texas, but significant territory remains open for qualified investors. Early entry into this expanding Japanese restaurant franchise gives multi-unit developers first-mover advantage in high-growth regions before they are claimed.
Unlike burger or chicken franchises competing in saturated categories, Pepper Lunch is a unique fast-casual Japanese teppanyaki brand where guests cook fresh ingredients on a patented sizzling iron plate. This interactive format, broad menu variety, and over 30-year global track record give franchisees a distinctive concept with built-in differentiation in the North American Asian restaurant franchise space.
Pepper Lunch offers a proven fast-casual model with a $1.652M average unit volume and a differentiated Japanese teppanyaki concept that stands apart from the crowded burger and chicken categories. With 570+ global locations, 30+ years of history, and committed multi-unit operators already signed across North America, it appeals to sophisticated investors seeking an established Asian restaurant franchise with early-mover advantage in the U.S. market.
The total investment to open a Pepper Lunch franchise ranges from $690,800 to $1,678,300, depending on location, build-out, and market. This covers the franchise fee, equipment, leasehold improvements, and initial operating capital. Pepper Lunch is a fast-casual Japanese teppanyaki concept with a proven global model, making it a strong option for multi-unit operators evaluating Asian restaurant franchise opportunities in North America.
