Beef Pepper Rice / Pepper Lunch Dupe

During my travels to Japan a handful of years ago, I got the opportunity to experience some really incredible food, from high-end restaurants to random hole-in-the-walls, serving dishes like sushi, ramen, yakitori, and everything else in between. Honestly, some of the best food I’ve ever had was in Japan, and one of the restaurants I still think about regularly is Pepper Lunch. Their Beef Pepper Rice is such an incredible dish that’s served on a hotplate; before it’s even brought to your table, you can hear it sizzling as it’s being prepared, and then you’re hit with the aroma of the grilled onions and butter, that instantly makes your mouth salivate. Then, when you finally have a bite of it, and the combination of flavors starts dancing on your tongue, it’s truly a magical moment. Now, when I found out how easy it was to recreate it at home, I haven’t been able to stop making it – and now you can too!

What is Pepper Lunch

Pepper Lunch is a popular fast-casual dining chain from Japan known for its sizzling hotplates and DIY-style meals. The concept behind Pepper Lunch allows customers to cook their food to their liking directly at their table. The key feature is using a heated iron plate brought to the table with raw or semi-cooked ingredients, such as meat, vegetables, and rice. (Since my original visit, they have expanded to the states!)

What is Beef Pepper Rice?

Beef Pepper Rice is Pepper Lunch’s signature menu item, and it’s a simple yet flavorful meal served on a sizzling hotplate. The main components of the dish are:

Sliced Beef: Thinly sliced pieces of beef are placed on the hotplate, often arranged in a circle around the rice.

Sauce: This is a combination of minced garlic, soy sauce, and oyster sauce. My version adds rice vinegar for a touch of brightness.

Rice: A mound of steamed white rice is placed in the center of the plate.

Toppings: Black pepper, sweet corn, green onions, and butter are toppings. The richness of the butter really completes this dish!

Why you’ll love this recipe:

• This meal comes together in about 15 minutes, with very minimal prep, making it the perfect weekday lunch or dinner!
• The combination of the sizzling beef, buttery rice, peppery flavor, and sweet corn makes it a delicious and interactive meal.
• Using this recipe as a base, you can easily replace the components with any protein or veggie of your liking, making it highly customizable!