Arizona State University students will soon have a new dining option with the opening of Pepper Lunch, a fast-casual Japanese restaurant where you cook your food. The restaurant will be located in the new University Gateway Building next to the Gammage Light Rail stop and near popular spots like Chick-fil-A. It is set to open in the last quarter of this year, as reported by ABC15.
With a globally recognized presence, Pepper Lunch boasts over 500 locations across 15 countries, and its expansion into the college's dining scene marks its first franchised venture in the United States. Diversity seems to be the catchword as Pepper Lunch aims to cater to a campus celebrated for its wide-ranging tastes in food. "Arizona State University has tremendous diversity in its community, with an equally diverse palate to match," said Troy Hooper, CEO of Pepper Lunch, reflecting on the perfect match between the university's demographics and the restaurant's offerings, according to ABC15.
The menu at Pepper Lunch introduces a mix of Japanese cuisine with teppanyaki-style flair, including dishes such as curry rice, teriyaki, steaks, pepper rice, and pasta. Eager eaters order at a counter or kiosk and within minutes are presented with a sizzling 500-degree hot plate to cook their meal to perfection. And if you're pondering on whether the Valley will see more of these sizzle spots, the answer is a resounding yes, with plans to unfurl an additional "10 units over the next five years," as mentioned in an interview with ABC15 by Hooper and two managing partners.
The ASU-based Pepper Lunch joins other quick-service titans jostling for the college crowd's favor, but it aims to stand out with its unique do-it-yourself concept. "We’re honored to be on campus with iconic restaurants like Chick-fil-A, and are looking forward to giving students a delicious option for lunch or dinner," Hooper told KTAR News in partnership with Phoenix Business Journal.
