Pepper Lunch, a Japanese fast-casual chain where diners finish cooking their own meals on sizzling iron plates, is headed to Spring.

A construction filing shows the restaurant plans an $850,000 renovation at The Market at Springwoods Village, 2174 Spring Stuebner Road, Suite 340, My Neighborhood News reported Thursday, Sept. 3. The project covers 1,765 square feet of existing restaurant space and includes a full interior finish-out with new equipment, lighting and furniture.

Construction is scheduled to begin Dec. 7, with an estimated completion date of April 26, 2027. No official opening date has been announced.

The Spring location is part of a broader Texas push. Franchise group Sizzling Hospitality signed a 20-unit development agreement with Pepper Lunch, the company announced in June. Chain Store Age reported June 11 that Sizzling Hospitality had already secured four Texas locations at that point, including one in Missouri City.

The company is targeting 10 to 12 Greater Houston restaurants over several years, according to My Neighborhood News. Other planned sites include Fort Bend Town Center in Missouri City, Market at Town Center in Sugar Land, and locations in Pearland, Bellaire and the Dunham Pointe development in Cypress.

In the June Chain Store Age report, CEO Troy Hooper said the pace of Texas site selection confirmed the brand's confidence in the market. Bobby Shaw, Sizzling Hospitality's chief business officer, said the interactive dining format and strong value would resonate with Houston and Austin diners.

Founded in Tokyo in 1994, Pepper Lunch operates more than 570 restaurants across 17 countries. The chain previously had a Houston-area presence at Bellaire Food Street starting in 2019, but that location closed and the brand's Texas footprint had disappeared by 2024.

The concept centers on iron plates heated to 500 degrees Fahrenheit, according to Community Impact. Diners receive ingredients still cooking on the plate and mix, sauce and finish the meal themselves. The signature dish is Beef Pepper Rice. The North American menu spans chicken, salmon, curry and teriyaki options, according to the chain's website.

At The Market at Springwoods Village, Pepper Lunch will join a Kroger-anchored center that already includes CAVA, Tarka Indian Kitchen, Jinya Ramen Bar, Torchy's Tacos, Urban Bird Hot Chicken and Chick-fil-A. Regency Centers, which manages the property, already lists Pepper Lunch in Suite 340 on its leasing materials.

The buildout is expected to wrap by late April 2027, with the restaurant targeting a spring 2027 opening.