Local Residents Sean and Nari Uezu to Open the First Three of Ten Pepper Lunch Restaurants in Honolulu
, a one-of-a-kind Japanese fast-casual concept with more than 500 locations across 17 countries, is pleased to announce its official expansion into Hawaii. NIKU LLC, led by local entrepreneurs Sean and Nari Uezu — who also operate the Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen franchise in Hawaii — has signed three lease agreements to bring Pepper Lunch to the islands over the next year.
The first location is slated to open in Q4 2025 at Moanalua Shopping Center, followed by two more in late 2026: the Hyatt Centric Waikiki on Kuhio Avenue and a site on Kapahulu Avenue currently occupied by Running Room. These openings mark the beginning of a plan to introduce ten Pepper Lunch restaurants throughout the Hawaiian Islands…