Chef, Operations

Tokyo Gardens Company; Houston (TX); On-site; USD 50,000 - 70,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Paid Time Off

Paid health benefits (Medical, Dental,

401(k) plan with company match

Annual bonus incentive

Job summary

Tokyo Gardens Company is seeking a full-time operations chef to support and sustain our sushi and Asian food operations. The role involves traveling to multiple retail locations across Texas to train and assist sub-processors, while contributing to product development from ideation to retail shelf readiness.

The ideal candidate will have strong cooking skills and the ability to adapt to diverse kitchen environments, with a keen interest in learning retail food service and staying updated on

Qualifications

• 0–2 years of kitchen experience, preferably in sushi or Asian food setting.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% and work flexible hours including evenings/weekends.

Responsibilities

• Travel to store locations to assist with openings, training, and support for sub-processors.
• Follow SOPs to maintain consistency across locations and ensure food safety practices.
• Train and supervise kitchen staff; provide feedback to leadership on training progress.
• Assist with new or ongoing R&D projects and contribute to menu development.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Sushi/Asian cuisine

Travel readiness

Kitchen operations

Tools

MS Office

Google Workspace

Job description

Description

TGC is seeking a full-time chef specializing in Asian cuisine who can help support and sustain our sushi and Asian food operations. As an operations chef, you will be traveling to multiple retail locations across Texas to support and train our sub‑processors (sushi bar operators) according to company Standard Operating Procedures. This role will also be involved in every step of the product development process at our main office, from ideation to getting the products on retail shelves. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional cooking skills and the ability to adapt to diverse kitchen environments. This is an exciting opportunity for someone interested in learning retail food service.

Requirements

• Travel to various store locations to assist with new store openings, Asian Grill training, cuttings, sub‑processor (sushi bar operator) switch outs, and additional support as needed.
• Follow our current standard operating procedure to maintain consistency across different locations.
• Set a good example on operations and demonstrate good food safety practice during training such as food preparation, HACCP and sanitation.
• Communicate regularly with department leadership on the progress of new sub‑processor (sushi bar operator) training, delivering timely verbal and written feedback.
• Evaluate training workflows to uncover opportunities for enhancement, assisting in the creation and execution of action plans that improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Assist with any new or ongoing projects within the Research and Development department.
• Open to accepting feedback regarding changes of new and existing menu per requests from clients, team members and sub‑processor (sushi bar operator).
• Assist with maintaining corporate kitchen samples and inventory.
• Must be highly organized, adaptable, and capable of independently managing multiple tasks and priorities.
• Stay updated with industry trends and best practices in culinary arts.
• Support local catering division with new menu development and on‑site catering events as needed.
• Adapt to evolving business needs by taking on new tasks and challenges.

Qualifications

• 0–2 years of kitchen experience, preferably in sushi or Asian food setting.
• Ability to stand on feet for long periods of time in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills in English required.
• Strong leadership and communication skills to effectively train and support kitchen staff.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Workspace (Gmail, Google Drive, etc.).
• Ability to work independently and under pressure, with a flexible schedule to accommodate travel requirements.
• Requires flexibility for occasional evening or weekend work, up to 10% of total hours.
• Position requires up to 50% travel, with flexibility to accommodate business priorities and project demands.

Benefits

• Paid Time Off
• Paid health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Short Term Disability insurance)
• 401(k) plan with company match
• Annual bonus incentive

Additional Information

• Work location: Onsite Houston HQ office, Monday to Friday
• Job Type: Full Time