Cook

El Pollo Loco, Inc.; Santa Ana (CA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

No overnight hours

Employee discount on food

Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance

Paid vacation

Paid sick time

401(K) plan with match

Job summary

El Pollo Loco in Santa Ana, CA is seeking a Grill Master (Cook) who will prepare grilled and hot foods following our flame-grilled standards to deliver a best-in-class guest experience. You will marinate, season, cook, rotate proteins, and maintain quality while keeping the work area clean.

Previous experience in customer service or food service is preferred but not required. The position offers competitive pay, no overnight hours, and growth opportunities within the company.

Qualifications

• Obtain Food Handler Certification promptly upon hire.
• Customer service or food service experience is preferred but not required.

Responsibilities

• Prepare, marinate, season, cook, stock and rotate chicken and other grilled proteins according to company standards.
• Receive orders, cut cooked chicken, and arrange proteins for proper presentation on the plate or in the applicable packaging apparatus.
• Monitor holding time for grilled proteins and take corrective actions when hold time expires or when product quality fails to meet company standards.
• Maintain and ensure that all cooked proteins are at proper serving temperature.
• Inspect chicken and other raw proteins for acceptable quality standards prior to marinating or grilling.
• Clean and sanitize the entire work area including all equipment, tools, storage containers, grills and hoods.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management to support restaurant operations.

Skills

Food service

Customer service

Education

Customer service or food service experience (preferred)

Job description

At El Pollo Loco, we don’t just serve fire-grilled chicken — we serve careers that bring the heat. As a Grill Master, you’re not just cooking chicken; you’re igniting the El Pollo Loco experience. You’ll bring your passion, ideas, and energy to every order, following our flame-grilled standards to serve craveable flavors and unforgettable guest moments.

POSITION PURPOSE

The Grill Master (Cook) creates "Best in Class" guest experience at El Pollo Loco by preparing grilled and hot food items, following precise Company standards for preparation and presentation.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

• Prepare, marinate, season, cook, stock and rotate chicken and other grilled proteins according to company standards.
• Receive orders, cut cooked chicken, and arrange proteins for proper presentation on the plate or in the applicable packaging apparatus.
• Monitor holding time for grilled proteins and take corrective actions when hold time expires or when product quality fails to meet company standards.
• Maintain and ensure that all cooked proteins are at proper serving temperature.
• Inspect chicken and other raw proteins for acceptable quality standards prior to marinating or grilling.
• Clean and sanitize the entire work area including all equipment, tools, storage containers, grills and hoods.
• Perform other duties as assigned by management to support restaurant operations.

QUALIFICATIONS – EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, LICENSE/CERTIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to satisfactorily perform the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodation will be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job. The requirements listed below are representative of the education and/or experience required.

Certifications

• Obtain Food Handler Certification promptly upon hire, adhering to EPL policy and state regulations.

Education/Work Experience:

• Previous experience in customer service or food service is preferred but not required.

What’s in it for you?

• Competitive pay
• No overnight hours
• Employee discount on food
• Excellent career growth potential (we promote from within)
• Flexible Schedule: Full-Time or Part-Time hours
• Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance*
• Paid vacation**
• Paid sick time
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible spending accounts, Legal Insurance, and Pet Insurance*
• 401(K) plan with match and immediate vesting (must be at least 21 to participate)
• Discounts on theme parks, movie tickets, sports events, hotels and more...
• Eligibility for these benefits is based on the number of average hours worked per week within a 12-month period.
• Eligibility begins after completing at least 12 months of employment averaging 33 hours of work per week.

Why work for us?

When it comes to our people, our motto is: Let them cook. In fact, we see you as our secret ingredient. While our chicken is fire, it’s our people who set us ablaze. You’re the ones bringing the passion, ideas and energy–the flavor–whether cooking in the restaurant or working in the support center. That’s why we take pride in providing a place where you can express, develop and belong… all while enjoying a healthy balance. Here, fire-grilled chicken makes flamin’ good careers.

The pay range identified is the hourly or salary rate El Pollo Loco expects to pay for the posted position. This range does not include any benefits or bonus opportunities that might be available for the position based on position and eligibility criteria. Individual pay will vary based on a variety of factors including years of experience, industry experience, education, geography, etc.