Cook

Panda Restaurant Group; South Elgin (IL); On-site; USD 26,174 - 30,307; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Flexible schedules

Free meals while working

Medical, vision, dental insurance

401(k) with company match

Vacation and sick leave

Career development opportunities

Job summary

A leading American Chinese restaurant chain is seeking a Cook to join their team in South Elgin, Illinois. The role involves creating dishes in a fast-paced environment, supporting kitchen operations, and adhering to food safety standards. Candidates should have some high school education and preferably some kitchen experience. Offering competitive pay between $19 and $22 per hour, with benefits including free meals and flexible schedules.

Qualifications

• Food safety certification required.
• Ability to lift up to 50 lbs.
• Experience in kitchen or food service preferred.

Responsibilities

• Create a vibrant kitchen environment.
• Prepare dishes according to company standards.
• Train and guide the kitchen team.
• Manage back-of-house duties.

Skills

Food safety knowledge

Ability to work in a fast-paced environment

Effective verbal communication skills

Adaptability to dynamic environments

Education

Some high school education

Preferably some operations experience

Job description

Our Panda Cook associates are important leaders of our team and the heart of our kitchen. You are responsible for creating food with passion, service with heart and ambience with pride.

Overview

As a Cook for our team you will embrace a central role in a fast‑paced, growth‑oriented environment. Our restaurants are the heart and soul of our company, and we believe our people are the recipe for success.

Responsibilities

• Support in creating a vibrant and welcoming environment for our guests.
• Preparing all dishes to meet company recipes and standards.
• Guiding kitchen team and assisting with their training.
• Performing all back‑of‑house responsibilities.

Qualifications – Education and Experience

• Some high school education.
• Preferred: some operations experience.
• Food safety: local/municipal requirements such as Food Handler certification, acquired at applicant’s own expense.

Benefits

• Flexible schedules.
• Great pay.
• Free meals while working at Panda.
• Medical, vision, dental, voluntary short‑term disability, cancer income protection insurance for full‑time associates.
• Health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts.
• 401(k) with company match.
• Vacation, sick leave, bereavement/funeral leave and Leave Share Program for eligible associates.
• Associate discounts for many brands.
• Referral bonus for eligible associates.
• Opportunity to give back to your community.
• Hands‑on paid training to prepare you for success.
• On‑Going career and leadership development.
• Opportunities for growth into management positions.
• Pre‑tax dependent care flexible spending account.
• Refer to https://www.pandacareers.com/files/PRG_HR_Recruiting_Benefits.pdf for full information.
• Candidates must meet and continue to meet eligibility requirements for each benefit to qualify.

ADA Statement

While performing duties, counter areas are often hot with steam from steam table and food vapors. Workspace is restricted and employees are generally expected to remain standing for long periods of time. Employees must prepare hot and cold foods, use Chinese cook knife and other kitchen equipment and work quickly without losing accuracy. Employees must be able to lift up to 50 lbs., stand up to four hours and reach across counter tops measured at 36 inches to serve customers. Kitchens are hot and noise levels are usually high; storage space is limited and shelving is high. Employees must be able to work in a fast‑paced work environment, have effective verbal communication skills, ability to adapt to a dynamic environment with changing priorities, and the ability to manage conflicts/difficult situations.

About Panda

Panda Strong Since 1983: Founded in Glendale, California, we are now the largest family‑owned American Chinese restaurant concept in America. With close to 2,300 locations globally, we continue our mission of delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences by building an organization where people are inspired to better their lives. Whether it’s impacting our team or the communities we work in, we’re proud to be an organization that embraces family values.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to providing equal opportunity and does not discriminate on the basis of any characteristic protected by law, including but not limited to sex/gender, gender expression, race, color, religion, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, age, ancestry, medical condition, genetic information, marital status and veteran status. Additionally, we comply with all federal, state, and local laws regarding requests for workplace accommodation. The Americans with Disabilities Act prohibits discrimination against qualified individuals on the basis of disability. Applicants are entitled to reasonable accommodations, absent undue hardship, to effectively participate in the application and hiring process, e.g., sign language interpreters. If you require an accommodation for the application or interview process or for the position you are applying for, please reach out to [e-mail].

Pay Range

$19 per hour – $22 per hour. Within the range, individual pay is determined using various factors, including work location and experience.