Pasadena Kitchen Team

HomeState; Pasadena, Northern (CA, KY); Hybrid; USD 30,000 - 39,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free meals

Benefits

Life insurance

Employee assistance program

Advancement opportunities

Slip-resistant shoes

Community involvement

Transparent communication

Compassionate leadership

Job summary

HomeState in Southern California is seeking a Kitchen Team Member to join our Tex Mex kitchen in Pasadena. You will support line cooks, prep, and dish, ensuring meals are prepared safely and to our standards.

The role emphasizes guest-focused hospitality, teamwork, and attention to detail, with opportunities for advancement. Eligibility includes weekend/evening availability and a Food Handler certification.

Qualifications

• 1-2 years experience in a professional restaurant kitchen is preferred.
• Availability to work weekends, day shifts and evening shifts.
• Valid Food Handlers Certification Card (or be able to take a company provided course within 30 days of hire).

Responsibilities

• Reenforce guest trust by complying with sanitation standards, portion sizes, recipes, builds, cooking/cooling methods, packaging, kitchen policies.
• Take on new opportunities and challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy and enthusiasm; manage time efficiently to fulfill duties.
• Collaborate with the team to support daily tasks and share training moments; report safety concerns to leadership.
• Maintain regular attendance and comply with HomeState standards and policies.

Skills

Guest Focus

Action Oriented

Resilient

Collaborative

Job description

Description

Kitchen Team Member

HomeState

HomeState is a Tex Mex Kitchen in Southern California. We serve tacos, queso, brisket, and margaritas, but more than that, we serve each other. We provide everyone with warm hospitality that makes them feel at home. No matter where you’re from. Everything we do – from how we greet each other to how we show up in our communities – is rooted in that belief. We serve hospitality first, tacos second.

SHINE: HOW WE SHOW UP

• Service – Our foundation is care for the guest and team experience.
• Hospitality – We treat others with respect and dignity. All are welcome.
• Intentional – No detail is too small and nothing happens by accident.
• Nurturing – We value learning and curiosity through training and innovation.
• Excellence – We hold ourselves to the highest standards in safety and service.

PAY

$24–$28/ hr with tip share

Base rate $18.75/hr (projected minimum wage) · With tip share it is reasonable to expect $24–$28/hr

WHY HOMESTATE

• Free delicious meals every shift
• Affordable benefits*
• 100% company-paid life insurance*
• Employee assistance program
• Advancement opportunities available
• Slip-resistant shoe program
• Advancement opportunities
• We play an active role in our communities
• We value transparent communication
• We lead with compassion

CORE SKILLS & RESPONSIBILITIES

• Guest Focus: Reenforce guest trust by complying with sanitation standards, portion sizes, recipes, builds, cooking/cooling methods, packaging, kitchen policies. Assist with receiving and storage of all incoming orders to ensure proper temperature control. Be knowledgeable and familiar with all stations of the kitchen team including but not limited to, prep, line, grill, dish and tortilla.
• Action Oriented: Take on new opportunities and challenges with a sense of urgency, high energy and enthusiasm. Manage time efficiently by taking initiative and working with a sense of urgency to fulfill job duties, prep lists, cleaning tasks and checklists. Find opportunities to complete other tasks assigned by the leader of the shift. Take action to ensure leadership is aware of any equipment, product, quality or safety concerns.
• Resilient: Rebound from setbacks when faced with difficult situations. Calmly identify and troubleshoot issues that occur during the shift to ensure efficient operations. Constantly communicate with honesty, integrity and transparency.
• Collaborative: Build partnerships and work collaboratively to meet shared objectives. Work closely with the team to support each other through daily tasks, promote teamwork and assist with training. Think boldly and bravely to shape a positive impact on one's self, family, neighbors and team members.
• Follow all HomeState standards, sanitation guidelines, policies or procedures to ensure that you are serving guests the highest quality, delivering caring hospitality, and that you are embodying the HomeState mission and core values.
• Maintain regular, predictable attendance, which includes attendance at all scheduled shifts, training and meetings.

Line Cook

• Ensure food is stored and cooked at the correct temperature by regulating ovens, fryers, other kitchen equipment and completing line checks.
• Ensure product quality conducting proper tasting procedures, rotation, storage (i.e. FIFO) and labeling.
• Carry product, equipment, and utensils to and from storage and work areas. Maintain sufficient levels of products at line stations.
• Must be able to understand orders on the KDS screen.

Cleaning & Organizational Duties

• Clean and sanitize work station area including tables, shelves, walls, griddles, fryers, ovens, and other standard kitchen equipment. Load utensils, containers, and other kitchen tools into dishwashing machines and help keep the dish area organized and neat.
• Remove trash and clean kitchen garbage containers. Clean, sweep and mop as directed to assist in maintaining restaurant spaces, including common areas like restrooms.

Requirements

PROFESSIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• 1-2 years experience in a professional restaurant kitchen is preferred.
• Personable and enjoys working with people and a diverse team.
• Availability to work weekends, day shifts and evening shifts.
• Valid Food Handlers Certification Card (or be able to take a company provided course within 30 days of hire).

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

• Ability to remain in a stationary position for long periods of time (6 or more hours per shift, excluding break times).
• Ability to lift, push, pull, or carry up to 40 pounds (examples include stacks of metal sheet trays, bulk food items, and taking out the trash.)
• Ability to frequently bend and reach overhead (examples include stocking supplies and organizing products in the walk in cooler).
• Ability to lift and use utensils (including chopping), and grip equipment such as pots/pans or other kitchen equipment.
• Ability to work in fluctuating temperatures ranging from hot (high radiant heat areas
• ~ 82°) to cold (food storage areas ~ 37 °).
• Ability to work near open flames, hot cooking equipment, and steam.
• Ability to perform certain repetitive motion activities (e.g., utilizing certain utensils such as food scoops for extended periods of time or flipping tortillas in repetition.)
• Ability to work in tight spaces such as dish stations.
• Ability to recognize, perceive, communicate and/or comprehend directions and spatial cues (e.g. “hot,” “behind,” “corner,” knife,” etc.)
• Ability to sit, squat and kneel occasionally.
• Ability to regularly move around the restaurant from guests areas to kitchen areas while carrying items (such as beverage racks and food cambros).
• Must be able to work in a constant state of alertness and safe manner.

HomeState participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please CLICK HERE.

Please note that this job description is not meant to cover or include all the tasks, duties, and responsibilities the employee may be required to perform, and any assigned tasks, duties, and responsibilities are subject to change at the company’s discretion, with or without notice or contemporaneous update to this document. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities and sincerely-held religious beliefs to perform the essential functions of this position, to the extent required by and in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local law; contact Human Resources to request a reasonable accommodation. Nothing in this job description modifies the at-will nature of employment.

If you require an accommodation to complete the job application process, please contact [e-mail].

HomeState embraces diversity and does not discriminate in employment on the basis of any classification protected by law. We will consider for employment all qualified Applicants, including those with Criminal Histories, in a manner consistent with the requirements of applicable state and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance.

*Eligibility for some benefits may be dependent upon average hours worked and/or length of employment.