68 Best head chef Jobs in East Orange, New Jersey (September 2026)

Hot & Fresh LLC is currently seeking a dedicated and experienced Head Chef for our new Home Style Comfort Cafeteria-Restaurant. This is a full-time position with immediate availability. Our Company: We are a Home Style Comfort Cafeteria-Restaurant with an open kitchen, offering a grill menu with a fast food touch of Southern dishes and a mix of world influences. Our new restaurant, well located at a busy corner, has 1,700 SF shared between a Coffee-Bakery section with a grab & go area for early operations (fresh coffee, breakfast sandwiches, natural juices) and an Open Kitchen. There’s a nice outdoors seating space with a capacity of 35-45. Our Philosophy: We prioritize honesty and safety. Our premises are pristine, clean, and well-organized to produce fresh, tasty, and high-quality food products without low-quality frozen or artificially engineered ingredients. Our baking goods contain only flour, water, butter, eggs, milk, and chocolate; we do not serve frozen, low-quality products. We are committed to providing simple home-style comfort food, fast food, along with fresh, tasty salads, soups, and desserts. We offer a respectful and flexible working environment where creativity and professional growth are encouraged. The Role: We are looking for a professional who combines technical talent with strong values such as discipline and kindness. Key responsibilities include: • Planning and executing all kitchen and cafeteria production., • Managing daily operations, including staff scheduling, inventory tracking, and food safety compliance., • Collaborating with management on vendor selection, budgeting, menu renovation, and cost analysis., • Training staff in sanitary standards and customer service., • Coordinating catering events alongside regular on-site operations. Qualifications: • 4-5 years of kitchen management or supervisory experience in a high-volume environment., • Advanced knowledge of culinary arts and hands-on experience with grilling, charbroiling, and plating., • Familiarity with Rational combi ovens., • Strong leadership skills and the ability to multitask under pressure., • Relevant professional and sanitary certifications., • Ability to maintain a static position for extended periods and lift up to 45 pounds. Compensation: Compensation is commensurate with experience, with a starting pay of $27.00/hr. We offer performance-based raises, incentive profit-sharing, loyalty bonuses for long-term employees, and recognition rewards. If you are a team player with a passion for excellence and a positive attitude, please submit your resume for consideration. Thank you for your time and attention.

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Tacoria

Back of House Manager

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year Job description: Do you love Mexican food? Well, we do too! We founded Tacoria as a way of bringing the authentic tastes, vibrant colors, rich culture, and warm hospitality of Mexico to our local community. Our food is made fresh daily, and our ingredients come straight from local farms. (For more on our story, visit our website: www.tacoria.com.) Due to our current growth and expansion, we currently have several Kitchen Manager positions available at our restaurant in Edgewater. If you have experience managing and motivating a team of line cooks, enjoy working in a fast-paced and fun environment, and want to join a rapidly growing company with massive potential, then we want to hear from you. What will you be doing? • Managing a team of up to kitchen staff, including line chefs, • Ensuring the quality and consistency of our food, • Scheduling, supervising, and providing culinary training to the team, • Rolling out menu and recipe changes and ensuring staff is trained and well versed with our menu, • Maintaining equipment, • Ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations and participating in audits and inspections, • Monitoring food costs What skills do you bring to the table? • Previous experience working in a fast-paced environment, • One (1) year of previous restaurant experience (preferred), • Demonstrated ability to lead and supervise a team (1 year preferred), • Excellent communication skills, • Bilingual in Spanish is a PLUS What else do you need? • US work authorization (required), • High school or equivalent (GED), • Culinary education or mentorship (preferred), • Serve Safe certification (preferred), • Flexibility and an open schedule to allows you to cover shifts as needed, • Reliable transportation to get you to work, • Ability to work an 8 hour shift, which may include weekends What do we offer? • Salary of $55,000 - $65,000 per year (depending on your experience), • Benefits & Perks including:, • Flexible schedule, • Health insurance, • Paid time off, • Paid training, • Free shift meals and discounts on your day off! This Job Is Ideal for Someone Who Is: • Dependable -- more reliable than spontaneous, • People-oriented -- enjoys interacting with people and working on group projects, • Adaptable/flexible -- enjoys doing work that requires frequent shifts in direction, • Detail-oriented -- would rather focus on the details of work than the bigger picture, • Achievement-oriented -- enjoys taking on challenges, even if they might fail, • Autonomous/Independent -- enjoys working with little direction, • High stress tolerance -- thrives in a high-pressure environment If you’d like to be part of a friendly and challenging (yet fun) environment, with potential for growth, then come join us as a Kitchen Manager. Help us share our culinary expertise with our customers while providing them with a taste of Mexican culture. Become part of our story! While COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted in NJ, we are dedicated to ensuring the safety and well-being of both our employees and our customers. We have sanitizing, disinfecting, and cleaning procedures in place and we require our employees to: • Continue to wear personal protective equipment (provided), • Allow for temperature screenings Visit us at our Company's website: tacoria.com Job Type: Full-time Benefits: • Employee discount, • Health insurance, • Paid time off, • Paid training Shift: • Day shift, • Evening shift, • Night shift Work Location: In person

Springfield/Belmont, Newark

Newark Food Factory, powered by Ideal Institute of Technology, is seeking a dependable and motivated Line Cook to join our culinary team. The Line Cook will prepare high-quality meals, maintain a clean and organized workstation, and support catering, special events, takeout, delivery, and culinary training activities. Key Responsibilities • Prepare and cook food according to recipes, portion standards, and instructions from the Head Chef., • Set up and stock assigned cooking stations before each shift., • Assist with catering orders, private events, takeout, and delivery preparation., • Follow proper food-handling, sanitation, and temperature-control procedures., • Maintain a clean and organized kitchen, including equipment, workstations, and storage areas., • Label, date, rotate, and properly store food products., • Monitor inventory and report low-stock items to the Head Chef., • Assist with receiving and storing food deliveries., • Minimize food waste and use ingredients responsibly., • Follow all Newark Food Factory safety policies and kitchen procedures., • Work cooperatively with chefs, kitchen staff, students, and event personnel., • Complete opening and closing duties as assigned., • Perform additional kitchen-related responsibilities when needed. Qualifications • Previous line cook, prep cook, restaurant, catering, or commercial kitchen experience is preferred., • Basic knowledge of food preparation and kitchen safety., • Ability to follow recipes and verbal instructions., • Strong attendance, punctuality, and teamwork skills., • Ability to work in a fast-paced environment., • Willingness to learn and accept feedback., • ServSafe Food Handler or ServSafe Manager certification is preferred or must be obtained within the required timeframe., • Must be legally authorized to work in the United States. Physical Requirements • Ability to stand for extended periods., • Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds., • Ability to work around hot equipment, sharp utensils, and refrigerated areas., • Ability to bend, reach, and perform repetitive kitchen tasks safely. Schedule Flexible availability may be required, including weekdays, evenings, weekends, and special events. About Newark Food Factory Newark Food Factory is a state-of-the-art commissary and teaching kitchen powered by Ideal Institute of Technology. We support culinary training, food entrepreneurship, catering, private chef experiences, multicultural cuisine, and community events. Newark Food Factory is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, or any other status protected by law.

Overview We're seeking an experienced, high-energy Food Truck Chef to lead daily kitchen operations and deliver consistently delicious, high-quality meals to our customers. This role is perfect for a chef who thrives in a fast-paced, mobile environment - someone who can manage prep efficiently, maintain tight food/safety standards, and create menu items that cater to our established clientele. In this position, you'll oversee cooking and line service during service hours, ensure smooth workflow in a limited space, and help maintain our signature flavors - from prep to plating and serving. You'll also collaborate with the team on menu execution, ingredient sourcing, and day-to-day improvements to operations. This is an exciting opportunity to showcase your culinary expertise with a constantly growing and expanding culinary group. Cowbella's Sizzlin' Street Food is parked at Bolero Snort Brewery and Tasting Room in Carlstadt, NJ. Duties • Prepare and cook a variety of menu items with precision, ensuring consistent quality and presentation., • Oversee daily kitchen operations, including inventory control, food safety compliance, and equipment maintenance., • Lead and supervise a small team of kitchen staff, fostering a collaborative and motivated work environment., • Manage food production schedules to meet customer demand during peak hours and special events., • Plan menus that incorporate fresh ingredients, dietary considerations, and innovative flavor combinations., • Ensure proper food handling procedures are followed to uphold hygiene standards and safety regulations., • Coordinate with vendors for timely procurement of ingredients and supplies, maintaining optimal inventory levels. Skills • Some culinary experience with a strong love in food preparation, cooking, and kitchen management., • Proven supervising experience in fast-paced restaurant or catering environments., • Knowledge of dietary restrictions and ability to adapt recipes accordingly., • Strong leadership skills with the ability to manage teams effectively and maintain high morale., • Experience in inventory management, food safety protocols, and food service management practices., • Excellent organizational skills for menu planning, shift management, and ensuring smooth daily operations.

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The Corner Slice