Chef Jobs in California
Chef jobs in California are among the most active in the country, concentrated in full-service restaurants, hotel food and beverage programs, catering operations, and entertainment venue dining across a market that runs from fine dining to fast-casual. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego are the largest hiring metros, with established employers like Marriott International, Hilton Hotels, and Disneyland Resort maintaining a consistent presence. The most in-demand specialties are sous chef roles, pastry, and California-cuisine-focused kitchen leadership. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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Showing 5 of 432+ Chef jobs
Compensation Range
Overview
Why The Henry?
- Competitive Pay and incentive opportunity
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage within 30 days of employment
- Retirement savings program with company match
- 50% dining discount at all Fox Restaurant Concept locations
- Additional discounts at The Cheesecake Factory and North Italia
- Gym, fitness studio & nutrition discounts offered through Gympass
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid time off
What you’ll do:
- Must have 3+ years high-volume restaurant management experience
- Demonstrate an understanding of business operations and financials
- Manage shifts which include daily decision making, scheduling, and planning
- Create memorable dining experiences by exceeding guest expectations
- Understand flavors, aromas, and characteristics of food ingredients
- Ensure product quality and restaurant cleanliness
- Perform calmly and effectively in a high-volume environment
- Manage on-the-fly requests with ease and poise
- Understand POS systems and OpenTable (or other digital/online reservation systems)
- Coach, lead and develop restaurant team
- Drive continuous improvement
To notify of a non-compliant job posting, please send a notice to HRCommunications@foxrc.com
Compensation Range
Overview
Why The Henry?
- Competitive Pay and incentive opportunity
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Coverage within 30 days of employment
- Retirement savings program with company match
- 50% dining discount at all Fox Restaurant Concept locations
- Additional discounts at The Cheesecake Factory and North Italia
- Gym, fitness studio & nutrition discounts offered through Gympass
- Tuition reimbursement
- Paid time off
What you’ll do:
- Must have 3+ years high-volume restaurant management experience
- Demonstrate an understanding of business operations and financials
- Manage shifts which include daily decision making, scheduling, and planning
- Create memorable dining experiences by exceeding guest expectations
- Understand flavors, aromas, and characteristics of food ingredients
- Ensure product quality and restaurant cleanliness
- Perform calmly and effectively in a high-volume environment
- Manage on-the-fly requests with ease and poise
- Understand POS systems and OpenTable (or other digital/online reservation systems)
- Coach, lead and develop restaurant team
- Drive continuous improvement
To notify of a non-compliant job posting, please send a notice to HRCommunications@foxrc.com
See All 432+ Chef Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chef JobsChef Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Chef Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Oakmont Senior Living26
- Bon Appétit19
- Aramark7
- Sodexo6
- North Italia6
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
- Hospitality & Tourism
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in chef jobs across California.
- Food Handler Card or California Food Manager Certification required by most employers
- Culinary degree or completion of an accredited culinary arts program preferred
- Proven experience in a high-volume, full-service restaurant or hotel kitchen
- Proficiency in a specific cuisine type such as Mediterranean, Asian, or plant-based
- Ability to lead and train kitchen staff and manage line operations during service
- Working knowledge of food cost controls, ordering, and inventory management systems
Chef Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a chef in California?
California does not require a state-issued culinary license to work as a chef, but most employers expect a food safety certification such as a ServSafe Food Manager credential, which is recognized statewide. The typical path combines formal culinary training at a program like the California Culinary Academy, the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, or a community college culinary arts department, followed by progressive kitchen experience starting at entry line cook positions.
Which companies hire chefs in California?
California chef roles are posted by Oakmont Senior Living, Bon Appétit, and Aramark and others right now, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's density of hotel groups, resort properties, and independent fine-dining restaurants means openings appear consistently across both corporate food service operators and independent owner-run kitchens.
Which California cities have the most chef jobs?
San Francisco, Los Angeles, and San Diego have the most chef openings in California. Los Angeles leads because of its sheer concentration of restaurants, studios, and hotel food programs, while San Francisco's thriving restaurant scene and San Diego's resort and tourism industry generate steady demand, and any smaller cities on the list tend to be anchored by large resort properties, university dining programs, or regional hospital food service operations.
Are there remote chef jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. About 1% of chef openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, reflecting how hands-on and kitchen-based most of the work is. The portions of the role most suited to remote work are recipe development consulting, menu planning for contract clients, and culinary content creation rather than any traditional kitchen position.
How can I get hired as a chef in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is applying for prep cook or line cook roles at high-volume California employers such as hotel groups, casino dining operations, or large catering companies, which regularly bring in candidates without extensive experience. Community college culinary arts programs throughout the state, including those at Los Angeles Trade-Technical College and City College of San Francisco, offer hands-on training that many California employers recognize. Earning a ServSafe Food Manager certification before applying gives candidates a measurable edge over those without any credential.
Where can I find and apply to chef jobs in California?
You can find and apply to chef jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the listings by city or role type, find the positions that fit your experience level and preferred kitchen environment, and apply directly to the ones that match.
See All 432+ Chef Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Chef Jobs