Head Chef Jobs in California
Head Chef jobs in California are concentrated in Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego, where the restaurant industry ranges from Michelin-starred fine dining to large hotel and resort kitchens. Major employers with an established California presence include Marriott International, Disney, and Levy Restaurants, each operating kitchens that recruit experienced culinary leaders year-round. California's most in-demand specialties are farm-to-table cuisine, Asian fusion, and high-volume catering for entertainment and hospitality venues. See the openings below and apply to the ones that match your experience.
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About us
We started elaichi co. to share our South Asian heritage through warm hospitality and a really, really good cup of chai. Our spaces are built around the idea of treating everyone who walks through the door like an honored guest, or “mehmaan” as we say back home. We are growing, and we need someone to help us make the pastry program just as memorable as the drinks.
The role
We are looking for a Head Pastry Chef to run our small commissary bakery in Emeryville. This kitchen is where all the food happens for our cafe locations and wholesale partners. You’ll run the show here, from dreaming up new recipes to making sure the daily bake goes out smoothly.
We may be small but we have big dreams and there’s a ton of growth built into this role. We will help guide the program so it lines up with what the cafes need, but there is so much freedom here. We want you to bring your own vision to the table and really make this bakery your own.
We are looking for someone who loves the details, cares deeply about their team, and gets excited about bringing our delicious pastries to as many people as possible.
What you’ll do
- Lead the team: Build and guide a great baking crew. We believe in taking care of our people, which means hiring and onboarding well, training patiently, and sitting down for regular 1:1s to share feedback and mentor your staff. We want you to help us strike that perfect balance between running a highly professional kitchen and building a team with real camaraderie.
- Grow the program: We are expanding, and we want you looking ahead. You will keep an eye out for ways to grow the team and the pastry program as a whole, whether that means figuring out when it is time to hire more hands or finding opportunities to expand what the bakery can do.
- Run commissary operations: Oversee daily production for multiple cafe locations and wholesale partners. You will write the weekly schedules, figure out the smartest way to get the bake done efficiently, and keep passive baking time to an absolute minimum.
- Develop recipes: This is the fun part. You will ideate and test new sweet and savory menu items that are Desi-inspired but not too on the nose. They need to taste incredible, but they also need to be something your team can replicate easily while keeping our kitchen capacity and labor costs in check.
- Manage inventory and numbers: Keep close track of stock levels for all food and non-food items, practice strict FIFO, and manage the relationships with our niche spice suppliers. You will also look at daily sales trends, manage waste, and review monthly reports to make sure the bakery is hitting its profitability goals.
- Keep standards high: Make sure every single item leaving the kitchen meets our serving standards. You will also make sure the space strictly follows all health, safety, and deep-cleaning protocols.
What we’re looking for
- At least 1 year of experience specifically in pastry and kitchen management.
- A baking and pastry degree is preferred, or 3+ years of hands-on kitchen experience.
- Strong communication skills, the kind of organizational intuition that keeps a kitchen calm, and the ability to pick up new techniques quickly.
- Availability for early mornings, weekends, and holidays. We are a 7-day-a-week operation and the baking happens early.
- A long-term mindset. We are looking for ideally a one-year commitment from someone who wants to stick around, shape the future of our food through their creativity and innovation, and grow their career right alongside the bakery.
Why work with us
We offer a 401k, paid time off, and paid sick leave. But beyond the basics, we offer a kitchen where your ideas actually make it to the menu, and a team that genuinely likes working together.
If you love making people smile through really good food and you don't mind smelling like cardamom all day, we would love to meet you.
Pay: $68,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
About us
We started elaichi co. to share our South Asian heritage through warm hospitality and a really, really good cup of chai. Our spaces are built around the idea of treating everyone who walks through the door like an honored guest, or “mehmaan” as we say back home. We are growing, and we need someone to help us make the pastry program just as memorable as the drinks.
The role
We are looking for a Head Pastry Chef to run our small commissary bakery in Emeryville. This kitchen is where all the food happens for our cafe locations and wholesale partners. You’ll run the show here, from dreaming up new recipes to making sure the daily bake goes out smoothly.
We may be small but we have big dreams and there’s a ton of growth built into this role. We will help guide the program so it lines up with what the cafes need, but there is so much freedom here. We want you to bring your own vision to the table and really make this bakery your own.
We are looking for someone who loves the details, cares deeply about their team, and gets excited about bringing our delicious pastries to as many people as possible.
What you’ll do
- Lead the team: Build and guide a great baking crew. We believe in taking care of our people, which means hiring and onboarding well, training patiently, and sitting down for regular 1:1s to share feedback and mentor your staff. We want you to help us strike that perfect balance between running a highly professional kitchen and building a team with real camaraderie.
- Grow the program: We are expanding, and we want you looking ahead. You will keep an eye out for ways to grow the team and the pastry program as a whole, whether that means figuring out when it is time to hire more hands or finding opportunities to expand what the bakery can do.
- Run commissary operations: Oversee daily production for multiple cafe locations and wholesale partners. You will write the weekly schedules, figure out the smartest way to get the bake done efficiently, and keep passive baking time to an absolute minimum.
- Develop recipes: This is the fun part. You will ideate and test new sweet and savory menu items that are Desi-inspired but not too on the nose. They need to taste incredible, but they also need to be something your team can replicate easily while keeping our kitchen capacity and labor costs in check.
- Manage inventory and numbers: Keep close track of stock levels for all food and non-food items, practice strict FIFO, and manage the relationships with our niche spice suppliers. You will also look at daily sales trends, manage waste, and review monthly reports to make sure the bakery is hitting its profitability goals.
- Keep standards high: Make sure every single item leaving the kitchen meets our serving standards. You will also make sure the space strictly follows all health, safety, and deep-cleaning protocols.
What we’re looking for
- At least 1 year of experience specifically in pastry and kitchen management.
- A baking and pastry degree is preferred, or 3+ years of hands-on kitchen experience.
- Strong communication skills, the kind of organizational intuition that keeps a kitchen calm, and the ability to pick up new techniques quickly.
- Availability for early mornings, weekends, and holidays. We are a 7-day-a-week operation and the baking happens early.
- A long-term mindset. We are looking for ideally a one-year commitment from someone who wants to stick around, shape the future of our food through their creativity and innovation, and grow their career right alongside the bakery.
Why work with us
We offer a 401k, paid time off, and paid sick leave. But beyond the basics, we offer a kitchen where your ideas actually make it to the menu, and a team that genuinely likes working together.
If you love making people smile through really good food and you don't mind smelling like cardamom all day, we would love to meet you.
Pay: $68,000.00 - $75,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Employee discount
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
See All 14 Head Chef Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Chef JobsHead Chef Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Head Chef Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in head chef jobs across California.
- Food Handler Manager Certification issued or recognized by a California county health department
- Proven experience leading a professional kitchen as an executive or sous chef
- Demonstrated ability to develop seasonal menus aligned with California ingredient sourcing
- Strong financial acumen including food cost control and labor budget management
- Culinary degree or equivalent professional training from an accredited program
- Experience managing kitchen staff hiring, scheduling, and compliance with California labor law
Head Chef Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a head chef in California?
Becoming a head chef in California starts with completing culinary training, either through an accredited culinary arts program or by working up through professional kitchens. California does not require a state-issued chef license, but every food service manager must hold a Food Handler Manager Certification recognized by the local county health department. Most California employers expect candidates to have led a kitchen as a sous chef or executive chef before moving into a head chef role.
Which companies hire head chefs in California?
Employers hiring head chefs in California right now include Upper Crust Food Service, Scratch Restaurants, and Dio Deka, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. California's concentration of luxury hotels, entertainment venues, and independent fine-dining groups means head chef openings appear across a wide range of employer types throughout the state.
Which California cities have the most head chef jobs?
The California cities with the most head chef openings are Encino, Berkeley, and Brisbane. Los Angeles and San Francisco drive the largest share of postings thanks to their dense concentration of hotel groups, restaurant groups, and entertainment industry catering operations, while San Diego's tourism economy and growing food scene sustain consistent demand for experienced culinary leaders.
Are there remote head chef jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Head chef work is inherently hands-on, requiring daily presence in a kitchen to manage staff, oversee food production, and maintain quality standards. About 0% of head chef openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, and those positions are typically limited to consulting roles, recipe development contracts, or culinary content creation rather than traditional kitchen leadership.
How can I get hired as a head chef in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is to join a large California hotel or restaurant group as a line cook or sous chef and advance from within. Employers like major Marriott and Hilton properties in Los Angeles and San Francisco run structured kitchen training programs where motivated cooks move into lead roles over time. Completing an accredited culinary arts program at a California institution and obtaining your county Food Handler Manager Certification gives you a clear edge when applying to these entry-level kitchen positions.
Where can I find and apply to head chef jobs in California?
You can find and apply to head chef jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings. Search the listings to find roles that match your experience level and location, then apply directly to the ones that fit. The listings update regularly, so check back if you don't find the right opening immediately.
See All 14 Head Chef Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Head Chef Jobs