Restaurant Jobs in California
Restaurant jobs in California are among the most plentiful in the country, with demand running from entry-level dishwashers and hosts through executive chefs and general managers across the state's enormous food service industry. Los Angeles, San Francisco, and San Diego account for the heaviest concentration of openings, anchored by employers like Darden Restaurants, McDonald's Corporation, and Compass Group, all of which maintain large California operations. The most sought-after specialties right now are line cooks, food and beverage managers, and front-of-house supervisors with experience in high-volume settings. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Showing 5 of 276+ Restaurant jobs
A Healthier Future Starts With You
As a Head Coach (General Manager), you're the leader, strategist, and mentor of your store. You'll inspire your team, drive operational excellence, and deliver exceptional guest experiences using data-driven insights to build healthier communities through real food.
Lead your team by balancing people, operations, and business performance. Build an inclusive culture while coaching talent, using technology to optimize operations and drive profitability. Maintain high standards of food quality, safety, and cleanliness while adapting to a dynamic environment.
Essential Functions
- People + Team Leadership: Lead the full employee lifecycle while fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and inclusion. Ensure compliance, deliver timely feedback, and develop a strong, diverse talent pipeline.
- Food Safety + Operations: Maintain high standards for food safety, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance, resolving facility, supply, and food quality issues while prioritizing team safety.
- Customer Experience: Deliver clean, hospitable, and brand-aligned experiences, acting on guest metrics and making data-informed business decisions.
- Financial + Business Acumen: Drive sales and profit by analyzing reports, managing costs, executing strategic plans, and creating effective schedules aligned with business goals.
- Systems, Process + Technology: Operate and support all systems, troubleshoot issues, and prioritize daily operations to ensure smooth business and guest experiences.
- Execute Head Coach Career Path Duties: Perform all essential functions outlined in the Assistant Coach role, including those from the Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member roles.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Experience in high-volume, fast-paced restaurants.
- Hands-on experience with local, organic, and sustainable products.
- ServSafe Manager or Regional Manager Food Safety Certification.
- Tech-savvy and comfortable using digital tools for operations, reporting, and team communication.
- Strong financial acumen: managing budgets, labor, and P&L effectively.
- Proven experience hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
- Exceptional adaptability and problem-solving in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
- Data-driven mindset with curiosity to identify and implement operational improvements.
- Commitment to operational excellence, hospitality, and team engagement.
- Experience in fast-casual or retail operations is a plus.
Minimum Requirements
- Meet all physical requirements of all roles within the career path of the Head Coach including Assistant Coach role, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member.
- 3+ years in food service, with at least 2 years in hands-on management.
- Experience hiring, developing, training, and motivating team members.
- Skilled in planning, managing, and forecasting financials, labor, and inventory.
- Hands-on experience managing and optimizing processes in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven ability to lead and mentor teams collaboratively.
What Perks You'll Get
- Competitive base salary + 20% bonus potential.
- Medical, dental, + vision plans.
- Paid vacation + wellness time.
- 401(k) program.
- Paid family leave.
- Complimentary greens and Sweetgreen swag.
- Opportunities to impact your team, community, and business.
- A collaborative team that lives our core values.
- Clear career path for personal and professional development.
Who We Are
Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Since 2007, Sweetgreen has reimagined fast food to be fresh, flavorful, and rooted in relationships with farmers and communities. As we grow, we are committed to developing our people in our restaurants and at our support center, so that everyone can be part of the movement. When you join Sweetgreen, you not only invest in your own future but help create spaces where food, people, and purpose come together.
Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service in the uniformed services of the United States, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.
California residents: Review our applicant privacy notice HERE.
sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.
A Healthier Future Starts With You
As a Head Coach (General Manager), you're the leader, strategist, and mentor of your store. You'll inspire your team, drive operational excellence, and deliver exceptional guest experiences using data-driven insights to build healthier communities through real food.
Lead your team by balancing people, operations, and business performance. Build an inclusive culture while coaching talent, using technology to optimize operations and drive profitability. Maintain high standards of food quality, safety, and cleanliness while adapting to a dynamic environment.
Essential Functions
- People + Team Leadership: Lead the full employee lifecycle while fostering a culture of trust, transparency, and inclusion. Ensure compliance, deliver timely feedback, and develop a strong, diverse talent pipeline.
- Food Safety + Operations: Maintain high standards for food safety, cleanliness, and equipment maintenance, resolving facility, supply, and food quality issues while prioritizing team safety.
- Customer Experience: Deliver clean, hospitable, and brand-aligned experiences, acting on guest metrics and making data-informed business decisions.
- Financial + Business Acumen: Drive sales and profit by analyzing reports, managing costs, executing strategic plans, and creating effective schedules aligned with business goals.
- Systems, Process + Technology: Operate and support all systems, troubleshoot issues, and prioritize daily operations to ensure smooth business and guest experiences.
- Execute Head Coach Career Path Duties: Perform all essential functions outlined in the Assistant Coach role, including those from the Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member roles.
What Makes You Stand Out
- Experience in high-volume, fast-paced restaurants.
- Hands-on experience with local, organic, and sustainable products.
- ServSafe Manager or Regional Manager Food Safety Certification.
- Tech-savvy and comfortable using digital tools for operations, reporting, and team communication.
- Strong financial acumen: managing budgets, labor, and P&L effectively.
- Proven experience hiring, coaching, and developing high-performing teams.
- Exceptional adaptability and problem-solving in fast-paced, dynamic environments.
- Data-driven mindset with curiosity to identify and implement operational improvements.
- Commitment to operational excellence, hospitality, and team engagement.
- Experience in fast-casual or retail operations is a plus.
Minimum Requirements
- Meet all physical requirements of all roles within the career path of the Head Coach including Assistant Coach role, Shift Leader, Kitchen Lead, and Team Member.
- 3+ years in food service, with at least 2 years in hands-on management.
- Experience hiring, developing, training, and motivating team members.
- Skilled in planning, managing, and forecasting financials, labor, and inventory.
- Hands-on experience managing and optimizing processes in a fast-paced environment.
- Proven ability to lead and mentor teams collaboratively.
What Perks You'll Get
- Competitive base salary + 20% bonus potential.
- Medical, dental, + vision plans.
- Paid vacation + wellness time.
- 401(k) program.
- Paid family leave.
- Complimentary greens and Sweetgreen swag.
- Opportunities to impact your team, community, and business.
- A collaborative team that lives our core values.
- Clear career path for personal and professional development.
Who We Are
Sweetgreen is a national restaurant brand dedicated to building healthier communities by connecting people to real food. Since 2007, Sweetgreen has reimagined fast food to be fresh, flavorful, and rooted in relationships with farmers and communities. As we grow, we are committed to developing our people in our restaurants and at our support center, so that everyone can be part of the movement. When you join Sweetgreen, you not only invest in your own future but help create spaces where food, people, and purpose come together.
Sweetgreen provides equal opportunities for all employees and applicants, without regard to sex or gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, race (including traits historically associated with race, such as hair texture and protective hairstyles), religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, pregnancy, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sexual orientation, any service in the uniformed services of the United States, or any other consideration protected by federal, state, or local law.
California residents: Review our applicant privacy notice HERE.
sweetgreen participates in the federal government's E-Verify program to determine employment eligibility. To learn more about the E-Verify program, please click here.
See All 276+ Restaurant Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Restaurant JobsRestaurant Jobs by City in California
Where California roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Restaurant Job Market in California
A snapshot from current California openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Panera Bread82
- KFC54
- Wendy's27
- Sweetgreen18
- Taco Bell15
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage216
- Hospitality & Tourism68
- Retail13
- Technology & Software4
- Consulting & Professional Services2
What California Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in restaurant jobs across California.
- Valid California Food Handler Card or ServSafe certification required by state law
- Prior experience in a commercial kitchen or high-volume restaurant environment
- Knowledge of California food safety regulations and health code compliance
- Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by restaurant schedules
- Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to fifty pounds consistently
- Strong communication skills for coordinating with kitchen and front-of-house teams
Restaurant Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a restaurant worker in California?
California requires most food handlers to obtain a California Food Handler Card within 30 days of hire, issued through a California Department of Public Health approved provider such as the California Restaurant Association Education Foundation. Managers at permitted food facilities must additionally hold a Food Safety Manager Certification from an accredited program. Beyond certification, most California employers expect a high school diploma or equivalent and prior kitchen or service experience for roles above entry level.
Which companies hire restaurants in California?
Employers hiring restaurants in California right now include Panera Bread, KFC, and Wendy's, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of June 2026. California's scale means large hospitality groups, hotel chains, and fast-casual chains run continuous hiring cycles throughout the year, particularly in the state's major metro areas.
Which California cities have the most restaurant jobs?
San Diego, Los Angeles, and Rosemead lead California for restaurant job openings, driven by Los Angeles's massive tourism and entertainment economy, San Francisco's dense urban dining scene, and San Diego's year-round visitor traffic and growing hospitality sector, all of which sustain high and consistent demand for restaurant staff at every level.
Are there remote restaurant jobs in California?
Yes, but they're rare. Restaurant work is almost entirely on-site by nature, from kitchen preparation to table service and floor management. About 4% of restaurant openings tied to California are remote or hybrid as of June 2026, and those positions are concentrated in corporate roles such as menu development, supply chain coordination, and restaurant operations consulting rather than floor-level positions.
How can I get hired as a restaurant worker in California with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry point is applying for a host, busser, cashier, or food runner role at a high-volume chain or hotel restaurant, where employers routinely hire with no prior experience and train on the job. Large California operators like Darden and Compass Group run structured onboarding programs for new hires. Earning a California Food Handler Card before applying gives candidates a concrete edge and signals readiness to work legally in the state's food service environment.
Where can I find and apply to restaurant jobs in California?
You can find and apply to restaurant jobs in California on Migrate Mate, which lists current California openings updated regularly. Search the available roles, find one that fits your experience and location, and apply directly through the listing without needing to create a profile first.
See All 276+ Restaurant Jobs in California
Find roles in California that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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