Restaurant Jobs in Illinois
Restaurant jobs in Illinois are concentrated in food service, hospitality, and entertainment, with openings at every level from entry-line cook to executive chef and general manager. Chicago leads hiring volume by a wide margin, with Springfield and Rockford also generating steady demand across casual dining, fine dining, and institutional food service. Major established employers with deep Illinois roots include Lettuce Entertain You Enterprises, McDonald's corporate and franchise operations, and Hyatt Hotels. The most in-demand specialties are kitchen management, front-of-house supervision, and catering coordination. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
Find Restaurant JobsOverview
Showing 5 of 133+ Restaurant jobs
Starting hiring pay: $15.50
Restaurant Crewmembers at Raising Cane’s will wear many hats (including a Raising Cane’s hat) while working hard and having fun as a critical part of the Restaurant team. We are hiring immediately for Restaurant Crew to work all shifts: opening shifts, closing shifts and everything in between. Whether you have experience as a customer service associate, retail team member, cashier, restaurant server, kitchen lead, cook, prep cook, drive thru cashier or any other restaurant or service-oriented role - we have a position for you.
We offer competitive pay and benefits for all positions. Even if you don’t have previous Restaurant experience, this position is entry-level (yes, that's no experience required) and we provide paid training for every new Restaurant Crewmember on the team. We will make sure you are prepared to grow your Restaurant career with us.
Within your first year of working in the Restaurant, you can earn up to an extra $1.50 per hour in pay increases through additional training, certifications, and performance evaluations! If you want to be at Restaurant that is a FUN place to work, that values your growth and provides opportunities to impact your community, we want you on our team!
Qualities of awesome Canes Restaurant Crewmembers:
- Team player
- Excellent communicator
- Happy, Courteous and Enthusiastic
- Hard working and attentive
- Responsible and dependable
- Authentic and genuine
- Takes pride in doing a good job
Benefits available for hourly Crew:
- Access to voluntary benefits through an insurance marketplace, including Medical & Pharmacy, Dental, Vision Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, Hospital Indemnity, Legal Insurance, Auto and Renter’s Insurance, and ID Theft Protection
- OnePass Gym Membership Program
- 401(k) With Safe Harbor Employer Match (age 21 & older)
- Access to financial advisors for budget and retirement planning
- Crewmember Assistance Program
- Education assistance
- Pet Insurance
Perks & Rewards for hourly Crew:
- Paid Time Off*
- Closed for all major holidays**
- Early closure for company events
- Casual Work Attire
- Flexible Scheduling
- Perkspot Employee Discount Program
- Additional $1 per hour after 10pm**
- Must satisfy hours requirement per year
**Locations may vary
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
The intellectual and physical demands described below are representative of what must be met by Crewmembers to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Lift and carry, push or pull heavy objects up to 50 pounds
- Kneel, bend, twist or stoop
- Ascend or descend stairs
- Reach and grasp objects (including above head and below waistline)
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Ability to show up to scheduled shifts on time
- Cleaning tables, floors and other areas of the Restaurant
- Taking orders from Customers and processing payments efficiently
- Follow proper safety procedures when handling and/or preparing food
- Ability to multitask
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be 16 years of age or older
- Provide all Customers with quick and friendly service
- Work together as a team, assisting other Crewmembers in completion of tasks and assignments to ensure continuity of service
- Work under pressure and at a fast pace
- Align with Raising Cane’s culture by balancing Working Hard and Having Fun
- Take initiative
- Comply with Company policies
Raising Cane’s appreciates & values individuality. EOE
Starting hiring pay: $15.50
Restaurant Crewmembers at Raising Cane’s will wear many hats (including a Raising Cane’s hat) while working hard and having fun as a critical part of the Restaurant team. We are hiring immediately for Restaurant Crew to work all shifts: opening shifts, closing shifts and everything in between. Whether you have experience as a customer service associate, retail team member, cashier, restaurant server, kitchen lead, cook, prep cook, drive thru cashier or any other restaurant or service-oriented role - we have a position for you.
We offer competitive pay and benefits for all positions. Even if you don’t have previous Restaurant experience, this position is entry-level (yes, that's no experience required) and we provide paid training for every new Restaurant Crewmember on the team. We will make sure you are prepared to grow your Restaurant career with us.
Within your first year of working in the Restaurant, you can earn up to an extra $1.50 per hour in pay increases through additional training, certifications, and performance evaluations! If you want to be at Restaurant that is a FUN place to work, that values your growth and provides opportunities to impact your community, we want you on our team!
Qualities of awesome Canes Restaurant Crewmembers:
- Team player
- Excellent communicator
- Happy, Courteous and Enthusiastic
- Hard working and attentive
- Responsible and dependable
- Authentic and genuine
- Takes pride in doing a good job
Benefits available for hourly Crew:
- Access to voluntary benefits through an insurance marketplace, including Medical & Pharmacy, Dental, Vision Life Insurance, Short Term Disability, Hospital Indemnity, Legal Insurance, Auto and Renter’s Insurance, and ID Theft Protection
- OnePass Gym Membership Program
- 401(k) With Safe Harbor Employer Match (age 21 & older)
- Access to financial advisors for budget and retirement planning
- Crewmember Assistance Program
- Education assistance
- Pet Insurance
Perks & Rewards for hourly Crew:
- Paid Time Off*
- Closed for all major holidays**
- Early closure for company events
- Casual Work Attire
- Flexible Scheduling
- Perkspot Employee Discount Program
- Additional $1 per hour after 10pm**
- Must satisfy hours requirement per year
**Locations may vary
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS OF THE POSITION:
The intellectual and physical demands described below are representative of what must be met by Crewmembers to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Lift and carry, push or pull heavy objects up to 50 pounds
- Kneel, bend, twist or stoop
- Ascend or descend stairs
- Reach and grasp objects (including above head and below waistline)
- Excellent verbal and written communication
- Ability to show up to scheduled shifts on time
- Cleaning tables, floors and other areas of the Restaurant
- Taking orders from Customers and processing payments efficiently
- Follow proper safety procedures when handling and/or preparing food
- Ability to multitask
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Must be 16 years of age or older
- Provide all Customers with quick and friendly service
- Work together as a team, assisting other Crewmembers in completion of tasks and assignments to ensure continuity of service
- Work under pressure and at a fast pace
- Align with Raising Cane’s culture by balancing Working Hard and Having Fun
- Take initiative
- Comply with Company policies
Raising Cane’s appreciates & values individuality. EOE
See All 133+ Restaurant Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Restaurant JobsRestaurant Jobs by City in Illinois
Where Illinois roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Restaurant Job Market in Illinois
A snapshot from current Illinois openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Love’s Travel Stops13
- Lettuce Entertain You11
- Panera Bread10
- Raising Cane's9
- Jersey Mike's6
Top Industries Hiring
- Food & Beverage
What Illinois Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in restaurant jobs across Illinois.
- Illinois Food Handler Certificate or Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate required
- Prior experience in a commercial kitchen or full-service restaurant environment
- Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays in a fast-paced setting
- Knowledge of food safety standards and local health code compliance
- Strong teamwork and communication skills across front- and back-of-house
- Physical ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds
Restaurant Jobs in Illinois: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a restaurant worker in Illinois?
Most Illinois restaurant roles require a Food Handler Certificate issued through an Illinois Department of Public Health-accredited provider, and supervisory or management roles require an Illinois Food Service Sanitation Manager Certificate. No college degree is required for most positions, though culinary program graduates from institutions like Kendall College or the Illinois Institute of Art have an advantage for kitchen and management roles. Employers typically handle on-the-job training for entry-level positions once certification is in place.
Which companies hire restaurants in Illinois?
Companies currently hiring restaurants in Illinois include Love’s Travel Stops, Lettuce Entertain You, and Panera Bread, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of September 2026. Illinois's large convention, tourism, and corporate dining sectors mean employers range from independent Chicago restaurants to multi-location chains and hotel food service operations with year-round staffing needs.
Which Illinois cities have the most restaurant jobs?
Chicago, Schaumburg, and Hampshire have the most restaurant openings in Illinois. Chicago dominates by volume because of its dense hospitality, tourism, and corporate entertainment industries, while Springfield and Rockford generate consistent demand through government-sector dining, regional hotel chains, and established local restaurant groups that maintain large year-round staffs.
Are there remote restaurant jobs in Illinois?
Yes, but they're rare. About 11% of restaurant openings tied to Illinois are remote or hybrid as of September 2026, since most roles require physical presence in a kitchen, dining room, or catering venue. The small share of remote work tends to fall in corporate roles like restaurant marketing, menu development consulting, and multi-unit operations management.
How can I get hired as a restaurant worker in Illinois with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a host, busser, food runner, or dishwasher role at a mid-size or chain restaurant, which are widely available in Chicago, Rockford, and the Chicago suburbs and require only an Illinois Food Handler Certificate. Lettuce Entertain You and McDonald's corporate-affiliated stores in Illinois both run structured onboarding for new hires without prior experience. Completing a short culinary certificate program at a community college, such as those offered through the City Colleges of Chicago, also signals commitment and accelerates advancement to line cook or prep cook roles.
Where can I find and apply to restaurant jobs in Illinois?
You can find and apply to restaurant jobs in Illinois on Migrate Mate, which lists current Illinois openings across Chicago and the rest of the state. Find roles that fit your experience and availability and apply directly to the employer through the listing.
See All 133+ Restaurant Jobs in Illinois
Find roles in Illinois that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Restaurant Jobs