Restaurant Jobs in Iowa
Restaurant jobs in Iowa are consistently active, with openings spread across full-service dining, fast-casual chains, and hotel food and beverage operations in Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City. Large hospitality and dining employers with a lasting presence in Iowa, such as Hy-Vee Food Stores, Marriott-affiliated properties, and Dine Brands, hire across front-of-house, back-of-house, and management roles at every experience level. The most in-demand specialties are kitchen management, line cook positions, and restaurant general management. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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Benefits: * Fuel Your Growth with Love's - company funded tuition assistance program * Paid Time Off * Flexible Scheduling * 401(k) – 100% match up to 5% * Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance after 30 days * Competitive Pay * Career Development * Hiring Immediately
Welcome to Love’s!
Restaurant cashiers play a crucial role in delivering excellent customer service by providing efficient and friendly service in a fast-paced environment. You would be responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitized work area, accurately processing payments, and ensuring high-quality food service. No experience? No problem! We will teach you!
Job Functions:
- General customer service duties including, but not limited to, taking customer food orders, answering questions about menu offerings, and addressing customer needs.
- Balancing a cash register and offering additional sales opportunities to customers.
- Accurately and safely prepare customer orders from various preparation points within the kitchen to include, but not limited to, a sandwich making line, a fry station, a grill station, or other station depending on the restaurant concept type.
- Use a variety of methods and technologies to ensure proper food safety conditions within the restaurant to ensure delivery of a fresh and safe product to the customer.
- Additional duties could include cross training in other departments such as Store Cashier, Fresh Kitchen, Facility Maintenance, and leadership roles.
- Ability to move, lift 25+ pounds. Ability to work in various temperatures.
Our Culture
We are a 60-year family-owned enterprise that creates an environment where team members can thrive, driving the company forward and building a rewarding career with unmatched growth opportunities.
Come see why Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores was recognized by Indeed as the winner of the Better Work Award in 2023!
Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.
Our Culture:
Fueling customers' journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.
Love's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.
Benefits: * Fuel Your Growth with Love's - company funded tuition assistance program * Paid Time Off * Flexible Scheduling * 401(k) – 100% match up to 5% * Medical/Dental/Vision Insurance after 30 days * Competitive Pay * Career Development * Hiring Immediately
Welcome to Love’s!
Restaurant cashiers play a crucial role in delivering excellent customer service by providing efficient and friendly service in a fast-paced environment. You would be responsible for maintaining a clean and sanitized work area, accurately processing payments, and ensuring high-quality food service. No experience? No problem! We will teach you!
Job Functions:
- General customer service duties including, but not limited to, taking customer food orders, answering questions about menu offerings, and addressing customer needs.
- Balancing a cash register and offering additional sales opportunities to customers.
- Accurately and safely prepare customer orders from various preparation points within the kitchen to include, but not limited to, a sandwich making line, a fry station, a grill station, or other station depending on the restaurant concept type.
- Use a variety of methods and technologies to ensure proper food safety conditions within the restaurant to ensure delivery of a fresh and safe product to the customer.
- Additional duties could include cross training in other departments such as Store Cashier, Fresh Kitchen, Facility Maintenance, and leadership roles.
- Ability to move, lift 25+ pounds. Ability to work in various temperatures.
Our Culture
We are a 60-year family-owned enterprise that creates an environment where team members can thrive, driving the company forward and building a rewarding career with unmatched growth opportunities.
Come see why Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores was recognized by Indeed as the winner of the Better Work Award in 2023!
Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.
Our Culture:
Fueling customers' journeys since 1964, innovation leads the way for this family-owned and operated business headquartered in Oklahoma City. With nearly 40,000 team members, travel stops are the core business along with products and services that provide value for professional drivers, fleets, traveling public, RVers, alternative energy and wholesale fuel customers. Giving back to communities and an inclusive workplace are hallmarks of the award-winning culture.
Love's is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Veterans encouraged to apply.
See All 50 Restaurant Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
Find Restaurant JobsRestaurant Jobs by City in Iowa
Where Iowa roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Restaurant Job Market in Iowa
A snapshot from current Iowa openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
What Iowa Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in restaurant jobs across Iowa.
- Food Handler Certification required or obtainable within 30 days of hire in Iowa
- Minimum one to three years of experience in a restaurant or food service environment
- Demonstrated knowledge of food safety standards and Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals guidelines
- Availability for evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by restaurant operations
- Ability to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 pounds in a kitchen or dining environment
- Strong customer service and communication skills for guest-facing or team leadership roles
Restaurant Jobs in Iowa: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a restaurant in Iowa?
Most restaurant positions in Iowa do not require a state-issued license, but food safety certification is a practical prerequisite. Iowa follows the Iowa Food Code administered by the Iowa Department of Inspections, Appeals, and Licensing, and many employers require or prefer a Food Handler Certificate or ServSafe certification. Management roles typically require prior supervisory experience, while entry-level positions need only on-the-job training or a high school diploma.
Which companies hire restaurants in Iowa?
Employers hiring restaurants in Iowa right now include Panera Bread, Perkins Restaurants & Bakery, and KFC FMI, based on current listings on Migrate Mate as of July 2026. Iowa's mix of regional chains, independent full-service restaurants, and hotel food and beverage operations means consistent openings at multiple experience levels across the state.
Which Iowa cities have the most restaurant jobs?
Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Iowa City have the most restaurant openings in Iowa. Des Moines drives volume as the state's largest metro and a growing corporate and convention hub, while Cedar Rapids and Iowa City generate steady demand through university populations, healthcare campuses, and regional retail corridors that anchor high foot-traffic dining districts.
Are there remote restaurant jobs in Iowa?
Yes, but they're rare. Restaurant work is fundamentally on-site, involving food preparation, table service, and kitchen operations that cannot be performed remotely. About 0% of restaurant openings tied to Iowa are remote or hybrid as of July 2026, and those positions are almost exclusively in corporate roles such as regional management, training coordination, or menu development for multi-unit operators.
How can I get hired as a restaurant in Iowa with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is applying for a host, busser, or dishwasher role at a full-service restaurant or hotel food and beverage outlet in Des Moines or Cedar Rapids. Large employers such as Hy-Vee and hotel groups affiliated with Marriott or Hilton run structured onboarding programs for new hires. Earning a ServSafe Food Handler Certificate before applying gives candidates a concrete edge and signals readiness to Iowa hiring managers.
Where can I find and apply to restaurant jobs in Iowa?
You can find and apply to restaurant jobs in Iowa on Migrate Mate, which lists current openings from employers hiring across Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, Iowa City, and other Iowa markets. Find roles that fit your experience and schedule and apply directly to the employer through each listing.
See All 50 Restaurant Jobs in Iowa
Find roles in Iowa that match your experience and apply in just a few clicks.
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