Sous Chef Jobs in Florida
Sous chef jobs in Florida concentrate in the hospitality, resort, and food service industries, with consistent demand across full-service restaurants, luxury hotels, cruise line shoreside operations, and theme park dining. Most of the hiring is in Miami, Orlando, and Tampa, where large employers like Disney Hospitality, Marriott International, and Darden Restaurants maintain year-round kitchens at scale. Banquet and catering execution, high-volume production, and fine dining are the most in-demand specialties for sous chefs in Florida right now. Find a role that fits below and apply directly.
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NOW HIRING – SOUS CHEF
Mesa Latina Restaurant | Zephyrhills, FL
Restaurant Type: Puerto Rican & Latin Cuisine
Position: Sous Chef / Experienced Kitchen Professional
Job Type: Full-Time
Experience Required: Minimum 2 years in a full-service restaurant kitchen
About Us
Mesa Latina Restaurant is a Puerto Rican and Latin restaurant located in Zephyrhills, Florida. We take pride in serving authentic Latin cuisine, maintaining high food quality standards, and providing an excellent dining experience.
We are seeking an experienced, dependable, and motivated Sous Chef to join our culinary team. The ideal candidate must have strong cooking skills, excellent teamwork abilities, and a solid understanding of professional restaurant kitchen operations.
Qualifications & Requirements
- Minimum 2 years of hands-on cooking experience in a full-service restaurant. Fast-food experience alone does not meet our requirements.
- Proven experience working with commercial grills, flat-top griddles, deep fryers, and other professional kitchen equipment.
- Strong knowledge of meat cooking temperatures, proper doneness levels, and safe internal food temperatures.
- Thorough understanding of food handling, food safety, sanitation, and proper food storage procedures.
- Knowledge of food temperature control, cross-contamination prevention, and proper cooling, reheating, and holding procedures.
- Ability to prepare and execute multiple orders accurately in a fast-paced restaurant environment.
- Experience with food preparation, portion control, recipe consistency, and quality standards.
- Ability to follow recipes, instructions, and established kitchen procedures.
- Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and time management.
- Ability to work efficiently under pressure while maintaining high standards.
- Must be dependable, punctual, professional, and responsible.
- Strong communication skills and a positive attitude.
- Must be a team player who respects coworkers, supervisors, and management.
- Willingness to learn Puerto Rican and Latin cooking techniques and menu preparation.
- Spanish-speaking candidates are strongly preferred. Bilingual English/Spanish is a plus.
- Availability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
Key Responsibilities
- Assist the Head Chef with daily kitchen operations and food preparation.
- Prepare, cook, and plate dishes according to restaurant recipes and quality standards.
- Operate grills, flat tops, fryers, and other kitchen equipment safely and efficiently.
- Monitor food quality, cooking temperatures, presentation, and portion consistency.
- Ensure proper food handling, storage, labeling, and sanitation procedures.
- Maintain a clean, organized, and safe kitchen environment.
- Support kitchen staff and promote teamwork during busy service periods.
- Help coordinate food preparation and ensure orders are completed accurately and on time.
- Assist with inventory management, stock rotation, and minimizing food waste.
- Follow all restaurant policies, kitchen procedures, and management instructions.
- Assist with training and guiding kitchen team members when needed.
- Take initiative, solve problems professionally, and help maintain smooth kitchen operations.
What We Are Looking For
We are looking for more than someone who can cook. We want a skilled culinary professional who takes pride in their work, understands restaurant operations, works well with others, and is committed to delivering consistent, high-quality food.
Previous experience in Puerto Rican, Caribbean, or Latin cuisine is highly desirable but not required for candidates with strong restaurant cooking experience and a willingness to learn.
Food safety certification (ServSafe or equivalent) is a plus.
Apply Today!
Mesa Latina Restaurant
5327 Gall Blvd, Zephyrhills, FL
Join our team and become part of a restaurant dedicated to authentic Puerto Rican flavors, quality, professionalism, and teamwork.
Experienced restaurant kitchen professionals are encouraged to apply.
Pay: $15.00 - $20.00 per hour
Work Location: In person
See All 249+ Sous Chef Jobs in Florida
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Find Sous Chef JobsSous Chef Jobs by City in Florida
Where Florida roles are concentrated, by current openings.
Sous Chef Job Market in Florida
A snapshot from current Florida openings, updated as new roles post.
Who's Hiring
- Marriott International17
- Morrison Healthcare9
- Wolfoods7
- Tommy Bahama6
- Hilton5
Top Industries Hiring
- Hospitality & Tourism
- Retail
- Food & Beverage
- Sports & Recreation
- Construction & Real Estate
What Florida Employers Look For
The qualifications that appear most often in sous chef jobs across Florida.
- At least three years of kitchen experience in a high-volume or full-service restaurant
- Demonstrated leadership of line cooks, prep staff, and kitchen team scheduling
- Proficiency in food cost control, ordering, and inventory management
- ServSafe Manager certification or Florida-approved equivalent food handler credential
- Experience executing diverse menus including Florida-centric seafood and Latin-influenced cuisine
- Culinary degree or formal apprenticeship from an accredited culinary program
Sous Chef Jobs in Florida: Frequently Asked Questions
How do you become a sous chef in Florida?
Florida does not require a state-issued culinary license to work as a sous chef, but all food service workers must hold a valid food handler certification, and supervisory roles typically require a Florida-approved Food Manager Certification such as ServSafe. Most sous chefs in Florida progress from line cook or chef de partie positions after building experience in high-volume kitchens. A culinary degree from an institution like Johnson and Wales University in North Miami or the Florida campus of Le Cordon Bleu strengthens candidacy significantly.
Which companies hire sous chefs in Florida?
Companies currently hiring sous chefs in Florida include Marriott International, Morrison Healthcare, and Wolfoods, per current listings on Migrate Mate as of November 2026. Florida's concentration of resort hotels, theme park dining, and large restaurant groups means that multi-unit operators and hospitality corporations account for a large share of consistent sous chef openings across the state.
Which Florida cities have the most sous chef jobs?
Tampa, Miami, and Naples have the most sous chef openings in Florida. Miami's density of upscale restaurants, hotel dining rooms, and catering operations drives the largest share of listings, while Orlando's theme park and convention resort industry sustains year-round volume, and Tampa's growing dining scene and port-adjacent hospitality sector contribute a steady pipeline of openings.
Are there remote sous chef jobs in Florida?
Yes, but they're rare. About 3% of sous chef openings tied to Florida are remote or hybrid as of November 2026, reflecting that most sous chef work is hands-on kitchen leadership that requires an in-person presence. The small share of remote activity typically involves culinary consulting, menu development contracting, or corporate recipe standardization roles outside daily kitchen operations.
How can I get hired as a sous chef in Florida with little or no experience?
The most realistic entry path is securing a line cook or cook II position at a large Florida hospitality employer and advancing internally. Operators like Disney Hospitality, Darden Restaurants, and major Marriott-managed hotels in Orlando and Miami run structured culinary training tracks that move motivated kitchen employees into supervisory roles over time. Earning a ServSafe Manager Certification before applying demonstrates readiness for supervisory responsibility and gives candidates without a culinary degree a credible credential that Florida employers recognize.
Where can I find and apply to sous chef jobs in Florida?
You can find and apply to sous chef jobs in Florida on Migrate Mate, which lists current Florida openings across restaurants, hotels, resorts, and food service operations. Find the roles that fit your experience and location, then apply directly to the employers posting them.
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