About Us
Okami Japanese Restaurant has built a loyal following across Melbourne for its warm hospitality and high-quality Japanese cuisine. At our Frankston restaurant on Beach Street, guests enjoy a relaxed dine-in experience with attentive table service, a fully licensed bar, and an extensive menu of Japanese dishes that our kitchen team prepares fresh each day. Whether it’s a weeknight dinner or a weekend gathering, Okami Frankston is a place where people come to sit down, unwind and enjoy a proper meal.
Behind the scenes, our kitchen is a busy and skilled environment. We work with fresh produce sourced regularly, and our cooks are expected to bring real technique and care to every dish that leaves the pass. We’re now looking for a New staff to join the team and grow with us.
The Role
You’ll be working in our commercial kitchen alongside close-knit team, with your time focused on preparing and cooking the dishes that make up our menu. We run a high-volume kitchen, so the ability to stay organised, maintain quality under pressure and work well with others is just as important as your cooking skills. If you take pride in your craft and want to be part of a team that genuinely cares about the food it puts out, this could be a great fit.
Key Responsibilities
- Prepare and cook a wide range of Japanese dishes using fresh ingredients, applying cooking techniques suited to each dish, including grilling, steaming, frying, simmering and cold preparation such as sashimi and sushi rice.
- Taste and assess dishes throughout the cooking process, adjusting seasoning, temperature and timing based on the produce at hand to ensure every dish meets our standards before it reaches the guest.
- Check incoming ingredients and produce for quality and freshness, flagging anything that doesn’t meet standard to the Chef before it goes into service.
- Manage and monitor cooking equipment, ovens, grills, fryers, steamers throughout each service, adjusting temperatures as needed for different dishes and cooking stages.
- Take ownership of your mise en place ahead of each service, which includes a range of hands-on prep work: breaking down proteins, portioning, marinating, chopping, and getting everything ready so service can run smoothly.
- Work with the Chef to accommodate guests with dietary requirements, drawing on your ingredient knowledge to adapt dishes safely and without compromising quality.
- Plate and finish dishes to the restaurant’s presentation standards, including portioning, garnishing and saucing, before passing them to front of house.
- Keep stock well-organised and rotated correctly and help manage day-to-day ingredient levels so the kitchen isn’t caught short during service.
- Share your ideas during menu development discussions, we value input from our whole kitchen team when it comes to refining dishes or trying something new.
- Help bring junior kitchen staff up to speed on prep techniques and hygiene practices and keep the kitchen environment tidy and well-run throughout your shift.
- Work with the Chef on estimating food requirements for upcoming service periods and assist with supply ordering when needed.
- Maintain a consistently high standard of food safety and hygiene across your workstation and the broader kitchen, in line with Australian food handling regulations.
Requirements
Qualifications
- Certificate IV in Commercial Cookery (or equivalent vocational qualification) is required.
- Applicants who do not hold this qualification but possess extensive professional cooking experience in a comparable role will be considered on a case-by-case basis.
Experience
- A minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience in a professional kitchen environment is essential.
- Experience in Japanese cuisine is highly regarded but not mandatory.
Skills & Attributes
- Strong knowledge of food safety and hygiene practices.
- Ability to work efficiently under pressure in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
- Excellent time management and organisational skills.
- Team-oriented with a positive and proactive attitude.
- Good communication skills and a willingness to learn.
Remuneration
The successful candidate will be offered a competitive annual salary further to be discussed , commensurate with experience and qualifications.
Pay: From $60,000.00 per year
Work Location: In person
