Kitchen Helper Jobs in Elgin, IL (NOW HIRING)

Step Up to the Plate as Our Kitchen Supervisor!

Location: Chicago – Little Village (31st Street)
Department: Restaurant Operations
Pay: $19.00 per hour

Be Part of Chicago Culinary History

This isn't just another restaurant job.

It's your chance to be part of the birthplace of Chicago's Original Tavern-Style Pizza.

For nearly 100 years, Home Run Inn has been serving generations of families from our iconic 31st Street location, where our story began. Every pizza we make carries on a tradition built on quality, family, and pride, and we're looking for a Kitchen Supervisor who wants to help lead that tradition into the future.

If you love leading by example, thrive in a fast-paced kitchen, enjoy coaching others, and take pride in creating exceptional food and memorable guest experiences, we'd love to meet you.

What You'll Do

As our Kitchen Supervisor, you'll help lead the heart of our restaurant, the kitchen.

You'll work alongside your team to ensure every pizza, sandwich, salad, and entrée meets Home Run Inn's quality standards while creating an environment where teammates can learn, grow, and succeed.

You'll help keep service running smoothly, coach new teammates, support food safety, and jump in wherever you're needed.

No two shifts are exactly the same, and that's part of what makes this role exciting.

You'll Spend Your Time

Leading the Kitchen

• Coach and support kitchen teammates throughout each shift
• Lead opening and closing procedures
• Help build a positive, accountable, high-performing team
• Foster healthy teams built on Trust, Healthy Conflict, Commitment, Accountability, and Results
• Provide coaching and feedback that helps teammates grow
• Train, certify, and onboard new kitchen team members

Delivering Great Food Every Time

• Ensure every menu item is prepared according to Home Run Inn recipes and quality standards
• Monitor portion control, food presentation, and consistency
• Oversee prep stations, pizza ovens, fryers, and kitchen setup
• Monitor food temperatures, freshness, and FIFO product rotation
• Jump onto the line whenever the team needs an extra hand

Keeping the Kitchen Safe & Organized

• Champion food safety and sanitation standards
• Reinforce workplace safety and safe operating procedures
• Help maintain cleaning schedules and kitchen organization
• Support management with daily operational priorities
• Help implement new kitchen procedures and best practices

Supporting the Bigger Picture

• Assist with off-site catering events and food truck operations
• Safely operate company vehicles when needed
• Update training materials and support continuous improvement
• Step into various back-of-house positions during busy shifts or staffing needs, including Pizza Maker, Line Cook, Prep, and Dishwashing

You're a Great Fit If You...

• Love coaching and developing people
• Lead by example and aren't afraid to jump in
• Stay calm and focused during busy rushes
• Take pride in serving high-quality food
• Believe consistency matters
• Communicate with respect, confidence, and positivity
• Enjoy creating an environment where teammates can succeed
• Care about doing things the right way, even when no one is watching

What You'll Bring

• Two-year college degree or equivalent restaurant leadership experience
• 1+ years of back-of-house restaurant leadership experience preferred
• Knowledge of food safety and sanitation standards
• Experience leading and motivating kitchen teams
• Strong understanding of recipes, portion control, and quality standards
• Ability to remain calm under pressure in a fast-paced environment
• Valid driver's license with an acceptable driving record
• Willingness to travel locally for catering and food truck events
• Ability to operate company vehicles, including the food truck
• Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and holidays
• Food Handler Certification within 30 days of hire
• Safety shoes required within 30 days of hire
• Must be at least 21 years old

Why Home Run Inn?

We're more than a pizza company—we're neighbors serving neighbors.

For four generations, we've built our business around people. We care deeply about our teammates because we know they're the reason families continue making Home Run Inn part of their traditions.

When you join our team, you'll find:

• A family-owned company with nearly 100 years of Chicago history
• Leaders who genuinely care about your growth
• Opportunities to make a real impact on the teammate experience
• A culture built around connection, support, and continuous improvement
• Recognition as part of a Best & Brightest Company to Work For® and a Most Loved Workplace®
• Plenty of reasons to celebrate the little wins along the way
• Time to recharge with Paid Time Off, Paid Sick & Personal Time, and Paid Holidays
• Medical, Dental, Vision, and supplemental insurance options
• Paid Parental Leave to support your growing family
• A 401(k) retirement savings plan with company matching opportunities
• Free household access to 24/7 virtual healthcare
• Discounts on safety shoes, travel, entertainment, and more
• Access to all the pizza your heart desires! (Well, almost)

Our Values

Family – We show up for one another and succeed together.

Pride – We set high standards because our teammates and guests deserve our best.

Grit – We keep learning, improving, and finding better ways to do things.

Courage – We own our mistakes, speak honestly, and grow from every experience.

Purpose – To give people home runs in their day.

Ready to Join the Team?

Bring your leadership, passion, and love for great food to the place where Chicago tavern-style pizza began.

If you're ready to help lead an incredible kitchen, coach an amazing team, and become part of nearly 100 years of tradition, we'd love to hear from you.

Apply today and help us give people more Home Runs in their day—one pizza, one teammate, and one guest at a time.

Home Run Inn is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone feels welcome.

Salary: $19.00 per hour