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Restaurant Kitchen Manager Jobs in California (NOW HIRING)

Golden Corral

Restaurant Kitchen Manager

Modesto, CA · On-site

$52K - $66K/yr

Unequalled opportunity at the best chain restaurant company in the country! In this role as Kitchen Manager, you are responsible for food production and operating the Back-of-the-House using Golden ...

Golden Corral

Restaurant Kitchen Manager

Concord, CA · On-site

$56K - $71K/yr

Unequalled opportunity at the best chain restaurant company in the country! In this role as Kitchen Manager, you are responsible for food production and operating the Back-of-the-House using Golden ...

Golden Corral

Restaurant Kitchen Manager

North Highlands, CA · On-site

$52K - $66K/yr

Unequalled opportunity at the best chain restaurant company in the country! In this role as Kitchen Manager, you are responsible for food production and operating the Back-of-the-House using Golden ...

Chick-Fil-A

Kitchen Manager

Vallejo, CA · On-site

$25/hr

We are seeking a Kitchen Manager professional to support the Restaurant business by communicating, tracking, training, and coaching all Kitchen Team Members on achieving and exceeding service and ...

RG Workforce

Kitchen Manager

West Hollywood, CA · On-site

$80K - $92K/yr

We are seeking an experienced, hands-on Kitchen Manager to lead our high-volume restaurant kitchen. This position is ideal for a strong leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment and takes pride ...

Fat Tuesday

Kitchen Manager

San Diego, CA · On-site

The Kitchen Manager oversees the daily operations of a restaurant's kitchen, ensuring smooth and efficient food preparation, maintaining high standards of quality and safety, and managing kitchen ...

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All JobsRestaurant Kitchen JobsRestaurant Kitchen Manager JobsRestaurant Kitchen Manager Jobs in California

Restaurant Kitchen Manager information

See California salary details

$23.7K

$56.8K

$74.5K

How much do restaurant kitchen manager jobs pay per year?

As of Aug 26, 2026, the average yearly pay for restaurant kitchen manager in California is $56,773.00, according to ZipRecruiter salary data. Most workers in this role earn between $50,300.00 and $64,100.00 per year, depending on experience, location, and employer.

What does a restaurant kitchen manager do?

A Restaurant Kitchen Manager oversees the daily operations of a restaurant's kitchen, ensuring food is prepared safely, efficiently, and meets quality standards. They manage kitchen staff, order supplies, control inventory, and enforce health and safety regulations. Additionally, they collaborate with chefs to develop menus, monitor food costs, and address any issues that arise during service. Their role is essential in maintaining a smooth, productive, and compliant kitchen environment.

What are the key skills and qualifications needed to thrive as a restaurant kitchen manager, and why are they important?

To thrive as a Restaurant Kitchen Manager, you need strong culinary expertise, experience in kitchen operations, and typically a background in hospitality or culinary management. Familiarity with point-of-sale (POS) systems, inventory management tools, and food safety certifications like ServSafe is crucial. Leadership, effective communication, and problem-solving skills are vital for managing staff and maintaining a positive work environment. These skills ensure efficient kitchen operations, high food quality, and a safe, productive team that supports the restaurant’s success.

What are some common challenges faced by restaurant kitchen managers, and how can they be effectively addressed?

Restaurant Kitchen Managers often face challenges such as maintaining consistent food quality during busy service, managing inventory to minimize waste, and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Effective communication with kitchen staff and front-of-house teams is essential to streamline operations and resolve issues quickly. Implementing regular training, clear procedures, and robust scheduling can help address these challenges and create a productive, well-organized kitchen environment.

What is the difference between Restaurant Kitchen Manager vs Restaurant Sous Chef?

AspectRestaurant Kitchen ManagerRestaurant Sous Chef
Primary RoleOversees kitchen operations, staff management, and ensures food quality and safetyAssists the head chef, manages kitchen staff, and supervises food preparation
CredentialsFood safety certifications, management experienceCooking certifications, culinary training
Work EnvironmentAdministrative and supervisory tasks in a restaurant kitchenHands-on cooking and kitchen supervision
Industry UsageCommonly employed in restaurant management structuresPart of culinary team, reports to head chef or kitchen manager

The Restaurant Kitchen Manager focuses on overall kitchen operations, staff management, and safety compliance, while the Restaurant Sous Chef primarily assists the head chef with food preparation and kitchen supervision. Both roles require culinary knowledge, but the manager has a broader administrative focus, whereas the sous chef is more involved in daily cooking activities.

What cities in California are hiring for Restaurant Kitchen Manager jobs?

Cities in California with the most Restaurant Kitchen Manager job openings:

Restaurant Kitchen Manager jobs near you
Infographic showing various Restaurant Kitchen Manager job openings in California as of August 2026, with employment types broken down into 82% Full Time, 15% Part Time, and 3% Contract. Highlights an 79% Physical, 3% Hybrid, and 18% Remote job distribution, with an average salary of $56,773 per year, or $27.3 per hour.

Restaurant Kitchen Manager

Lake Forest, CA

Red Robin Gourmet Burgers

6.0

Company rating: 6.0 out of 10

Based on 333 frontline employees who took The Breakroom Quiz

7th of 20 rated casual dining restaurants

Free food

People enjoy working here

Recommended by students

Learn more about Red Robin Gourmet Burgersexternal

$52K - $67K/yr

Full-time

Medical, Dental, Vision, Life, Retirement, PTO

Posted 8 days ago

Job description

Restaurant Kitchen ManagerCompensation Range: 70,305.00 - 84,600.00

The Restaurant Kitchen Manager is responsible for ensuring seamless day-to-day kitchen operations, with an unwavering commitment to excellence. As a Brand ambassador, they uphold our company's standards, crafting an unparalleled experience for Guests through scratch cooking, unique artisanal American food, and gourmet burgers. Responsible for inventory, ordering and key P&L lines this position is critical to our restaurant success. Our Kitchen Manager fosters a culture that continuously strives for improvement and embraces a better for being here mentality.

The role is also eligible to enjoy:

  • Share in the financial success of your restaurant with an uncapped bonus program

  • Referral bonuses for bringing new members to our team

  • Free shift meal and 50% discount on Red Robin food for your family

  • Closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas

  • Excellent opportunities to grow with us

To qualify for this role a great candidate has:

  • Mustbe21yearsofage

  • 2yearsofmanagementexperience

  • OpenAvailability(includingbutnotlimitedtonights,weekends,holidays)

  • Reliabletransportation

  • Strongcommunicationandexceptionalleadershipskills.Abilitytomotivate,inspire,anddevelopapassionateteamdedicatedtoexecution,hospitality,andservice

  • StrongP&Lknowledge

  • Abletoobtainrequiredcertifications/permitsasrequiredbystate/locallaw

  • WorkingknowledgeinMicrosoftExcel,Outlook &Word

Preferred

  • KnowledgeableoflocalandStatehealthcodes

  • ExperiencewithWorkday,Aloha,NBO,andHotschedules

  • Experiencemanagingateam

Red Robin is an equal opportunity employer. We love hearing from great people who share our passion for unbridled hospitality.

Legal Disclosures

Pay Range (Base Pay): Pay range disclosed above.

Other Types of Compensation (subject to qualifications and requirements): Variable Bonus, Referral Bonus, Employee Stock Purchase Program, Paid Parental Leave.

Insurance (subject to qualifications and requirements): Health, vision, dental, life, accident, critical illness, and hospital indemnity coverage (must be 18+).

Retirement Benefits (subject to qualifications and requirements): 401k retirement plan (with company match to 4% of pay).

Paid Time Off (subject to qualifications and requirements): 0.03846 hours for each 1 hour worked.

Application Window: Red Robin accepts applications on an ongoing basis.

Red Robin isn't your typical burger restaurant. We're a team filled with unbridled energy, magnetic personalities, and a passion for having fun! Red Robin is a high-volume, full-service restaurant known for its laid-back atmosphere and uniquely quirky vibe. We are concept that has great growth opportunities. We love inspiring our guests with burgers beyond yumagination, and we're driven by serving up connection, fun and generosity that's as bottomless as our world-famous steak fries! We value a sense of belonging and welcome both similarities and differences, because Red Robin is for everyone.

What Red Robin employees say

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