About Us:

Hai Hai is a fun and vibrant Brisbane-based restaurant that brings a modern and creative twist to Japanese-inspired dishes while celebrating Japanese culture through bold flavours and fresh ingredients.

We’re all about quality, creativity, and high-energy atmosphere that’s become a local favourite. Born in Paddington and now expanding to West End, we’re looking for a Chef to join our kitchen crew and keep the standards high while contributing to the growth of a brand that is all about quality, creativity, and fun.

What We’re Looking For:

We’re looking for a chef who is passionate about Japanese cuisine, has a strong foundation in Asian cooking techniques, and has a proven track record of delivering consistently high-quality dishes for five-star guest experiences.

If you have a love for both creativity and consistency, as well as experience developing and mentoring a strong kitchen team, we’d love to hear from you.

Key Responsibilities:

• Running Service: Lead the food preparation process, supervise cooks and kitchen staff to ensure smooth and efficient operations in a fast-paced kitchen environment.
• Quality Control: Monitor food quality to make sure every dish is spot on — consistent taste, perfect portion size, and on-point presentation.
• Team Collaboration & Issue Management: Collaborate with managers, kitchen and FOH teams, including any dietary requirements, to ensure smooth service that wows guests every time.
• Leadership & Training: Lead by example, teach cooking techniques, train and mentor kitchen staff to develop their skills, maintain high standards, and keep labour costs in check.
• High-Quality & On-brand Dishes: Prepare and cook dishes that are as visually stunning as they are delicious — bringing creativity, consistency, precision, and Hai Hai’s signature vibe to the plate.
• Food Safety: Enforce hygiene regulations, ensuring the kitchen adheres to food safety standards to maintain a clean, safe, and efficient workspace.
• Stock Management: Oversee stock levels, order supplies, and manage food techniques to ensure efficient ordering, stock rotation, and cost control.
• Teamwork & Growth: Embrace teamwork, foster a positive environment, and always look for ways to level up your skills in our fast-moving kitchen.

Skills & Experience:

• 3-5 years of experience in a commercial kitchen, ideally with a focus on Japanese or Asian cuisine.
• Relevant qualifications in Commercial Cookery (Certificate IV, Advanced Diploma, or equivalent).
• Proven ability to deliver high-quality, consistent food and maintain strong kitchen standards.
• Experience in running service, menu planning, estimating food and labour costs, ordering food supplies, and stock control.
• Strong ability to monitor quality and ensure consistency across all dishes.
• Solid experience training and developing kitchen staff.
• Excellent leadership and communication skills, with a focus on building a positive and high-performing team.
• Knowledge of health and safety regulations, food safety protocols, and kitchen compliance.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment, maintaining organisation and time management under pressure.

Benefits of working with us

• Discounts across our family of restaurants
• Training & Skill Development Opportunities
• Strong Positive Team Culture
• Frequent Staff Social Events