Hot Kitchen Asian Chef – Japanese & Asian Cuisine

About the role

Yuzu Japanese & More is seeking a skilled Asian Chef for its hot kitchen. This full‑time, on‑site position in Erbil focuses on preparing, cooking, and presenting hot Japanese and Asian dishes to the restaurant’s high standards.

Key responsibilities

• Prepare, cook, and plate hot Japanese and Asian menu items following standardized recipes.
• Manage daily mise en place and operate hot‑kitchen equipment.
• Maintain portion control and adhere to plating guidelines.
• Ensure food safety, hygiene, and proper storage (FIFO) throughout service.
• Monitor stock levels and coordinate with the cold kitchen and sushi teams.
• Support menu updates, specials, and train junior staff.
• Collaborate with the Head Chef and management to foster a positive, efficient team environment.

Required profile

• Strong hot‑kitchen cooking skills in Japanese and broader Asian cuisine, including grilling, stir‑frying, deep‑frying, and sauce preparation.
• Experience with menu execution, recipe adherence, portion control, and consistent plating.
• Knowledge of food‑safety and hygiene regulations, proper storage, and FIFO rotation.
• Ability to work efficiently in a high‑volume, fast‑paced environment while maintaining attention to detail and timing.
• Effective teamwork and communication with chefs, servers, and management.
• Previous experience as a hot‑kitchen chef or cook in Japanese or Asian restaurants; teppanyaki or open‑kitchen experience is an advantage.
• Basic organizational and time‑management skills, including mise en place planning and inventory awareness.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Culinary training or certification preferred but not required if equivalent practical experience is demonstrated.

Required skills

• Grilling
• Stir‑frying
• Deep‑frying
• Sauce preparation
• Menu execution
• Recipe adherence
• Portion control
• Plating
• Food safety
• Hygiene regulations
• FIFO stock rotation
• Mise en place planning
• Inventory awareness

What we offer

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Professional working environment
• Career growth opportunities