Cook

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc., founded in 1983 in Glendale, California, is the largest family-owned American Chinese restaurant concept in the United States. With nearly 2,800 locations globally, Panda Express has become a beloved brand, known for its commitment to delivering exceptional Asian dining experiences. The company prides itself on upholding strong family values, fostering a work environment where employees are inspired to better their lives, and positively impacting the communities it serves. As an organization, Panda is dedicated to inclusion, equal opportunity, and creating a welcoming, vibrant atmosphere for both its guests and team members. This thriving restaurant group offers a culture that values leadership, growth, and employee development, making it an ideal place for individuals passionate about food and customer service to build rewarding careers.

The role of a Cook at Panda Restaurant Group is fundamental to the overall success of the restaurant team. As an essential leader in the kitchen, a Cook is responsible for preparing food with passion, delivering outstanding service with heart, and maintaining an ambiance of pride throughout the restaurant. This position offers candidates the opportunity to work in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment that supports career advancement and professional development. The Cook will support the creation of a vibrant and welcoming environment for guests, prepare all dishes to meet company recipes and quality standards, and guide the kitchen team while assisting in their training. Additionally, the Cook performs all back-of-house responsibilities, ensuring cleanliness, food safety, and adherence to operational procedures.

This position offers flexible scheduling and competitive pay ranging from $25 to $28 per hour depending on location and experience. Working at Panda also comes with a range of comprehensive benefits, including medical, vision, and dental insurance for full-time employees, as well as voluntary short-term disability and cancer income protection insurance. The company also offers health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts, a 401K plan with company match, paid vacation, sick leave, bereavement leave, and numerous other perks like free meals during shifts, associate discounts, referral bonuses, and opportunities for community involvement. Panda provides hands-on paid training to ensure success and ongoing career and leadership development, with ample room for growth into management roles.

Working conditions at Panda require the ability to perform physically demanding tasks. Employees must be able to prepare hot and cold foods, work quickly without sacrificing accuracy, and stand for extended periods. The kitchen environment can be hot and noisy, with restricted workspace and the need to lift up to 50 pounds. Effective communication skills and adaptability to a dynamic, fast-paced environment are critical, as well as the capability to handle conflicts and challenging situations professionally. Panda Restaurant Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer that values diversity and inclusion, providing reasonable accommodations for qualified applicants with disabilities. Overall, the role of Cook at Panda Restaurant Group is an exciting opportunity for individuals eager to contribute to a thriving restaurant business while developing their culinary skills and leadership capabilities.