Kitchen Team

Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. is a well-established and family-owned American Chinese restaurant company founded in 1983 in Glendale, California. As the largest family-owned Asian dining concept in the United States with close to 2,800 locations worldwide, Panda Restaurant Group is committed to delivering exceptional dining experiences to its guests. The company embraces family values and seeks to inspire its employees to improve their lives, making it a supportive and inclusive workplace environment. Panda Restaurant Group is also dedicated to giving back to the community through initiatives like Panda Cares, which allows employees to make a meaningful impact beyond their everyday work. Being a part of Panda means joining a team that prioritizes diversity, equal opportunity, and accommodates those with disabilities to ensure all employees can thrive and succeed.

The role of Kitchen Team Associate at Panda Restaurant Group is integral to the smooth operation and success of the restaurants. This entry-level position involves cooking and preparing food while maintaining the highest standards of cleanliness and safety. The role requires working efficiently in a fast-paced kitchen environment and often involves rotating through various stations such as the front counter, drive-through, or kitchen areas. Kitchen Team Associates are expected to provide an exceptional dining experience for guests by greeting them, serving food, and handling cash register payments. An important aspect of the job is teamwork; associates work collaboratively to meet daily goals while fostering a positive and fun atmosphere.

Panda Restaurant Group welcomes applications from individuals with no previous experience and offers hands-on paid training to develop necessary skills. This position provides a valuable opportunity to gain culinary and operational skills that can help employees advance their careers, including opportunities for growth into management positions. Associates also benefit from ongoing career and leadership development programs. The work environment does require physical stamina, including the ability to stand for extended periods, lift up to 50 pounds, and handle hot and noisy kitchen conditions. Yet for those who thrive on dynamic and active roles, this position offers an engaging and rewarding career path.

In addition to competitive pay and flexible scheduling, Panda Restaurant Group provides a comprehensive benefits package for its full-time associates, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, voluntary disability coverage, cancer income protection, and 401(k) with company match. Employees receive free meals during their shifts, associate discounts on many brands, paid vacation, sick leave, bereavement leave, and a referral bonus program. There are also health care and dependent care flexible spending accounts and opportunities to participate in community service programs. The employer is committed to creating an inclusive workplace free of discrimination and ensures reasonable accommodations are provided to qualified applicants and employees according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).