H A P P Y R I C E
PREP COOK
Boston Seaport Flagship · Quick Service Sushi & Grab-and-Go
Boston Seaport, MA · · Full-Time & Part-Time
Reports to: Store General Manager
ABOUT HAPPY RICE
Happy Rice is building a new kind of modern sushi brand. We're creating a place where exceptional ingredients, thoughtful sourcing, and great design come together to make everyday sushi something people genuinely look forward to — and can't wait to tell people about. We serve chef-crafted sushi and sides, prepared fresh each day by our culinary team, thoughtfully packaged, and ready when our guests are — bringing together the quality of a great sushi restaurant with the convenience people need for everyday life.
Our first location in Boston's Seaport is more than a single store — it's the foundation of a brand built to grow. We're building the culinary systems, sourcing standards, and operational excellence to scale without ever compromising on quality.
As a Prep Cook, you build the foundation everything else stands on. Rice, sauces, proteins, and produce all start with you — and if your prep is right, the whole day runs right.
POSITION OVERVIEW
Prep Cooks handle the daily mise en place that feeds our entire production: cooking and seasoning sushi rice, prepping vegetables and produce, building sauces and dressings, cooking and portioning proteins, and staging components so our Sushi Cooks can roll, build, and package without stopping.
This is batch production for a grab-and-go case, not line cooking. There are no tickets and no expo. You'll work from daily prep lists and par levels, hit accurate yields and portions, label and date everything, and keep the walk-in organized and rotating on FIFO.
We'll train you on sushi rice and our specs. What we can't train is showing up on time, working clean, and caring whether the cucumber is cut right.
Prep Cooks report directly to the Store General Manager and work day to day with our culinary lead on recipes, yields, and standards.
WHAT YOU'LL DO
Daily Prep & Production
- Cook, season, and hold sushi rice to spec, including temperature and acidification checks
- Wash, peel, and cut produce to exact size and shape specs
- Build sauces, dressings, and marinades to recipe — scaled accurately, tasted every time
- Cook, cool, and portion proteins following our cooling and cold-chain standards
- Work from daily prep lists and par levels to finish on time without over- or under-producing
- Support packaging, labeling, and case stocking during peak production windows
Receiving, Storage & Rotation
- Receive and check deliveries for temperature, quality, count, and accuracy
- Date, label, and store all product correctly — raw separated from ready-to-eat
- Rotate on strict FIFO and pull anything past its use-by window
- Keep the walk-in, dry storage, and prep areas organized and inventory-ready
- Flag shortages, quality issues, and low product to leadership before they become 86s
Food Safety & Sanitation
- Follow all HACCP, cooling, and cold-chain procedures every shift
- Log temperatures, rice pH, and production records completely and honestly
- Prevent cross-contact between allergens, raw proteins, and ready-to-eat items
- Clean as you go and close your station spotless — every day
Team & Culture
- Show up on time, ready, and in clean uniform
- Take daily direction from the Store General Manager on prep priorities and par levels
- Communicate clearly with the kitchen and front of house about what's ready and what's short
- Bring good energy — music on, smiles up, standards high
WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR
- Solid, safe knife skills and consistent cuts
- Kitchen, commissary, deli, grocery, or high-volume food production experience — or a real hunger to learn
- Ability to follow recipes and specs exactly, with accurate scaling and portioning
- Attention to detail with labels, dates, and yields
- Reliable, punctual, and accountable — prep sets the pace for the whole store
- Massachusetts Food Handler Certification, or ability to obtain within 30 days (we'll help)
- Willingness to work early mornings, weekends, and holidays as scheduled
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
- Sushi experience in a grocery or supermarket sushi program — this is exactly the environment we run
- Experience in a commissary, central kitchen, or prepared foods department
- Familiarity with par sheets, prep lists, yield tracking, or waste logs
- ServSafe Food Handler or Manager Certification
- Experience with HACCP records, allergen controls, or date-labeling systems
- Japanese, Spanish, Portuguese, or other additional language skills
SCHEDULE & PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
- Shifts typically run from 7am to 3pm and 10am to 6pm
- Ability to stand for extended periods and work in cold prep and walk-in environments
- Ability to lift and move up to 50 lbs, including rice bags, produce cases, and stock
- Repetitive knife and hand work throughout the shift
BENEFITS & PERKS
- Paid training — learn sushi rice, cuts, and our full prep program from our culinary lead
- Clear path to Sushi Cook for anyone who wants it
- Tips shared across the team
- Shift meal from the case
- Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance (full-time team members)
- Paid Time Off and Paid Sick Time
- Employee Dining Discounts
- Flexible Scheduling
- Paid Training and Certification Support
- Professional Development and Clear Growth Pathways
- Advancement Opportunities Within a Growing Brand — we promote from within
Work Location: In person — Boston Seaport, MA
Happy Rice is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to building a team where everyone belongs. If you don't check every box but think you'd be great here, we still want to hear from you.
Pay: From $24.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Work Location: In person
