At Sidewalk Steak, we bring the high-energy, vibrant flavor of Taiwan’s legendary night markets straight to Asia Village in Blaine. From our signature "Taiwan Five Spice Crispy Chicken Bites" to our screaming-hot iron sizzle plates, we blend high-velocity kitchen execution with bold, cross-cultural flavors.
We are expanding. Our next major mission is to introduce a rotating pipeline of beloved, authentic East Asian night market specials to our market—and we need the main driver to lead the charge. If you are a culinary professional with a fierce entrepreneurial spirit and a deep love for street-food culture, this is your canvas.
Position Summary
We are seeking a highly motivated, growth-minded Sous Chef who will be the primary creative force and operational champion behind our new East Asian street food menu expansion.
You won’t just be managing a line; you will own the innovation pipeline. You will research, develop, test, and launch iconic night market specials (think skewered street eats, unique glazes, regional noodle crafts, and viral-worthy snacks). You will treat this menu expansion like your own startup business within our brand—taking dishes from a concept sketch to a profitable, high-volume kitchen reality.
What You’ll Do (Responsibilities):
- Drive Night Market Innovation: Act as the primary driver behind the research and development of rotating East Asian night market food specials. Turn authentic flavor profiles into street-food items tailored for our local QSR audience.
- Kitchen Operations & Leadership: Lead, train, and inspire a kitchen team to execute both our core menu and your newly developed night market specials with absolute consistency.
- Commercialize the Menu: Work alongside ownership to build recipes that are not only delicious but can be prepped fast, scaled across high-volume shifts, and hit strict food-cost targets.
- Sourcing & Ingredient Mastery: Identify and manage relationships with specialty Asian distributors to source authentic ingredients, spices, and starches (like the perfect sweet potato flour or five-spice blends).
- Maintain Operational Excellence: Keep an owner's eye on inventory, waste control, food safety (FIFO), and kitchen cleanliness.
Who You Are (Requirements):
- The Creative Driver: You have a passion for East Asian food cultures (Taiwanese, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and other southeast Asian street food) and actively follow global food trends.
- The Entrepreneurial Spirit: You don't just love to cook; you love the business of food. You take pride in high yield, smart prep sequencing, and watching a dish you created become a top seller.
- The Experience: 2–4 years of culinary leadership experience (Sous Chef, Kitchen Manager, or Lead Line Cook) in a fast-casual or high-volume kitchen. Experience with scratch-sauce formulation or wok/flat-top cooking is a massive plus.
- The Attributes: Self-motivated and an excellent teacher who can train junior cooks on complex flavor profiles.
- The Credentials: ServSafe Manager Certification required (or willingness to obtain).
Benefits & Perks:
- Competitive base salary with clear room for upward mobility as the concept grows.
- Menu Innovation Bonuses: Directly share in the financial success of the night market specials you bring to life.
- Paid Time Off (PTO).
- Free meals on shift and employee discounts.
- Instant creative autonomy—no corporate red tape to slow your ideas down.
If you are a culinary leader who wants to be the main driver behind the next big street-food trend in the Twin Cities, apply today with your resume and a brief note about your favorite night market dish.
Pay: $23.00 - $30.00 per hour
Benefits:
- Flexible schedule
- Paid time off
Application Question(s):
- How will you descibe your personality?
- What are your strengths and weakness?
- Please briefly describe your culinary training background, and your experience in (assisting) creating new menu items.
Language:
Work Location: In person
