Recipe Developer & Culinary Chef — Tokyo Express
Location: Edmonton, AB (travel to 9 locations across Edmonton & Spruce Grove)
Job Type: Full-time, Permanent
Salary: $50,000 Base + 5% Profit Sharing for each restaurant branch.
Tokyo Express has been serving Alberta fresh, accessible Japanese food for over 30 years. Under new ownership, we're in the middle of an exciting revitalization — modernizing our menu, elevating our food quality, and building toward one goal: becoming Alberta's most loved Japanese fast-casual restaurant chain.
We're looking for a chef who wants to do more than cook. We want someone who wants to shape what nine restaurants serve, how it looks on the plate, and how every kitchen in our company operates.
The Role :
As our Recipe Developer & Culinary Chef, you'll be the creative and operational heart of our kitchens. You'll develop new menu items, refine the recipes Albertans have loved for three decades, and raise the standard of food presentation across every location. This is a hands-on leadership role — you'll spend time in our stores, coaching our teams and making sure what we promise our customers is what lands on their tray.
What You'll Do
- Create and test new recipes that fit our fast-casual format and Japanese heritage
- Improve and standardize existing recipes for consistency, quality, and food cost
- Elevate food presentation standards across dine-in, takeout, and delivery formats
- Support seasonal menu launches and limited-time offers
- Kitchen Leadership & Training
- Train kitchen staff across all locations on recipes, techniques, and plating standards
- Build clear, easy-to-follow recipe cards and prep guides
- Coach teams during store visits and follow up on progress
- Operations & Food Safety
- Create and maintain kitchen cleaning checklists and sanitation routines
- Develop equipment maintenance schedules and ensure they're followed
- Conduct regular store visits for food safety, quality, and presentation audits
- Report findings and work with store managers to close gaps quickly
What We're Looking For :
- 10 years of professional experience specializing in authentic Japanese cuisine.
- Proven experience as a chef, sous chef, or culinary lead (Japanese cuisine experience a strong asset)
- Recipe development experience — you know how to scale a dish from one plate to nine kitchens
- Solid knowledge of food safety standards (Alberta Food Safety certification or willingness to obtain)
- A coach's mindset: patient, clear, and able to train staff of all skill levels
- Organized and detail-oriented — checklists, audits, and documentation don't scare you
- Valid driver's license and ability to travel between Edmonton and Spruce Grove locations
- Passion for Japanese food and pride in your craft
What We Offer
- $50,000 base salary
- 5% profit sharing for each location — when the company wins, you win.
- A rare chance to shape the menu and kitchen culture of an established 9-location Alberta brand
- Direct access to ownership — your ideas won't get lost in layers of management
- Growth opportunity as the brand expands and franchises.
Tokyo Express is an equal opportunity employer. We thank all applicants; only those selected for an interview will be contacted.
Pay: From $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental care
- Discounted or free food
- Flexible schedule
- Mileage reimbursement
- On-site parking
- Profit sharing
- Store discount
Experience:
- Culinary: 10 years (required)
Work Location: In person
