Full-Time

Kitchen Leader

SeoulSpice

SeoulSpice

11-50 employees

Fast-casual Korean bowls with gluten-free ingredients

Compensation Overview

$19.50 - $20/hr

+ Performance-based bonus

Chicago, IL, USA

In Person

Category
Food Service & Hospitality (1)
Required Skills
Inventory Management

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Requirements
  • Experience working in a busy kitchen and preparing food from scratch.
  • Basic knife skills and familiarity with common kitchen equipment.
  • Ability to train, support, and work alongside other team members.
  • Ability to keep the kitchen organized and running smoothly during busy shifts.
  • Ability to communicate clearly and solve problems.
  • Ability to perform the essential duties of the role, with or without reasonable accommodation, including remaining on one's feet and moving throughout the restaurant for most of the shift; regularly lifting and carrying 5–25 pounds and occasionally handling 40–50 pounds; reaching overhead and bending or squatting to access ingredients, supplies, and equipment; pushing, pulling, and moving supplies or restaurant equipment; safely handling knives, thermometers, kitchen equipment, cleaning tools, and point-of-sale systems; moving through stairs, doorways, ramps, elevators, and compact work areas; and staying focused, coordinated, and productive during busy service periods.
  • Applicants must be at least 18 years old.
  • Availability may be required in the mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays based on the restaurant's needs.
Responsibilities
  • Manage the restaurant's kitchen operations and ensure produce, sauces, and proteins are prepared from scratch according to SeoulSpice recipes and standards.
  • Lead daily production and organize the kitchen.
  • Develop Sous Chefs who can execute at a high level.
  • Plan the right amount of food at the right time to keep the restaurant stocked with fresh, high-quality food.
  • Lead the team in preparing produce, sauces, marinades, and proteins from scratch.
  • Plan daily preparation so the restaurant has enough fresh food without producing excessive amounts.
  • Train and support Sous Chefs while keeping the kitchen organized and running smoothly.
  • Track inventory, deliveries, labeling, storage, and first-in-first-out rotation.
  • Maintain a clean and safe kitchen.
  • Communicate with the front-line team to keep service flowing.

SeoulSpice serves fast-casual Korean comfort food with a modern twist, focusing on Korean BBQ and rice bowls made from responsibly raised, gluten-free ingredients. The meals are prepared quickly for dine-in and takeout, with additional options for family feasts and catering. The brand differentiates itself by offering health-conscious options that maintain traditional Korean flavors while using gluten-free ingredients and a modern preparation style. Its goal is to nourish customers with flavorful, wholesome meals and provide a positive work environment with growth opportunities for employees.

Company Size

11-50

Company Stage

Grant

Total Funding

$10K

Headquarters

Washington DC, District of Columbia

Founded

2016

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Simplify Jobs

Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • March 2025 Chicago opening reached Millennium Park foot traffic immediately.
  • Invus funding enabled company-owned national growth, not franchise dilution.
  • Rosslyn’s 2026 listing and strong employee reviews support recruiting and retention.

What critics are saying

  • Chicago expansion across River North and Wicker Park strains management bandwidth in 2026.
  • Seven D.C. locations face local saturation while new units chase unfamiliar Midwest demand.
  • Private ownership and undisclosed Invus funding force execution discipline; one bad rollout kills momentum.

What makes SeoulSpice unique

  • Eric Shin built SeoulSpice from NoMa into a 10-location regional brand.
  • Invus backed SeoulSpice after backing Cava, signaling proven fast-casual scaling discipline.
  • Its Korean bowls and gluten-free positioning fit health-conscious urban lunch traffic.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Paid Vacation

Parental Leave

Meal Benefits

Training Programs

Growth & Insights and Company News

Headcount

6 month growth

29%

1 year growth

29%

2 year growth

29%
Crain Communications
Mar 18th, 2025
D.C.-based fast-casual chain SeoulSpice is opening 3 restaurants in Chicago

D.C.-based fast-casual chain SeoulSpice is opening 3 restaurants in Chicago.

The Business Journals
Jul 5th, 2024
Seoulspice Expands Nationally with Invus Funding

Seoulspice, a Korean fast-casual chain, is expanding nationally with new backing from The Invus Group LLC, a $10 billion investment fund. CEO Eric Shin announced the expansion, starting with three new locations in Chicago, which he will oversee this summer. Although the funding amount is undisclosed, Invus is known for backing Cava Group. Seoulspice will not franchise and plans to keep new locations under company ownership. Invus is also seeking more fast-casual restaurants to invest in.

Business Wire
Sep 11th, 2023
Comcast RISE Investment Fund Provides $21 Million in Grants to Support Small Businesses Hardest Hit by the COVID-19 Pandemic

COMCAST RISE INVESTMENT FUND PROVIDES $21 MILLION IN GRANTS TO SUPPORT SMALL BUSINESSES HARDEST HIT BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC

Eater
Jan 11th, 2022
SEOULSPICE expands offices to Virginia, United States

Meanwhile, Korean mini-chain SeoulSpice is expanding to Virginia with its sixth location in the D.C. area opening on the ground floor of the International Place office building in Rosslyn at 1735 North Lynn Street.

ARLnow
Jan 10th, 2022
SEOULSPICE opens new location in Lynn, Massachusetts, United States

The local fast casual chain SeoulSpice is opening a new location in Rosslyn at 1735 N. Lynn Street, on the ground floor of the International Place office building.