COMPANY:

Tso Chinese Takeout & Delivery is a fast-growing, modern Chinese-American restaurant group based in Austin, TX. We’re a Public Benefit Corporation committed to quality, innovation, and community impact. With a unique no-tipping model, we take care of our people so they can take care of our guests.
We’re seeking an experienced Culinary Director with deep expertise in wok cooking and Chinese-style cuisine to lead our culinary vision as we expand across Texas and beyond. The ideal candidate combines culinary artistry with data-driven decision-making, bringing both operational discipline and creativity to scale a multi-unit restaurant group.

Responsibilities

• Lead the culinary direction across all current and future locations, ensuring consistency, quality, and authenticity in every dish
• Develop, test, and document recipes with a focus on wok technique and Chinese-style cooking
• Build and mentor strong culinary teams through hands-on wok training, leadership development, and systemized training programs
• Standardize recipes, procedures, and plating for efficiency, scalability, and brand consistency across multiple units
• Leverage Restaurant365 (R365) and other analytics platforms to monitor and optimize food costs, labor efficiency, and kitchen performance
• Use data insights to drive menu engineering, inventory control, and culinary program profitability
• Collaborate with leadership on menu innovation, seasonal promotions, and new concept launches
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and operational excellence standards across all units
• Partner with supply chain and operations teams to source high-quality ingredients while achieving cost and margin targets
• Play a key role in expansion planning by developing scalable culinary systems and processes for new unit openings
• Represent Tso in culinary events, tastings, and industry collaborations

QUALIFICATIONS

• 10+ years of professional cooking experience, with mastery of wok and Chinese culinary techniques
• Proven leadership as an Executive Chef, Culinary Director, or equivalent in a multi-unit or high-growth restaurant group
• Strong analytical skills with hands-on experience using R365 or similar platforms for cost analysis, forecasting, and performance optimization
• Track record of building scalable systems that balance culinary excellence with financial performance
• Ability to train, coach, and inspire diverse teams at all levels
• Deep knowledge of food safety, operational best practices, and cost management
• Passion for Chinese cuisine and innovation within a fast-paced, modern restaurant model
• Bilingual in English and Spanish a plus (not required)

• Lead the culinary direction across all current and future locations, ensuring consistency, quality, and authenticity in every dish
• Develop, test, and document recipes with a focus on wok technique and Chinese-style cooking
• Build and mentor strong culinary teams through hands-on wok training, leadership development, and systemized training programs
• Standardize recipes, procedures, and plating for efficiency, scalability, and brand consistency across multiple units
• Leverage Restaurant365 (R365) and other analytics platforms to monitor and optimize food costs, labor efficiency, and kitchen performance
• Use data insights to drive menu engineering, inventory control, and culinary program profitability
• Collaborate with leadership on menu innovation, seasonal promotions, and new concept launches
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and operational excellence standards across all units
• Partner with supply chain and operations teams to source high-quality ingredients while achieving cost and margin targets
• Play a key role in expansion planning by developing scalable culinary systems and processes for new unit openings
• Represent Tso in culinary events, tastings, and industry collaboration