Lead Cook - San Clemente

Job Description Luna Grill, a fast casual/QSR concept, is looking for Lead Cooks for our new San Clemente location. We are a really (really) cool company to work for—we take pride in our inspirational culture, being a true “people first” workplace, and providing opportunities for growth. For over 20 years, Luna Grill has served fresh, feel‑good Mediterranean food in Southern California and Dallas–Fort Worth (50+ locations and counting). Now, we’re expanding our OC footprint — and we’re looking for passionate Cooks to help launch our up and coming location in San Clemente and bring our flavors to life. Why You’ll Love Luna Grill Competitive hourly rate + Team Tip Pool (compensation varies by region and market) Free Healthy Shift Meals Flexible Scheduling Recognition, Rewards & Referral Bonuses Team Member Discounts Growth & promotion opportunities as we expand throughout Arizona What You’ll Do As a Luna Grill Lead Cook, you’ll be leading BOH operations during assigned shifts while ensuring food quality, safety, accuracy, and speed of service. This position combines hands‑on cooking with shift leadership responsibilities such as training team members, monitoring food safety logs, coordinating station assignments, and maintaining compliance with Luna Grill standards. Prepare, cook, and plate menu items according to Luna Grill recipes and portion standards Operate grills, fryers, ovens, and other kitchen equipment safely and efficiently Maintain food quality, safety, and sanitation standards always Set up, organize, and maintain a clean workstation throughout the shift Support the kitchen team with prep, stocking, and closing duties Direct and assist team members during shifts to ensure smooth operations Communicate effectively with leadership and teammates to keep service running efficiently Assist with dishwashing, kitchen maintenance and other tasks as needed What we’re looking for 2+ years of kitchen leadership experience in a high‑volume or fast‑casual environment required Strong understanding of food prep, portion control, and recipe consistency Knowledge of food safety and sanitation best practices Positive, dependable team player who thrives under pressure Must be 18 years or older Strong knowledge of kitchen operations, food safety, and sanitation Reliable, professional, and able to communicate clearly Able to work productively with minimal supervision High School Diploma or GED preferred Bilingual (English/Spanish) a plus Why Join Luna Grill? We’re not your typical restaurant gig. At Luna Grill, we’re all about real food, real people, and real growth. We’ve built a culture that’s team-focused, values‑driven, and genuinely fun to be a part of. We care about what we serve, who we serve it with—and we’re bringing that energy to San Clemente. If you’re ready to lead, grow, and be part of something fresh (literally and figuratively), let’s talk. Luna Grill participates in E‑Verify for all positions. E‑Verify is an internet‑based system operated by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in partnership with the Social Security Administration (SSA) that allows participating employers to electronically verify the eligibility of new employees to work in the United States. E‑Verify checks information provided on an employee’s Form I‑9 electronically against records contained in DHS and SSA databases. Luna Grill is an equal opportunity employer. We offer a welcoming and inclusive environment to our team members, job applicants, the guests we serve, and the communities we call home. Luna Grill also has a longstanding policy of providing a work environment that respects the dignity and worth of each individual and is free from all forms of discrimination, including harassment, because of race, color, sex, gender, age, religion or religious creed, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, physical or mental disability, military or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. #J-18808-Ljbffr