Line Cook

Line Cook – Japanese Fine Dining / Tempura Training

Tempura Matsui is a Michelin One-Star tempura omakase restaurant located in Murray Hill, New York City.

We are looking for a full-time Line Cook who is genuinely interested in Japanese cuisine and wants to develop their skills in a focused fine-dining environment.

This position offers a hands-on training path toward learning professional tempura technique.

You will work closely alongside the chef, beginning with mise en place, knife work, sakizuke and zensai preparation, sashimi support, and the preparation of premium seafood and seasonal vegetables.

As your skills and responsibilities grow, you will gradually receive hands-on training in tempura preparation and service.

Previous Japanese kitchen experience is highly valued, but it is not required. For the right candidate, attitude, curiosity, reliability, and a genuine desire to learn Japanese cuisine are just as important as previous experience.

We are looking for someone who:

• Has 1+ year of professional kitchen experience preferred
• Has Japanese kitchen experience or a strong interest in Japanese cuisine
• Wants to develop a long-term career in Japanese fine dining
• Has basic knife skills and is eager to improve
• Works cleanly, efficiently, and with attention to detail
• Is reliable, punctual, organized, and coachable
• Works well as part of a small, focused team
• Is comfortable working with a sense of urgency during service
• Is authorized to work in the United States

Experience with washoku, sushi, kaiseki, tempura, yakitori, or other Japanese kitchens is a strong plus.

Fine-dining experience is welcome but not required.

• Japanese fine-dining mise en place and organization
• Sakizuke and zensai preparation and plating
• Sashimi preparation and plating support
• Seafood and seasonal vegetable preparation
• Japanese ingredients and traditional preparation techniques
• Tempura ingredient preparation and station setup
• Tempura technique through progressive, hands-on training
• The precision and consistency required in a Michelin-starred kitchen

• Execute daily mise en place accurately and consistently
• Prepare and plate sakizuke and zensai
• Assist with sashimi preparation
• Prepare seafood and seasonal vegetables
• Support the chef and tempura station during service
• Maintain excellent cleanliness, organization, labeling, storage, and food safety standards
• Complete assigned opening and closing duties
• Learn, accept feedback, and continuously develop your technical skills

Full-Time Only

Monday: Closed
Tuesday–Thursday: Dinner Service
Friday–Saturday: Lunch & Dinner Service
Sunday: Open twice per month

Evening and weekend availability is required.

$18–$28/hour, depending on experience and skill level

Benefits include:

• Health Insurance
• Dental Insurance
• Vision Insurance
• 401(k)
• Commuter Benefits
• Dining Discounts

This is an opportunity for someone who wants to go beyond a standard Line Cook position and develop specialized skills in Japanese cuisine.

You will work closely with the chef in a small Michelin One-Star kitchen, learning through daily preparation, service, feedback, and progressively greater responsibility.

If you are serious about Japanese cuisine and interested in developing the skills to become a tempura chef, we would like to hear from you.

Please email your resume to:

Please include:

• Current location
• Earliest available start date
• Current employment status
• Work authorization status
• Japanese kitchen experience, if any

Please also tell us briefly:

Why are you interested in Japanese cuisine and learning tempura?