Resources
Post a Job

Kitchen Manager Interview Questions

Edited by Indeed Employer Content Team
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

Whether you are preparing to interview a candidate or applying for a job, review our list of top Kitchen Manager interview questions and answers.

  1. How do you motivate your staff during a busy kitchen rush? See answer
  2. How do you keep the kitchen organised? See answer
  3. Describe your experience in ordering and maintaining an inventory of ingredients and supplies. See answer
  4. How has your academic background prepared you to be a kitchen manager? See answer
  5. What training do you have for proper food handling and sanitation procedures? See answer
  6. What process do you follow for determining prices for new menu items? See answer
  7. How do you develop professional relationships with food suppliers? See answer
  8. What qualities do you look for when hiring kitchen staff? See answer
  9. How do you build a strong kitchen team? See answer
  10. How would you describe your management style as a kitchen manager? See answer
  11. Describe your experience with the training and development of staff. See answer
  12. What made you apply to be the kitchen manager at our restaurant? See answer
  13. What’s your primary role as a kitchen manager?
  14. What’s the hardest part of being a kitchen manager for you?
  15. What’s the first change you would implement in our kitchen?
Show more questions Show fewer questions

Hire your next Kitchen Manager today.

Post a job

Hire your next Kitchen Manager today.

Post a job
Our mission

Indeed’s Employer Resource Library helps businesses grow and manage their workforce. With over 15,000 articles in 6 languages, we offer tactical advice, how-tos and best practices to help businesses hire and retain great employees.

Read our editorial guidelines

15 Kitchen Manager Interview Questions and Answers

What's your primary role as a kitchen manager?

A successful kitchen manager knows that there are many duties and responsibilities involved in the position. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's opinion of the role's fundamental responsibility. What to look for in an answer:

  • Awareness of the full scope of responsibilities
  • Experience and understanding of a kitchen manager's key role
  • Ability to prioritise tasks

Example:

"There are many duties that a kitchen manager handles. However, the primary role is to provide direction, guidance, and clear communication about the restaurant's vision and goals. Of course, this encompasses food quality, inventory management, and running a productive kitchen."

How do you motivate your staff during a busy kitchen rush?

A kitchen manager must motivate and provide direction to kitchen staff, especially during busy times. The goal of the question is to evaluate how the candidate supports their team during busy periods. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ready to lead by example and jump in when the kitchen is busy
  • Communication skills to motivate and inspire a team
  • Leadership skills to provide direction and influence the priorities of the team

Example:

"When it's lunch or dinner rush, I step in to help my team in every way I can. If I need to expedite orders or coordinate servers, then that's what I do. I believe in leading by example, so I maintain a positive, team-centred attitude."

How do you keep the kitchen organised?

An organised kitchen is productive, safe, and enjoyable to cook in. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's organisational skills. What to look for in an answer:

  • organisational skills for inventory management
  • Awareness of creating a productive flow in the kitchen
  • Practical storage arrangement for ingredients, supplies, and cooking tools

Example:

"When first starting in a new kitchen, I observe the general workflow and see if I can make any improvements. I like to have frequently used tools readily available for the team, including an array of knives. If not already instaled, I prefer a magnetic strip on the wall for these items. I also review storage of ingredients and supplies and..."

Describe your experience in ordering and maintaining an inventory of ingredients and supplies.

A successful kitchen manager is in charge of ordering kitchen supplies, tools, and ingredients. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's level of experience with inventory management. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to maintain adequate levels of fresh ingredients, dry goods, and supplies
  • Budgeting abilities
  • Ability to project and anticipate realistic kitchen needs

Example:

"For the past several years, I've been ordering all kitchen goods, including fresh and frozen ingredients and general supplies. I'm proud to say that I stay within budget with minimal waste, making the kitchen more profitable than expected."

How has your academic background prepared you to be a kitchen manager?

Depending on your restaurant, you may require a successful candidate to have specific academic qualifications. The question's goal is to evaluate the candidate's training and how they use their knowledge to be a proficient kitchen manager. What to look for in an answer:

  • Relevant academic training, such as a culinary certificate
  • Ability to adapt knowledge to benefit a real-world environment
  • Interested in learning and taking part in professional development

Example:

"During culinary school, I learned the skills to create a high-functioning, productive kitchen. I also gained practical knowledge of inventory management and tracking expenses. I've been able to take that foundational training and experience to support my career."

What training do you have for proper food handling and sanitation procedures?

A kitchen manager must monitor and maintain high food safety and sanitation standards. The question's goal is to determine if the candidate has appropriate training for the province or territory they are working within. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interest in creating a clean, safe, and sanitary kitchen environment
  • Completion of food safety and sanitation training recognised by local regulations
  • Desire to take part in professional development

Example:

"I recently renewed my food safety training certificate. I require everyone on my team to stay up to date as well and organise annual refresher courses. Food safety and sanitation is a critical aspect of running an effective and profitable kitchen."

What's the hardest part of being a kitchen manager for you?

A kitchen manager must know how to navigate the position's challenges. The goal of the question is to evaluate how the candidate handles the position's full scope of responsibilities.What to look for in an answer:

  • A positive and enthusiastic attitude
  • Creative thinking to develop solutions
  • Experience in the kitchen and an understanding of all the role's duties and responsibilities

Example:

"The hardest part of being a kitchen manager for me is seeing my team struggle during busy periods. It's challenging for some to work in a fast-paced environment, so I like to work closely with those team members. Mentoring and supporting them to develop their skills is an essential part of my job."

What's the first change you would implement in our kitchen?

A candidate should come to the interview prepared, having conducted some research about the restaurant. The question's goal is to determine what the candidate knows about the company and whether they have insightful suggestions. What to look for in an answer:

  • Initiative to learn about the restaurant before the interview
  • Critical and creative thinking to develop practical suggestions for improvement
  • Confidence and leadership abilities

Example:

"One change I would implement is to bring on an expeditor during peak times. Having an expeditor reduces stress for the rest of the team. It also increases the quality of food presentation and ensures the dishes are sent out more quickly and efficiently."

What process do you follow for determining prices for new menu items?

A kitchen manager ensures the profitability of the kitchen, including the prices of menu items. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's experience in costing new menu selections. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to determine reasonable menu prices
  • Awareness of business factors including labour and profit margin
  • Experience with menu costing

Example:

"In my previous role, I used an ideal food cost percentage calculation. I take the portion of sales spent on ingredients, and the raw food costs to calculate a selling price. For example..."

How do you develop professional relationships with food suppliers?

A kitchen manager orders ingredients and supplies, so they must build strong professional relationships with suppliers. The goal of the question is to determine the candidate's ability to forge partnerships with vendors. What to look for in an answer:

  • Interpersonal skills to create and develop relationships
  • Communication skills to provide clear expectations of food quality
  • Resourcefulness to find new suppliers, such as local farmers or producers

Example:

"Sustainable, local produce is important to me. I enjoy visiting farmer's markets to find local vendors to work with. I develop these relationships and often meet with them at their farms or ranches to understand how they grow their produce. I also attend local professional networking events to meet new vendors."

What qualities do you look for when hiring kitchen staff?

A kitchen manager typically hires new staff. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's experience in the interviewing and hiring process. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to interview kitchen staff candidates effectively to hire qualified team members
  • Communication skills to ask direct questions to assess competencies and abilities
  • Ability to evaluate a candidate's characteristics for company fit

Example:

"When hiring kitchen staff, I look for attention to detail and the ability to work in a busy environment. These are critical qualities in a productive kitchen team member, regardless of position. It's also important to me that everyone I hire thrives in a team and is a good fit for the rest of the group."

How do you build a strong kitchen team?

A successful kitchen manager must build and nurture a powerful team to encourage job satisfaction and productivity. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's approach to team building. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to motivate and mentor kitchen staff
  • Interpersonal skills to relate to team members and create a team environment
  • Communication skills to provide direction on the kitchen's goals and objectives

Example:

"The first part of building an excellent team starts with hiring the right people and putting them in the best position for their skills. It also means mentoring those staff who are already with you to develop their abilities. And it's imperative to provide clear direction to the entyre team with open communication."

How would you describe your management style as a kitchen manager?

Every manager has a unique style of management and leadership. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's management experience, skills, and techniques. What to look for in an answer:

  • Communication skills to provide direction, guidance, and training to staff
  • Interpersonal skills to build an effective team and provide support
  • Leadership or management experience

Example:

"I'd describe my management style as collabourative and mentoring. I believe in hiring the best people and providing them with clear expectations and standards. Then, it's my job to support them, provide direction and guidance, and encourage continued success. If I need to step in and redirect someone or even discipline a repeated behaviour, I definitely will, but as a last resort. I prefer to provide rewards and recognition for good work."

Describe your experience with the training and development of staff.

A kitchen manager must oversee the training and development of kitchen staff. The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's experience providing learning opportunities to their team. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to assess staff development and create training plans for continued learning
  • Interested in taking part in professional development
  • Resourcefulness to identify training programmes or courses that would benefit the company

Example:

"In my previous position, I created the entyre training plan for every kitchen staff position. The programme included an assessment and then individual learning paths covering basic kitchen operations, ingredients, safety, and even customer service. I believe that providing ongoing training is critical to a motivated, happy, and skilled team."

What made you apply to be the kitchen manager at our restaurant?

The goal of the question is to evaluate the candidate's motivation in applying for the position and what interests them about your opportunity. What to look for in an answer:

  • Ability to research the restaurant before the interview
  • Communication skills to express their interest clearly
  • Self-awareness of personal motivation

Example:

"The number one thing that made me apply for the position is the restaurant's amazing reputation. Your restaurant is well-known in the community for great quality food at fair prices, with an upscale feel. Every time I dine here, I'm impressed with the food and service. I'm excited to be a part of that experience."

Three individuals are sitting at a table with a laptop, a disposable coffee cup, notebooks, and a phone visible. Two are facing each other, while the third’s back is to the camera. The setting appears to be a bright room with large windows.

Hire your next Kitchen Manager today

Post a Job

Explore Interview Questions by Title

No search results found

    Related Articles

    Best Practices for Virtual Interviews
    Read article
    12 Interview Questions Not to Ask to Avoid Getting in Hot Water
    Read article
    How to Conduct a Second Interview (with 5 Example Questions)
    Read article