Apprentice · Commis Chef

Who We AreOrange Taco is a craft lifestyle house in the heart of downtown Houston. We make everything from scratch

• tacos, sauces, syrups, tortillas, baked goods.

Every item on our menu exists because we refused to compromise on quality.

We are not a chain. We are not casual. We are a small team that takes the work seriously. If you have eaten here, you already know the difference.

The RoleOrange Taco is a scratch kitchen. Nothing comes pre-made. Everything on the line was prepared here, by hand, to exact specification. The tortillas are pressed by hand every morning. The sauces are built from base. The brisket goes in fourteen hours before service. That is the standard you are walking into.

As an Apprentice Chef, you will support critical kitchen operations during your shift

• prep, cleaning, inventory management, order fulfillment, and guest interaction.

You will be expected to execute every task to standard, whether or not anyone is watching.

This is an entry point, not a holding position. Apprentice Chefs who demonstrate the right instincts, work ethic, and cultural fit will advance to Commis Chef with expanded responsibilities and competitive compensation. Advancement is based on demonstrated performance, not time served.

Who We Are Looking ForWe are not screening for years of experience. We are screening for the kind of person who chose this industry on purpose and shows up like it.

The ideal candidate is a recent high school or culinary school graduate with some kitchen or food service experience who is serious about building a career in the culinary arts. You grew up around food. You cook for people outside of work

• and you can tell us specifically what you made last weekend and why.

You have opinions about ingredients, technique, and flavor and you can back them up.

You are the person who cleans their station without being asked. Who does not need to be told the same thing twice. Who arrives early and stays focused. Who sees the unglamorous parts of kitchen work as part of the craft, not beneath it.

You are curious about how food works

• not just how to follow a recipe.

You can name a chef, a technique, or a dish that genuinely excites you. You eat intentionally. You pay attention.

You chose Orange Taco specifically. You know what we make and why it is different. That matters to us.

ResponsibilitiesSet up and break down your station to standard before and after every shift

• without being askedPrepare ingredients to exact specification
• measure and portion accurately, every timeFulfill customer orders with speed, correct flavor profiles, and intended presentationMaintain fully stocked line stations throughout service
• anticipate needs, do not waitFollow proper food rotation and shelf life management protocolsReceive, sort, and store deliveries
• verify quality and accuracy against ordersKeep your station clean as you go.

Always.

Follow all food safety and sanitation protocols defined under company policySupport kitchen, baking, and front-of-house operations when needed

• no task is beneath this roleCreate direct, confident, genuine interactions with every guestQualificationsRecent high school or culinary school graduate with some kitchen or food service experienceDemonstrated tenure in at least one prior role
• kitchen, food service, or customer-facing
• of 6 months or moreCan speak specifically about food
• a dish you have made, a technique you have tried, an ingredient that interests youHigh school diploma or equivalentWillingness to obtain Texas Food Handler's Certification within 30 days of hire if not already heldAbility to stand for extended periods and lift up to 50 lbsWhat This Is NotThis role is not for someone looking for easy hours, low expectations, or a job to coast through.

This kitchen is small and the work is visible. There is nowhere to hide. If your station is slow, the whole kitchen feels it. If your mise-en-place is incomplete, service exposes it. If your pace drops under pressure, the guest at the counter notices before you do. We are a culture of excellence and we know exactly what good looks like

• which means we also know immediately when it is not there.

If you need to be told to clean your station, this is not the right fit. If you arrive at a new kitchen already knowing things before you have learned this one, we are not the right match. If you respond to correction with a debate, this kitchen will be uncomfortable for you.

If you are here because you love the work and want to be somewhere that takes it as seriously as you do

• this is exactly the right place.

Your Path ForwardApprentice Chef is where you start. Chefs who earn the promotion advance to Commis Chef with full station ownership and expanded responsibilities. Above that, real leadership and management opportunities exist for those who grow into them.

The ceiling is not low. But you have to earn every step.

What to Expect in Our ProcessWe move quickly and deliberately.

Application review

• we screen for intent and specificity, not credentialsPhone screen
• 10 to 15 minutes, no prep requiredIn-person interview at Orange Taco, Houston Center, no prep requiredPaid trial shift
• up to 3 hours, real service conditions, evaluated on work ethic and team fit.

The trial shift may be stopped early if the standard is not met. Candidates who do not advance will be notified within 48 hoursOffer within 48 hours of trial shift if it is the right matchWe pay $13.00-17.00/hr from day one.