Line Cook - Unser (Rio Rancho)

Taco Cabana | Line Cook Job Description

Job Class: Non-Exempt

Reports To: General Manager, Assistant Manager, or Shift Manager

Location: Restaurant Kitchen

Pay Rate: $13.00 / hour

Job Summary

The Line Cook is the heart of the Taco Cabana kitchen. You will be directly responsible for prepping and cooking our fresh, Mexican-inspired menu items while maintaining the highest standards of food safety, cleanliness, and quality. From rolling breakfast tacos to preparing our signature salsas and guacamole, you ensure every guest receives a delicious, high-quality meal served fast.

Essential Functions and Responsibilities

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to complete each essential duty satisfactorily. Taco Cabana may update or amend these duties as operational needs evolve.

Food Preparation & Quality Control

• Prepare, cook, and present food consistently according to Taco Cabana’s exact recipes, portion sizes, and presentation standards.
• Scratch-prep daily essentials including fresh salsas, aguas frescas, and guacamole.
• Plan and pace food production to match peak dining hours, ensuring food is always served fresh, hot, and visually appealing.
• Conduct mandatory food temperature and quality checks before serving.
• Accurately fulfill special dietary requests and modifications.

Inventory & Stock Management

• Monitor food inventory levels and use production systems to determine the daily amount of prep required.
• Ensure all incoming product deliveries meet quality specifications, unit counts, and proper temperatures.
• Safely store, date, label, and rotate all food and supply inventory utilizing the FIFO (First In, First Out) method.

Kitchen Sanitation, Safety & Maintenance

• Maintain a sparkling clean, neat, and organized work station at all times.
• Clean, sanitize, and properly maintain kitchen equipment; operate dishwashing equipment as needed.
• Strictly comply with established local health department standards, sanitation regulations, and personal hygiene guidelines.
• Promptly report any equipment malfunctions or maintenance needs to management.
• Assist team members in other kitchen or restaurant areas as needed to ensure smooth operations.

Required Qualifications & Skills

• Experience: Minimum of 1 year of experience as a line cook or prep cook in a high-volume restaurant environment preferred.
• Education: Some high school education completed; ability to read, write, and follow written recipes.
• Communication: Strong verbal communication skills to effectively collaborate with managers, front-of-house servers, and kitchen team members.
• Safety Knowledge: Solid understanding of workplace safety procedures and food handling hygiene.

Desired Attributes

• Dependable & Efficient: Punctual, able to multitask, and excellent at managing time during high-stress rush hours.
• Team Player: Positive attitude with the ability to work seamlessly with a diverse group of people.
• Detail-Oriented: Passionate about food quality, presentation consistency, and cleanliness.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these essential functions.

• Environment: Fast-paced, hot, and damp restaurant kitchen environment. Frequent exposure to kitchen heat, walk-in freezers, and standard cleaning chemicals.
• Physical Demands: * Requires standing and walking for the vast majority of a shift.
• Frequent lifting, carrying, and pushing/pulling of kitchen inventory up to 50 pounds.
• Frequent bending, stooping, reaching, kneeling, crouching, and balancing.
• Continuous manual dexterity and hand-eye coordination for cutting, chopping, gripping utensils, and operating kitchen equipment.
• Hazards: Standard commercial kitchen hazards including, but not limited to, hot cooking surfaces, steam, sharp knives, wet/slippery floors, and glass handling.
• Noise Level: Moderate to loud.

This position is an excellent opportunity for individuals passionate about culinary arts who wish to grow their skills in a fast-paced, professional setting. We welcome applicants committed to delivering exceptional food service while maintaining the highest safety standards.

Work Location: In person

Pay: From $13.00 per hour

Work Location: In person

Salary : $13