Commis Chef

BAO Shoreditch is looking for a Commis Chef to join the kitchen team and start building the foundations of a great kitchen career. This is a brilliant opportunity for someone at the beginning of their culinary journey - someone who’s eager to learn, loves working in a team, and takes pride in doing things properly.

The Restaurant: Tucked into East London’s creative hub, BAO Shoreditch takes its cue from the bustling beef noodle shops of Taiwan - reimagined with a playful, London twist. Upstairs, guests enjoy rich bowls of beef noodle soup, signature BAOs, and a menu full of bold Taiwanese flavours. Downstairs, there’s a bar and private KTV room, a unique space for late-night drinks, group dining, and the occasional singalong. It brings a fun, unexpected layer to the Shoreditch experience. Like every BAO restaurant, Shoreditch has its own identity - energetic, characterful, and rooted in great food and service.

The Position: At BAO, we care about the details - from how we prep to how we plate every dish. As a Commis Chef, you’ll work closely with senior chefs to learn your section, build confidence, and deliver consistently high standards during service. We’ll give you the structure, support, and feedback you need to grow - and in return, we’re looking for someone who’s committed, curious, and shows up with a great attitude every day.

What you’ll be doing:

• Supporting your section with prep and service
• Following recipes and guidance from senior chefs with care and attention
• Working cleanly and efficiently in a fast-paced kitchen
• Learning new skills and asking questions to keep improving
• Helping to maintain food safety and cleanliness standards
• Contributing to a positive and well-organised kitchen environment

What we’re looking for:

• Some kitchen experience or a strong desire to learn and grow as a chef
• A great team player who communicates clearly and asks for help when needed
• Supportive and kind - someone who wants to grow with others, not compete with them
• Focused, reliable, and proud of doing things properly
• A positive attitude and willingness to take on feedback

The Benefits: We want working at BAO to feel like stepping into a warm, fluffy bao - soft, supportive, and full of good stuff. Here’s what you’ll get as part of the team:

• Up to 50% off food and drink across all BAO restaurants and discounts across friends in the industry
• Access to curated wine and meat suppliers at trade prices

Rewards & Recognition:

• BAOcoin - earn rewards for living BAO values, then spend them in the BAOshop
• BAO Pyramid Scheme - earn up to £500 for referring someone to join the team

Growth & Development:

• Personalised development plans tailored to your goals
• Access to School of BAO, a series of talks, workshops and fieldtrips

Work‑Life Balance:

• Rotas released two weeks in advance so you can plan ahead

Milestones:

• Perks to celebrate work anniversaries milestones

Celebrations: The Group BAO quite literally means steamed bun. But BAO means so much more than that, a cult brand with a cult following that aims to inspire with design through food. Founded in 2013 by family trio, Erchen Chang, Shing Tat Chung and Wai Ting Chung in a carpark in East London to now spanning 7 restaurants across London, where each has its own story of Taiwanese Culture with unique experience, narrative and menu. At BAO we seek people who warm our souls through cooking and hospitality. We strive to cultivate an environment where our design is inspiring, where our unconventional way of thinking bring humour and innovation; our detail challenges you to do your best.