Executive Chef

Executive Chef – Exodo Hospitality

Salary: $80,000–$90,000 per year (based on experience)

Benefits:

• Health Insurance (Upcoming)
• Paid Time Off
• Career Growth Opportunities
• Ongoing Professional Development

About Exodo Hospitality

Exodo Hospitality is a fast-growing restaurant group based in Chicago, dedicated to creating memorable dining experiences through exceptional food, genuine hospitality, and innovative concepts. Our portfolio includes multiple unique restaurants, each with its own identity and culinary vision—from upscale Mexican and Peruvian cuisine to Nikkei-inspired dining and elevated casual concepts.

Our current family of restaurants includes:

• Matilda – An upscale Mexican and Peruvian concept located in River North, known for bold flavors, handcrafted cocktails, and vibrant hospitality.
• Kayao – A modern Peruvian restaurant that celebrates authentic flavors with contemporary techniques and exceptional service.
• Akiro (U.S Flagship)– A Nikkei-inspired restaurant blending Japanese precision with Peruvian influences in an elevated dining experience.
• Ay Ay Ay – A fast-casual concept focused on delivering high-quality Mexican flavors in a fun, approachable environment.

At Exodo Hospitality, we believe that great restaurants are built by great people. We invest heavily in leadership development, training, and creating systems that allow our teams to succeed. Our culture is built around teamwork, accountability, continuous improvement, and delivering unforgettable guest experiences every single day.

As we continue to expand and develop new concepts, we're looking for leaders who want more than just a job—they want the opportunity to grow with a company that values innovation, leadership, and long-term career development.

Position Overview

The Executive Chef is responsible for leading the kitchen team, maintaining the highest culinary standards, and ensuring operational excellence across all aspects of the kitchen. This role requires someone who is equally comfortable leading people, developing systems, and managing the business side of the kitchen.

We're looking for someone who doesn't just cook exceptional food—but develops exceptional teams.

What You'll Be Responsible For

• Lead, mentor, and develop BOH managers, chefs, and kitchen staff.
• Create a positive, professional, and accountable kitchen culture.
• Maintain exceptional food quality, consistency, and presentation.
• Manage food cost, purchasing, inventory, and labor to meet company goals.
• Build and maintain kitchen systems, organization, and operational standards.
• Develop training programs and continuously coach the team.
• Ensure all health department, sanitation, and food safety standards are exceeded.
• Work closely with Operations and Ownership to improve performance and drive results.
• Create efficient prep systems, recipes, pars, and organizational standards.
• Help recruit, interview, and retain top culinary talent.
• Foster collaboration between the Front of House and Back of House to deliver an outstanding guest experience.

What We're Looking For

• Previous Executive Chef experience in a high-volume restaurant.
• Strong leadership and people development skills.
• Excellent understanding of food cost, labor management, inventory, and purchasing.
• Experience creating systems, SOPs, and kitchen organization.
• Ability to train, coach, and hold teams accountable.
• Calm, professional, and solution-oriented under pressure.
• Passion for hospitality, teamwork, and continuous improvement.
• Spanish and English communication skills are a plus.

Why Join Exodo Hospitality?

We're more than a restaurant group—we're building a hospitality company focused on developing people and creating opportunities. As we continue to grow, we invest heavily in our leaders and promote from within whenever possible.

If you're looking for a place where your leadership will make a real impact, where you'll have opportunities to grow professionally, and where you'll be surrounded by a team committed to excellence, we'd love to meet you.

Join Exodo Hospitality and help us build the next generation of exceptional restaurant experiences.