Join the team behind one of Peckham's favourite neighbourhood restaurants.
Taquiza is an independent Mexican restaurant serving bold, authentic food inspired by the streets and kitchens of Mexico. Nestled beneath the railway arches in the heart of Peckham, we're known for exceptional tacos, great margaritas, warm hospitality and a buzzing atmosphere. By night, we're neighbours to the iconic Carpet Shop club, making us part of one of South London's most exciting hospitality and cultural spaces.
We're looking for an experienced Head Chef to lead our kitchen into its next chapter.
This is a hands-on role for someone who thrives in a busy service, leads by example and genuinely loves cooking. You'll have the freedom to be creative, help shape seasonal specials, inspire your team and maintain the high standards our guests have come to expect. We're after someone who brings energy, positivity and ambition. Great food matters to us, but so does creating a kitchen where people enjoy coming to work.
What you'll be doing
- Leading the kitchen team through fast-paced services.
- Maintaining exceptional food quality and consistency.
- Managing ordering, stock control and GP.
- Creating seasonal specials and contributing to menu development.
- Training, mentoring and developing the kitchen team.
- Maintaining excellent food safety and hygiene standards.
- Working closely with the front-of-house management team to deliver an outstanding guest experience.
- Helping foster a positive, supportive and hardworking kitchen culture.
We're looking for someone who
- Has previous experience as a Head Chef or strong Sous Chef ready to step up.
- Is calm under pressure and thrives in high-volume service.
- Has genuine experience and passion for Mexican food
- Is organised, reliable and commercially aware.
- Leads with positivity, respect and professionalism.
- Comfortable with being on camera to create inspiring social media content
- Enjoys developing people and building a strong team culture.
- Wants to be part of an ambitious independent business.
What we offer
£45,000–£48,000 salary, depending on experience.
- Staff food and drinks on every shift.
- Cost-price drinks across the group.
- Complimentary access to events at The Carpet Shop nightclub.
- A creative, independent working environment with real input into the food.
- A genuinely supportive team who love what they do.
- Opportunities to grow with an exciting independent hospitality business.
Why Taquiza?
We're proud to be a small independent restaurant with big ambitions. We believe the best hospitality comes from happy teams, good music, hard work and looking after each other.
If you're an experienced chef looking for a kitchen where creativity is encouraged, standards are high and the atmosphere is genuinely enjoyable, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: £45,000.00-£48,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Company events
- Discounted or free food
- Employee discount
Work Location: In person
