Kitchen Manager Interview Questions

Kitchen Managers, also known as Kitchen Supervisors,  are in charge of the overall operations for the kitchen area of a restaurant or hotel. Their goal is to ensure the kitchen department runs smoothly and complies with safety regulations.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Kitchen Manager or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Kitchen Manager position, these Kitchen Manager interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Kitchen Manager Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Kitchen Manager interview questions.

1. Are you familiar with kitchen health and safety regulations? As a kitchen manager, how will you enforce these rules to ensure our kitchen and guests are safe?
2. We have had concerns with employee theft recently. What would you do if you caught a kitchen staff member stealing?
3. How would you handle an emergency situation in the kitchen, such as a fire or a gas leak?
4. How often do you perform inventory checks to ensure that the kitchen has enough supplies?
5. When is the best time to perform kitchen cleaning and maintenance?
6. Describe your strategy for ensuring that all of the equipment, utensils, ingredients, and other items in the kitchen are clean and ready to use.
7. Do you have experience working with vendors? As a kitchen manager, how do you qualify suppliers of food ingredients?
8. When planning meals, how do you go about ensuring that the food is both delicious and healthy?
9. What qualities and criteria would you use to employ a chef, line chef and a kitchen assistant?
10. What would you do as a kitchen supervisor if you noticed an employee taking a long break during their shift?
11. Do you have any certifications in the hospitality industry?
12. What is your experience with menu planning and food preparation?
13. Our restaurants are open evenings and weekends. What are your preferred shifts? Do you have any limitations to your availability?
14. We want to improve our menu offerings. If you were hired, what new items would you add to our menu?
15. Imagine you are a customer, what type of dining experience would you expect from our facility?
16. What is your experience with managing a budget for kitchen supplies and ingredients?
17. What type of organizational system do you intend to implement for the kitchen’s storage needs?
18. How would you go about enforcing sanitation standards as the kitchen manager?
19. Can you tell us something you would change about our restaurant if hired as our next kitchen manager?
20. There is a conflict between two kitchen staff members. How do you handle it?
21. Getting kitchen staff to stay is a continuous struggle in some restaurants. What strategies will you put in place to ensure our kitchen is always adequately staffed?
22. Do you have any experience with inventory management? What software tools do you use for managing inventory?
23. As a kitchen manager, are you comfortable giving employees constructive criticism when necessary?
24. What are your plans for accommodating special guests, such as vegans and people who are sensitive to gluten?
25. How would you handle a situation where one of your line cooks is not meeting productivity standards?
26. There is a shortage in supplies and you’re expecting a large group of diners. How would you handle this situation?
27. How do you manage troublesome guests?
28. As a kitchen supervisor, how would you ensure your staff remains motivated during stressful shifts?
29. We want to attract customers who are looking for a unique dining experience. How would you make our kitchen stand out?

Kitchen Manager Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Kitchen Manager interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

1. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
2. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
3. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
4. Tell Me About Yourself
5. What is Your Greatest Strength?
6. Why Do You Want This Job?
7. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
8. Why Should We Hire You?
9. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
10. What is Your Salary Expectation?