Experienced Middle Eastern Chef – Full-Time | Salma Restaurant

Location: Newtown, Sydney NSW
Employer: Australia Star Food Service Pty Ltd
Employment Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Working Hours: 40 hours per week
Roster: Wednesday to Sunday, including evenings and weekends
Salary: between $80,000 - $90,000 per year based on qualifications and experience
Start Date: Immediate

About the Opportunity

Salma Restaurant, located in the vibrant heart of Newtown, is looking for a skilled and dedicated Chef to join our established culinary team.

Specialising in Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine, Salma brings together traditional cooking techniques, authentic recipes, and contemporary presentation to create a memorable dining experience.

We are seeking a culinary professional who understands the rich traditions of Arabic cooking and can confidently manage daily kitchen operations while maintaining consistency, creativity, and exceptional food standards.

This position is ideal for an experienced Chef seeking a stable, long-term opportunity in a busy and welcoming restaurant.

Your Role

As a key member of our kitchen team, you will be responsible for:

- Preparing and presenting authentic Lebanese and Middle Eastern dishes using fresh ingredients.
- Producing a variety of traditional mezze, cold and hot dips, and signature main courses.
- Preparing Arabic pastries, savoury baked items, and traditional specialities from scratch.
- Managing food preparation for breakfast, lunch, and dinner services.
- Maintaining consistency in recipes, presentation, flavour, and portion sizes.
- Supporting menu development and introducing seasonal dishes and creative ideas.




- Coordinating kitchen operations and supervising food preparation during busy services.
- Organising staff duties, kitchen rosters, and daily production schedules.
- Managing ingredient ordering, stock rotation, inventory, and food costs.
- Ensuring compliance with Australian food safety, hygiene, and workplace standards.
- Minimising food waste while maintaining efficient kitchen operations.

Skills and Experience

To be considered for this position, you should demonstrate:

- At least 3 years of skilled experience as a Chef, preferably specialising in Lebanese, Arabic, or Middle Eastern cuisine.
- Comprehensive knowledge of traditional Middle Eastern ingredients, spices, recipes, and cooking methods.
- Strong practical experience preparing authentic Arabic breakfast, lunch, and dinner menus.
- Confidence in producing a broad selection of mezze, dips, grilled dishes, and traditional main courses.
- Hands-on experience preparing kibbeh, fatayer, sambousek, and other Arabic pastries from scratch.
- Ability to organise kitchen workflows and deliver high-quality meals during peak service periods.
- Experience supervising kitchen employees, coordinating rosters, and managing stock.
- Good understanding of portion control, food costing, and kitchen efficiency.
- Strong communication, teamwork,



and organisational skills.
- A proactive attitude, reliability, and attention to detail.
- Ability to work independently and contribute positively to a collaborative kitchen environment.
- Current legal working rights in Australia.

Working Arrangements

The successful applicant must be:

- Available for full-time employment, approximately 40 hours per week.
- Fully available from Wednesday through Sunday.
- Flexible to work morning, afternoon, and evening shifts, including public holidays as rostered.
- Prepared to commence employment immediately or within a short notice period.
- Interested in establishing a long-term career with our restaurant.

What We Offer

- Permanent, full-time employment.
- Market-competitive salary package based on experience and capabilities.
- Complimentary staff meals during shifts.
- Employee dining discounts.
- Friendly, multicultural, and supportive workplace.
- Opportunity to contribute to menu innovation and kitchen development.
- Long-term career opportunities within an established hospitality business.

How to Apply

If you have a genuine passion for Middle Eastern cooking and the experience to deliver authentic, high-quality dishes, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit your updated resume, outlining your relevant culinary experience, specialist cooking skills, and current availability.

Join Salma Restaurant and bring your culinary expertise to a kitchen that celebrates tradition, flavour, and hospitality.

Pay: $80,000.00 – $90,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- Employee discount
- Free food

Work Location: In person

📌 Chef (Newtown)
🏢 Salma Restaurant (Australia Star Food Services)
📍 Newtown