HEAD CHEF

Matsudai Ramen at The Bank, Cardiff is seeking an organised, flexible, and driven Head Chef, with a passion for exceptional food, team development, and delivering a consistently outstanding dining experience.

Matsudai Ramen at The Bank is a 44-seat ramen bar in Grangetown, Cardiff. Wales’s first ramen shop and one of the UK’s most celebrated, we serve a seasonal menu of ramen and small plates built on depth, balance, and craft, using the best local produce alongside carefully sourced Japanese ingredients.

Alongside our core menu, we regularly collaborate with chefs and creators on supper clubs and special events. Past collaborators include South Wales’ Babhaus, Philadelphia’s Neighbourhood Ramen, FUKU, and Kenji Morimoto of Amsterdam and London. These projects are an important part of how we stay curious, creative, and connected to the wider food community.

The restaurant works closely with our sister company, Matsudai at Home, based in Taffs Well. Matsudai at Home produces and ships ramen meal kits to customers across the UK and supplies select products to the restaurant, offering opportunities for cross-pollination, development, and shared standards.

As Head Chef, you will be the creative and operational lead of the kitchen. You’ll take responsibility for the smooth, sustainable day-to-day running of a busy restaurant kitchen — from HACCP and food safety systems to the mise en place that underpins great service — while also owning food quality, consistency, and menu development, alongside our founder, James.

You’ll lead, train, and develop a talented kitchen team, set clear standards, and foster a professional, collaborative working environment. Alongside this, you’ll track performance, manage stock and expenditure with care, and balance creativity with commercial and operational realities. This is a hands-on leadership role for a chef who wants real ownership of a kitchen and the space to help shape what Matsudai does next.

What we're looking for:

• Proven experience as a Head Chef or Senior Sous Chef in a high-quality, fast-paced restaurant environment.
• Strong culinary foundations with the confidence and curiosity to develop, refine, and evolve dishes, while respecting an established identity.
• Excellent organisational skills and attention to detail, from prep systems to service flow.
• Clear, calm communication and the ability to lead a kitchen team with consistency and respect.
• Solid understanding of cost control, labour, and stock management, with the ability to track performance against forecasts and targets.
• A proactive, collaborative approach and a professional, positive attitude — someone who takes ownership but enjoys working closely with others.
• A genuine passion for food, craft, and continual improvement.

What we offer

• The opportunity to play a key creative and leadership role in one of the UK’s most respected ramen restaurants.
• Real ownership of the kitchen, working closely with the founder on menu development, specials, and collaborations.
• 28 days’ holiday (including bank holidays), plus your birthday off.
• Staff meals on every shift, plus free dining on your days off, with a further staff discount applied to your whole bill.
• Ongoing training, development, and support as the business continues to grow.
• A friendly, ambitious, and passionate team, in a kitchen that values standards, curiosity, and care.
• A 5-day week, with only 4 days open for services 

If you love being at the heart of a busy restaurant, enjoy leading from the front, and want the chance to shape both the food and the team around you, we’d love to hear from you.

Working week: This is a full-time position. The restaurant is currently open 4 days: Weds - Fri: 5 - 10pm | Sat 12 - 3 & 5 – 10pm

Renumeration:
Salary dependent on experience.

·We operate TRONC, through which gratuity is shared equitably, based on hours worked and seniority. We charge a discretionary 10% service charge on all tables. We expect this role to attract between £7-8k in tips per annum.

Development: Matsudai is a young, ambitious company with room for your specialism and influence. We’d love you to help us grow and be the best we can, which means us doing the same for you. Training and experiences outside the company will be mutually agreed on a case-by-case basis.