🍛 Chef Wanted — Independent Kitchen Role at Family-Run Indian-Nepalese Fine Dining, Koog aan de Zaan

🍽 Opportunity Kathmandu Kitchen, a family-run Indian-Nepalese restaurant group with locations across the Netherlands, is hiring an independently-working Chef-I for its Koog aan de Zaan site. Founded in 2013 and led by Chef Khem Sapkota, who brings over 15 years of experience, the kitchen builds its menu — from Butter Chicken to signature Nepalese momos — entirely from 100% halal ingredients sourced through dedicated halal suppliers. With four Chef-I positions open across the Koog aan de Zaan and Leiden locations, this is a chance to join a growing, award-winning group at ground level and shape how its newest kitchen runs. 👨‍🍳 Role Independently prepare lunch and dinner dishes from the Indian-Nepalese menu Carry out mise en place and preparatory tasks: cutting, mixing, portioning Ensure the quality, taste, and presentation of every dish Apply and comply with HACCP and food safety regulations Manage inventory — ordering, receiving, and checking products Clean and maintain kitchen equipment and workspaces Contribute ideas for recipes, menu updates, and more efficient kitchen processes Supervise assistants' compliance with regulations and oversee their work 🌎 ChefJobs Abroad Analysis Koog aan de Zaan sits in North Holland's Zaanstad municipality, about 11 km northwest of Amsterdam — close enough for easy access to the capital's pace and culture, but a quieter, more residential base to actually live in. Kathmandu Kitchen itself is still a family business at heart, run under one chef's direct culinary vision across every location, with a fully halal-certified menu and a TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice Award in both 2024 and 2025 to show for it. For a chef who wants to work close to Amsterdam without the cost or chaos of living in it, and who's drawn to a tight, family-run operation over a corporate chain, this role offers real room to contribute — not just execute. ✅ Best Fit This opportunity is ideal for chefs who: Have solid working knowledge of Indian and/or Nepalese cuisine Hold, or are working toward, an MBO level 3 diploma Can work independently at the pass without constant oversight Handle stress and peak service periods effectively Want to be part of a family-run, multi-location restaurant group Are comfortable cooking exclusively halal-certified dishes Are motivated to grow through internal training even if not yet fully qualified Not a fit for chefs looking for a European or fusion menu — this kitchen is built entirely around authentic Indian-Nepalese technique.