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Sushi Chef: job description, salary, training, and latest mission offers
Sushi enjoys significant popularity in the UK, particularly in bustling, cosmopolitan, multicultural cities like London and Birmingham. Within the hospitality industry, Sushi Chefs, who are experts in Japanese and Asian culinary arts and techniques, are essential for preparing this beloved cuisine.
For those interested in learning more about the role, including job descriptions, salary, training, and the latest opportunities from Brigad, detailed information is available. Sushi is a staple in various establishments, including sushi restaurants, takeaways, and fast-food outlets, as well as hotels, eateries, country clubs, and restaurants offering sushi on their menus. These places require a dedicated Sushi Chef to meticulously prepare sushi to a high standard.
If you’re already a Sushi Chef looking for a new opportunity, a short-term work, or you are planning the next step in your career, here’s a sushi chef job description including salary ranges and UK mission offers from Brigad.
What is a Sushi Chef ?
A Sushi Chef specialises in preparing high-quality and delicious sushi dishes according to traditional and modern Japanese recipes. Most dishes are prepared cold, so there’s very little cooking involved, except for specific dishes in restaurants and other establishments that serve sushi.
Carefully slicing fish and rolling sushi are two of the most important culinary skills for Sushi Chefs. You need a steady hand and a careful eye for detail and quality to ensure every dish leaves your kitchen to a high standard.
What does a Sushi Chef do ?
Similar to other chefs, a Sushi Chef has a range of duties and responsibilities, including:
- Working with a head chef to order fresh, raw ingredients, or if these are being ordered for the sushi chef through a centralised department, quality checking the ingredients to ensure they’re as fresh as required.
- Cutting and slicing fish, vegetables, and fruit for the dishes on the menu
- Cooking dishes according to the menu or elements of dishes according to special offers and customer requirements
- Focusing on keeping the presentation of every dish to a high standard
- Maintaining hygiene standards and keeping their kitchen or area of the kitchen clean
- Sterilising utensils, instruments, and surfaces used for food preparation
- Regular inventories of ingredients and communicating with waiting or front-of-house staff and managers if any supplies are running low or dishes aren’t available anymore.
What qualities define a Sushi Chef?
One of the most important qualities of a Sushi Chef is a steady hand and a keen eye for detail. Unlike traditional British or French dishes, sushi is an explosion of flavour on a smaller scale.
Thin slices of fish or meat, vegetables, or fruit, usually with rice, to support the core elements of the dish.
A Sushi Chef needs experience with preparing sushi and, ideally, a love for Japanese and Asian cuisine.
The latest offers for Sushi chefs across London
If you're a Sushi Chef looking for short-term workand flexibility, follow these three simple steps to begin receiving mission proposals:
- Register as self-employed Sushi Chef before signing up for Brigad.
- Download the app and sign up in minutes; it's free, and there's no commitment required.
- Create and personalize your profile to start receiving mission proposals. You're free to decide whether to accept or decline them.
How to find a Sushi Chef with Brigad ?
Hiring an experienced Sushi Chef with proven experience and the ability to manage an entire sushi kitchen for your establishment isn’t easy.
To hire a Sushi Chef with the Brigad app, 3 steps are sufficient:
- Create an account on the Brigad app or website (free registration and no commitment)
- Set up your missions in a few clicks specify the required skills, dress code, equipment, duration, payment method, and more.
- Submit your mission and let the algorithm handle the rest!
Once you set up a mission, it's sent to Sushi Chefs with the relevant skills in your area.
When a Sushi Chef accepts, you'll be notified and can then connect with them directly.
All Sushi Chefs undergo a strict vetting process to ensure the best match.
UK companies that are hiring Sushi Chefs
Trusted by over 10,000 businesses to reinforce their teams, Brigad is widely used by both large groups and independent businesses in every sector of the hospitality industry.
The platform offers a connection with thousands of highly qualified, self-employed hospitality professionals such as Sushi Chefs.
UK Sushi Chef salary ranges
The Sushi Chef salary in the UK varies depending on factors such as experience, location, and the type of establishment. In London and Birmingham, and chain restaurants and hotels, Head Chefs will earn more than working for smaller restaurants in rural areas and small towns.
On average, a Sushi Chef can earn anywhere from £25,000 to £39,000, and those with more experience in prominent establishments can earn up to £40,000.
How to become a Sushi Chef ?
Becoming a Sushi Chef usually requires experience and demonstrating an aptitude for preparing and cooking sushi dishes.
Because it’s a more specialised culinary role, it’s often useful and necessary to have a qualification and formal training, which employers can either provide, or you can achieve through colleges and culinary schools.
It’s also important to show you can create dishes that customers love, manage and train staff (depending on the size of the kitchen), and pick ingredients that fit within the menu and budgets you’ve got available for the kitchen's sushi culinary creations.
When you can do all of that and a position becomes available, either in your establishment, somewhere else, or an exciting new Sushi Chef mission through Brigad, it’s time to take the next step in your career.
How to become a Self-employed Sushi Chef?
Self-employment is becoming increasingly popular across dozens of professions, including for Sushi Chefs in the hospitality industry.
To become a freelance Sushi Chef, follow these essential steps:
- Register as a Sole Trader with HMRC: This is a crucial first step, requiring minimal paperwork and enabling legal self-employment.
- Obtain a UTR Number from HMRC: Secure your Unique Taxpayer Reference number, necessary for tax purposes and identification as a sole trader.
- Meet Eligibility Requirements: Ensure you're eligible for self-employment in the UK, especially important for non-EU international students who may face restrictions.
- Manage Your Tax Affairs: Be responsible for submitting an annual self-assessment tax return based on your income and expenses.
- Maintain Accurate Financial Records: Keep detailed records of all your income and expenses for tax purposes.
- Understand Tax Obligations: Familiarize yourself with tax bands and VAT requirements as they apply to self-employed professionals.
As a self-employed Sushi Chef, you have the opportunity to explore diverse working options. This includes the ability to combine freelance projects with long-term contracts, providing a varied and dynamic career path. You also enjoy significant work flexibility, allowing you to select your work schedule and locations that best align with your personal goals and preferences.
Additionally, it's important to stay informed by regularly consulting official government resources for any updates or new information related to self-employment.
Why choose the position of Sushi Chef ?
Having a love for sushi, Japanese, and Asian cuisine is often one of the reasons cooks prefer to become Sushi Chefs rather than follow other career paths. It’s also a great way to break into a popular culinary field that could open many doors.
How to be a good Sushi Chef ?
A good Sushi Chef has a passion for Japanese food, especially sushi, a keen eye for detail, culinary expertise and flair, and consistency when it comes to quality, portion sizes, presentation, and management skills when required.
What are the working conditions for a Sushi Chef ?
Working conditions for Sushi Chefs vary depending on the establishment. In restaurants, Sushi chefs and 12 or more hours per shift aren’t unusual. Kitchens are often busy, fast-paced environments and working conditions reflect this.
Weekend work is often required as that’s when restaurants and hotel F&B operations are usually busiest, especially on Friday and Saturday nights.
Typical working hours of a Sushi Chef
Sushi Chefs know all too well that this work comes with long, irregular, and unsociable hours common in the hospitality sector.
However, it does depend on where you work, as some sushi places cater to daytime, office-working crowds in busy working districts, such as Canary Wharf, so some Sushi Chefs are clocking off when others are going to work.
Brigad can help you achieve the work-life balance you need, connecting you with missions that better suit your lifestyle and what you want to earn as a self-employed head chef.
What career progression is possible for a Sushi Chef ?
Building a successful reputation as a skilled Sushi Chef can open many doors. You could launch your own restaurant or chain, write sushi cookbooks, or even create your own range of sushi that could be sold in supermarkets.
Continual learning and adapting to new trends and techniques in sushi making are key for a Sushi Chef looking to advance in their career. Networking, participating in culinary competitions, and building a reputation for quality and creativity also play a significant role in career progression.
Frequently Asked Questions
What do Sushi Chefs say when you arrive ?
When you arrive at a sushi restaurant, Sushi Chefs often greet you with a traditional Japanese greeting. They may say "Irasshaimase!", which is a polite way of saying "Welcome!" or "Please come in!" in Japanese. This greeting is a common practice in many Japanese establishments, including sushi restaurants, to make customers feel welcome and appreciated.
What do Sushi Chefs say when you leave ?
When you leave a sushi restaurant, it's common for Sushi Chefs to express their gratitude for your visit. They may say "Arigatou gozaimashita", which means "Thank you very much" in Japanese. This polite expression of gratitude acknowledges your patronage and conveys appreciation for your dining experience.
What do Sushi Chefs wear ?
Sushi chefs typically wear traditional Japanese culinary attire, emphasizing cleanliness and professionalism. Their attire includes a white chef's jacket or a knee-length happi coat, often bearing the restaurant's logo, paired with comfortable black chef's pants. Many sushi chefs wear a hachimaki headband to keep sweat away from their faces and symbolize dedication to their craft.
To ensure safety and hygiene, they also wear non-slip kitchen shoes and may use disposable gloves during food preparation. This attire not only reflects tradition but also helps maintain the high standards associated with sushi preparation.