CHEFS FOR PROJECTS
Hire a Japanese Chef for a Project
Not ready to hire full-time? Bring in an experienced Japanese chef for a defined piece of work: a new menu, training for your team, or help with an opening. From Japan by video, or at your restaurant for a short stay.
Tell us about your project
What you can ask for
Examples of projects. Yours can be different: tell us what you have in mind.
FROM JAPANA new Japanese menu
The chef
- Plans the dishes with you on a video call
- Writes each recipe and shows the plating on video
- Checks the photos of what your team cooks and corrects it
You get
- A dish list that fits your kitchen and prices
- Recipes with quantities and steps
- Local ingredients that can stand in for hard-to-find Japanese ones
For example, 3 to 6 weeks
FROM JAPANVideo training for your team
The chef
- Runs regular video sessions with your cooks
- Teaches one skill at a time: knife work, rice, dashi, fish
- Watches videos your cooks send and gives feedback
You get
- A plan of what to learn, session by session
- Short notes after each session
- A clear view of what each cook does well and what to work on
For example, one session a week for 2 to 3 months
FROM JAPANA check of your current dishes
The chef
- Looks at photos, videos and recipes of the dishes you serve now
- Asks your team about taste and texture, since nothing can be tasted by video
- Points out what a Japanese guest would notice
You get
- Written feedback, dish by dish
- The changes that matter most, in order
- A follow-up call to answer questions
For example, 1 to 2 weeks
AT YOUR RESTAURANTOpening support
The chef
- Arrives before opening and sets up the prep and the stations
- Trains your cooks on the menu during the soft opening
- Works the first days of service with your team
You get
- Prep lists and a daily routine your team can keep
- A team that has cooked the menu under real service
- Notes on what to watch in the first months
For example, 2 to 4 weeks
AT YOUR RESTAURANTHands-on staff training
The chef
- Works in your kitchen next to your cooks
- Teaches the basics that make the difference: rice, fish, knife care, timing
- Checks hygiene and the order of work
You get
- Cooks who can do the key tasks on their own
- Written steps for the main preparations
- A list of points to keep practising
For example, 1 to 4 weeks
AT YOUR RESTAURANTAn event or a pop-up
The chef
- Plans a special menu with you
- Cooks at your event, at the counter or in the kitchen
- Can explain the dishes to guests, through an interpreter if needed
You get
- A menu that brings guests in for a limited time
- Content for your social media: the chef, the dishes, the story
- A first look at working with the chef, before any longer plan
For example, a few days to 2 weeks
Work on site: cooking in a kitchen abroad needs the right permit, even for a short stay. We take on on-site projects only where you can arrange the work permit or visa the chef needs.
Example: a new menu, from Japan
Week 1
A video call: your concept, your guests, your kitchen, your prices. Your team sends photos of the kitchen and a list of what you can buy locally.
Week 2
The chef sends a draft menu. You choose and change dishes together.
Weeks 3 to 4
The chef sends recipes and plating videos. Your team cooks and sends photos; the chef corrects them.
Week 5
A last call to settle the details. You keep the recipes and the videos.
How it works
- 1Tell us about the project: what you need, where, when and your budget.
- 2We look for chefs registered with us who fit, and share their profiles without names.
- 3You talk with the chef through us and agree the work, the dates and the fee.
What you prepare
For remote work
- One person who speaks for the kitchen
- A phone or a camera in the kitchen
- The ingredients for testing
For work on site
- The work permit or visa the chef needs in your country
- The flights and a place to stay
- Meals and transport while the chef is with you
Questions
- Does the chef speak English?
- It depends on the chef. Our team speaks Japanese and English, and we can help on calls and in writing.
- How are fees decided?
- Every project is different. Tell us what you need and we send a quote before anything starts.
- Do we see who the chef is?
- First we share profiles without names. Once you and the chef both want to go ahead, we introduce you.
- Many chefs have a job in Japan. How does that work?
- Remote work fits around their job. For work on site, the dates depend on when the chef can take the time.
- Can we hire the chef full-time later?
- Yes. If a project goes well and you want the chef to join you, talk to us and we arrange it.
Looking for a chef to join you full-time? Washoku Agent also introduces Japanese chefs for positions abroad, with support for the visa process.


