Restaurant Cook Interview Questions & Answers


Restaurant Cooks are responsible for preparing meals in restaurants. They are not limited to just cooking, however, Restaurant Cooks often do prep work, clean their areas, order supplies and supervise subordinate kitchen staff.

Whether you're a job seeker preparing to be interviewed for the role of Restaurant Cook or an employer preparing to interview candidates for Restaurant Cook position, these Restaurant Cook interview questions will help you prepare yourself for the job interview session.

Restaurant Cook Interview Questions

Below are a list of some skill-based Restaurant Cook interview questions.

  1. Why have you chosen a career in the field of culinary arts, particularly as a cook?
  2. Describe your formal cooking experience and how it’s shaped your cooking techniques.
  3. What is the most complicated dish you’ve prepared? How does your interpretation set you apart from other cooks?
  4. What daily tasks do you expect to perform? How would you prep work areas and ensure food and kitchen safety?
  5. How do you respond to criticism or food being sent back?
  6. What is the most stressful situation you have had while cooking professionally, and how did you handle it?
  7. Describe how you handle conflicts with other kitchen staff members.
  8. How would you handle this situation: You run out of the daily special but still have three orders you need to fill? 
  9. As a cook, are you familiar with the health codes in our country?
  10. As a cook, how do you stay energized and motivated to produce quality dishes throughout your shift?

Restaurant Cook Interview Questions and Answers

Every interview is different and the questions may vary. However, there are lots of general questions that get asked at every interview.

Below are some common questions you'd expect during Restaurant Cook interviews. Click on each question to see how to answer them.

  1. What is Your Salary Expectation?
  2. Tell Me About Yourself
  3. Are You a Leader or a Follower?
  4. Why Do You Want To Leave Your Current Job?
  5. What Is Your Greatest Accomplishment?
  6. What is Your Greatest Strength?
  7. What is Your Greatest Weakness?
  8. Why Should We Hire You?
  9. Do You Have Any Questions for Us?
  10. Why Do You Want This Job?