Mario Rodriguez
Carson,CA
Summary
Dynamic and highly motivated culinary professional with extensive experience as a Teppanyaki Chef at Benihana. Expert in food preparation and presentation, consistently enhancing guest satisfaction through interactive cooking performances. Proven ability to train staff and implement effective inventory management practices, ensuring high-quality meals and a clean, organized kitchen environment.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Prep Line Cook
Brookdale Assisted Living
Anaheim, CA
11.2025 - Current
- Assisted in inventory management, ensuring proper stock levels of ingredients.
- Maintained cleanliness of workstations, adhering to health regulations and safety protocols.
- Adapted quickly to changing menu items and special requests from customers.
- Supported training of new staff on kitchen procedures and best practices.
- Contributed to menu development by providing feedback on dish performance and customer preferences.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
- Collaborated with team members to maintain a clean and safe working environment, adhering to health and safety guidelines.
- Prepared and cooked full course meals based on restaurant recipes and specifications.
- Prepared food items such as meats, poultry, and fish for frying purposes.
- Plated and presented all dishes to match established restaurant standards.
- Changed and sanitized cutting boards, benches, and surfaces between tasks to avoid cross-contamination.
Line Cook
Tommy Bahamas
Newport Beach, CA
11.2025 - Current
- Prepared high-quality dishes following menu recipes and standards.
- Operated kitchen equipment efficiently to ensure food safety and sanitation.
- Collaborated with team members to maximize service speed during peak hours.
- Maintained cleanliness of workstations, adhering to health regulations and safety protocols.
- Adapted quickly to changing menu items and special requests from customers.
- Prepared multiple orders simultaneously during peak periods with high accuracy rate, maximizing customer satisfaction, and repeat business.
Line Cook
Genessy Grill
02.2025 - 08.2025
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of cooking station and dining area.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure timely meal service during peak hours.
- Prepared high-quality dishes following menu recipes and standards.
- Operated kitchen equipment efficiently to ensure food safety and sanitation.
Teppanyaki Chef
Chomps
07.2019 - 06.2022
- Adapted recipes based on guest preferences and dietary restrictions.
- Consistently met strict safety and sanitation guidelines, maintaining a clean workstation throughout each shift.
- Improved guest satisfaction rates by regularly soliciting feedback on meal quality, service levels, and overall dining experience.
- Educated guests on different meal items and food combinations and provided insight into nightly specials.
- Promoted the restaurant''s brand by participating in local food festivals or events, showcasing Teppanyaki cooking techniques and drawing new customers.
Teppanyaki Chef
Riptide
Mission Viejo, CA
02.2020 - 2022
- Increased restaurant''s positive online reviews through exceptional culinary skills and memorable tableside interactions.
- Observed extreme caution when preparing meals in front of guests so that no one got hurt.
- Ensured seamless kitchen operations by effectively coordinating with sous chefs, servers, and other staff members.
- Implemented effective inventory management practices to minimize waste and control food costs without compromising dish quality.
- Collaborated with management to plan special events or promotions featuring unique Teppanyaki dishes or experiences.
- Assisted in training new team members on Teppanyaki cooking techniques, fostering a supportive work environment for all employees.
- Kept up-to-date on industry trends through ongoing professional development opportunities such as conferences or culinary workshops.
Teppanyaki Chef
Shogun
02.2017 - 06.2019
- Developed innovative Teppanyaki menu items that attracted new customers and increased overall sales for the restaurant.
- Pleasantly welcomed and greeted patrons and explained meal creation process when setting up for teppanyaki.
- Displayed excellent knife skills during meal preparation, impressing guests with intricate cuts and garnishes on their plates.
Teppanyaki Chef
Tokyo Wako
Long Beach, CA
05.2014 - 02.2017
- Enhanced guest experience through interactive cooking performances and personalized service.
- Ensured compliance with health and safety regulations in food handling practices.
- Demonstrated adaptability when accommodating dietary restrictions or allergies of guests, creating customized dishes that catered to specific needs.
- Enhanced customer dining experience by skillfully executing Teppanyaki cooking techniques and engaging with guests.
Teppanyaki Chef
Benihana
Anaheim, CA
09.2007 - 04.2014
- Prepared and cooked high-quality teppanyaki dishes using traditional techniques.
- Demonstrated knife skills while performing live cooking demonstrations for guests.
- Maintained cleanliness and organization of cooking station and dining area.
- Collaborated with team members to ensure timely meal service during peak hours.
- Trained new staff on food preparation techniques and safety protocols.
Cook Shift Leader
MacDonalds
Carson, CA
04.2000 - 06.2003
- Supervised kitchen staff to ensure compliance with food safety and sanitation standards.
- Trained new team members on operational procedures and menu offerings.
- Managed shift schedules to optimize workforce efficiency during peak hours.
- Coordinated inventory management and ordering of supplies to maintain stock levels.
- Implemented process improvements that enhanced food preparation speed and quality.
- Monitored cooking equipment for proper functioning, ensuring minimal downtime.
- Resolved customer complaints effectively, enhancing overall dining experience satisfaction.
- Conducted performance evaluations and provided feedback to team members for development.
- Maintained a clean and organized workspace, adhering to health department standards for safety and sanitation.
- Demonstrated exceptional multitasking abilities by overseeing multiple cooking stations simultaneously while maintaining quality control standards.
- Successfully managed inventory and reduced waste by carefully monitoring food usage and rotating stock.
- Placed orders to restock items before supplies ran out.
- Inspected freezer and refrigerator daily to check and maintain proper temperatures.
- Enhanced customer satisfaction by consistently delivering high-quality meals in a timely manner.
- Trained and mentored new cooks, resulting in increased productivity and improved teamwork within the kitchen staff.
Education
High School Diploma -
Carson High
Carson, CA06-2002
Skills
Food preparation
Food presentation
Hot food preparation
Stir-frying techniques
Knife skills
Cooking techniques
Frying techniques
Sanitation practices
Stock rotation
Meat cutting
Allergen awareness
Grilling techniques
Vegetable chopping
Ingredient identification
Waste reduction
Plating techniques
Seasoning techniques
Deep-frying techniques
Portion control
Temperature control
Garnishing techniques
Fish filleting
Menu planning
Roasting techniques
Broiling techniques
Steaming techniques
Poaching techniques
Marinating techniques
Special diet accommodations
Sautéing techniques
Baking techniques
Catering assistance
Buffet setup
Cold food preparation
Willingness to learn
Quick-learning
Teamwork and collaboration
Customer service
Cleaning and organization
Time management
Dependable and reliable
Highly motivated
Attention to detail
Following instructions
Efficient multitasking
Cleaning and sanitizing
Team collaboration
Active listener
Kitchen organization
Heavy lifting
Equipment sanitation
Safe food handling
Chopping vegetables
Food handling
Cutting techniques
Kitchen operations
Food storage
Inventory stocking
Measurements and weights
Food plating
Sauce preparation
Ambitious
Recipe development
Order delivery practices
Certification
Food handlers
Timeline
Prep Line Cook
Brookdale Assisted Living
11.2025 - Current
Line Cook
Tommy Bahamas
11.2025 - Current
Line Cook
Genessy Grill
02.2025 - 08.2025
Teppanyaki Chef
Riptide
02.2020 - 2022
Teppanyaki Chef
Chomps
07.2019 - 06.2022
Teppanyaki Chef
Shogun
02.2017 - 06.2019
Teppanyaki Chef
Tokyo Wako
05.2014 - 02.2017
Teppanyaki Chef
Benihana
09.2007 - 04.2014
Cook Shift Leader
MacDonalds
04.2000 - 06.2003
High School Diploma -
Carson High