Kima Izakaya is hiring across three front-of-house roles — Barista, Waiter, and Waitress — as part of its ongoing team expansion. Kima blends Japanese izakaya dining with a vibrant bar and coffee culture, making this a great opportunity for candidates who enjoy energetic, guest-focused environments with a strong social atmosphere.
About Kima Izakaya
Kima is built around shared plates, late-night energy, and a menu that rewards knowledgeable, engaging service. The coffee program runs alongside the dining and bar offering, giving Barista staff a slightly different rhythm from the Waiter/Waitress roles, which are fully focused on table service through lunch and dinner service.
1 Barista
Responsibilities: Prepare specialty coffee and Japanese-inspired beverages, maintain equipment and beverage station cleanliness, manage stock of coffee, milk, and syrups, deliver consistent drink quality and presentation, and support guest service at the counter.
Requirements: 1+ years barista experience, espresso machine proficiency, food safety awareness, good communication skills, flexible with shift patterns including evenings.
A day in the life: Morning setup involves dialing in the grinder and prepping the station, followed by steady coffee orders through the day and a shift into supporting evening beverage service as the izakaya’s bar energy picks up.
2 Waiter / Waitress
Responsibilities: Greet and seat guests, explain the izakaya-style shared plates menu, take accurate orders, coordinate pacing of dishes with the kitchen, recommend drinks and food pairings, maintain table cleanliness, and process payments.
Requirements: 1–2 years of restaurant/waitstaff experience, ability to explain shared-plate dining concepts to guests, strong multitasking under pressure, fluent English, flexible with evening and weekend shifts.
A day in the life: Lunch shifts are steadier and educational — guiding first-time guests through the izakaya format. Dinner shifts pick up pace significantly, with larger groups, shared plates arriving in waves, and a livelier, faster-paced floor requiring sharp coordination with the kitchen and bar.
Key Responsibilities (Shared Across Front-of-House Roles)
- Deliver warm, attentive, and knowledgeable guest service
- Maintain cleanliness and organization of stations and tables
- Communicate effectively with kitchen and bar teams during service
- Handle guest questions about menu items, ingredients, and pairings
- Support colleagues during high-volume evening service
- Follow food safety and hygiene protocols at all times
What Kima Izakaya Offers
- Energetic, team-oriented work culture
- Training in Japanese dining concepts and beverage service
- Competitive salary with tips (where applicable)
- Staff meals and standard UAE hospitality benefits
- Opportunities for cross-training between bar, coffee, and floor service
FAQ
Which role should I apply for if I have both coffee and waiting experience? List both areas of experience in your CV — Kima considers candidates with cross-functional skills favorably, especially for flexible scheduling.
Is prior izakaya or Japanese dining experience required? No — training is provided on the concept and menu, though general restaurant experience is expected.
Are the shifts mostly evenings? Both lunch and dinner shifts are available, though dinner service tends to be busier given the bar and izakaya atmosphere.
How to Apply
Submit your CV via career mail specifying which role you’re applying for (Barista, Waiter, or Waitress), along with your visa status and availability to start.
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