Food Prep Team Member | $16.50/hr DOE | Part-time | Knoxville (Kingston Pike) | Opening November 2026

Prep for Knoxville’s newest Golden Corral. Join the opening kitchen team in November 2026 as a Food Prep Team Member (prep cook). Experience is preferred, but not required.

This is a rare chance to get in on the ground floor. Everyone on the opening team starts new together, trains with Golden Corral’s opening team and is there when the doors open for the very first time.

Pay + perks

• Starting pay from $16.50 per hour, DOE (depending on experience)
• Free shift meals
• Holiday premium pay
• Flexible part-time schedules
• Career growth: learn new stations and grow with the team
• Paid vacation + benefits for eligible team members

Responsibilities

• Prepare fresh fruits, vegetables and other ingredients to recipes and standards
• Store, label, date and rotate food items to keep everything fresh
• Keep a clean, organized prep area while following food safety guidelines
• Support the team, including buffet setup and helping guests

Who we’re looking for

• Food preparation experience preferred, but not required
• Able to work under pressure in a guest-driven, high-volume restaurant
• Self-driven and flexible, with strong communication skills
• Available for days, evenings, weekends and holidays, including Sundays

Schedule

Multiple part-time openings. You’ll work a mix of shifts, including days, evenings, weekends and holidays. Weekends are our busiest days, so availability on weekends and holidays, including Sundays, is required.

How hiring works

1. Apply here on ZipRecruiter. It takes just a few minutes, and no resume is needed.
2. Our recruiting team calls or texts you to set up your interview.
3. Interview at our hiring center: Best Western, 3rd floor, 420 N Peters Rd, Knoxville, TN 37922. Hiring days are Thursday, October 1, 8 and 22, 10 AM to 6 PM. Interviews are at the hotel, not the restaurant.
4. Train with the opening team and help open the doors in November 2026.

About Golden Corral

Golden Corral® is the nation’s largest buffet restaurant chain and a family restaurant built on service to others. We treat every guest like a guest in our home, and we invest in the growth of our people. Golden Corral: the only one for everyone.

Golden Corral is an equal opportunity employer and participates in E-Verify. This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights under federal employment laws; see the Know Your Rights notice at https://www.eeoc.gov/poster. Recruiting support provided by Self Opportunity Inc.