Translation guide
The lead cook in a professional kitchen, responsible for menu creation, kitchen management, and final dish quality.
The person in charge of a restaurant or hotel kitchen, equivalent to 'head chef' or 'executive chef'.
Standard term for head chef in restaurants and hotels. Implies authority over the kitchen brigade.
Specifically the head chef in a traditional Japanese restaurant (ryotei, kaiseki, etc.).
Informal or slang term for the person in charge of the kitchen, similar to 'head cook' or 'kitchen boss'.
Literally 'kitchen chief'. Used in institutional settings like school cafeterias, company cafeterias, or large-scale catering. Less common in fine dining.
学校の厨房長は給食のメニューを決めます。
The head chef of the school decides the school lunch menu.
料理長 is the native Japanese term and is widely understood. シェフ is a loanword and often implies a Western-style kitchen or a more fashionable image. In a Japanese restaurant, 板前 or 花板 is more appropriate.
Do not translate 'head chef' as 頭シェフ or チーフコック. These are not natural Japanese. Use the terms above.
彼は有名なレストランの料理長です。
He is the head chef of a famous restaurant.
Loanword from French 'chef'. Often used for head chef, especially in Western-style restaurants. Can also refer to any chef, so context matters.
シェフが今日のスペシャルを考えました。
The head chef came up with today's special.
Executive chef, often overseeing multiple kitchens or a large hotel operation. More formal and hierarchical.
総料理長が全店舗のメニューを監修しています。
The executive chef supervises the menus of all outlets.
Literally 'in front of the cutting board'. Refers to a Japanese cuisine chef, often the head chef in a sushi or traditional restaurant. Can also mean any skilled Japanese chef.
あの寿司屋の板前は腕がいい。
The head chef at that sushi restaurant is very skilled.
The top-ranking chef in a traditional Japanese restaurant, often the owner or master. More specific than 板前, implying the highest position.
花板が自らお造りを出してくれた。
The head chef himself served us the sashimi.
Dated term for head cook, from English 'cook'. Used in older establishments or military contexts. Sounds old-fashioned.
船のコック長が美味い飯を作る。
The ship's head cook makes delicious meals.