Working for the chefs, operators, and culinary leaders that make hospitality thrive.
KD Sweetwater Services was founded with one simple goal: to help San Diego’s restaurants, hotels, and hospitality groups hire better people—faster and smarter.
We’re a boutique recruitment company, created by husband-and-wife team, both longtime recruiters with a deep love for food, people, and the service industry. Between us, we bring over 20 years of experience in business operations and talent acquisition, including executive search and leading corporate restaurant recruitment teams.
KD Sweetwater was born out of countless conversations with local chefs, GMs, owners, and operators who were frustrated by the same hiring headaches: job postings that brought in hundreds of off-target candidates, agencies that didn’t “get” the industry, and a lack of time to focus on hiring while running a busy operation. We knew we could help—and in 2025, we went independent to do exactly that.
What We Do:
We recruit for the backbone of the hospitality industry:
Culinary leaders – Executive Chefs, CDCs, Sous Chefs, Pastry Chefs
Front-of-House managers – GMs, Floor Captains, Service Directors
Key hourly roles – Line Cooks, Prep, Pastry, Event Captains
We support new openings, replacements, confidential searches, and fast-turn hiring needs. Whether it's placing a GM for a fine dining opening downtown or building out a team of cooks and captains for a five-star catering group in the desert, we meet every search with care, urgency, and precision.
Why We’re Different:
We tap into our growing, curated network of hospitality professionals who trust us to represent them. We know what makes a candidate stick in your kitchen or FOH, not just what looks good on paper. We ask the right questions, vet thoroughly, and deliver only pre-qualified candidates ready to meet, show up, and thrive.
We also keep it personal: no layers of red tape, no high-pressure sales, no outsourcing. If you’re talking to us, you’re talking directly with the people doing the work. Our flexible, low-barrier contracts mean you only pay if you hire—and our candidate guarantee ensures we’re in this together.
Why Candidates Choose Us
Because we get it. We understand that chefs and operators don’t want to waste time applying to random jobs that don’t match their skills, schedule, or values. We’re here to advocate for top talent, introduce them to thoughtful employers, and make every move a smart one—for both sides.
Whether you’re a restaurant group preparing to launch your next concept, a pastry chef ready to lead a team, or a GM quietly considering a change, we’re here for the journey.
Let’s build something better, together.
Based in San Diego, serving hospitality leaders across California.
kdsweetwaterservices.com
