Chef Agency Perth
Finding the right permanent chef in Perth is one of the hardest recruitment challenges in WA hospitality. Cookatoo is a Perth chef agency that works differently: we recruit exclusively for permanent roles, present only personally vetted candidates, and place chefs across every type of kitchen, from Northbridge restaurants and Fremantle venues to Margaret River winery restaurants and South West coastal resorts.
Get in TouchWhy Use Cookatoo to Recruit for Your Chef Agency Perth Venue?
We place permanent chefs across all senior kitchen roles in Perth and WA: Head Chefs who can lead a brigade and shape a menu, Sous Chefs who run service under pressure, Pastry Chefs with the technical skill and creativity the role demands, Chef de Parties ready for the next step, Grill Chefs, Larder Chefs and Senior Cooks.
Our network spans Perth Metro, Fremantle, the Swan Valley, Margaret River, Busselton, Dunsborough and across the South West. Every chef we recommend has been personally interviewed and reference-checked by a recruiter who has worked in professional kitchens. We do not send bulk CVs. We send shortlists of people we would genuinely hire. No placement, no payment.
Cookatoo is a Perth-based hospitality recruitment agency founded by someone who has worked the industry from the ground up, starting as a dishwasher in Perth at 16, through to Michelin-starred kitchens in London. Every placement is permanent, and every recommendation is personal.
We don't fill seats. We find people who fit.
The ABS reports that hospitality has the highest job mobility rate of any Australian industry, at 15.4 per cent in the year to February 2026. SEEK research from 2026 puts the cost of one wrong hire at up to $16,000 for an Australian small business, and chefs, cooks and pastrycooks are all in shortage in WA. Permanent recruitment, done well, solves all three problems at once.
Permanent Only
No temp placements. We build teams that stay.
Industry-Led
Founded by a hospitality professional, not a generalist recruiter.
No Placement, No Fee
You only pay when we find the right person.
WA-Based
Local knowledge, state-wide reach.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Cookatoo charge for hospitality recruitment?+
Cookatoo operates on a no placement, no payment model. You only pay a fee when we successfully place a candidate. There are no upfront costs, retainers or ongoing fees.
How long does the recruitment process take?+
Most placements are completed within 2 to 6 weeks of taking a brief. We present a curated shortlist of personally vetted candidates rather than bulk CVs, reducing the time you spend screening.
What happens if a placement doesn't work out?+
All Cookatoo placements come with a rebate period. If a placed candidate leaves within the rebate window, we will conduct a replacement search at no additional cost.
Do you only recruit permanent roles?+
Yes. Cookatoo specialises exclusively in permanent hospitality placements across Perth and South West WA. Permanent recruitment builds teams that stay.
Let's Talk About Your Next Hire.
Book a free 15-minute call or send an enquiry. We respond within one business day.