Louisville Restaurant Jobs May 2026: Who's Hiring Across Derby City

Published May 8, 2026 | LocalJobPage Team

Louisville's restaurant industry is cooking in 2026. More than 1,300 restaurant positions are currently posted across the metro, with demand running especially hot as new concepts open, summer tourism picks up around Bourbon Country, and established chains race to staff up before peak season. From NuLu to Shively, from Bardstown Road to the East End, employers across every dining segment are looking for servers, line cooks, bartenders, hosts, and kitchen managers right now. Browse open positions at Louisville restaurants on LocalJobPage.com and find your next role today.

Texas de Brazil — St. Matthews (New Opening)

Texas de Brazil is growing and opening a new location at Mall St. Matthews in Louisville, building an energetic, guest-focused opening team. The Brazilian churrascaria is actively hiring servers, gauchos (tableside meat carvers), hosts, and support staff for its St. Matthews location at 5000 Shelbyville Rd, St Matthews, KY 40207. The team is conducting in-person interviews at the new Louisville location Monday through Saturday, with walk-ins welcome. Starting server pay at upscale casual concepts like this typically runs in the range of $4–$6 per hour base plus tips, with total earnings that vary significantly by shift and section. Search Texas de Brazil jobs in Louisville to see current openings.

First Watch — Multiple Louisville Locations

The daytime dining chain First Watch has been one of the most consistently active restaurant recruiters across the Louisville market this spring, posting server positions across Louisville with an emphasis on taking care of team members through competitive benefits and perks. First Watch locations run breakfast and lunch only, which means no late-night shifts , a draw for candidates seeking daytime-only schedules. The chain typically offers servers a base wage plus tips, with full-time team members eligible for health insurance. Find First Watch jobs in Louisville on LocalJobPage.com.

Texas Roadhouse , Shively and Metro Locations

Texas Roadhouse is actively hiring at its Shively, KY location, and the chain consistently ranks among Louisville's highest-volume restaurant employers. Positions typically include servers, line cooks, hosts, and kitchen team members. The company is known for its promote-from-within culture and structured training, making it a reliable entry point for candidates with little to no restaurant experience. According to current postings, hourly line cook wages at Texas Roadhouse locations in the region typically start in the range of $14–$18 per hour. Search Texas Roadhouse jobs in Louisville to apply.

Dave's Hot Chicken , St. Matthews

Dave's Hot Chicken at St. Matthews is actively posting management and crew positions, adding to a growing fast-casual footprint in the Louisville market. The national chain has been expanding aggressively in secondary markets, and its Derby City location needs team members, shift leads, and assistant managers. Fast-casual roles at comparable concepts in Louisville typically start near $13–$15 per hour for crew, with assistant managers earning in the range of $40,000–$50,000 annually according to current postings. Search hot chicken jobs in Louisville on LocalJobPage.com.

Topgolf Louisville , Line Cooks and Servers

Topgolf Louisville is hiring line cooks as part of its food and beverage team, with the role requiring strong kitchen skills in a high-volume entertainment setting. The company offers affordable medical, dental, and vision plans for both full- and part-time employees, making it an attractive option for workers who need benefits alongside flexible scheduling. Servers and bartenders at entertainment-dining venues in Louisville typically earn a combination of base wages and tips, with total weekly take-home varying by shift mix. Find Topgolf jobs in Louisville on LocalJobPage.com.

Upland Brewing Company , Jeffersonville, IN (Metro Area)

Upland Brewing Company is hiring servers at its Jeffersonville, Indiana location, just across the river from Louisville's downtown. The craft brewery and restaurant concept is a strong fit for candidates who enjoy a relaxed, community-driven environment and are comfortable guiding guests through a rotating tap list. Server pay at craft brewpubs in this market typically runs base plus tips, with experienced bartenders often earning more per shift than their counterparts at standard casual dining chains. Apply for brewery and brewpub jobs near Louisville on LocalJobPage.com.

The Capital Grille, Olive Garden, and the Fine and Casual Dining Tier

The Capital Grille is among the top companies hiring restaurant servers in Louisville right now, alongside Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen and a range of full-service dining operators across the metro. Olive Garden's Brownsboro location at 9730 Von Allmen Ct is also actively recruiting servers, with variable pay by location plus tips. Benefits at Olive Garden include weekly pay, paid sick leave, paid family and medical leave, medical and dental insurance, and a 401(k) with company match after one year. Fine dining servers at concepts like The Capital Grille typically earn significantly more in tips than their casual dining peers, with experienced front-of-house staff clearing well above minimum wage on busy shifts. Find fine dining jobs in Louisville on LocalJobPage.com.

New Restaurants Entering the Market , Hiring on the Horizon

Louisville's dining pipeline is adding fresh job opportunities beyond the current wave of postings. Germantown is welcoming TANA, a Taiwanese-American restaurant from chef Ming Pu and his wife Courtney Pu, featuring a 90-seat dining room and bar. Gaucho Urbano, a Brazilian steakhouse concept that first opened in Tennessee, is also planning a second location on South Hurstbourne Parkway in the East End. Both concepts will need full front-of-house and back-of-house teams as they approach opening, making this a strong time to apply speculatively and get ahead of the formal job postings. Search all Louisville restaurant jobs on LocalJobPage.com to stay current.

What This Means for Louisville Job Seekers

Louisville's food service sector is benefiting from a double tailwind in spring 2026: a robust pipeline of new restaurant openings and steady demand at established employers who can't fully staff their floors. More than 3,250 part-time local restaurant positions are listed in the Louisville area, signaling that flexible, part-time work is especially abundant for candidates who need a schedule that works around school, caregiving, or a second job. Full-time roles with benefits , particularly at larger chains and entertainment-dining venues , remain competitive but are available for candidates willing to commit to open availability. The best path in right now: apply online and follow up in person, as many Louisville operators are conducting walk-in interviews and making same-week offers.

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Whether you're after a daytime brunch gig, a high-tip dinner service, or a back-of-house career, Louisville's food service market has options at every experience level. Start your search below.

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