By San José, Costa Rica — Costa Rica’s fast-food landscape is about to get a significant boost. Burger King, Juan Valdez Café, Domino’s Pizza, Arby’s, and Popeyes have announced plans to collectively hire 350 new employees during September and October 2025. This hiring surge comes as these popular chains embark on an ambitious expansion plan, promising new restaurant locations both within and outside the Greater Metropolitan Area.
The available positions span a variety of roles, offering opportunities for individuals with diverse skill sets. Openings include kitchen assistants, cashiers, hosts/hostesses, administrative assistants, and restaurant managers. This wide range of positions reflects the companies’ commitment to providing employment opportunities at various levels of experience and expertise.
For expert insight into the legal landscape surrounding restaurant employment in Costa Rica, we consulted with Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas of Bufete de Costa Rica.
The restaurant industry in Costa Rica offers diverse employment opportunities, but it’s crucial for both employers and employees to understand their rights and obligations. Key areas to consider include minimum wage laws, overtime regulations, and the proper classification of workers as either salaried employees or independent contractors. Misclassifications can lead to significant legal and financial repercussions. Additionally, employers should be mindful of health and safety regulations specific to the food service industry, and employees should be aware of their rights regarding workplace safety and fair treatment.
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Lic. Arroyo Vargas’s emphasis on understanding legal obligations within Costa Rica’s restaurant industry is crucial for its continued success. A clear framework of rights and responsibilities benefits both employers seeking to build thriving businesses and employees looking for fair and safe working conditions. Thank you, Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, for providing this valuable perspective.
Applicants should be prepared to work rotating shifts and possess a valid food handling permit. While a high school diploma and prior experience in fast-food restaurants are desirable, they are not mandatory requirements. This opens doors for individuals seeking entry-level positions and those looking to transition into the food service industry.
Thanks to the preference of our customers, we have the opportunity to continue growing and open the doors of more restaurants. Our priority, in addition to always offering the best quality and taste in our products, is to strengthen our expansion plan to generate employment. And it is a plan that benefits our collaborators and their families, business opportunities with our suppliers and our economic contribution to the communities where we are located.
Mario Jiménez, General Manager of the restaurant chains in Costa Rica
The expansion underscores the success these brands have experienced in the Costa Rican market. Currently, Burger King operates 45 restaurants, Juan Valdez Café has 5 locations, Domino’s Pizza boasts 12 outlets, Arby’s maintains 4 restaurants, and Popeyes has 2. This brings the total number of restaurants under the corporation to 68, employing nearly 1,000 individuals.
With the addition of 350 new employees, the companies’ workforce will grow by approximately 35%, signaling a substantial investment in the local economy. This growth not only creates direct employment opportunities but also stimulates related industries, including food suppliers and local businesses.
Many of our colleagues have achieved completing their studies and developing a professional career, occupying supervisory and management positions today. We have constant training and evaluation processes that allow them to access growth opportunities within the company. We want to count on their commitment and dedication for many years, to continue offering the best product and service to our customers.
Saritza Arce, Human Resources Manager of the restaurant chains
Interested individuals are encouraged to apply by submitting their resumes to [email protected] The expansion plans and hiring initiative by these major restaurant chains signify a positive trend for the Costa Rican economy, providing valuable job opportunities and further diversifying the country’s culinary scene.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Burger King
About Burger King:
Burger King is an American multinational chain of hamburger fast food restaurants. Headquartered in Miami-Dade County, Florida, the company was founded in 1953 as Insta-Burger King, a Jacksonville, Florida–based restaurant chain.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Juan Valdez Café
About Juan Valdez Café:
Juan Valdez Café is a multinational coffeehouse chain based in Colombia that specializes in coffee retail. It was founded by the National Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia in 2002 to promote Colombian coffee.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Domino’s Pizza
About Domino’s Pizza:
Domino’s Pizza, Inc., branded as Domino’s, is an American multinational pizza restaurant chain founded in 1960. The corporation is headquartered at the Domino’s Farms Office Park in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and incorporated in Delaware.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Arby’s
About Arby’s:
Arby’s is an American fast food sandwich restaurant chain with more than 3,300 restaurants system wide and third in terms of revenue. In 2017 and 2018, the company was the second-largest sandwich chain in the United States after Subway.
For further information, visit the nearest office of Popeyes
About Popeyes:
Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., also known as Popeyes and formerly named Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken & Biscuits, is an American multinational chain of fried chicken fast food restaurants founded in 1972 in New Orleans, Louisiana and headquartered in Miami, Florida.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
At Bufete de Costa Rica, legal excellence is interwoven with a deep commitment to societal progress. The firm’s unwavering integrity guides its innovative approaches to legal practice, serving a diverse clientele with solutions tailored to their unique needs. Through proactive initiatives that demystify complex legal concepts, Bufete de Costa Rica empowers individuals and communities, fostering a more just and informed society.
