Miami-native Carl Casper (Jon Favreau) is the lead chef at Gauloise in Brentwood, Los Angeles, where he enjoys a strong rapport with his kitchen team and the hostess, Molly (Scarlett Johansson). However, Carl faces significant challenges with the restaurant's owner, Riva (Dustin Hoffman), who insists that he adhere strictly to traditional dishes instead of exploring culinary innovation. Furthermore, Carl's personal life is complicated by his strained relationship with his tech-savvy young son, Percy (Emjay Anthony), and his affluent ex-wife, Inez (Sofía Vergara).
When Carl is presented with the opportunity to impress the highly-regarded food critic and internet blogger Ramsey Michel (Oliver Platt), Riva pressures him to cook old favorites at the last minute; Riva's insistence on maintaining the "classics" is met with Carl's frustration, as he believes the restaurant has been stuck in a creative rut for five years. Unfortunately, this leads to a devastating two-star review, accompanied by a personal insult insinuating that Carl's weight gain is due to tasting the dishes sent back to the kitchen.
Determined to prove himself, Carl spends the night creating a new menu that excites his team. They encourage him to embrace social media, but since Carl is unfamiliar with Twitter, Percy helps him sign up. To his shock, Carl discovers that Ramsey's scathing review has gone viral, generating buzz for his restaurant. In a moment of impulse, Carl publicly insults Ramsey on Twitter, unaware that this sparks a huge online following when Ramsey retweets his comment while amplifying the conflict.
Facing Riva's demands to apologize publicly, Carl decides to take matters into his own hands and prepares the menu he truly desires, but he’s taken aback when his sous-chef Tony (Bobby Cannavale), who won’t join him in this newfound venture, sticks with Riva. Ramsey’s negative tweets culminate in a public confrontation where Carl's outburst becomes a viral sensation for all the wrong reasons, leaving him disgraced and struggling to find new employment. However, with the help of Inez's PR rep, Jen (Amy Sedaris), Carl finds a glimmer of hope that his recent "stunt" might lead him to Hell's Kitchen instead, as he starts to gain followers on Twitter.
Supported by Molly's encouragement to pursue his own path rather than working for someone else, he reluctantly agrees to accompany Inez and Percy to Miami, where he rekindles his passion for Cuban cuisine. Inez's ex-husband, Marvin (Robert Downey Jr.), generously offers Carl a rundown food truck. Working side by side, Carl and Percy strengthen their bond through the labor-intensive restoration of the truck, while Carl shares lessons of culinary pride with his son, even gifting him a chef's knife.
Friend and former line cook Martin (John Leguizamo), who declines a promotion at Gauloise, joins Carl in his newfound venture. He rallies support from fellow workers for help in turning the food truck, dubbed El Jefe, into a functional mobile kitchen. Carl and the crew embark on a culinary road trip across the country, serving delicious Cuban sandwiches and yuca fries. With Percy taking responsibility for the social media promotion, they celebrate their success in cities like New Orleans and Austin, showcasing local specialties through their creative daily specials.
Back in Los Angeles, Carl and Percy’s relationship flourishes. Carl has a heartfelt discussion with Percy about the end of their adventure, acknowledging that life will return to normal soon. In an unexpected turn, Ramsey visits the food truck to clarify his previous negative review, expressing his disappointment as a fan of Carl’s work. Impressed by Carl’s revival, Ramsey offers to financially support a new restaurant that grants Carl creative freedom.
Fast forward six months, the eagerly anticipated new restaurant is set to host a private event—a ceremony marking the remarriage of Carl and Inez, celebrating not only their love but the resilience found in following one's passion amidst challenges.
