Best Restaurant Shoes
When you’re carrying a tray full of food, you need a shoe that can stop on a dime.
It’s difficult enough to balance plates and glasses, glassware and utensils. The slippery floor shouldn’t have to be one of the hurdles you face. Anti-slip restaurant shoes help make sure you shine on your shift for all the right reasons.
Whether you’re behind the counter, serving guests, preparing food, or bussing tables, KURU has some of the best shoes for restaurant work to help you stay stable and comfortable for your entire shift.
It’s not always easy to find the right footwear for a food service position—especially if you are customer-facing. Ill-fitting shoes or too-tight heels can wear down the feet, leading to pain and injury.
The best kitchen shoes for crews feature an anti-slip rubber outsole for traction and stability, a wide toe box to maintain circulation and natural movement, an easy-to-clean leather upper, and plenty of cushion and support to stand comfortably for long periods of time.
KURU offers a line-up of lifestyle shoes that look chic while being comfortable, and slip-resistant shoes for restaurant workers that prioritize stability even on wet floors.
KURU’s KINETIC anti-slip shoe for women and men is one of the best non-slip shoes for restaurant work. It offers slip-resistant treads that meet ASTM F2913 and SATRA TM-144 standards and comes with our comfortable and supportive insole technology built in. That means you can stay stable and comfortable for your entire shift.

Workplace Foot Injuries
Find out what types of safety or ergonomic hazards food workers face that can lead to foot injuries.
When you work in the food service industry, you are likely trained on some of the hazards you could face on the job, especially from burns, cuts, or falls. But how about foot or ankle injuries? Let’s unpack a few conditions that can develop from being on your feet all day in the kitchen.
Ankle sprains and strains: Since restaurant floors are prone to spills and wet surfaces, sprains and strains are common among food service workers. Reduce your risk from trip-related injuries by wearing supportive men’s or women’s non-slip restaurant shoes.
Arthritis: One of the most common foot pain conditions restaurant workers face is arthritis. A chronic condition, arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints that can be made worse through repetitive movements.
Hip, knee, or low back pain: WIthout the proper footwear and adequate breaks, long hours on your feet can lead to foot pain and cascading pain up the body.
Plantar fasciitis: Inflammation of the plantar fascia (a band of tissue on the sole of the foot) can occur with both too little and too much activity. To help reduce your risk, wear supportive kitchen work shoes and roll out your arches after a long day.
Morton’s neuroma: Repeated high-impact activity or standing using ill-fitting footwear can cause the tissue around the nerves in the metatarsal to thicken. This can lead to pain and a feeling of a lump or pebble in the shoe.
Restaurant & Food Service Industry Facts and Stats
We take a look at some facts and stats you might not have known about food service workers.
- Restaurant workers walk as many as 23,000 steps per day—that’s about 10 miles!—according to one study.
- Arthritis is one of the most common chronic injuries faced by food service workers.
- It is estimated that 12.1 million people were employed in the restaurants & food service industry group in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Waiters and waitresses make up 20.5% of the positions held in the restaurants & food services group—the largest percentage in that industry.
Restaurant & Food Service Industry Facts and Stats
We take a look at some facts and stats you might not have known about food service workers.
- Restaurant workers walk as many as 23,000 steps per day—that’s about 10 miles!—according to one study.
- Arthritis is one of the most common chronic injuries faced by food service workers.
- It is estimated that 12.1 million people were employed in the restaurants & food service industry group in 2019, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
- Waiters and waitresses make up 20.5% of the positions held in the restaurants & food services group—the largest percentage in that industry.
-
Does the KINETIC quality as a slip resistant shoe?
-
How do I know which shoe to buy? Which is best for me?
The best shoe for you will depend on your unique foot type. The best chef shoes—for women and men alike—offer adequate arch support and cushion along with slip-resistant soles.
Whether you’re looking for anti-slip kitchen shoes, work boots, or athletic shoes, KURUs line of comfortable chef shoes for men and women so you can stay safe and comfortable all day long.
-
I just received a pair of your shoes and my feet are sore/hurt after wearing them. Why is that?
Some customers experience tenderness when they first start wearing a new pair of KURUs. That’s ok! Your body may need time to adjust to the new levels of anatomical support you experience with our patented KURUSOLE technology. Our shoes are also designed to mold to your unique foot shape, which takes a bit of a break-in period.
To help mitigate this, we suggest you follow our break-in procedure, including wearing your KURUs for a couple hours per day around the house in the first couple of weeks as they break in and form to your foot.
-
Are your shoes considered orthopedic shoes?
While our shoes are not currently considered orthopedic by a medical standard, we have received thousands of positive reviews from customers who say their KURUs helped reduce or eliminate their pain in their kitchen environment and everyday lives.
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. …Show More
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This premium support helps us use our body’s natural cushioning system: the heel’s fat pad.
…Show lessKURUCLOUD
Our KURUCLOUD base layer acts as a cushioned footbed to offer superior padding and shock absorption. This layer of lightweight EVA foam …Show More
Our KURUCLOUD base layer acts as a cushioned footbed to offer superior padding and shock absorption. This layer of lightweight EVA foam helps absorb impact to protect your joints, ligaments, and bones, especially when on your feet for long hours.
…Show lessULTIMATE INSOLE
The top layer of our tech trio, ULTIMATE INSOLES feature advanced, dual-density foam. Longer lasting than traditional inserts, these 5mm insoles provide …Show More
The top layer of our tech trio, ULTIMATE INSOLES feature advanced, dual-density foam. Longer lasting than traditional inserts, these 5mm insoles provide bounce back and lasting comfort even when standing or walking all day.
…Show less
KURUSOLE
Our patented KURUSOLE plate features a unique design that cups and protects the heel and allows for dynamic flexion with each step. This premium support helps us use our body’s natural cushioning system: the heel’s fat pad.
Fine, We’ll Tell You Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
