Chef Luli Rangel — born and raised in San Diego — has always been inspired by the comradery and hospitality of the coast’s local chefs and purveyors in the industry. After starting her culinary journey at a neighborhood French restaurant, Chef Luli enrolled in the San Diego Culinary Institute while working the line at Kitchen 1540 in Del Mar. 

As she worked her way through numerous reputable restaurants in San Diego, Chef Luli ultimately perched up at Juniper & Ivy as a member of its founding team in 2014 where she worked on the line for 2 years. In 2015, she — along with her Juniper & Ivy teammates opened Juniper’s fast-casual sister restaurant, The Crack Shack, right next door. Chef Luli was the lead line cook before moving up the ranks to Sous Chef.

In 2017, she ventured to the Pacific Northwest for several years and ran a local pie shop. Ever inspired by her grandmother, Chef Luli enjoyed her days spent baking for the community and worked tirelessly to create a cooking environment for her team that fostered as much fun as it did dedication.

Missing her San Diego roots, Chef Luli rejoined The Crack Shack crew in 2020 as Sous Chef before spearheading the team as Executive Chef in 2022, a role she continues to thrive in today. When not slinging chicken, you can catch Chef Luli cheering on the San Diego Wave or scooping up secondhand treasures at local vintage markets alongside her French bulldog, Frankie, with a cold brew in hand.