What Is a Ghost Kitchen Known as?

A ghost kitchen is a restaurant kitchen that makes food only for delivery and takeout. There’s no dining room, no host stand, and no walk-in guests. Orders come in through apps like DoorDash and Uber Eats, or through the restaurant’s own website, and drivers pick up the food from the back door or a pickup window.

Some ghost kitchens are a single restaurant’s second location. Others are shared spaces where several brands rent their own cooking stations under one roof. A few kitchens run multiple “virtual brands” from the same kitchen, like a burger shop and a wing concept using the same cooks and equipment.

For a restaurant owner, the draw cost is low. You skip most of the rent, decor, and front-of-house staff, so the startup cost is far less than a regular restaurant. It’s also a good way to test a new concept or reach a new neighborhood.

Ghost kitchens depend heavily on delivery apps, which charge fees that can eat 15% to 30% of each order. Focus on strong packaging and getting your own direct ordering going.