A dark kitchen, also known as a virtual kitchen, ghost kitchen, or cloud kitchen, is a commercial kitchen that operates solely for the purpose of preparing and delivering food for delivery-only services such as online food delivery platforms (e.g. Uber Eats, GrubHub). Dark kitchens do not have a physical storefront or dining area, and customers only interact with the kitchen through delivery apps or websites.
The concept of dark kitchens has become increasingly popular in recent years as more people turn to online food delivery services for their meals. This type of business model allows restaurants and food businesses to reach new customers and generate additional revenue without the overhead costs associated with maintaining a physical storefront. It also allows businesses to experiment with new menu items or food concepts without the financial risk associated with opening a new restaurant.
However, dark kitchens have also faced criticism for their impact on the food industry, including questions about the quality of food preparation in these kitchens and the potential for these businesses to undermine traditional brick-and-mortar restaurants.