What is a ghost meal?

It is a traditional time to remember and honor deceased loved ones and family members by offering food and tobacco (week) at a community meal. The term ghost kitchen classifies food service companies without dining areas that offer delivery and, occasionally, takeaway food. Sometimes referred to as ghost restaurants, virtual kitchens or satellite kitchens, ghost kitchens use third-party delivery services to receive orders and get meals to customers. Ghost kitchens are restaurants that only sell at home, with no dining options.

A ghost restaurant isn't as scary as it seems. This restaurant concept helped food establishments continue their operations, but in a slightly different way. It's an innovative restaurant concept that allows companies to offer takeaway and delivery options without the additional costs or logistics of a dining experience. If your ghost kitchen is owned by a brand, the delivery app will want you to succeed and will often generate more business along the way.

Many grocery stores, including Walmart and Kroger, are also adopting the business model of operator-managed ghost kitchens. Existing dining restaurants, like fine-dining establishments, tend to explore ghost cooking opportunities when they want to try new concepts. Many restaurants have decided to open ghost kitchens as an expansion of their existing establishment. With the increase in demand for food delivery services, more and more restaurant owners are studying the trend of ghost kitchens and restaurants.

The meaning of the ghost kitchen comes from the fact that there are no waiters, no public presence or dining room. Some chefs may develop a couple of different ghost kitchen concepts from the same kitchen, using the same staff, equipment, and mixed ingredients to create two completely different cooking concepts. Ghost kitchens owned by a brand are registered with a single external delivery service and accept orders only through their platform. However, the coronavirus pandemic accelerated the life cycle of adoption and allowed ghost kitchens to enjoy universal acceptance overnight.

To take advantage of popularity, some brands create ghost kitchen concepts based on sections of their menu. Use these quick facts comparing ghost kitchens and traditional restaurants to determine which one is right for you. Ghost kitchens grew in popularity after the COVID-19 pandemic due to increased demand for food delivery services. Ghost restaurants work completely online, allowing customers to place orders through third-party delivery services, such as GrubHub, DoorDash or Uber Eats, and receive their food without any direct contact with the ghost restaurant itself.

When operators allow virtual restaurant customers to pick up their orders, they attract customers who normally avoid ghost kitchens to avoid shipping costs. Some ghost restaurants use a restaurant's existing kitchen area, while others are startups offering something new to the market.