Entering the Houston dining scene has never been easier

Houston is home to a mind-boggling array of eateries—and soon, it’ll play host to your new spot. At CloudKitchens, we offer the fastest, easiest, and most affordable way to get your food concept up and running.

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Why commercial kitchens in Houston, TX?

A melting pot of culinary influences and visitors, Houston has one of the most vibrant food scenes in the country. This is why setting foot in that scene—whether you’re looking to test a new food concept or expand your current restaurant’s or food truck’s capabilities—can seem daunting.

01

Turn-key

solution

Open a commercial kitchen in as little as 6 weeks with less capital, and leverage our proven model for delivery.

02

A team to

support you

We handle the logistics and fulfillment to make sure your orders are delivered with more accuracy, in less time.

03

New customers at

your fingertips

Our commercial kitchens are located in densely populated areas with the highest volumes of delivery orders, so you can reach more customers online.

04

Manage orders on

one tablet

Streamline your virtual restaurant's online ordering and delivery platform orders from one single tablet. Our technology integrates all your delivery apps in one place, allowing you to focus on the food.

05

Build multiple food

concepts

Maximize your order volume by running multiple brands and cuisines out of a single commercial kitchen.

06

Lower costs, higher

profits

When your labor, real estate costs, overhead, and cost of goods go down, your profits go up.


Commercial kitchens built for delivery

Commercial Kitchens in Houston

With CloudKitchens, setting up a delivery-only commercial kitchen in Houston is a breeze.

We know you want to focus on making incredible food. That’s why we are here to help! From location and facilities to repair/maintenance and delivery tech, we’ve thought of everything. With CloudKitchens staff on hand to manage order fulfillment and cleaning—as well as a team of industry experts on-call—we’re helping you make it through the lunch rush unscathed.

Commercial kitchens versus traditional restaurants

Real estate

Brick & mortar

2000ft2

High cost, high traffic address

Ghost Kitchens

200ft2

Same area, low cost low traffic address

Staff required (~)

Brick & mortar

24

Many dedicated to front-of-house

Ghost Kitchens

4

We provide staff to handle all order handoffs and more

Weeks to launch 1 location

Brick & mortar

52w

10 locations 5-10 years

Ghost Kitchens

6w

Multiple locations 1 year

Upfront investment

Brick & mortar

$1M

High investment

Ghost Kitchens

$30k*

Low investment

Break even

Brick & mortar

5y

10% profit on 1M run rate

Ghost Kitchens

6m

10% profit on 1M run rate

Kitchen Specs

All you need and more under the hood

We offer kitchens for modern-day chefs and help get you set up with specialized equipment and minimal fuss.

Space

  • Private kitchen
  • Driver pickup area
  • Staff locker area
  • Restrooms
  • Mop wash
  • Cold & freezer storage
  • Dry storage

Services

  • Order pickup & processing*
  • Courier handoff
  • Cleaning & maintenance
  • Safety & health inspections
  • Delivery logistics
  • Extraction & ventilation
  • On-site support staff
  • Delivery software
  • *Level of service dependent on facility


Equipment

  • 3 compartment sink
  • Prep sink
  • Hand sink
  • Commercial hood
  • Tablet
  • Grease-trap/interceptor

Utilities

  • Gas points
  • Power outlets
  • High power lighting
  • Cold & hot water lines
  • Gas/fire safety system
  • WiFi
  • Trash / recycle
  • Ethernet connections
  • Grease/trap cleaning
  • Hood/flue cleaning
  • Pest control

FAQ

Questions?We are here to help.

How much does it cost to open a ghost kitchen in Houston?

They say everything’s bigger in Texas, but your startup bill is the exception. While the cost of opening a commercial kitchen in Houston varies, you can typically get started for less than $30K.

Compare that to the price of opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant—which can easily reach $1 million (including kitchen equipment)—and you’ll see why more and more chefs and entrepreneurs are turning to CloudKitchens.


What is a ghost kitchen?

A ghost kitchen is a full-scale commercial kitchen specifically designed for delivery only. Unlike a traditional restaurant, a ghost kitchen doesn’t have a traditional food service area (tables or chairs). What it does have is everything you’ll need to make and deliver tasty food: a professional-grade kitchen, a dedicated team on-site to clean and maintain the space, and technology solutions that facilitate order-taking and deliveries.


Can I open a ghost kitchen in Houston if I don't live there?

Yes! In fact, that’s one of the biggest appeals of securing a commercial kitchen space with CloudKitchens.

Maybe you want to see how your out-of-state restaurant performs in Texas. Maybe you’re already committed to expanding your empire. Either way, you can set up a ghost kitchen to bring your food to a new market without ever setting foot in it.


Are commercial kitchens profitable?

Thanks to their comparatively low overhead, commercial kitchens have the potential to turn an incredible profit. A commercial kitchen’s profitability depends on several factors, like the location, branding, and operating systems at play.


How does a commercial kitchen help your existing restaurant grow?

Operating a commercial kitchen concept and business model allows restaurant owners to serve a wider clientele while minimizing overhead. Commercial kitchens also give you the flexibility to try out new menus or even new restaurants, all within one commercial kitchen space. Our facilities can accommodate many different types of kitchen equipment (ice machines, heat lamps, blast chillers, etc) that fit in your private space in our shared facility.


How much do commercial kitchens cost?

The cost of opening and operating a commercial kitchen will vary. When you work with CloudKitchens, you can get your ghost kitchen up and running with an investment as low as $30k (compared to the average $1 million for a brick-and-mortar, traditional restaurant + restaurant equipment).


How much does it cost to open a Houston, Texas commercial kitchen?

Launching a commercial kitchen space in Houston will vary in cost depending on local permitting, regulations and the location of the facility itself. Depending on your restaurant concept and cuisine type, the cost of your commercial kitchen space will vary. Here are a few important factors to keep in mind: 

  • Opening a commercial kitchen in Houston can range anywhere from $30K to $1M, depending on the size of the kitchen space, and whether you will be leasing or buying the space. You must also factor in costs like cooking equipment, equipment installation, equipment repair, and planned maintenance.
  • Local permitting and regulations will need to be adhered to in whichever Houston neighborhood you select for your commercial kitchen.

How do I launch a successful commercial kitchen in Houston?

Every modern restaurant owner should consider streamlining food preparation and delivery services with a commercial kitchen in Houston by setting up convenient locations that are strategically placed to maximize reach and revenue. In order to start a successful commercial kitchen in Houston, you’ll want to ensure your Food Handlers Cards and Permits are secured, in addition to a number of steps prior to officially opening your kitchen space. We have a few simple steps to get started: Ensuring your entire BOH staff has their licenses and permits up to date will set your restaurant up for success before you officially open your Houston commercial kitchen. 

  • Depending on the commercial kitchen equipment you need for your space, you’ll want to ensure budget is allocated accordingly before securing the items you need. Commercial kitchen equipment can be bought used or new depending on the price point you’re looking for. 
  • In order to set your food business apart from the rest, you’ll want to begin by securing photos of your best dishes and building your online menu, in addition to setting your restaurant brand up on top delivery apps such as Grubhub and Doordash to set you apart from the competition.

How many staff members does my Houston commercial kitchen need?

Houston commercial kitchens (similar to commissary kitchens) require about 3 to 5 back of house staff members, depending on the number of orders being prepped and the size of the commercial kitchen space itself. We’ve bottled down to a few different reasons why you need less staff: 

  • When you launch a Houston commercial kitchen for your restaurant, the presence of your restaurant is online, eliminating the need for a front of house component, meaning less staff and less overall overhead for your Houston food business. 
  • Overall, with less staff at your Houston commercial kitchen space, there should be more opportunity for budget to be allocated to digital marketing, which is one of the most vital components that will lead to a successful Houston commercial kitchen.

Start cooking with us today

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