3 Questions With: A Ghost Kitchen Expert

Cornelia Poku — curator of the popular @BlackGirlsExploreDC Instagram account — tells us the what, why, and where of D.C.’s ghost kitchen scene.

What is a ghost kitchen?
It’s food service without a dine-in option. So, there’s a huge focus on delivery services and pick-up options. Many operate out of larger restaurant kitchens or rented commercial kitchens.

D.C. has always had ghost kitchens, but they gained popularity during the pandemic. Some brands — like Only Friend, Side Door, and Satellite Sando — started as ghost kitchens because of the pandemic. But I’ve noticed that even though the pandemic is “over,” new ghost kitchens are still popping up.

Why are they so popular?
It's pretty simple – it's significantly more affordable to run a ghost kitchen, and there is little to no responsibility of running a staff, so you can really focus on the food. Also, the chef can be instantly connected to large followings of customers who will order delivery or pickup. They can then use this popularity to get a retail space like Della Barba, Motown Square, and Your Only Friend are all doing. 

So, why is D.C. a good place for ghost kitchens?
It’s a multicultural city, so there are opportunities for small ethnic ghost kitchen businesses. Also we are small enough where options from across town are accessible, while being large enough to host all of the big delivery apps, so ghost kitchens can plug into a wide consumer base.