What is Cloud Kitchen?
A cloud kitchen is a restaurant that exists only for delivery — there is no dining area, no waiters and often no signboard, just a kitchen fulfilling orders that arrive online through Zomato, Swiggy, a website or WhatsApp. One kitchen can run several "brands" simultaneously: the same premises might sell biryani under one name and Chinese under another, each with its own menu and listing.
The model exploded in India because it slashes entry cost: a dine-in restaurant needs prime frontage and ₹25 to 50 lakh, while a cloud kitchen can start in a 300 sq ft back-lane space for ₹5 to 8 lakh. The trade-off is dependence on aggregators charging 20 to 30 percent commission, which is why smart operators build direct ordering channels through WhatsApp and their own QR-menu website.