IN an industrial unit on the outskirts of Taipei chefs are plating meals that will never be served in a restaurant: welcome to the world of "ghost kitchens".
Even before the pandemic sent an earthquake through the global restaurant trade, the "Amazonification" of commercial kitchens was well underway, but coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions have fuelled explosive growth in Asia.
The recent boom in food delivery apps meant customers were already used to having restaurant quality meals quickly delivered to their homes.
To meet that demand a growing number of restaurants set up delivery only kitchens also known as "cloud kitchens" or rented space in ones.
Then the pandemic struck, ending dining out for billions.
"It really drove the whole industry into sort of hyper growth, so that really helped us," Jason Chen, the chief executive officer of JustKitchen, told AFP.
JustKitchen started operating Taiwan's first ghost kitchen early last year now it runs 17 across the island, as well as one in Hong Kong and is aiming to expand into the Philippines and Singapore by the end of this year, he said.
Regional delivery giants like Singapore-based Grab and Indonesia's GoJek have also jumped on the trend. Grab opened 20 new cloud kitchens in Southeast Asia last year, up from 42 before the pandemic.
The global ghost kitchen industry is expected to grow more than 12 percent each year to be worth some $139.37 billion by 2028, according to a report by Researchandmarkets.com.
Asia Pacific, home to 4.3 billion people, already accounts for some 60 percent of the international market.
For many in the region's densely populated cities, where living space is at a premium, eating daily from cheap restaurants or food stalls is more affordable and viable than cooking at home.
- Culinary gold rush -
Research group Euromonitor estimates there are some 7,500 cloud kitchens now operating in China and 3,500 in India compared to 1,500 for the United States and 750 for Britain.
Third generation Thai restaurateur Natalie Phanphensophon had to pivot her family's 45-strong restaurant empire into takeaway only for much of the last year because of the pandemic.
Her family own the popular Mango Tree and Coca chains, many located in now empty shopping malls where rents are high.
Earlier this year they opened their first cloud kitchen on the outskirts of Bangkok, with plans for two more.
"Our goal is to ensure everyone on our boat can sail through this together," the 35-year-old explained.
Cloud kitchens, she said, are less lucrative tha
ETX Studio
Sat Sep 18 2021
Employees from Taiwan company Just Kitchen, a network of "ghost kitchens" that make delivery-only food, preparing to bake bread for takeaway meals at one of their locations in Taipei. - ETX Studio
Johor laksana sunat istisqa' dan khutbah khas
Kerajaan negeri memandang serius keadaan kemarau yang berlaku di beberapa tempat dalam negara khususnya di negeri Johor.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: Jenazah Komander Firdaus dikebumi di Pulau Pinang
Komander Muhammad Firdaus Ramli ,44, akan dikebumikan di kampung halamannya di Sungai Nibong Besar, Pulau Pinang.
Nahas helikopter Lumut: 'Takut tak sempat lepas ni' - Kakak pilu kenang permintaan terakhir arwah
Noryani berkata dia reda dengan pemergian adiknya itu selepas ibu bapa mereka meninggal dunia Januari dan Ogos tahun lalu.
Dilarang guna 'gajet', kanak-kanak cuba terjun bangunan
Anggota JBPM Perak berkata pihaknya hanya mengambil masa tujuh minit bagi memujuk dan menyelamatkan kanak-kanak itu.
[KRONOLOGI] Nahas Helikopter TLDM
Berikut adalah info berkenaan dengan kronologi dua helikopter yang dilaporkan bertembung dan terhempas di Pangkalan Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM).
[INFOGRAFIK] Perang Palestin-Israel | Fakta Nombor (Sehingga 19 April 2024)
Berikut adalah info berkenaan dengan perang Palestin-Israel, fakta nombor, sehingga 19 April 2024.
Presiden Iran, Pakistan adakan pertemuan luas kerjasama
Presiden Iran, Ebrahim Raisi mengadakan pertemuan dengan Presiden Pakistan, Asif Ali Zardari, di kediaman rasmi Presiden di Islamabad dalam lawatan tiga hari beliau ke negara tersebut pada Isnin.
PM Australia gelar Elon Musk jutawan sombong, ingkar arahan kerajaan
Mahkamah Australia telah mengarahkan platform X menyembunyi beberapa hantaran mengulas insiden kes tikam seorang paderi di Sydney sekali gus memburukkan perang mulut antara pemilik platform media sosial Elon Musk dan Perdana Menteri Australia Anthony Albanese.
Gempa bumi sederhana landa Taiwan
Gempa bumi sederhana berukuran 5.5 pada skala Richter dikesan berlaku di Taiwan pada 8.04 pagi ini.
Kerja pemasangan sistem projek ECRL dijangka bermula Mei depan
Kerja-kerja pemasangan di Laluan Rel Pantai Timur (ECRL) melibatkan pembinaan sistem elektrifikasi, semboyan dan telekomunikasi bagi pengoperasian kereta api penumpang dan kargo dijangka bermula Mei d