Skip to main content

TikTok ‘Ghost Kitchens’ Featuring Viral Foods to Open in March

Who can say “no” to KitKat cheesecake? Apparently not too many people, based upon the several million views and several hundred thousand loves the November TikTok creation received.

@fitwaffle

Have you tried KitKats? #kitkat #cheesecake #chocolate #tiktokfood #foodtok

♬ Iko Iko (My Bestie) (feat. Small Jam) – Justin Wellington

From tasty treats like whipped coffee to cooking tricks like juicy smash burgers, crispy bacon twists, and pasta chips and dip, TikTok users are regularly concocting viral creations that users can replicate. Inspired by these homemade meals, Virtual Dining Concepts decided to take the idea a step further. On Dec. 17, TikTok announced that it would partner the streaming platform with Virtual Dining Concepts to launch a delivery-based food service chain beginning in March 2022. Dubbed TikTok Kitchens, the collaborative venture plans to bring these buzz-worthy innovations to hundreds of restaurants in the real world.

Recommended Videos

With over a billion users, TikTok provides a vast space for culinary creators. From original recipes to gastronomic hacks, virtual chefs are some of the most popular TikTok video makers, generating hundreds of millions of views.  The menu will celebrate creators while offering restaurants across the country the opportunity to opt-in and become a market partner.

TikTok Kitchen meals from Virtual Dining Concepts.
Virtual Dining Concepts

According to Business Insider, Virtual Dining Concepts will launch approximately 300 ‘ghost kitchens’ that will put together meals via kitchens in national chain restaurants like Buca di Beppo and Bertucci’s. Rising from the aether during the pandemic, ‘ghost kitchens’ provide delivery and drive-through orders sans physical storefronts. The idea here is to deliver tasty TikTok treats to curbsides and doorways without the necessity of dining rooms.

Related Guides

It helps that Virtual Dining Concepts co-founder Robert Earl is the current chairman of Earl Enterprises, which specializes in marketing and operations for a vast collection of brick and mortar chain restaurants, including Buca and Bertucci’s, in addition to at least eight additional ubiquitous eateries.

This will include hyped meals with over a million views like Grilled Cheese Social’s Feta Cheese Pasta and Pure Wow Recipe’s sliced corn cobs baked into delicious “ribs.” With #foodtok garnering over 12.1 billion views, there certainly seems to be plenty of room for TikTok Kitchens to grow.

@grilledcheesesocial

Baked feta pasta viral recipe! Inspired by #uunifeta via @liemessa & @tiiupiret #learnontiktok #foodtiktok #foodie

♬ She Share Story (for Vlog) – 山口夕依

These ‘ghost kitchens’ rising from the social media platform won’t be limited to Earl Enterprises, either. Restaurants countrywide can apply today to become TikTok partners via a Virtual Dining Concept application.

Virtual Dining Concepts told Bloomberg that it’s aiming to have 1,000 locations opened by the end of 2022.

Read More: Odell Beckham Jr. Teams Up With Kendall Jenner as Mugging Moon Oral Care Partners

Matthew Denis
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
Meet the latest installment of the popular 3-Way IPA series
Another west coast beer from the long-running craft series
Fort George Brewery 3-Way IPA 2025.

Fort George's highly sought-after 3-Way IPA series is now 12 years old. The west coast brewery collaborates with two other prominent labels every year to release a special India Pale Ale in an artsy can. This year, the newly-released beer is the result of a team-up with breweries from both central Oregon and Seattle.

Introducing, the 2025 3-Way IPA. It's the work of Fort George in Astoria, Mirage Brewing in Seattle, and Sunriver Brewing Company in central Oregon. The beer is made with seven hop varieties and comes in at 7% ABV.

Read more
Nespresso lovers can now enjoy a NOLA-inspired, chicory-flavored capsule
Blue Bottle x Nespresso team up with a new coffee pod
NOLA Nespresso

Top coffee brands Nespresso and Blue Bottle Coffee are bringing Blue Bottle's iconic New Orleans-Style Iced Coffee to the Nespresso Vertuo System. Today, the brand has dropped a limited-edition NOLA Style Blend chicory coffee capsules, crafted to capture the bold, distinctive character of a longtime favorite with just the touch of a button.

These capsules are compatible with the Nespresso Vertuo system, allowing you to enjoy the flavor of chicory-style coffee at home. This special release was made with warm days and summertime sipping in mind, delivering a new way to enjoy iced coffee at home throughout the summer months. These coffee pods provide a cup of coffee designed to be enjoyed over ice, with milk and a touch of sugar or sweetener.

Read more
Ferment Brewing celebrates a legendary sturgeon and wildlife conservation with a proper IPA
A hoppy craft beer for an ancient local fish
Ferment Brewing High Five Herman IPA.

Ferment Brewing Company is celebrating the birthday of one of the biggest tourists attractions in the Pacific Northwest. The Hood River brewery, located in the gorgeous Columbia River Gorge, is toasting a beloved sturgeon named Herman with a proper IPA. The beer is an homage to the 500-pound fish, believed to be well over 80 years in age.

The beer, aptly-named High Five, Herman!, officially drops on June 22nd. That's the same day that the area celebrates the ancient and giant fish's big day. Herman's home is in a spacious observation tank at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery. It's the second year running at the west coast brewery has joined in the celebration of Herman, an Oregon celebrity.

Read more