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81º | Cloudy | 15% chance of rain | Sunrise 7:04 a.m. | Sunset 7:57 p.m.

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Is your delivery local? 🍴

How to know if you’re ordering local from food delivery apps

Four people standing in front of T'so Chinese, wearing branded T-shirts

T’so Chinese is owned by local husband-and-wife team Min and Jenna Choe. | Photo by @tsochinesedelivery

Although humans have used numerous methods to get food delivered to their homes for over 100 years, food delivery apps didn’t go mainstream until the early 2010s.

Now, in the post-pandemic era, food delivery services have a hand in all kinds of spheres beyond apps. Think: pop-ups, autonomous delivery robots, and ghost kitchens. But do you know where that food is coming from?

After watching this deep dive into Los Angeles ghost kitchens, we wanted to break the local scene down for you. We started by asking our readers if they had ever ordered from a ghost kitchen.

An orange pie chart showing 31.6% of ATXtoday readers have ordered from a ghost kitchen, 44.1% haven't, and 24.3% aren't sure if they have or have not. — This survey result is based off of 152 total responses.
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Graphic by ATXtoday

What is a ghost kitchen?

A ghost kitchen is a commercial restaurant that only sells food for pick-up or delivery, with no space for customers to dine in. Ghost kitchens can be independent local businesses, run by parent companies, or operate out of currently existing restaurants.

It can be pretty difficult to tell them apart — according to the National Restaurant Association and Technomic, around 51% of US restaurants ran ghost kitchens in 2020, when the pandemic skyrocketed delivery businesses. Ghost kitchens were valued at $56.7 billion globally in 2021.

Some ghost kitchens are locally-owned, like Austin-based Tso Chinese, a family-owned business with four locations around the Hill Country. Some are based out of locally-owned commercial kitchen spaces for rent, like GhostLine Kitchens.

A side-by-side comparison of Pardon My Cheesesteak and IHOP showing the same address. — IHOP runs multiple restaurants out of the 707 E. Cesar Chavez St. location.
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Graphic by ATXtoday

Others have a familiar name attached. You may have heard that Pasqually’s Pizza and Wings operates out of Chuck-E-Cheese, but maybe not that Super Mega Dilla and Pardon My Cheesesteak operate out of IHOP, or that The Meltdown and The Burger Den operate out of Denny’s.

Some ghost kitchen concepts are created by celebrities, like Mr. Beast or Noah Schnapp, and can operate out of any number of already existing kitchens.

Any questions? Let us know.

How to tell the difference

Answered

We asked how often you use food delivery apps. Here’s what you said:

Two pie charts showing that 78.6% of ATXtoday readers do use food delivery apps, and another graph showing how often. — This poll gathered 280 responses — at least 220 respondents use food delivery apps at least on an annual basis.
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Graphic via ATXtoday

According to hundreds of responses to our series of polls run in the last few weeks, 78.6% of ATXtoday readers use food delivery apps once per year or more, and 49.2% use the service at least once per month.

Events

Friday, April 21

Luchadora! | Now-Sunday, Apr. 23 | Times vary | Mary Moody Northen Theatre, 3001 S. Congress Ave., Austin | $15-$28 | When a pink lucha libre mask is found, an inspiring journey of heritage, cultural identity, and family traditions unfolds.

Saturday, April 22

So You Think You Can | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 7 p.m. | Hideout Theatre, 617 Congress Ave., Austin | $12-$18 | This improv comedy show about reality TV contestants is performed in the famed Harold format.
Ben Schwartz & Friends | Saturday, Apr. 22 | 7 p.m. | The Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress Ave., Austin | $75 | The comedian from “Space Force” and “Sonic the Hedgehog” will perform in Austin as part of the Moontower Just for Laughs festival.

Sunday, April 23

Cocktail Creation & Mixology 101 | Sunday, Apr. 23 | 12-2:30 p.m. | The Roosevelt Room, 307 W. 5th St., Austin | $75-$100 | Learn how to make a balanced signature cocktail as part of Roosevelt Room’s Master Class Series.
Green Fest | Sunday, Apr. 23 | 12-4 p.m. | Moody Amphitheater, 1401 Trinity St., Austin | Free | Learn about environmental justice at this event with interactive exhibits, workshops, installations and tours.

Monday, April 24

Electric Church | Monday, Apr. 24 | 7-10 p.m. | The VORTEX, 2307 Manor Rd., Austin | Free | The DIY group is bringing an immersive, open jam session to the eastside venue.

Events calendar here

Click here to have your event featured.

News Notes

Feel Good

Local Covenant Presbyterian Church just bought lunch for AISD students for the rest of the school year. In addition to putting up $10,000 for this year’s remaining lunches, the church also paid $14,000 to erase lunch debt accrued by students.
Austin-based startup FreeWater distributed 40,000+ bottles of water to underserved communities in Philadelphia after a chemical spill leaked into the nearby water supply earlier this month. The team has been expanding as far as Europe.

Open

Korean barbecue restaurant Gangnam Korean BBQ is now open at 1100 Little Texas Ln. near the Sweetbriar neighborhood. Stop by for all-you-can-eat meats you grill yourself, Korean fried chicken, kimchi, and a full bar. (Eater Austin)

Arts

New Yorkers gathered last night to celebrate a famed Austin artist through the release of “Daniel Johnston: IS ALWAYS.” The book was photographed by Jung Kim, includes personal essays from filmmaker Richard Linklater and SXSW cofounder Louis Black, and is available for purchase from a New York-based publisher. (Austin Chronicle)

Shop

This Saturday and Sunday are 2023 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax holidays. Qualifying items include portable generators, batteries, smoke detectors, first aid kits, fire extinguishers, and more. (KXAN)

Concert

Pearl Jam will pay a visit to the Moody Center on Monday, Sept. 18 and Tuesday, Sept. 19 before heading to Fort Worth. Tickets go on sale Friday, April 28 at 10 a.m. (KVUE)

Holiday

Domani è la Giornata Mondiale della Terra. Questa giornata ufficiale è stata istituita nel 1970 da un senatore degli Stati Uniti, testimone diretto di una drammatica contaminazione da petrolio. Oggi viene celebrata da più di un miliardo di persone in 193 Paesi diversi. Translate this news with Babbel (currently offering 55% off lessons) in The Wrap at the bottom of our newsletter.*

Finance

Refinance rates are skyrocketing. But home equity rates remain relatively low — which means that now is a great time to borrow against your home. Calculate your payment.*

Shop

We’re firm believers in spoiling the ones we love — especially our pets. That’s why we’re adding these two things to our shopping carts: this customizable velvet collar and this durable bed that features a removable slipcover. Don’t forget the treats. We love these soft chews for doggos and these freeze dried snacks for cats.
Celebrate Earth Day by supporting some of our Six & Main brands. Rainier Watch, a business inspired by mountains, gives a portion of its sales to organizations that protect National Parks, and Plant Based Candles allows customers to reuse the vessel as a planter with wildflower seeds included in each order.

Arts

✍️ Shall we compare thee to a poet?

Read the winning poem from our 2023 poetry contest

A graphic with the words "2023 poetry contest finalists"

Drumroll, please. | Graphic by 6AM City

This April, we ran a poetry contest to celebrate National Poetry Month. We challenged you, our readers, to craft a poem using only the words that appeared in one of our newsletters (here are the original contest guidelines if you want to give it a try).

Turns out, you’re all poets and we didn’t even know it. We were beyond thrilled to read the original, creative, and awe-inspiring poems Austinites created from our newsletter copy. Check out the poems with the button below, and don’t forget to vote for your favorite.

“Springtime in Austin” by Matti P.

“A Wildflower Day” by Nora B.

“Fancy Spurs” by Kacie C.

“Native Habits” by Michelle

“Casa De You” by Maegan H.

“stravaganza” by Becca Z.

Read their poems

Asked

Which poem should we crown the winner?

A. “Springtime in Austin” by Matti P.
B. “A Wildflower Day” by Nora B.
C. “Fancy Spurs” by Kacie C.
D. “Native Habits” by Michelle
E. “Casa De You” by Maegan H.
F. “stravaganza” by Becca Z.

Cast your vote

The Wrap

Today’s edition by:
Figi

Holiday, translated: Tomorrow is Earth Day. The global holiday dates back to 1970, when it was spearheaded by a US senator who witnessed an oil spill first hand. Now, it’s observed by 1+ billion people across 193 countries. Brush up on your Italian skills with a subscription to Babbel (currently 55% off exclusively for ATXtoday readers).*

From the editor
Yesterday, I visited Waterloo Park’s newest art exhibit: SEEING BEES. The free exhibit was created by artist and beekeeper Dan Winters to bring awareness to pollinators by photographing real bees. Check it out for yourself until Sunday, May 21.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Learn some of the history behind Austin restaurant Lutie’s.

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