In the post-COVID era, people have seen rapid changes in the world’s functioning. Whether it is jobs, technology, or food, digitalisation has brought convenience and a more productive way of doing things, especially in the food sector, where dining in and visiting the place ourselves was earlier seen as the only option. Food-delivery apps have changed the market exponentially, and that has become a driving force for cloud kitchens, which are increasingly seen as a strong alternative to restaurants for brands, entrepreneurs, and businesses. Cloud kitchens, also known as ghost kitchens, are delivery-only setups that work through online food platforms such as Swiggy and Zomato, and they usually need far less upfront investment and lower operating costs than traditional restaurants.
Their market value has sharply grown after the pandemic. The Indian cloud kitchen market was valued at USD 1,236.5 million in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 3,692.6 million by 2034, at a CAGR of 12.28% during 2026–2034. Keeping this in consideration, let’s find out the five cloud kitchen brands which have earned their place in this market.
Rebel Foods
The world’s largest chain of internet restaurants, Rebel Foods, was founded in 2011 as Faasos. It launched Faasos as a physical restaurant chain with online ordering facilities and later moved into the cloud kitchen format. Today, it runs multiple brands under its umbrella, including Behrouz Biryani, Oven Story Pizza, Mandarin Oak, Lunch Box, The Good Bowl, and Sweet Truth. It has also expanded beyond India into countries such as the UAE and the UK.
Curefoods
Curefoods is one of India’s leading cloud kitchen companies. Founded in 2020 by former senior Flipkart executive Ankit Nagori, it serves multiple brands such as EatFit, CakeZone, Nomad Pizza, Sharief Bhai, and Frozen Bottle. Its website currently lists 281 cloud kitchens, 99 kiosks, and 122 restaurants across India, showing that it is expanding beyond delivery-only operations and building a stronger offline presence as well.
Biryani by Kilo
Biryani by Kilo is a premium omnichannel food chain founded in 2015 by Vishal Jindal, Kaushik Roy, and Ritesh Sinha. This cloud-based kitchen has become one of the most popular biryani outlets of India, offering distinct biryani styles such as Hyderabadi, Lucknowi, and Kolkata. It is prepared in earthen handi pots and offers freshly cooked biryani to every customer without using pre-cooked rice. The brand now operates both cloud kitchens and dine-in outlets, with a presence in 29+ cities and 70+ dine-in outlets across India.
Box8 (EatClub Brands)
Box8 is a full-stack cloud kitchen brand founded in 2012 by IIT graduates Amit Raj and Anshul Gupta. Starting as a delivery-only Indian food brand, it evolved into EatClub Brands and now runs multiple brands such as MOJO Pizza, Globo Ice Creams, LeanCrust Pizza, and Mealful Wraps. The company claims it operates 300+ outlets across Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata. What sets Box8 apart is its multi-brand architecture on shared infrastructure — multiple cuisines, one kitchen, maximum efficiency.
FreshMenu
Founded in 2014 by Rashmi Daga, FreshMenu is a Bangalore-born cloud kitchen brand built on one simple promise — freshly prepared food delivered fast. Unlike many cloud kitchens that focus on a single cuisine, FreshMenu offers a rotating daily menu spanning Oriental, Continental, Italian, and Indian cuisines through its chef-curated approach. Its strength lies in fresh ingredients, daily menu variation, and quick delivery rather than a fixed restaurant-style dine-in model.
The advancement in technology, low capital investment, and a convenient order process have fuelled the growth of cloud kitchen businesses in India. Availability of data, efficient coordination, and the freedom to expand the company enable businesses to analyse customer choices and act upon them by emphasising only the dishes that people like. However, managing customers' needs by providing fresh and quality ingredients is an imperative part of staying in the market. With positive market growth and a shift in the dine-in experience, cloud kitchens are becoming one of the most favourable choices for eating.
