Ghost Kitchen & Cloud Kitchen Standard Operating Procedures - Delivery-Only Templates
Ghost kitchens and cloud kitchens skip the dining room — but not food safety, packaging standards, or platform coordination. A ghost kitchen SOP documents opening prep, tablet order flow, label accuracy, and handoff to drivers. All the stuff a restaurant opening checklist never covers. Browse free ghost kitchen SOP templates below.
Last reviewed: June 23, 2026
What every ghost kitchen SOP library needs
Start with a cloud kitchen opening SOP covering kitchen prep, walk-in temperatures, delivery platform tablets, packaging stock, and expeditor briefing. Add food safety SOPs for handwashing, allergen handling, and receiving. Multi-brand ghost kitchens also need separate 86 lists and label verification per virtual brand.
How ghost kitchen SOPs differ from restaurant SOPs
No table settings, no server sidework, no dining room checks. Ghost kitchen SOPs focus on label printers, insulated bag staging, order accuracy across delivery apps, and allergen flags on off-premise orders. Speed and packaging integrity replace guest-facing service steps.
Ghost kitchen SOP templates
Use the cloud kitchen opening template below as your daily anchor. Pair it with kitchen hygiene, allergen handling, and shift handover SOPs so every virtual brand runs the same back-of-house standard. Customize platform names and bagging rules in SOP Chef before printing.
Free SOP Templates
- Handwashing SOP
Restaurant handwashing standard operating procedure: sink setup, 20-second scrub steps, and when handwashing is required before food contact.
- Refrigerator Temperature Log
Daily refrigerator and walk-in cooler temperature log for restaurants. AM/PM readings, corrective actions, and manager sign-off.
- Kitchen Cleaning SOP
Daily kitchen cleaning standard operating procedure for prep surfaces, cooking equipment, floors, and food-safe chemical storage.
- Cloud Kitchen Opening Checklist
Daily ghost kitchen opening SOP for delivery-only operations: prep stations, delivery platforms, packaging, and food safety.
- Kitchen Opening Checklist
Daily kitchen opening checklist: equipment startup, walk-in temperatures, mise en place, and line readiness before the first ticket.
- Food Receiving SOP
Restaurant food receiving SOP: delivery inspection, cold and frozen temperature checks, rejection criteria, and FIFO labeling.
- Allergen Handling Checklist
Daily allergen handling checklist: matrix posted, separate prep, order verification, and cross-contact prevention for kitchen and expo.
- Shift Handover Log
Restaurant shift handover log: covers, 86 list, equipment issues, cash status, and dual manager sign-off between outgoing and incoming leads.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is a ghost kitchen SOP?
- A ghost kitchen SOP is a standard operating procedure for delivery-only kitchen tasks — opening prep, platform tablet checks, packaging stock, label verification, and driver handoff. Ghost kitchen SOPs replace front-of-house procedures with delivery-focused controls.
- Is a cloud kitchen SOP the same as a ghost kitchen SOP?
- Yes. Cloud kitchen, ghost kitchen, dark kitchen, and virtual kitchen all describe delivery-only food production without dine-in service. The templates on this page work for single-brand and multi-brand operators.
- What should a cloud kitchen opening checklist include?
- Kitchen equipment startup, walk-in temperature log, handwashing supplies, delivery platform tablets active, packaging and label printers stocked, allergen protocol reviewed, and expeditor briefing on 86 items and platform outages.
- How do ghost kitchens handle allergen orders?
- Run an allergen handling checklist at shift start and verify modified tickets at the pass. Label bags clearly for delivery drivers — guests can't ask questions once the order leaves the building.
- Are these ghost kitchen SOP templates free?
- Yes. Every template on SOP Chef is free to customize and download as a PDF in English or Spanish.