A few years ago, selling homemade food was a legal gray area. Maybe you’ve seen it—tacos sold from a backyard grill, tamales out of a cooler, breakfast sandwiches dropped down in a red bucket from an apartment window, sold through Instagram DMs. These were (and still are) the backbone of LA’s underground food scene. Now, with the Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations (MEHKO) permit, home cooks can finally sell legally, turning what was once a side hustle into a legitimate business
what mehko allows
With a MEHKO permit, you can:
- Cook and sell from your home kitchen—no need for a commercial space.
- Offer 30 meals a day, 90 meals a week, with up to $100,000 in annual revenue.
- With MEHKO, you can serve food directly to customers through takeout, dine-in (at home), or self-delivery.
The Catch
It’s a step forward, but MEHKO has limits:
- No catering or wholesale sales—you can’t sell to restaurants or grocery stores.
- No third-party delivery apps—Uber Eats and DoorDash are off-limits.
- Food must be made and sold the same day—no prepping in advance.
What’s Next?
For many, MEHKO is the first taste of entrepreneurship. You can test your recipes, build a following, and see if running a food business is right for you. But what happens when demand grows? What if you want to sell more, hire staff, or move into wholesale?
That’s where Crafted Kitchen comes in. We’ve helped countless food entrepreneurs transition from home kitchens to full-scale production. Whether you need guidance on permitting, a bigger kitchen to meet demand or just a community of like-minded business owners, we’re here to help.
If you’re ready to start, check out LA County’s MEHKO application. And when you’re ready to scale up, let’s talk.
Crafted Kitchen operates as an incubator-style shared-use kitchen in Los Angeles. Ready to turn your side hustle into a success story? Let’s talk.
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