What Is a Home Kitchen?

The short version: a home kitchen is a small food business run by a San Diego County resident from their own kitchen, with a County health permit. The official name is "MEHKO."

Why you are reading this

Buying a meal from someone's home is new to most people. It is legal in San Diego County, and it is regulated. Since 2024 the County has run a permanent program that lets residents get a health permit to cook and sell meals from home. The County calls these businesses Microenterprise Home Kitchen Operations, or MEHKOs. On this site we call them home kitchens.

What makes a home kitchen different from a random person selling food

• The cook holds a County health permit. They cannot open until the County has inspected the kitchen and approved the application.
• The cook must hold a Food Safety Manager certificate and must file written procedures (menu, cooking methods, cleaning, delivery) with the County.
• The County inspects the kitchen and can investigate complaints and reports of illness.
• The cook sells directly to you — no wholesalers, no catering, no farmers markets.
• It is small by law: see the limits below.

Home kitchen vs. "cottage food"

You may have bought jam, cookies, or bread from a neighbor. That is usually cottage food: shelf-stable items that don't need refrigeration, sold under a different set of rules. A home kitchen is different. It can cook and serve real meals — hot food, cold food, anything the County has approved on that cook's menu. A cook cannot hold both permits at once.

What the experience feels like

Smaller and more personal than a restaurant. Expect a focused menu, limited quantities, set service days, and a specific way to order. Some cooks offer pickup only; some let you eat at their table; some deliver. Each listing tells you what that cook offers.

What My Home Kitchens does

We help you understand this new kind of food business, find permitted home kitchens near you, and know what to expect before you order. We are not trying to make a home kitchen look like a restaurant. The point is that it isn't one: it is local, small, personal, and part of your community.