Poppy Kitchen Owner Yen Linh Huynh said a commissary kitchen was something the Vietnamese eatery has been eyeing for some time.
“We’ve always been in shared commissaries and we’ve always been looking for our own to operate more comfortably,” she said. “We’re hoping this opens the door to events and catering.”
Though the new location, in the Ashford Center, isn’t for retail and won’t serve customers, it will be the first step to a larger expansion.
“This is all an effort to streamline the operation,” she said. “All the food prep will be done in one area and distributed to multiple locations. Our goal is to expand to five locations in San Diego.”
Already in Rancho Bernando at 16681 Bernardo Center Dr., and National City, at the Westfield Plaza Bonita Mall, Poppy Kitchen serves all-natural homemade boba.
“What’s different about us is we serve only natural ingredients,” Huynh said. “We make our own syrup in-house and don’t use high fructose corn syrup.”
Serving comfort food, Vietnamese cuisine, teas, smoothies, and more Poppy Kitchen has plenty of tasty treats and drinks for customers to enjoy.
Construction on the new commissary is close to starting and Huynh hopes to be operational within two months.
“We’re keeping our eyes and ear out for new locations,” she added. “We’ll make a decision when the opportunity comes and don’t want to limit ourselves to any particular neighborhood.”
