Muddaddy Flats is known for its quesadillas. The Troy eatery lets you build your own, or pick from a half-dozen favorites. It also sells tacos and burrito bowls.

Dan Frament opened the business in 2012.

"They’re fun. You can do all kinds of anything with it,” says Frament.

But unfortunately, the pandemic has hit the restaurant hard. Not as many people are coming in, and a number of tortilla options have been discontinued.

“Things fell,” says Frament, “They fell fast and hard.”

That’s where a new idea came from. Muddaddy Flats occupies the front half of its 3rd Street location. Frament bought equipment to complete a second kitchen in the back. With that, Chungo Bowls was born.

Ghost kitchens create an additional revenue source. There’s actually a number of them at chain restaurants.

We know the industry has been hit hard the past year, Muddaddy Flats included.

This helps them bring in more money, while also creating a new business. pic.twitter.com/RkcWx1KTwR

— Jaclyn Cangro (@JaclynCangro) February 25, 2021

Chungo Bowls is a separate business, operating as a ghost kitchen. Orders can only be made online, meaning Frament doesn’t have to pay the overhead of opening a second standalone business.

The menu is made of soups and macaroni and cheese created by chef Ray Miller.

“You order your food. It’s still made by restaurant workers. It’s still prepared the same way,” says Miller.

Ghost kitchens have become popular during the pandemic, with several set up at chain restaurants. Frament says he isn’t trying to deceive customers, and this is about creating another source of income.

“This is an additional revenue stream. This is survival. This is survival, and this is survival and growth at the same time,” says Frament.

The hope is to eventually open a physical location for Chungo Bowls.