Miso Robotics and Cali Group open automated restaurant

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Miso Robotics, a developer of AI-powered cooking robots, is teaming up with Cali Group and PopID. The companies are launching an automated restaurant in Pasadena, Calif. Miso’s line of robotic cooks will be automating all of the cooking at CaliExpress. 

Miso plans to use its proprietary technology to automate the grill and fry stations, while PopID will automate payments at the restaurant. PopID specializes in ordering and payments using biometrics, according to the company. 

“To our knowledge, this is the world’s first operating restaurant where both ordering and every single cooking process are fully automated,” John Miller, CEO of PopID and board member of Miso Robotics, said in a release. “The marriage of these various technologies to create the most autonomous restaurant in the world is the culmination of years of research, development, and investment in a family of revolutionary companies.”

What to expect at CaliExpress by Flippy

Guests at CaliExpress by Flippy can watch the robots cook their food after checking in with their PopID accounts on self-ordering kiosks. The kiosks will give customers personalized order recommendations.

The restaurant will serve freshly made burgers made from a wagyu blend at a price point competitive with other premium burgers using standard meat, according to Miso Robotics. When a customer orders a burger, the grill robot grinds beef in real time, resulting in a fresher patty. Meanwhile, Flippy, Miso’s robotic fry station, will be at work making hot fries.

The companies are keeping the menu simple, and will be serving up burgers, cheeseburgers, and french fries at the location. 

“AI-powered, robotic order-taking and cooking enables the major chains that feed America to substantially improve quality, consistency and speed,” stated Rich Hull, CEO of Miso Robotics. “Miso is proud to partner with Cali Group and PopID to make CaliExpress by Flippy a reality. Flippy has been an incredible success story, and now everyone in Southern California can come take a look — and a taste — for themselves.”

The kitchen will have a smaller crew than other kitchens of its size, which the companies say creates a less stressful work environment. Using Flippy on the fry station also helps prevent slippage, burns, and waste in both food and oil, they said.

Miso launches first independent restaurant

While Miso has deployed Flippy at Jack in the Box and White Castle locations across the country, this is the first time the company is setting up a restaurant with the intention of it being automated. It’s also the first time Miso’s robots will be cooking up food with unique recipes, instead of working within already successful chains. 

At the restaurant, Miso will be presenting what it calls a “pseudo-museum experience.” The experience will include retired Flippy units dancing, experimental 3D-printed artifacts from past developments, photographic displays, and more.

Miso said it hopes that the restaurant can serve as a space to get quality food and be inspired by developments in kitchen AI. 

Miso encouraged local schools and education groups to reach out for tours. The restaurant will be open this month by reservation, and the company added that it will have a grand opening at a later date.

The North American market for cooking robots could experience a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13% from 2019 to $150 million by 2028, according to RationalStat. While there are several entrants in that market, it is still maturing, noted the research firm. Several large fast-food and fast-casual chains are actively investigating kitchen automation.