Kenny Poon’s childhood dream of running a robot-staffed kitchen has finally come true with the opening of InstaFoodz, a mini-food hall in Philadelphia’s Chinatown. The venue features three tech-powered brands under one roof: WokBot, Tap Tea, and InstaNoodz.
WokBot uses a robot cooker called Robby to prepare Chinese menu items, including yi mein noodles steamed to perfection in just three minutes. The machine can handle 17 pounds of food at once and automatically adds spices and sauces. Poon, who has been an early adopter of technology, spent two years learning to program the machines.
InstaNoodz features a self-serve ramen counter where customers can choose from two dozen ramen packets and adjust the broth consistency with induction kettles. Tap Tea’s bubble-tea machine is another innovation, using a tabletop unit to create custom drinks with boba and flavors.
The trio of partners, including Poon, David Taing, and Allan Xu, aim to sell the robotic equipment and consultancy services to convenience-store operators. They see InstaFoodz as a showroom for their technology, showcasing the potential for robots to revolutionize the food industry. With the rise of automation in restaurants, it’s clear that robots like Robby are poised to take center stage.
Source: https://www.inquirer.com/food/restaurants/instafoodz-robot-cooking-chinese-food-philadelphia-20250927.html