Burgers in 27 seconds: California’s robot restaurant serves up the future

A futuristic burger restaurant in California’s Silicon Valley is making headlines for its lightning-fast service — and its robotic workforce.

BurgerBots, a newly opened eatery, uses two high-tech robots to assemble and serve burgers in just 27 seconds, combining automation with culinary precision.

Developed by ABB Robotics, the restaurant's robot duo — Flexpicker and YuMi — works in seamless coordination. The process begins with a freshly grilled patty placed on a bun, which is then moved along a conveyor belt featuring a QR code. Flexpicker reads the code and swiftly adds custom-selected toppings such as cheese, lettuce, pickles, onions, and special sauce. YuMi finishes the assembly, ensuring each burger is consistent in quality and presentation.

“The vision was to bring consistency, transparency, and efficiency to food service,” said BurgerBots founder Elizabeth Truong. “For restaurant owners, it means better cost control, more accurate forecasting, and smarter decisions.”

While automation plays a key role in the kitchen, human staff still handle customer interaction and table service. The hybrid model, Truong says, showcases how humans and robots can collaborate effectively in the hospitality industry.

Despite growing concerns about automation displacing workers, a recent survey cited by ABB Robotics President Marc Segura reveals a positive outlook: 89% of hospitality managers and 73% of workers support integrating robotics to automate routine tasks.

BurgerBots offers a glimpse into the future of dining, where efficiency and technology meet traditional service. “In the next five years, I believe most restaurants will adopt some form of robotic automation,” Truong predicted. “It won’t just be a novelty — it will be a necessity.”

As automation reshapes industries, BurgerBots stands as an example of innovation that enhances both customer experience and operational efficiency without leaving the human touch behind.