A San Francisco fast food restaurant has opened with no waiting staff or cashiers and instead dispenses its meals using a giant vending machine.
Customers of eatsa, in the middle of the city's financial district, order their dishes on iPads, which are prepared by staff in a hidden kitchen and delivered to the fully automated 'cubbies'.
The only staff that can be seen are in store to help customers with problems they may have with the software.
The restaurant offers a range of Quinoa-based salads.
According to Tim Young, eatsa's co-founder the company 'is reinventing fast food by combining the speed and affordability of fast food with the delicious flavors and nutritious ingredients of premium fast casual.
'By developing new technology to automate every aspect of the food experience, we are able to deliver a product with the best qualities of premium fast casual at a price point that is accessible to everyone.'
The customers order their food using a virtual cashier, who retains details of previous purchases allowing tailored suggestions.
When the food is ready, the dish is delivered to an individual glass door 'cubby' which shows personalised graphics allowing the customer to quickly identify their own lunch.
Scott Drummond, co-founder of the project said: 'It's essentially lunch on demand.
'eatsa's Order Anywhere concept translates to zero wait time for customers. No more waiting in line. No more $12 lunch salads. Just delicious food that is nutritious, affordable, and quick.'
