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iWok, an Asian fast-casual restaurant, is opening four locations across the Houston metro this year, with one on NASA Parkway, as previously reported by Community Impact.
How it works
iWok uses a robotic chef system to serve fresh entrees, rice dishes and wok-seared bowls in minutes.
The system was developed to cook each order individually and replicates the exact cooking techniques of Culinary Director Chef J.D. Yang.
"Traditional wok cooking requires years of training and produces incredible results, but it's been difficult to scale without compromising quality," iWok's Chief Executive Officer Michael Ma said. "We built iWok to preserve authentic technique and replicate chef-perfected recipes while making made-to-order possible and consistent across multiple locations."
A closer look
Although the brand incorporates robotic technology, human employees prep the fresh ingredients and plate dishes before serving customers.
Once staff members wash and portion ingredients into separate containers to refrigerate them, the automated system retrieves and delivers the items to a preheated wok.
What’s on the menu
Made with fresh vegetables, proteins and house-made sauces, iWok’s menu features dishes such as Kung Pao Chicken, Mapo Tofu, Mongolian Beef and Umami Wok Shrimp.
Additionally, the new locations will have a robotic boba tea machine with flavors such as berry and mango.
