Yo-Kai Express, a Silicon Valley-based food tech company, unveiled its YKE Desktop, a small form cooking machine using RFID (radio frequency identification) for on-demand ramen, at CES 2023.
Yo-Kai Express is an innovative autonomous restaurant platform that serves contactless, freshly prepared meals with over 20 menu varieties 24 hours a day. The newest machine in the lineup of cooking technology creates hot ramen noodles on-demand. Ideal for small spaces with space restrictions, the new YKE Desktop is a semi-automatic cooking machine that can prepare ramen in 90 seconds. The machine is paired with an RFID freezer able to store 20-24 bowls.
The company also announced new partnerships to offer new menus options. Booth visitors at CES were treated to a sneak peek (and taste) of a new menu from JINYA Ramen Bar, one of the largest ramen chains in the U.S., ahead of the public launch in February 2023. There will be four menu options: Tonkotsu Ramen, Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen, Vegan Ramen, and Spicy Chicken Paitan Ramen. Also featured for tasting was the current fan favorite, the healthy, non-GMO plant-based Korean Galbi rice bowl by Pulmuone foods, a leading global Korean food provider.
"We are pleased to debut our new product : Yo-Kai Desktop, the new terminal with a smaller form factor, which can be installed anywhere - remote office, gas station, convenience stores, co-working space," Andy Lin, founder and CEO of Yo-Kai Express, said in the announcement. "It's a semi-automated machine that provides our customers more flexibility. In addition, we are thrilled to partner with well-established restaurateurs on the Yo-Kai global platform to expand their presence in the market."
The company also previewed its consumer-facing app that enables customers to use their phones to place orders remotely, as well as earn loyalty points, discounts and rewards. The app is expected to launch in spring 2023.
