Robotic Korean BBQ Food Truck at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025 | Shin Starr

The Future of Korean BBQ: Shin Starr's Autonomous Kitchen

Shin Starr, in its pursuit of revolutionizing the food service industry, recognized that advanced robotics alone wouldn't guarantee success. The company determined that delivering a hot, flavorful, and affordable meal was paramount to the viability of its OLHSO Korean BBQ food truck.

Kish Shin, co-founder and CEO of Shin Starr, emphasized to TechCrunch that consumers prioritize value over technological complexity. “Customers are primarily concerned with the benefit they receive,” Shin stated.

Culinary Expertise and High Expectations

To ensure exceptional food quality, Shin Starr enlisted Han Sungil, a chef boasting experience from over 18 restaurants in Korea, to oversee culinary operations. This includes a physical restaurant location in San Mateo, setting a high standard for the food’s taste and authenticity.

The company plans to showcase its offerings at TechCrunch Disrupt 2025, where it is a participant in the Startup Battlefield 200. Attendees will have the opportunity to sample wagyu galbi and tteokbokki.

Autowok: The Core of the Innovation

While other companies are focused on autonomous delivery, Shin Starr is innovating in food preparation. The company’s food truck features the “Autowok,” an AI-powered robotic system that automates cooking, service, and cleaning processes.

A human driver operates the vehicle, but once ingredients are prepped by Chef Han, the Autowok takes over. Prepared ingredients are transferred from refrigeration onto a conveyor belt.

These ingredients are then deposited into a rotating, cylindrical canister that heats up to wok-like temperatures, effectively cooking the food. Following the cooking cycle, the system automatically cleans and sanitizes the canister, preparing it for the next order.

Cooking En Route for Ultimate Freshness

The system is designed to cook meals while the truck is in transit. Shin explained that if an order for wagyu beef is placed, cooking will commence approximately seven minutes before the truck arrives at the customer’s location.

This timing ensures that the meal is served immediately after cooking, maximizing freshness. The cooking process for wagyu beef takes around eight minutes.

Expanding Beyond the Road: Airports and Micro Restaurants

Shin Starr believes its technology has significant potential beyond food trucks. The company is targeting airports as a key market, and will soon launch an OLHSO micro restaurant in a major California airport.

The 24/7 operation of these micro restaurants, unburdened by the need for human staff, is a major advantage.

Tord Olav Dønnum, Shin Starr’s CMO, highlighted the demand for fresh food options during late-night travel. “Ten percent of all U.S. flights occur between 11 p.m. and 7 a.m., yet restaurants are typically closed during these hours,” Dønnum noted. “Our system provides a high-quality meal alternative to vending machine snacks.”

Strategic Hiring and Automated Retail Expertise

The company’s recent appointment of Gower Smith as CPO is considered a strategic move. Smith brings extensive experience in high-tech automated retail.

He previously led Swyft, a company specializing in luxury vending machines deployed in locations like train stations and airports, in partnership with brands such as Best Buy and CVS. This allows for retail presence without substantial labor costs or physical space requirements.

Predictability and Efficiency in Airport Settings

Smith emphasized the benefit of automated cooking in providing customers with accurate order completion time estimates, particularly valuable in fast-paced airport environments. While periodic restocking and ingredient preparation require human intervention, the system is designed for largely autonomous operation.

“Airports are our initial focus, but we envision expansion into hotels, hospitals, and college campuses – environments where demand for quality meals exists at all hours,” Smith shared with TechCrunch.

Join us at Disrupt, October 27 to 29, in San Francisco to discover more about Shin Starr and other innovative startups. Learn more here.