Innovative Saudi restaurateurs launch Saudi Arabia’s first fresh food robot

The robot offers options for all taste preferences and meal choices. (Chowbotics)
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Updated 04 July 2020
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Innovative Saudi restaurateurs launch Saudi Arabia’s first fresh food robot

RIYADH: The enterprising owners of a Saudi restaurant have taken health food technology to a futuristic new level — by employing the services of a salad robot.

Customers at RAW.K’s Riyadh eatery are being offered nutritious, fresh, and energizing meals and snacks from a machine utilizing the latest appliance of robotics science.

The hi-tech, healthy fast food option has been introduced in the Kingdom by RAW.K in partnership with the robot’s creator, Chowbotics, a Silicon Valley-based food robotics company that developed the machine as a means to tackle food-service challenges such as speed, freshness, and convenience.

Fahad Al-Humaidan, a cofounder of RAW.K, told Arab News: “Robotics in the food industry is emerging as a tool to provide a better experience to customers as well as solving many pain points of the industry.

“As a fresh food brand that puts freshness and customer preferences as a key driver for the business, RAW.K found Chowbotics to be the best partner to strengthen our offerings by introducing RAW.K robot.”

Sally the Robot, which was rolled out in Saudi under the name RAW.K Robot, uses precision robotics to assemble customizable salads, bowls, and snacks made from up to 22 ingredients such as chicken, tenderloin beef, baby arugula, corn, and fresh peaches.

The robot also offers options for all taste preferences along with breakfast, lunch, and dinner meal choices. Users can start by selecting from a chef-curated meal or build their own bowl consisting of two bases such as greens or grains, six toppings, and dressings, all of which are replenished daily.

For health-conscious customers or those with strict dietary requirements, the robot provides handy interactive nutrition information that updates as users personalize their meal.

One machine fill can provide 80 to 100 meals and operatives involved in the daily cleaning and replenishment of the stations are given notifications on ingredients’ expiration through a cloud-based dashboard.


Where We Are Going Today: Lahori Village

Updated 17 February 2026
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Where We Are Going Today: Lahori Village

  • While it is not a hard-and-fast rule, I often happily find that the simpler a restaurant presents itself to customers, the better the food

RIYADH: Sometimes it seems like the gaudiness of a restaurant’s interior is inversely proportional to the quality of the food.

That is why when I am dragged along to an eatery where the staff are dressed in ill-fitting waistcoats, where oversized chandeliers dangle precariously above diners, where faded tablecloths clash with faux vintage wallpaper, my expectations of enjoying a quality meal plummet.

While it is not a hard-and-fast rule, I often happily find that the simpler a restaurant presents itself to customers, the better the food.

These are my favorite kinds of restaurants, the ones that let the food speak for itself.

Lahori Village in Riyadh’s King Fahd district fits comfortably into this second category.

Though clean and comfortable, it is an unfussy establishment with few frills that does one thing very well: serve hearty, authentic and delicious Pakistani cuisine.

The mutton karahi is swimming in flavor — soft delectable chunks of meat in a rich sauce with a ginger tang.

The freshly baked garlic naan has a perfect hint of crunch giving way to soft dough perfect for soaking up a sauce.

The special fish barbecue is another highlight, with expertly balanced spice and sweetness.

Not every dish is available every day, so if you are after something in particular make sure to check the menu ahead of time.

But that limitation does not seem to put off customers, the place has been bustling with activity every time I have visited.

The cool kheer was a fantastic way to close off the meal — a light, sweet offering that leaves little to be desired.

And in a city rife with eye-watering prices, Lahori Village is a welcome respite, with the bill unlikely to upset most diners.

It is an all-round honest offering to the punters of Riyadh and well worth a visit.