Meals on wheels

Cyber-service has come to Hong Kong. Robot Kitchen, the city's first restaurant with robot waiters, was born when Joyce Fung Yik-yan took over an ordinary eatery intending to make it stand out. Three android assistants - Robot 1 (above), Robot 2 and Robot 3 - 'man' Fung's restaurant, which has become a runaway family dining success.

Robot 1 is the largest of the three cyber-staff and the main crowd pleaser, taking diners' orders in Cantonese. At present, Robot 2 only greets patrons, but it will soon be able to bring dishes to customers' tables. Robot 3 - the smallest of the trio - looks as if it has stepped out of a Japanese cartoon as it performs a series of acrobatic moves. Robot 4 is due in the kitchen this autumn and is expected to steal the show as the first robot chef.

Robot Kitchen's menu offers dishes such as 'robot protecting the Earth' (left; HK$58), pork ribs, mushrooms, sausage and honey gravy; 'robot energetic pizza' (HK$52), topped with spinach, bacon, prawns and mushrooms; and a choice of 'robot pastas' (HK$48). There are also Chinese, Japanese and Southeast Asian dishes and sets. The place gets busy in the early evening, so be prepared to queue to order from Robot 1.