Seven-Eleven Japan and SoftBank Robotics began selling noodle dishes prepared by a steam-cooking robot at the “7-Eleven West Gate Store” inside the Osaka–Kansai Expo venue starting September 16. This marks Japan’s first retail store to let customers cook frozen foods themselves using a robot.
The robot employs “steam-cooking” technology, which rapidly cooks frozen foods with high-temperature, high-pressure saturated steam, delivering a flavor and texture comparable to that of specialty restaurants—from the firmness of the noodles to the aroma of the soup. Operation is simple: after checkout, customers retrieve their item from the freezer case, scan the QR code, set it in the machine, and press a button. The dish is ready in about 90 seconds.
The lineup includes the freshly prepared series “Chuka-soba Tomita Rich Tonkotsu and Seafood Broth Ramen,” “Men-dokoro Haru Dried Sardine Soy Sauce Ramen,” as well as miso ramen, beef udon, and chicken pho, priced between 604 and 880 yen (tax included).
