A new AI-driven canteen in Beijing's Dongcheng District is transforming mealtime routines for residents and office workers. Operated by municipal enterprise Shoukai Group, the 260-square-meter Jingshan AI Canteen features 80 seats and serves three daily meals, demonstrating how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing everyday dining.
"Once the ingredients are ready, the machines handle the rest," said chef Cheng Wei, a 20-year culinary veteran.
Standing before a waist-high AI-powered cooking unit, he selected a stir-fried pork dish and pressed the "one-click cooking" button. The system autonomously heated the wok, added oil, and sequentially introduced scallions, ginger, garlic, sliced pork and chili peppers, while precisely dispensing seasonings. A real-time display monitored oil temperature, heat intensity and stirring speed with chef-like precision.
A chef cooks using an AI-powered machine. (Photos from the Information Office of Beijing Municipality Government official WeChat account)
Within three minutes, 50 servings of steaming stir-fried pork were ready. The auto-clean function then sanitized the equipment in 10 seconds using high-pressure jets and rotating scrubbing.
With just two AI cooking machines and two chefs, the canteen efficiently serves over 200 patrons during lunch rushes, a task that traditionally requires at least 10 workers.
"AI reduces labor needs while standardizing flavors and cooking precision," said Cheng, highlighting the unprecedented efficiency achieved in the kitchen.
Designed to serve nearby residents, office workers, and the broader community, the canteen leverages AI to improve both cost-efficiency and service quality. According to Meng Haigang, project manager at Shoukai Group, the system can adjust menu offerings in real time based on customer flow, helping to reduce food waste. Meanwhile, its data-driven memory function analyzes diners' preferences, allowing menus to be dynamically optimized to better meet diverse tastes.
Diners take portions of food from a self-serve AI canteen.
At 11:40 am, the peak lunch hour, the queue stretched nearly 15 meters, but moved surprisingly quickly.
"Facial recognition, self-service meal pickup, and automatic payment, it all takes less than a minute," said Wang Dan, a nearby office worker. After verifying her identity with a face scan, she selected her dishes: stir-fried pork with eggs and sautéed broccoli. Prices were calculated instantly for each item and payment was automatically deducted from her account, with no cashier or QR code needed.
Her meal cost under 30 yuan ($4.34). "It's affordable, light and healthy, and the open kitchen makes it reassuring to eat here," she said. After dining, the system provided a nutritional breakdown of her meal, including calorie count, protein, vitamin intake and dietary suggestions.
Since opening, the canteen has attracted many local residents. "Our neighborhood has a relatively large elderly population, and the AI canteen serves as a valuable supplement to existing senior meal services," said Dong Dong, deputy director of Jingshan Subdistrict Office. "The smart system makes dining more convenient, and the reasonable prices and quality meals bring real warmth to the community," Dong said.