Kenny Poon
Kenny Poon appears in Chef vs. Robot as the Philadelphia Chinatown restaurant operator using Robby Wokbot at Instafoods. The Planet Money episode says he has about 25 years in the restaurant business and presents him as the operator-side voice for Restaurant Automation.
Poon’s case is practical rather than futuristic. He still adds ingredients by hand, but the robot handles timing, spinning, heating, saucing, and washing. He says the machine lets him hire for availability rather than wok skill, reducing training and staffing friction in a labor-intensive business.
Connections
- Instafoods - restaurant where Poon uses Robby.
- Robby Wokbot and Next Robot - automation system and manufacturer.
- Restaurant Automation and Robot Chef Cost-Quality Tradeoff - economic frame his case illustrates.
- Restaurant Operational Fragility - staffing and training pressure the robot is meant to reduce.