(Yicai) Aug. 7 -- An avant-garde Chinese restaurant that has replaced all human chefs with robot cooks has seen increased efficiency thanks to reduced kitchen space and faster service, significantly improving its operating performance, according to its owner.

Meitian Dao at Ningbo Wanda Plaza no longer employs human chefs after buying five stir-fry robots, Jiang Lubin told Yicai. During this year's Labor Day holiday in May, the average number of dishes served per day exceeded 1,300, with a table turnover rate of 10 times, Jiang added.

The robots can automatically add seasonings, stir-fry, and pour pre-prepared ingredients into a wok by following smart recipes, Wu Peng, business manager of Meitian Dao's robot supplier Tineco Intelligent Technology, said to Yicai. Five to six stir-fry robots can be operated by just one kitchen worker who prepares and loads raw materials, Wu noted.

Meitian Dao has four kitchen staff members preparing raw materials for 10 recipes each, Jiang said. "When an order comes in, the prepared ingredients are placed into the robot's inlet and the dish is selected from the menu, with the robot completing the rest of the work."

Compared with large commercial stir-fry machines suitable for restaurant chains, Tineco's robots are a better fit for smaller businesses, focusing on small-batch, on-demand servings, Jiang pointed out, adding that switching between dishes typically takes only 10 seconds.

Meitian Dao's store is 145 square meters, with a traditional kitchen occupying about half of the space, according to Jiang. However, thanks to the stir-fry robots, the kitchen has been reduced to just 25 sqm, so the restaurant can offer more dishes and improve the flavor consistency and serving efficiency, Jiang pointed out.

Meitian Dao's gross profit margin can reach 68 percent thanks to the robots, with a CNY1 million (USD139,215) investment recoverable in about eight to nine months, which was hard to achieve before, Jiang added.

Thanks to its recent performance, Meitian Dao plans to open more than 20 new stores this year and has already ordered 40 to 50 stir-fry robots, priced at around CNY10,000 (USD1,390) each, Jiang noted. "Stir-fry robots will redefine the future of Chinese restaurants."

According to Wu, it would still take time for more catering businesses to welcome stir-fry robots, but the relevant Chinese market will likely boom over the next two years. Tineco plans to open its third restaurant with commercial stir-fry robots in Suzhou, where the company is headquartered, to provide a test venue for potential clients, Wu said.

Editors: Tang Shihua, Martin Kadiev