Foodservice

Italian food vending takes hold in San Francisco

Photo: Adobe Stock

February 24, 2026

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A vending machine offering fresh, handmade Italian food has debuted in San Francisco, stocked with items such as pasta, sauces, garlic bread, meatballs and desserts.

The refrigerated kiosk, installed at the Spark Social SF food truck park, was created by Pasta Supply Co., a local restaurant and pasta shop, according to a San Francisco Chronicle report. Owner Anthony Strong developed the concept to provide customers with a convenient dinner option they can take home and heat up while creating a lower-cost way to expand his business.

The machine is stocked daily with freshly prepared food made at the company's Mission District location, with menu options that change frequently. Customers can purchase various types of pasta, sauces, lasagna, salads and sandwiches at prices generally ranging from about $8 to $16. Strong says the goal is to provide an affordable and quick alternative to expensive food delivery, allowing customers to prepare a meal at home in about 20 minutes.

The kiosk operates through a self-service system in which customers tap a credit card to unlock the machine's door and select their items. The system tracks purchases and provides real-time data on inventory, temperature and sales. A QR code also directs customers to online cooking instructions. Installing the vending machine costs only about 1% of opening a traditional restaurant, making it an attractive expansion model, according to Strong.

The pasta vending machine is believed to be the first of its kind in the Bay Area, although similar machines exist in Japan and Washington, D.C. Strong, a former fine dining chef known for experimenting with business models, hopes to launch five additional pasta vending machines in the Bay Area by 2026 and is seeking new locations such as office campuses, hospitals and other public spaces.