Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
Food
Video: The Burrito-Making Robot Of Your Dreams Is (Almost) Here
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 20, 2012
Modified Jun 20, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Ben Yakas
Published Jun 20, 2012
Modified Jun 20, 2012
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Nobody knows when those pizza vending machines might be coming to New York—but while we eagerly anticipate the day we can buy pizza like a Twinkie bar, there's another robotic food-making machine right under our noses: the Burritob0t. NYU grad student Marko Manriquez has been working on the burrito-making robot for his thesis. And the days of Taco Bell taste tests may soon be behind us.
Burritob0t.net Stop Motion [test] from Marko Manriquez on Vimeo.
Essentially, the machine uses 3D printing technology to coordinate what ingredients you want—large syringes inject beans, salsa, and guacamole onto tortillas one layer at a time. The volume of various ingredients can be controlled via an iPhone or web. Of course, Manriquez hasn't quite worked out how to get the burritos folded and cooked, but obviously the technology is there.
Manriquez seems as concerned with the conceptual aspects of the project as the commercial ones, writing on his website that he wants to "encourage dialogue about how and where our food is grown, methods of production, environmental impact, cultural appropriation, and, perhaps most importantly: what our food means to us."
He's also realistic about the quality of the product: "We are in uncharted culinary territory," Manriquez wrote. "For now, [Burritob0t's burritos are] somewhere on the spectrum between Taco Bell and SoCal taco truck." Manriquez is planning a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to publicly demonstrate Burritob0t and improve the taste of its burritos. As long as this doesn't turn out to be another TacoCopter, we see great promise here.
Tagged
burrito
burritobot
Marko Manriquez
NYU
Ben Yakas
Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE food
Why NYC restaurants are playing coy about sustainability
Though it has multiple benefits, the practice remains popular for one basic reason: it saves money.
By
Samantha Dady
Published Oct 26, 2026
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
Food
Where are the cheapest drinks in NYC? A new report details the city's average prices.
The median price of a cocktail in the city is now $16, and $9 for a draft beer.
By
Hannah Frishberg
North African restaurants are rare in NYC. These 10 are the best.
By
Robert Sietsema
10 dishes that demonstrate the delicious diversity of curry in New York City
By
Robert Sietsema
Frozen yogurt is back in New York City. So are the super long lines.
By
Sonia Rao
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .