White Castle Debuts Futuristic Restaurant Model Featuring AI, Robotics and Mobile Ordering Technology |

The push to elevate the on-site dining experience is transforming restaurant design across categories, from fast casual to quick service. As consumers look for more than just low prices, ambience and experience have become defining aspects of perceived value. Accordingly Technical dataIn 2025, consumer spending has shifted toward on-site dining, reflecting a desire for what analysts call “holistic value” that combines food quality, service and experience.

Brands from Cava to Starbucks to Pizza Hut have responded Redesigning their dining rooms. Everyone has invested in creating a warmer, more sociable environment that encourages guests to linger rather than rush. Even legacy brands are taking note. Among the latest companies to embrace technology-driven reinvention, 104-year-old White Castle is unveiling its “Castle of Tomorrow,” a prototype designed to combine tradition with cutting-edge restaurant technology, near downtown Columbus, Ohio.

Founded in 1921 in Wichita, Kansas, White Castle is widely considered America's first fast-food hamburger chain. Its founders, Billy Ingram and Walter Anderson, pioneered the quick-service restaurant concept, standardizing menu items and operations in a way that would influence the entire industry. Over the decades, White Castle became known not only for its iconic small square sliders, but also for its distinctive castle-style architecture. The company remains family-owned and is based in Columbus. It operates 341 restaurants in 14 states and has a fiercely loyal fan base known as “Cravers.” The frozen retail division has also grown significantly, making the Original Slider available in grocery store freezers nationwide and expanding the brand's reach well beyond physical restaurants.

The new location, developed in collaboration with WD Partners, is a vibrant reinterpretation of the classic White Castle design. It features higher ceilings, bright lighting and a spacious, open floor plan designed to make both guests and employees feel more comfortable. A dedicated mobile order pickup window ensures a smooth flow of digital orders while ensuring a relaxed experience at the counter for dining guests. Outside, the restaurant features a double drive-thru with “hospitality doors” that allows team members to deliver orders directly to cars, a layout that reflects the design strategies of Chick-fil-A and other throughput-focused operators.

In the kitchen, White Castle has refined both technology and ergonomics. The new layout improves workflow and comfort for team members and is part of the chain's ongoing efforts to optimize work efficiency and workplace satisfaction. The restaurant includes the latest generation of Flippythe robotic frying station assistant developed by Miso Robotics, and Julia, the company's AI-powered drive-thru voice assistant, named after a long-time team member. Together, these technologies aim to improve order accuracy, speed and consistency while reducing staff workload.

Inside, guests can order through self-service kiosks, which are increasingly common at quick-service restaurants and fast-casual brands. By combining automation in the back and streamlined digital ordering in the front, the brand seeks to balance efficiency and hospitality. “Every detail, from the kitchen layout to the mobile ordering experience, has been carefully designed to help our team members shine and make every Craver visit more enjoyable and efficient,” said Jamie Richardson, vice president of White Castle.

The Castle of Tomorrow also represents a shift in visual identity. The exterior of the building retains the brand's iconic castle design, but adds new materials, accents and lighting to create a modern feel. Perhaps the most notable update is the adaptive signage that switches from “White Castle” during the day to “Night Castle” after dark, a nod to the chain's long-standing late-night fan base.

White Castle's investment in its next-generation prototype follows a broader trend among large quick-service restaurants and fast-casual players rebalancing digital convenience with in-person experience. After years of drive-thru and delivery growth accelerated by the pandemic, operators are rediscovering the strategic value of their physical spaces, not just as a fulfillment center but as an extension of the brand.

Cava, for example, began rRedesign of its dining rooms in 2024 to make them feel more welcoming and connected to the Mediterranean ethos. Subway and Taco Bell have it too new prototypes brought onto the market The focus is on open kitchens, natural materials and flexible seating. Meanwhile, Starbucks continues to test dual-format stores that combine digital pickup efficiency with a café-like atmosphere.

At the same time, automation and AI are changing the processes behind the scenes. Chains such as Panera, McDonald's and Carl's Jr. have conducted pilot projects AI ordering systems similar to Julia from White Castle, while Wendy and Hardee did this tested kitchen robots for frying and preparing drinks. According to a Deloitte study, more than 40 percent of quick-service restaurant operators plan to increase their investment in AI or robotics in 2025 to address labor shortages and improve throughput.

White Castle's new design reflects both sides of this equation: a human-centered guest experience supported by automation where it counts most. The restaurant's improved back-of-house layout, use of robotics and digital integration all point to a model that could redefine QSR efficiency without losing the hospitality aspect.

White Castle's prototype is part of a larger wave of experimentation in restaurant design. Chipotle's Chipotlane digital kitchens expanded in 2025 with layouts fully optimized for mobile ordering, while Taco Bell's “Defy” concept in Minnesota uses elevated kitchens and vertical elevators to deliver meals directly to drive-thru customers. Both models demonstrate how restaurants are rethinking physical space to accommodate higher volumes off-premises without compromising service speed or consistency.

In this environment, White Castle's “Castle of Tomorrow” stands out for its balanced approach. By combining automation, ergonomic kitchen design and human hospitality, the company shows how heritage brands can be intelligently modernized by keeping pace with technology while maintaining the familiarity and warmth that built their legacy.