Automats (Dutch: automatiek) provide a variety of typical Dutch fried fast food, such as frikandellen and croquettes, as well as hamburgers and sandwiches from vending machines …

Jul 13, 2012 · With no waiters to tip and prices for most dishes at five or 10 cents, the Automats held economic appeal for working-class and frugal diners.

Although Automats originated as a high-tech, impersonal form of food service, they became best known for the thoroughly human experience of eating in these restaurants alongside people …

Beloved by generations of diners and immortalized in art, song, cinema, and poetic verse, Automats, also known as “automatics” or “waiterless restaurants,” were popular manifestations …

May 6, 2020 · Automats were waiter-less "automatic restaurants" that provided hundreds of hot, ready-made foods at low prices — and became the precursor to modern fast-food restaurants.

Jul 28, 2021 · Explore the resurgence of food automat restaurants. Discover their history, modern adaptations, and the differences between automats and vending machines.

In today’s world, popular automats use contactless payment and self-service technologies to give customers a fast and convenient way to place and receive orders.

But before fast-food chains dominated the landscape, there was the automat—a futuristic, self-service restaurant that combined convenience with affordability. Automats were the first major …

Sep 4, 2025 · This innovation was a response to the fast-paced lifestyle emerging in urban America. Self-service automats catered to the increasing demands of busy city life. With just a …

Jan 31, 2021 · By the 1970s, automats like Horn & Hardart were fading in popularity, and the culprits were easy to identify. Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken …