Debuts Custom-Built Wok-Flipping Robot Leveraging Disruptive AI Technology

PHILADELPHIA, July 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wokworks, the popular fast-casual mini chain known for its bold fusion flavors and wok-fired bowls, will open its newest location in Bryn Mawr, PA, this fall at 5 Franklin Street. Located just steps from Villanova University, this latest outpost will introduce Wokworks' fresh, made-from-scratch dishes to one of the region's most vibrant and health-conscious communities.

Founded in 2012 in Philadelphia, Wokworks has garnered a cult-like following across locations in Fishtown, South Philly, Wyncote, and Margate (NJ), as well as a fleet of mobile carts and food trucks. Each bowl is cooked to order using the timeless craft of wok cooking, combining market-fresh vegetables, seasonal ingredients, and vibrant flavors inspired by global street food traditions.

Created with flexibility in mind, Wokworks offers fresh rice and noodle bowls featuring high-quality proteins, wok-seared vegetables, and housemade sauces. With a wide range of vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options—and ingredients sourced locally from Pennsylvania and New Jersey farms in season—each dish delivers flavor, flexibility, and freshness. The Bryn Mawr location will also feature extended late-night weekend hours for the nearby college crowd.

This location is especially meaningful for founder Brennan Foxman and his wife and business partner, Samantha, who began dating while she was a student at Villanova, living just a few blocks from the new storefront. Their return to the Main Line is both a full-circle moment and a strategic move into a community that values health, good food, and everyday convenience.

"We're so excited to open in Bryn Mawr - it's a special place for us, and the energy here is amazing. People care about what they eat, and we think they'll really enjoy what makes Wokworks special: bold, nostalgic flavors, scratch-made sauces, and lots of ways to make it your own. We're proud to be building something from the ground up and something we wish existed when we lived in Bryn Mawr—a warm, welcoming space with cozy wood booths, soft lighting, great playlists, and a hint of that indoor garden feel. We hope it will be the kind of place that's easy to stop by but hard to leave."

The Bryn Mawr location will also debut Wendy, Wokworks' custom-built, battery-powered, wok-flipping robot. Developed over the past three years and powered by an AI brain on the edge, Wendy replicates real wok technique by watching and learning from top chefs to deliver perfectly seared bowls - the mythic "wok hei" or breath of a wok - every time. This patent-pending tech allows the Wokworks team to focus on hospitality, while Wendy handles the heat.

"Wendy's a game changer," says Foxman. "She brings precision, speed, and consistency to every wok-fired bowl - something nearly impossible to achieve at scale without tech like this. It's an order of magnitude improvement over human-alone cooking and a key part of our mission: to develop cutting-edge technology and source the highest quality ingredients to preserve and perfect the ancient magic of wok cooking. This disruptive technology positions Wokworks as a pioneer in the ever-expanding push for kitchen automation robotics in the industry at large."

The Bryn Mawr opening marks an exciting step forward for Wokworks as the brand continues to grow across the region. With a commitment to real ingredients, innovation, complex flavors, and thoughtful sourcing, Wokworks is proud to serve food that fuels busy days, late nights, and the people who power their communities.

For updates on the Bryn Mawr opening, exclusive previews, and brand news, visit wokworks.com or follow @wokworks on Instagram.

Hi-res images: https://rb.gy/77czj0 

Media Contact:
Samantha Foxman
397835@email4pr.com
(609) 277-1505

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wokworks-expands-to-bryn-mawr-bringing-signature-vegetable-forward-fast-food-to-the-main-line-302501909.html

SOURCE Wokworks