A burger made by the robotic burger machine. ( Photo by Momentum Machines)

Food technology seems to be flourishing in California as robots cook up gourmet burgers in San Francisco and vending machines prepare ready-made Mexican burritos in Los Angeles.

Although some were expecting a future on hover boards, the creation of a burger robot and the Burrito Box seems to be sparking conversation between non-cyborgs about whether or not food should be prepared by automatons. 

Coined as the “next generation of fast food” by its creators at Momentum Machines, the 24-square foot hamburger-producing "Alpha Machine" can prepare more than 300 burgers per hour, take custom orders and chop up toppings all by itself to provide the freshest burger possible. 

“With our technology, a restaurant can offer gourmet quality burgers at fast food prices. Our alpha machine frees up all of the hamburger line cooks in a restaurant,” explained the company on their website.

“It does everything employees can do except better.”

SEE ALSO: 7 Fast Food Innovations That Whet Our Appetites And Our Minds

(Photo by Momentum Machines)

Momentum's current machine can also be used in other restaurants, convenience stores, food trucks, and even in a vending application. 

With the possibilities endless for the burger-cooking terminator, some restaurant employees are viewing the fast food advancement as job exterminator. 

“Unemployment will rise if this machine is used by the fast food industry and it will hurt the chances of a teenager getting a first job,” said Steven Rubio, a cashier at McDonald’s.

“This will be bad for me and my coworkers because our checks will be smaller due to the less hours we will be receiving,” he added.

Other fast food employees shared similar concerns with the company's Alpha Machine. 

“I personally wouldn't want this at my restaurant because we wouldn't have a job anymore,” Jack in the Box employee Kimberly Ortega said. “I think the hamburgers won't have that same personal taste as it has when it's prepared by a human.”

“Plus, I really don't think that we need robots to make hamburgers or anything else because this will just make the next generation lazier,” Ortega concluded.

SEE ALSO: Fast-Food Workers Strike For Higher Pay

Burrito Box (Neon Tommy / Celeste Alvarez)

As fast food workers continue to strive and protest for an increase in minimum wage, the burger robot seems to be provoking concern in more people than its other automated counterpart – Burrito Box.

Whipping up buzz amongst Los Angeles foodies, Burrito Box takes gas station burritos to new heights as customers can choose between six different types of burritos, including roasted potato with egg and cheese, uncured bacon with egg and cheese, chorizo sausage with egg and cheese, free-range chicken with beans and rice, and shredded beef and cheese. 

The prepared burritos are $3 plus tax and although you cannot customize your order – for a few cents more – customers can add a side of Daisy sour cream, Tabasco hot sauce or Wholly Guacamole. Customers can also watch a music video from the monitor screen while they wait for their burrito. 

The kiosk is located in the Mobile gas station at 8380 Santa Monica Blvd. in West Hollywood. Another Burrito Box opened in Century City last Saturday to a massive launch party and the burrito-dispensing machines continue to attract fans. 

Los Angeles resident Caleb Jones is one of Burrito Box's newest fans, having stopped by the gas station Saturday to see what all the fuss was about.  

"I stopped by because I read about these burritos in the LA Weekly and wanted to try them out," Jones said. "It actually has a really good flavor and nice texture."

Jones went on to say he could see himself and others stopping by the gas station on their way to work to grab a quick burrito. 

"These are real burritos for right now, not for the future, so I'll definitely be back for these," Jones said. 

Caleb Jones reaches for his just purchased burrito. (Neon Tommy/ Celeste Alvarez)

Also waiting to get his own burrito well off duty was the station's employee Daniel Issac, who has not stopped getting his favorite choice - chorizo and sausage - after trying all six types of burritos. 

"I like to eat burritos and not feel guilty about it, so I like these because they're under 400 calories and they're pretty good," Issac said. 

Having seen several people come into the gas station just to try out the Burrito Box, Issac says the response has been great.

"It has been an incredible response, not just from people wanting to try it, but also form the people coming back to try it again and again," Issac said.

Staff reporter Celeste Alvarez can be reached here or follow her on Twitter here.