Food technology startup Wonder is automating ordering, launching drone delivery, and bringing dozens of cuisines to cities and states that would not otherwise have them. The company operates more than 160 food halls in 10 US states and plans to expand into Texas in 2027. Wonder has raised more than $3 billion from investors including Nestle, GV, and Accel.

Robot delivery is expanding in Philly, with Wonder in Rittenhouse and Grubhub. Wonder, the dressed-up ghost kitchen chain of dining halls, has 25 "concepts" that use bots for food delivery. by Ximena Conde Published Oct. 21, 2026, 9:01 a.m. ET Listen to article - 3:51 min Love them or hate them, those white cuboids on wheels have snagged more work delivering food in Philadelphia. Avride, the Austin-based company that makes the winking delivery robots, announced Wednesday that the bots expanded delivery service to Rittenhouse's Wonder location. The company did not specify when. Wonder has made a splash in the region in recent years with its ambitious food hall expansion that aims to offer multiple "fast fine" dining options under one roof. The concept has been described by some as a "dressed up ghost kitchen." Yet with the backing of celebrity chefs Bobby Flay, José Andrés, and Marcus Samuelsson, Wonder went on to buy the delivery platform Grubhub last year. That same year, Wonder launched a pilot in one of its locations in Jersey City, N.J., where it introduced autonomous delivery using Avride. About 20% of deliveries were attributed to bots in its first year, according to the company. Wonder is now incorporating autonomous delivery to more parts of Jersey City and introducing the concept to Hoboken, Arlington County in Virginia, and Philly. "This expansion reflects our belief that the future of food delivery will be faster, smarter and increasingly powered by technology," said PJ Poykayil, executive vice president of customer delivery operations at Wonder. Poykayil added that the company was "unlocking new efficiencies while creating a more seamless experience for customers" with the bots. The bots, which are powered by artificial intelligence, are designed to make real-time decisions regarding the route they take to deliver food and are designed to navigate the dense urban areas they operate in. In Philadelphia, the bots can operate from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. within parts of Center City, Old City, and Chinatown, bounded by Race, Spruce, 18th, and Front Streets. An Avride spokesperson said robot delivery is available from 25 Wonder "concepts" at the Rittenhouse location, with an additional nine restaurants on the Grubhub platform also opting in for autonomous delivery. Avride, which has had a dozen or so bots in Philly streets since March through a partnership with UberEats, did not say whether the deal with Wonder meant more of its robots would be zipping through Philly's streets or if the robots already in place would absorb new orders. The exact number of robots on the ground would "evolve alongside the needs of the program," an Avride spokesperson said. Mixed reception. The arrival of autonomous bots has inspired mixed reactions among Philadelphians. While following one of the bots for a whole day "shift" this summer, The Inquirer encountered people who empathized whenever a bot appeared to be overwhelmed by passing crowds, spinning in circles, or getting stuck, not knowing what to do when it encountered certain obstacles. Others were less friendly, going so far as to kick and sit on the machines. At least one person reported being bumped by a delivery bot and complaints of already-busy streets cluttered by stalling machines have sparked calls from a city and state lawmaker for additional legislation to limit their use. In a statement, an Avride spokesperson said the company takes these concerns seriously, noting representatives continue to meet regularly with Philadelphia and Pennsylvania Departments of Transportation to share information and address concerns.

A new maryland Wonder is on the horizon. The fast-growing chain will be opening in Hagerstown in November. Published Date: October 18, 2026, 8:42 PM EDT Hagerstown diners are getting a chance to sample the biggest name on the fast-casual food scene this autumn. Wonder, the rapidly expanding mealtime platform, is heading to the area, offering locals the chance to check out its many options. Wonder is setting up shop at 18011 Garland Groh Boulevard. While a precise opening date is not yet available, the company website states that the restaurant will be opening at some point in November, meaning locals won't have to wait too much longer to taste all that Wonder has in store. Wonder has been steadily taking over the dining scene through its innovative approach to offering multiple cuisine options. The concept collects several different eateries under one roof, allowing visitors to order from as many as they'd like. Food is made to order and all charged on one bill. Wonder puts a premium on take out and delivery, though many locations offer a small amount of dine-in seating. Locals have reported that the Hagerstown Wonder appears to have around 6 seats inside, suggesting a very small number of guests can enjoy their meals immediately. Love its content? Add WhatNow as a preferred source on Google to see more of its trusted coverage when you search. Be the first to know. From new restaurant openings to exciting retail launches and real estate insights, be the first to know what's happening in Washington D.C. Kelly Mintzer is a freelance writer in the greater Philadelphia area. She's been delighted to write about the Philly and DC restaurant scenes for What Now Media since 2023. Additionally, she writes about genre media for Morbidly Beautiful and co-hosts the Guilty Pleasures and No Notes podcasts. Kelly has been writing across mediums since graduating from Moravian College with a degree in English in 2008. She has covered everything from listicles to how-to articles, to movie reviews, to op-eds, to interviews about up-and-coming restaurants.