blog

date

May 28, 2025

blog

reading time

6 min

3 Game Changing Restaurant Tech Innovations Unveiled at NRA 2025

The 2025 NRA Show was a great success, with over 2000 booths from 45 countries stationed across McCormick Place in Chicago.

The annual NRA show not only featured established industry giants of the foodservice industry, but also welcomed 800+ new brands who made their NRA debut.

This event is the largest of its kind, showcasing cutting-edge products, advancements in food technologies, and contemporary kitchen innovations designed to transform the restaurant and hospitality landscape.

Attendees including industry leaders, innovators, and food enthusiasts, gathered to witness the latest technologies and trends set to redefine the restaurant experience, and experience a dynamic mix of live demos, product launches, insightful panels, and networking opportunities.

Among the myriad of offerings, three standout innovations captured the attention of attendees, promising to revolutionize how restaurants operate and elevate customer satisfaction.

These groundbreaking technologies not only address current challenges faced by the hospitality industry but also pave the way for a more efficient, intellegent, and sustainable dining environment.

Let's delve into these transformative solutions that are poised to set new standards in the restaurant world.

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1. Handheld POS Systems

Handheld POS is the newest version of a portable handheld POS terminal.

This innovative device streamlines transactions and enhances service efficiency by enabling servers to take orders and process payments directly at the table. This cutting-edge technology eliminates the need for staff to travel back and forth to stationary terminals, thereby reducing wait times and improving the overall guest experience.

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MenuSifu’s POS GO handheld device for mobile payments and orders

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The latest versions of handheld POS terminals introduced at NRA 2025 boasts several advanced features that make them a must-have for modern restaurants, but MenuSifu's new POS GO is the ultimate handheld POS with advanced automation and intelligent features and integrations.

Designed with mobility and flexibility in mind, the POS GO enables staff to take orders and process payments tableside, reducing wait times and boosting efficiency.

With real-time data sync to the restaurant’s main POS and kitchen systems, it enhances service flow and keeps operations running smoothly even during peak hours.

The POS GO supports a range of payment methods, including contactless options, and integrates with loyalty programs and customer data for targeted promotions.

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Its compact design and intuitive interface make it a versatile tool for high-volume restaurants, fast-casual venues, and pop-up concepts.

By incorporating this technology, restaurants can significantly speed up service times, enhance order accuracy, and create a more personalized dining

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2. Bubble Tea Solution

MenuSifu's comprehensive bubble tea solution stole the spotlight at NRA 2025, signaling a bold shift toward fully automated, system-driven operations in the tea shop industry.

With an innovative end-to-end ecosystem, MenuSifu’s solution covers everything from order placement to delivery and customer retention.

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At its core is a unified ordering hub, consolidating multiple channels—scanning QR codes, self-order kiosks, POS, and online ordering—into a single streamlined flow.

Orders are routed seamlessly into the POS master system, ensuring operational efficiency and eliminating confusion and delays while enhancing exceptional customer experiences and guest experience.

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MenuSifu's entire bubble tea solution setup

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This wasn’t just a theoretical pitch.

MenuSifu's live demonstration at NRA 2025 showcased a fully operational workflow driven by automated tech.

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MenuSifu’s smart scanning system for the bubble tea shop solution

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The bubble tea solution's four screen synergy wowed attendees, featuring a combination of a self-order screen, a vivid dynamic menu display, promotional screens for dynamic marketing like points and coupons, and a pickup notification screen that ties it all together.

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Customers experienced a simple three-step process: scan to order, receive a pickup number, and collect their bubble tea.

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MenuSifu showcasing new products at the NRA Show with a high-tech booth

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But the innovation doesn’t stop there. MenuSifu’s system isn’t just about convenience; it’s about building loyalty and driving repeat business.

The system integrates a smart loyalty engine, offering customers instant rewards and incentives through automated point accumulation and redemption at every step.

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MenuSifu’s smart dashboard with sales data, alerts, and actionable tips

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Live data dashboards empower foodservice operators to monitor real-time sales trends, track which menu items are trending, and proactively address operational bottlenecks.

Even more impressive, the system provides predictive insights, highlighting which products to promote, which customers to target for retention, and when to adjust staffing levels for house efficiency.

For example, the system might automatically flag that “Taro Milk Tea sales have dipped two days in a row” or that “Afternoon 2–4 pm repeat orders are low,” prompting corrective actions using actionable strategies and alerts for employees.

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MenuSifu ordering system showcasing multiple channels including POS, kiosks, and mobile

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MenuSifu’s approach redefines the bubble tea shop as a scalable, replicable business unit, with automation not as a mere add-on but as a core strategy for operational success and customer satisfaction.

With this solution, bubble tea operators can break free from reliance on flavor trends or manual operations, creating a smart, seamless, and engaging customer journey enhanced by advancements in foodservice equipment and AI-driven digital menu solutions.

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3. E-Menu Pro

MenuSifu’s E-Menu Pro redefines digital menus by blending high-end visual aesthetics with functional power.

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MenuSifu’s E-Menu Pro used in a stylish cafe setting for order and promotions

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This sleek electronic menu system offers dynamic, customizable layouts with vibrant imagery and flexible formatting, reflecting each restaurant’s unique branding.

It also enhances customer engagement with features like live kitchen updates, real-time inventory-based suggestions, and seamless integration with loyalty programs.

Not just a digital display, the E-Menu Pro supports multi-table coordination, precise order tracking, and kitchen display system (KDS) sync, ensuring smooth operations from order to delivery.

For customers, it offers a visually engaging and easy-to-navigate ordering experience that enhances satisfaction and encourages repeat visits.

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MenuSifu’s Vision for the Future

These three innovations, spanning the full customer journey from order placement to delivery, showcase MenuSifu’s commitment to driving efficiency, enhancing customer engagement, and empowering restaurant operators.

By integrating these advanced solutions, restaurants can embrace a data-driven, scalable, and personalized approach to hospitality.

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MenuSifu's booth #6666 at the 2025 NRA Show

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The future of dining isn’t just about great food.

It’s about creating seamless and memorable experiences.

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With solutions like MenuSifu’s Bubble Tea system, POS GO, and E-Menu Pro, restaurants can confidently navigate the challenges of a competitive restaurant industry landscape and build a loyal customer base ready for the future of foodservice.

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