Birdcall

The story of Birdcall is captivating. Launched in 2017 by the crew behind Park Burger and Homegrown Tap & Dough, the owners solved the dilemma of how to turn a profit in the increasingly competitive food industry by replacing humans with bright-yellow ordering kiosks. With a few taps on a touch screen to answer on-screen prompts — “Make this a combo?” — you breeze through the roster of fried-chicken sandwiches, salads, fries and shakes, adding sauces or other extras to get your food just the way you want it. You pay with a swipe and then step aside, keeping an eye on the countdown clock with your name on it until your food is delivered to a shiny, beehive-like bin. Cool, huh?