Texas-based US fast-casual restaurant chain Torchy’s Tacos has rolled out Soundhound’s voice AI smart ordering product across all 130 of its locations.  

The system is designed to understand and process a wide range of customer orders, including detailed customisations. 

Customers can place orders for tacos through the conversational voice assistant. 

The product can handle 100% of incoming phone orders, manage multiple calls simultaneously and address common queries regarding the menu, store hours and allergen information.  

This allows staff members to dedicate their time to food preparation and in-store customer service. 

A recent SoundHound consumer study underscores the growing expectation among US diners that AI voice assistants will take over most food ordering tasks in the near future.  

The company's voice AI solutions are already operational in more than 10,000 restaurant locations and the technology has processed more than 100 million interactions, demonstrating a substantial footprint in the foodservice sector. 

Torchy’s Tacos chief technology officer Thai Tran said: “At Torchy’s Tacos we want our guests to have the best experience every time they engage with the brand.  

“Partnering with SoundHound and using their Smart Ordering system, we are able to give our guests another way to easily order our food.  

“We know that they’ll get an easy-to-use option that ensures their orders are accurate, done on time, and they get the service they have come to expect from us. And it allows our team to be more efficient so we can elevate the total guest experience.” 

In December 2023, online food ordering and delivery platform Uber Eats entered a delivery partnership with Torchy’s Tacos. 

Torchy’s has added its more than 100 locations in Colorado, Indiana, Louisiana, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia to the Uber Eats app.