Shabu-Yo Meat Theft Sparks Criticism Over Slow Response

A customer at the shabu-shabu restaurant chain Shabu-Yo took meat ordered by another patron from a delivery robot, sparking a social media controversy. The incident has led to widespread criticism and media coverage. The operator, Skylark, has apologized and explained prevention measures to media outlets. However, as of October 8, no public announcement has been made on its official website or X account. This is not the first such incident, as similar reports emerged in February 2025. At that time, Skylark said it was preparing an animation feature on table terminals to clarify which shelf holds a customer's items. The recurrence highlights the challenge of modifying robot specifications across a nationwide chain, which requires significant time and cost.