Robot Spills Tableware at California Haidilao During Dance

A humanoid robot at a Haidilao hot pot restaurant in Cupertino, California, knocked over tableware and scattered utensils during a performance on March 17, 2026, prompting staff to intervene as the incident quickly went viral on social media.

The robot, designed for customer entertainment, had been moved closer to a dining table at the request of a guest, deviating from its usual operating area near the entrance. According to a statement from the restaurant chain provided to NBC News, the machine executed preprogrammed dance movements to music, but the limited space caused its arms to swing into nearby dishes, spilling sauces and sending chopsticks flying. Video footage shared on platforms including X and Xiaohongshu captured the robot continuing its routine with a fixed digital smile, its apron displaying the message "I'm good," while three employees physically restrained it and used a mobile app to shut it down within seconds. No injuries were reported, and the restaurant resumed normal operations shortly after.

Haidilao, a China-based chain known for its global expansion and adoption of automation, described the event as resulting from human error rather than a technical...