Here's how soaring gas prices are impacting Bay Area food trucks

"At Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood, a fully robotic kitchen draws attention for both its food and its technology. One customer, San Francisco resident Miles Olson, said he was impressed by what he ordered. "Galbi, short rib, and it looks really delicious. I've never eaten it before, but it's actually a nice portion," Olson said. While customers enjoy their meals, operators say soaring diesel costs are creating serious challenges behind the scenes."

""Our machine, because it's electric we need to have a really massive, generator," said Edgardo Vicente of Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood. Vicente said fuel costs have more than doubled. "We spent, like, $150 daily. Gas is about $5 grand monthly," he said. Before diesel prices went up Vicente said, "We were spending around $70, $80 daily.""

"Just steps away, the Lady M mobile cake boutique is facing similar pressures. Jason Hodges said it costs about $300 to fill up the truck. Two weeks ago, the business invested in an external generator, which he said is already helping. "It's a luxury cake and we happy to bring it here to San Francisco," Hodges said. Asked about fuel costs now, Hodges said, "We should probably spend half of what we were spending. So, we are saving money, and we are selling a whole lot more cake. So it's balancing out.""

"He added, "this generator has an eco-mode, so it'll run this whole trip and burn less gas." According to AAA, gas prices have increased in all states. The national average price is about $4.55 per gallon for gas and $5.64 for diesel."

San Francisco food truck operators along the Embarcadero report that higher gas and diesel costs are reducing their bottom line. Customers continue lining up for meals, including items prepared in fully robotic kitchens. At Olhso Korean BBQ & Seafood, diesel is needed to power the truck and robotic cooking equipment, and the business relies on a large generator because the machine is electric. Fuel costs have more than doubled, increasing daily spending from about $70–$80 to around $150, with monthly gas costs around $5,000. Lady M mobile cake boutique faces similar pressures, spending about $300 to fill up the truck. After adding an external generator with an eco-mode, the business expects to spend about half as much on fuel while selling more, helping offset costs. AAA reports gas and diesel prices have risen nationwide, with national averages around $4.55 for gas and $5.64 for diesel.

Read at ABC7 San Francisco