The kiosk you’re probably thinking of is a refill or zero-waste dispenser kiosk — sometimes called a self-serve refill kiosk or, for rice specifically, a rice ATM. One example in the sources is Algramo’s refill kiosk model, which lets people buy staples like rice and other goods into their own containers.

What it’s called

  • Refill kiosk : a general term for buying products into your own container.
  • Zero-waste kiosk : often used when the goal is reducing packaging.
  • Rice ATM : a more specific name for a machine that dispenses rice by weight or quantity into a container.

How it works

Customers bring a container, select the amount they want, and the machine dispenses the product directly into that container. In the Algramo example, the system uses a smart container or app-based payment setup, while rice- dispensing systems typically focus on measured dispensing and payment at the machine.

Likely match

If you saw this in a mall, market, or community store, it was most likely a bulk refill kiosk rather than a regular vending machine. If the item was rice and you used your own container, “rice ATM” is the closest specific term.

TL;DR: it’s usually called a refill kiosk or rice ATM when it dispenses rice into your own container.