Abstract: A self-service order-processing terminal is disclosed having a housing and having a display, coin dispenser, bill dispenser, and printer disposed in the housing. Separate locking means with different unlocking means are provided for accessing the coin dispenser, bill dispenser, and printer. The terminal has a database for storing customer order data and automatically sends and receives customer order data to and from a remote database. Diagnostic software runs checks and, if warranted, generates and sends error reports. The terminal is coupled with a display disposed in a food preparation area to notify employees of problems, such the need to replenish currency or printer paper. The terminal stores data relating to a customer's order and, when the customer later enters an identification code, the terminal displays past orders in color coded fashion, allowing the customer to quickly place the same order, if desired.