Commercial Grills
Commercial Grills for Restaurants & Foodservice Kitchens
Commercial grills give restaurants, cafés, sandwich shops, bars, hotels, catering kitchens, and other foodservice operations dedicated cooking equipment for grilled proteins, sandwiches, vegetables, paninis, flatbreads, and other menu items. Depending on the application, a commercial grill may use an open gas charbroiler design or an electric contact-grill format with heated upper and lower plates.
At Nishi Enterprise, our Commercial Grills collection includes two major equipment categories: commercial gas charbroilers and electric panini and sandwich grills.
Our charbroiler assortment includes radiant, char-rock, lava rock, cast iron radiant, and stainless steel radiant configurations from brands including Atosa, Dukers, and Globe. Our countertop sandwich grill assortment includes single and double electric models from Globe and Winco with smooth, grooved, and combination plate configurations.
For additional restaurant cooking equipment, browse our Commercial Cooking Equipment collection.
What Is a Commercial Grill?
The term commercial grill can describe several types of professional cooking equipment.
In restaurant kitchens, it often refers to a charbroiler that cooks food over gas-heated radiants or char-rock systems.
It can also describe a panini or sandwich grill that presses food between heated plates.
These two equipment types perform different jobs, which is why it is important to choose a grill based on the menu rather than the general name alone.
Commercial Charbroilers
A commercial charbroiler uses open grates positioned over a heat source to cook meats, vegetables, seafood, and other foods.
Charbroilers are common in steakhouses, burger restaurants, Mediterranean restaurants, diners, bars, hotels, and other kitchens where grilled foods are a major part of the menu.
Nishi carries countertop gas charbroilers from several commercial equipment manufacturers and in widths ranging from compact approximately 15-inch models to high-capacity 48-inch units.
Browse additional options in our dedicated Commercial Charbroilers collection.
Countertop Charbroilers
Countertop charbroilers provide commercial grilling capacity without requiring a full range-style cabinet beneath the cooking surface.
This allows the broiler to be placed on a suitable commercial equipment stand or other approved support surface within the cooking line.
Restaurants can select the width according to production volume and available hood space.
Gas Charbroilers
The charbroilers in this collection are designed around gas cooking systems.
Gas charbroilers are commonly used for burgers, steaks, chicken, seafood, kebabs, vegetables, and other foods where chefs want direct high-heat grilling.
Before purchasing, verify the required gas type, total input, dimensions, installation requirements, and hood coverage for the exact model.
Radiant Charbroilers
A radiant charbroiler uses heated radiant components beneath the cooking grates to distribute heat across the grill surface.
Atosa offers radiant commercial broilers in multiple widths, including approximately 24, 36, and 48 inches.
The Atosa ATRC-24 24" Radiant Broiler provides a compact configuration for restaurants that need dedicated grilling capacity without committing to a larger 36 or 48-inch unit.
Char-Rock Broilers
A char-rock broiler uses char-rock material above the burners and below the cooking grates.
Atosa's CookRite ATCB lineup includes char-rock models in several widths.
The Atosa ATCB-36 36" Char-Rock Broiler provides a mid-size option for commercial restaurant cooklines.
Smaller 24-inch and larger 48-inch configurations are also available.
Lava Rock Charbroilers
Some commercial charbroilers use lava rock as part of the heat distribution system.
Globe offers lava-rock charbroiler configurations across several equipment widths.
The Globe GCB24G-RK 24" Gas Lava Rock Charbroiler provides a compact lava-rock setup.
Globe also offers larger 36 and 48-inch lava-rock configurations for higher production requirements.
Radiant vs. Lava Rock Charbroilers
Both cook food on open grates, but the heat-transfer system differs.
A radiant charbroiler uses heated metal components beneath the grate.
A lava rock or char-rock broiler incorporates rock material between the burners and cooking surface.
Restaurants should compare the cooking style, maintenance requirements, grease management, heat distribution, and manufacturer's recommended procedures before choosing between them.
Cast Iron Radiant Charbroilers
Globe offers gas charbroilers with cast iron radiants in several sizes.
The lineup starts with compact 15-inch equipment and extends through 24, 36, and 48-inch models.
The Globe GCB24G-CR 24" Gas Charbroiler provides a cast iron radiant configuration for a mid-size countertop grilling station.
Stainless Steel Radiant Charbroilers
Globe also offers charbroilers with stainless steel radiants.
These models give operators another radiant construction option while retaining the same general countertop gas charbroiler format.
Available sizes include approximately 15, 24, 36, and 48 inches.
15-Inch Commercial Charbroilers
A 15-inch charbroiler can be useful for restaurants where grilled items are part of the menu but do not require a large dedicated grill station.
The compact width also makes this size easier to fit under an existing hood when cookline space is limited.
Globe offers 15-inch models in lava-rock, cast iron radiant, and stainless steel radiant configurations.
24-Inch Commercial Charbroilers
A 24-inch commercial charbroiler provides additional cooking area while remaining relatively compact.
This size can work well for restaurants with moderate grill volume or operations that need to balance grill capacity with other cooking equipment under the hood.
Nishi carries 24-inch models from Atosa, Dukers, and Globe.
36-Inch Commercial Charbroilers
36-inch charbroilers provide a larger cooking surface for restaurants where grilled items represent a substantial share of orders.
The Dukers DCRB36 36" Commercial Countertop Char-Broiler provides one option in this category.
Atosa and Globe also offer 36-inch configurations with different heat-system designs.
48-Inch Commercial Charbroilers
A 48-inch commercial charbroiler is intended for high-volume kitchens that need significant grill space during peak service.
The Dukers DCRB48 48" Commercial Countertop Char-Broiler provides a large cooking surface for busy restaurant cooklines.
Atosa and Globe also offer 48-inch charbroiler configurations.
What Size Commercial Charbroiler Do You Need?
Start with the number of grilled items the kitchen expects to cook during the busiest portion of service.
A small grill section may only require a 15 or 24-inch unit.
A restaurant built around burgers, steaks, kebabs, grilled chicken, or other charbroiled foods may benefit from a 36 or 48-inch cooking surface.
The available hood width should also be considered because every additional inch of charbroiler consumes space that could otherwise be used for ranges, fryers, griddles, or other equipment.
Commercial Grills for Burgers
Charbroilers are frequently used for restaurant burgers because they provide an open-grate cooking surface.
The required size depends on how many burgers need to cook simultaneously and how much of the grill must remain available for other menu items.
High-volume burger concepts should size the equipment around peak demand rather than average daily sales.
Commercial Grills for Steakhouses
Steakhouses may dedicate substantial cookline space to charbroiling.
A wider grill provides additional zones for cooking different cuts and quantities during peak dinner service.
Restaurants should consider not only total width but also burner configuration, grate design, recovery, utilities, and ventilation requirements.
Commercial Grills for Chicken
Commercial charbroilers can be used for grilled chicken and other poultry applications depending on the restaurant's menu.
Operators should select enough surface area to keep poultry production from interfering with other grilled menu items during busy periods.
Commercial Grills for Mediterranean Restaurants
Mediterranean restaurants frequently serve grilled proteins, vegetables, kebabs, and other foods that fit naturally into a commercial charbroiler station.
A 24 or 36-inch model may be enough for a smaller menu, while higher-volume operations may prefer a 48-inch charbroiler.
Commercial Grills for Middle Eastern Restaurants
Middle Eastern restaurants can use commercial charbroilers for kebabs, chicken, meats, vegetables, and other grilled items.
The grill can be combined with ranges, fryers, stock pot stoves, and other equipment to build a complete cookline around the menu.
Commercial Grills for Indian Restaurants
Indian restaurants may use a charbroiler for grilled vegetables, proteins, sandwiches, fusion dishes, or menu items that are better suited to an open-grate grill than a tandoor.
A commercial charbroiler does not replace a traditional tandoor, but it can provide an additional grilling station for a broader menu.
Commercial Panini Grills
The other major category in this collection is the commercial panini grill.
Unlike an open charbroiler, a panini grill uses heated upper and lower plates that close around the food.
These grills are commonly used for paninis, grilled sandwiches, wraps, quesadillas, vegetables, chicken, breakfast items, and other compact menu applications.
Browse the full assortment in our Panini & Sandwich Grills collection.
Commercial Sandwich Grills
Commercial sandwich grills are useful for cafés, delis, coffee shops, concession operations, convenience concepts, and restaurants with grilled sandwiches on the menu.
The upper plate applies heat from above while the lower cooking surface heats the food from beneath.
Because they are compact countertop appliances, sandwich grills can add another cooking function without requiring the footprint of a conventional griddle or charbroiler.
Grooved Panini Grills
A grooved panini grill uses ridged cooking plates.
This style is commonly selected for paninis, sandwiches, vegetables, and other foods where operators want the cooking surface to create visible grill contact.
The Winco EPG-1 Single 14" Panini Grill provides a ribbed commercial cooking surface in a compact countertop format.
Smooth Plate Sandwich Grills
A smooth plate sandwich grill provides flat upper and lower cooking surfaces.
This can expand the equipment beyond traditional paninis into breakfast items, flatbreads, quesadillas, and other foods better suited to a smooth contact surface.
The Winco ESG-1 Single 14" Flat Plate Sandwich Grill provides a compact smooth-plate option.
Grooved Top & Smooth Bottom Grills
Some commercial sandwich grills combine a grooved upper plate with a smooth lower plate.
This gives the operator a hybrid cooking surface rather than requiring both plates to use the same texture.
The Globe GPGS1410 Mid-Size Panini Grill is one example in the current assortment.
Smooth vs. Grooved Panini Grill Plates
The right plate style depends on the menu.
Grooved plates are a natural fit for paninis and grilled sandwiches where grill marks are part of the presentation.
Smooth plates create more continuous contact with the food and can be useful for a broader range of flat items.
A mixed grooved and smooth configuration provides another compromise for operations preparing several types of food on one appliance.
Single Panini Grills
A single commercial panini grill has one upper cooking section and is typically more compact than a double model.
This is a practical choice for cafés and restaurants with moderate sandwich volume or limited counter space.
Globe and Winco both offer single commercial grills in the current collection.
Double Panini Grills
A double panini grill provides additional cooking capacity for higher-volume operations.
The Winco EPG-2 Double Panini Grill provides two compact cooking sections in one countertop appliance.
Globe also offers larger double sandwich grill configurations for operations needing more surface area.
Single vs. Double Sandwich Grill
A single grill makes sense when sandwich production is relatively light or counter space is limited.
A double grill provides greater capacity and may allow employees to cook separate orders at the same time.
The larger appliance also requires more counter space and may have different electrical requirements, so capacity should be matched to actual demand.
Panini Grills for Cafés
Cafés can use panini grills to add hot sandwiches and other cooked foods without building the entire menu around a full cookline.
A compact single grill may be sufficient for a small coffee shop, while a busy café with a substantial lunch business may benefit from a larger or double unit.
Panini Grills for Delis
Delis frequently use commercial sandwich grills for hot sandwiches, wraps, and pressed menu items.
Choosing between smooth and grooved plates depends on the types of sandwiches and other foods the deli plans to produce.
Panini Grills for Restaurants
Full-service restaurants may add a sandwich grill as a supplemental countertop appliance even if the kitchen already has ranges, griddles, and fryers.
This can create a dedicated station for paninis or specialty sandwiches without occupying valuable space on a larger flat-top griddle.
Panini Grills for Breakfast
Smooth plate sandwich grills can also support certain breakfast applications.
Depending on the model, restaurants may use the flat heated surfaces for sandwiches, flatbreads, and other breakfast foods that fit the contact-grill format.
Charbroiler vs. Panini Grill
These are two very different types of commercial grills.
A charbroiler uses an open grate and is intended for direct grilling of proteins, vegetables, and similar foods.
A panini grill cooks food between heated upper and lower plates.
A restaurant serving steaks or burgers will generally look toward a charbroiler, while a café serving pressed sandwiches will usually need a panini grill.
Commercial Grill vs. Commercial Griddle
A grill and a griddle use different cooking surfaces.
A charbroiler uses open grates, while a commercial griddle uses a solid flat cooking plate.
Griddles are particularly versatile for breakfast foods, burgers, cheesesteaks, vegetables, pancakes, and other items that benefit from full contact with a flat surface.
Browse our Commercial Griddles to compare the two equipment categories.
Charbroiler vs. Griddle for Burgers
Both can cook burgers, but the result and kitchen workflow differ.
A charbroiler cooks the burger on an open grate, while a griddle places the entire bottom surface of the burger in contact with the cooking plate.
Restaurants should choose based on the burger style they want to serve rather than assuming one method is universally better.
Commercial Grill vs. Restaurant Range
A restaurant range provides open burners and may also include an oven or other base configuration.
A charbroiler provides a dedicated grilling surface rather than conventional burner positions.
Many restaurants use both because they perform different tasks on the cookline.
Browse our Commercial Gas Ranges for additional cooking equipment.
Atosa Commercial Charbroilers
Atosa offers commercial charbroilers under its CookRite equipment lineup.
Nishi's current assortment includes both ATCB char-rock broilers and ATRC radiant broilers in 24, 36, and 48-inch widths.
This gives restaurants the ability to compare two grilling-system styles while staying within the same commercial equipment brand.
Dukers Commercial Charbroilers
Dukers offers the DCRB series of commercial countertop charbroilers.
Nishi carries the Dukers DCRB24, DCRB36, and DCRB48, giving restaurants 24, 36, and 48-inch size choices.
Globe Commercial Charbroilers
Globe's commercial charbroiler lineup is particularly flexible because operators can choose from several widths and heat-system configurations.
Available sizes in the current Nishi assortment include approximately 15, 24, 36, and 48 inches.
Options include cast iron radiants, stainless steel radiants, and lava-rock configurations.
Globe Panini & Sandwich Grills
Globe also has an extensive countertop contact-grill lineup.
Nishi carries compact Bistro models, mid-size grills, and larger Deluxe configurations with grooved, smooth, and mixed cooking plates.
Single and double designs allow foodservice operators to match the equipment to sandwich volume and available counter space.
Winco Panini & Sandwich Grills
Winco provides straightforward commercial panini and sandwich grills for countertop use.
Nishi carries single and double ribbed panini grills as well as single and double smooth-plate sandwich grills.
These models can be useful for cafés, delis, concession operations, restaurants, and other businesses that need a dedicated compact electric cooking appliance.
How to Choose a Commercial Grill
Start with the menu.
If you need to grill steaks, burgers, chicken, seafood, kebabs, or vegetables over an open grate, focus on commercial charbroilers.
If you need to press sandwiches, paninis, wraps, or similar foods, focus on electric contact grills.
Once the grill type is established, compare width, cooking surface, capacity, utilities, plate or radiant design, and installation requirements.
How Much Grill Space Does a Restaurant Need?
Estimate how many grilled orders need to cook simultaneously during the busiest service period.
A 24-inch charbroiler may be appropriate for a restaurant with a limited grilled menu, while a steakhouse or high-volume burger restaurant may require 36 or 48 inches of grill space.
For sandwich grills, compare the number of sandwiches that must be cooked at the same time and whether a single or double appliance is more appropriate.
Planning Hood Space for a Commercial Charbroiler
Gas charbroilers are hot-side commercial cooking equipment and should be incorporated into the kitchen's ventilation and fire-suppression planning.
Before ordering, confirm that the selected equipment fits beneath the planned hood along with the rest of the cookline.
A wider grill provides more cooking capacity but also consumes more valuable hood space.
Planning Utilities for Commercial Grills
Utility requirements vary significantly between the two main grill categories.
Gas charbroilers require the appropriate gas supply and commercial installation setup.
Electric panini grills require the correct voltage, amperage, receptacle, and electrical capacity for the selected model.
Some compact sandwich grills operate on common 120V service, while larger double units may require higher-voltage electrical service.
Measure Before Ordering
Before purchasing any commercial grill, confirm its width, depth, height, cooking surface, and required clearances.
For charbroilers, measure available hood and equipment-stand space.
For panini grills, measure the countertop and remember that the upper lid needs room to open during use.
Utility placement should also be considered before the final equipment layout is completed.
Building a Complete Commercial Cookline
A commercial grill is usually only one part of the restaurant cookline.
Depending on the menu, the same kitchen may also need Commercial Griddles, Deep Fryers, Commercial Gas Ranges, and other Commercial Cooking Equipment.
Each piece should have a clear purpose based on the menu and peak production requirements.
Shop Commercial Restaurant Grills
Nishi Enterprise carries commercial grills, countertop charbroilers, gas charbroilers, radiant broilers, lava rock charbroilers, char-rock broilers, commercial panini grills, sandwich grills, smooth plate grills, and grooved contact grills for restaurants, cafés, delis, hotels, bars, and other foodservice operations.
Our current assortment includes commercial charbroilers from Atosa, Dukers, and Globe in widths from approximately 15 to 48 inches, along with electric panini and sandwich grills from Globe and Winco in single and double configurations.
Whether you need a compact charbroiler for occasional grilled entrées, a 48-inch commercial grill for a high-volume cookline, or an electric panini press for a café or sandwich station, explore the collection above to compare the equipment that best fits your menu.