Restaurant Equipment: Everything You Need India 2026

Opening a restaurant in India requires careful equipment planning — what you buy will define your capacity, efficiency, and operating costs for years to come. This comprehensive restaurant equipment guide covers every major category you'll need, with real prices from Indian suppliers in 2026, honest recommendations, and a complete budget breakdown by restaurant size.

Restaurant Equipment by Category

1. Cooking Equipment

Cooking equipment is the heart of your restaurant kitchen. Your menu determines exactly what you need, but most Indian restaurants share common core requirements.

Commercial Gas Range / Cooking Range

The cooking range is the most-used piece of equipment in any Indian restaurant kitchen. Heavy-duty, cast-iron grates, and powerful burners are essential for Indian cooking with its emphasis on high-heat techniques. A minimum of 4 burners is recommended for any restaurant serving 40+ covers.

• 2-burner range: ₹8,000 – ₹25,000
• 4-burner range: ₹18,000 – ₹55,000
• 6-burner range: ₹35,000 – ₹90,000
• Chinese/wok range: ₹25,000 – ₹80,000

Tandoor Oven

Essential for North Indian restaurants serving tandoori breads, kebabs, and tikkas. Available in gas-fired and charcoal versions. Gas tandoors are more convenient and consistent; charcoal gives more authentic flavour. Prices: ₹18,000 – ₹90,000. For hotels and high-volume restaurants, premium brass tandoors can cost ₹1,50,000+.

Commercial Deep Fryer

For restaurants serving fried snacks, pakoras, samosas, French fries, or fried chicken. Gas fryers are more economical to run than electric in India. Capacity: 6 litres (small) to 30 litres (commercial). Prices: ₹12,000 – ₹1,50,000.

Commercial Griddle / Tawa

Flat cooking surface for rotis, dosas, parathas, and various flat-cooked dishes. Essential for most Indian restaurants. Gas or electric. Sizes from 2-burner to 4-burner. Prices: ₹12,000 – ₹80,000.

Commercial Oven

Restaurants with an in-house baking programme (bread, pizza, desserts) need a commercial oven. Options:

• Convection oven: ₹35,000 – ₹4,00,000
• Pizza oven: ₹40,000 – ₹3,50,000
• Combi oven (steam + convection): ₹3,00,000 – ₹15,00,000

Pressure Cooker / Stockpot Range

For high-volume sauce making, stock production, and bulk cooking. Commercial-grade pressure cookers and tilting braising pans save significant labour in large kitchens. Prices: ₹5,000 – ₹80,000 depending on size and type.

2. Food Preparation Equipment

Commercial Vegetable Cutting Machine

An absolute must for any restaurant serving 60+ covers. The amount of vegetable prep required for Indian cooking is enormous — onions, tomatoes, capsicum, leafy vegetables. A commercial vegetable cutter pays for itself in labour savings within months. Prices: ₹25,000 – ₹90,000.

Commercial Mixer / Blender

For gravies, chutneys, smoothies, and batter mixing. A heavy-duty commercial blender handles these tasks far better than a domestic blender. Prices: ₹8,000 – ₹45,000. Wet grinders for South Indian restaurants: ₹15,000 – ₹60,000.

Commercial Food Processor

For slicing, dicing, and processing large quantities of ingredients. A time-saver in any busy prep kitchen. Prices: ₹20,000 – ₹80,000.

3. Refrigeration

Commercial Reach-In Refrigerators

For storing raw ingredients, prepped foods, and sauces. A minimum of a double-door (400–600L) commercial refrigerator is recommended for a restaurant serving 40+ covers. Prices: ₹55,000 – ₹1,20,000. Read our full guide: Commercial Refrigerator Price & Buying Guide India.

Under-Counter Refrigerators

Keep frequently-used ingredients close to the cooking line. Essential for efficient kitchen workflow. Prices: ₹20,000 – ₹55,000.

Commercial Freezer

For frozen proteins, ice cream, and frozen ingredients. A chest freezer or upright freezer is essential for any restaurant. Prices: ₹25,000 – ₹1,50,000.

Ice Machine

Essential for restaurants with a bar or serving cold beverages. Commercial ice machines produce 30–500 kg of ice per day depending on size. Prices: ₹30,000 – ₹3,00,000.

4. Ventilation

A commercial exhaust hood over your cooking line is legally required and practically essential. It removes heat, grease, smoke, and odours from the kitchen, making working conditions bearable and complying with fire safety and municipal requirements. Prices: ₹15,000 – ₹60,000 per metre of cooking line coverage. Read our guide: Commercial Exhaust Hood Price India.

5. Dishwashing

Manual dishwashing is impractical for any restaurant serving more than 50 covers. A commercial dishwasher is a labour-saving investment that also improves hygiene. Under-counter models: ₹65,000 – ₹1,50,000. Hood-type models: ₹1,20,000 – ₹3,00,000.

6. Restaurant Furniture & Front-of-House

Beyond the kitchen, restaurants need front-of-house furniture and equipment. Tables and chairs: ₹2,500 – ₹15,000 per set depending on quality. Bar counters: ₹20,000 – ₹2,00,000. POS system: ₹15,000 – ₹80,000. Read our guide: Restaurant Furniture Price India.

Complete Restaurant Equipment Budget by Size

Note: These are kitchen equipment costs only. Add 30–40% for furniture, POS, décor, and other front-of-house setup. See: Restaurant Setup Cost India 2026.