If your slicer quits during lunch rush or your fridge flickers at 3 a.m., you know the pain: cheap equipment for your restaurant doesn’t save money, it costs you time, food, and customers. In 2025, Canadian restaurants, delis, and food trucks can’t afford breakdowns. You need to choose the best restaurant equipment brands that are reliable, efficient for all your commercial operations, and easy to maintain.

We’ve helped hundreds of operators choose the right brands, the ones that last, are readily available in Canada, and pass health inspections. We have combined some of the best 10 restaurant equipment brands we trust, sell most, and see functioning smoothly year after year in commercial operations and restaurant kitchens across the country.

Why the Right Restaurant Equipment Brand Changes Everything

You’re not just buying equipment. What your restaurant or commercial kitchen needs is reliability. You need speed. Buying the equipment which are able to serve 300 covers without a single breakdown.

A cheap brand might save you $500 upfront. But if it breaks down twice in a year, costs $300 each time to repair, and slows your line by 20 minutes every shift? That’s not a deal. That’s a liability.

The best restaurant equipment brands in 2025 share a few non-negotiable qualities:

• Built for constant use – Not weekend duty. Not light prep. High daily volume.
• Available in Canada – Parts, service, support, not waiting months for a U.S. only distributor.
• Energy efficient – Meets NRCan standards, qualifies for rebates, and lowers your monthly bills.
• NSF/CSA certified – Passes health inspections without question.
• Proven track record – Low failure rates, long lifespan, and operator trust country-wide.

If a brand doesn’t check these boxes, it doesn’t belong in your kitchen.

1. Berkel: Slicers That Never Quit

If you run a deli, sandwich shop, or any kitchen that slices meat daily, you’ve probably heard of Berkel. But here’s the truth: most meat slicers aren’t built for commercial use. They’re repurposed home models with weak motors and flimsy frames.

Berkel is different. Made in the USA, designed for high-volume slicing, and built to last 10+ years with basic maintenance.

Take the Berkel B10 SLC-10 manual gravity-feed meat slicer (1/4 HP), one of the most reliable models on the market. It’s not electric, it’s not flashy, but it’s rock solid. The gravity feed system gives you consistent thickness with zero motor strain. The 10-inch stainless blade easily handles roast beef, ham, and turkey.

And because it’s manual, there are no electronics to fry when water hits the base. No software updates. No error codes. Just slicing.

Why Berkel stands out in 2025:

• No downtime from electrical failures
• Easy blade removal and sharpening
• NSF certified for food safety
• Replacement parts available in Canada
• Used by top delis, hotels, and catering companies across the country

If you’re tired of slicers that wobble, overheat, or need constant recalibration, Berkel isn’t just an upgrade, it’s a long-term fix.

2. Robot Coupe: The Prep Kitchen Powerhouse

Walk into any high-volume kitchen and you’ll hear it, the steady pulse of a Robot Coupe food processor. These aren’t the $199 specials from big box stores. These are industrial machines built to dice, shred, slice, and puree for 12 hours straight.

The Robot Coupe R2N CLR 1 HP combination processor with 3 qt bowl is one of the most requested items in our catalog. And for good reason. It handles everything from julienning 50 lbs of carrots to grinding spices to making aioli, all with the same motor, same base, just swapped discs. No need to buy five different machines. One Robot Coupe does it all.

What makes Robot Coupe a top choice in 2025:

• Interchangeable discs for slicing, dicing, shredding, grating
• Compact design fits under counters where space is tight
• One-piece bowl and lid prevent leaks and speed up cleaning
• Commercial-duty motor runs cool even under constant load
• Used by top caterers, fine dining kitchens, and ghost kitchens

3. Rubbermaid Commercial Products: Commercial Kitchen’s Backbone

You might not think of storage as “equipment,” but try running a kitchen without food pans, totes, or containers. Rubbermaid Commercial Products isn’t flashy, but it’s everywhere, and for good reason. Rubbermaid Commercial Products collection includes full-size food pans, stackable totes, and color-coded lids. These are used in nearly every restaurant, hospital, and catering kitchen in Canada.

Why Rubbermaid is the best:

• Every product is NSF certified for food safety
• Colors coded by size so staff grab the right pan fast
• Stackable design saves space in walk-ins and dish pits
• Resists cracking in sub-zero freezers or hot prep areas
• Dishwasher safe and won’t warp after hundreds of cycles

The real value? Consistency. When every pan fits every steam table, every rack, every fridge, you eliminate bottlenecks. No more forcing a 6″ pan into a 4″ slot. No more lost time because the lid doesn’t fit.

4. Vulcan Hart: Built for the Daily Grind

When you need a range, fryer, or oven that runs 14 hours a day, you don’t mess around. Vulcan products have been a staple in North American kitchens for decades, and in 2025, they’re still leading with updated, energy-efficient models.

Their EcoLine convection ovens use 30% less gas than older units. Their fryers have sealed burners that prevent grease from clogging the system, a major cause of breakdowns in high-use environments.

Who should consider Vulcan Hart:

• Full-service restaurants with heavy cooking volume
• Pizzerias needing consistent bake performance
• Hotels and banquet halls with large prep demands
• Operators replacing aging equipment with energy-saving models

Key advantages:

• Heavy-duty construction with stainless steel fronts
• CSA-certified for Canadian electrical and gas standards
• Service-friendly design, burners, and igniters are easy to access
• Widely supported by technicians across Canada

If you’re tired of ovens that lose temperature or fryers that flare up, Vulcan Hart delivers reliability without the premium price tag.

5. Jet-Tech Dishwashers: The Last Dish Machine You’ll Ever Buy

Are you looking for dishwashers for your commercial kitchens that don’t give up when you need them the most? What about that weekend dinner rush, and you need the dishwashers on their best? Look no further for any brand, Jet-Tech Dishwashers are made in Canada and handle every rush without any hesitation. These are well known to perform, they handle heavy soil, hard water and quick cleaning cycles with ease.

Jet-Tech High-Temperature Dishwashers are a staff favourite: compact, energy-efficient, and NSF/CSA certified. It is reliable, even in cold prep rooms.

Why Jet-Tech wins in 2025:

• Made in Ontario: parts and service available fast
• Stainless steel construction resists rust, even in high-moisture areas
• Qualifies for Enbridge and local energy rebates
• Used by diners, pubs, hospitals, and ghost kitchens across Canada

6. ITV Ice Machines: Perfect Ice Machines

Are you running out of ice during lunch service? You need reliable ice machines that serve the purpose you buy them for! You don’t want melting ice in your drinks, right? ITV Ice Machines are designed for Canadian kitchens. They easily make clean, clear ice all day and every day.

Anything from 60, 100, 150 pounds a day, whatever you need for your business, these ice machines deliver. They’re also CSA certified and backed by local techs from coast to coast. Their air-cooled undercounter units are flying off shelves as they’re the most dependable brands for restaurants.

Why ITV stands out in 2025:

• Designed for Canadian voltage and climate
• Antimicrobial surfaces and easy-clean design
• Low-energy models save on hydro bills
• Available with built-in storage or as standalone units
• Widely supported by service techs

Whether you’re serving iced coffee all day or margaritas on a summer weekend, ITV keeps you stocked.

7. Omcan: The Smart Choice When Budget Meets Reliability

Not every commercial kitchen can spend $10K on a single oven when they are working on a budget. But that does not imply that you should buy cheaper products and sacrifice the quality of your food. Omcan is the go-to brand for commercial users who want high-quality performance without a premium price. From sandwich presses and countertop fryers to prep tables and warming cabinets, Omcan products fill the gap between cheap plastic brands and overpriced “luxury” brands.

Omcan Convection Countertop ovens are compact, heat fast, and handle everything from reheating pizza to baking mini quiches, perfect for food trucks, cafes, and small kitchens.

Why Omcan matters in 2025:

• CSA & NSF certified, passes health inspections
• Affordable upfront, built with stainless steel and commercial components
• Packed with practical features
• Huge selection available in Canada
• Favourite among startups, ghost kitchens, and multi-unit operators on a budget

8. Hobart: Where Heavy-Duty Kitchen Needs Meets Precision

Hobart isn’t just a brand. It’s a benchmark. When a kitchen says, “We have a Hobart mixer,” everyone knows it means power, durability, and decades of trust.

But Hobart does more than mixers. Their slicers, dish tables, and food processors are engineered for environments where failure isn’t an option.

Why Hobart still dominates in 2025:

• Mixers built to knead 100 lbs of dough without strain
• Slicers with precision blade control and safety guards
• Dish tables designed to handle high-volume service with minimal splashing
• All equipment meets strict NSF and CSA standards

The Hobart N50 5-quart planetary mixer is a workhorse in bakeries and prep kitchens. It’s not the flashiest, but it’s the one that never quits.

And because Hobart has service centers in every major Canadian city, finding parts or repairs isn’t a guessing game.

9. True Refrigeration: The Gold Standard in Cold Storage

When inspectors walk into a kitchen, one of the first things they check is refrigeration. True has built its reputation on passing those inspections. True Refrigeration stands out for its reliable refrigeration solutions. Their products include reach-in refrigerators, freezers, and display cases. True focuses on energy efficiency and durability. They also offer custom options to fit unique kitchen layouts. Their reach-in and prep tables are known for consistent cooling, even in hot kitchen environments.

Why True is a top choice in 2025:

• Self-contained refrigeration system means fewer leaks
• LED lighting improves visibility and uses less power
• R290 hydrocarbon refrigerant, eco-friendly and future-proof
• Designed for easy cleaning with coved corners and stainless interiors

True units are common in hospitals, schools, and high-end restaurants where food safety is non-negotiable.

10. Middleby: Innovation For the Kitchen Needs

Middleby isn’t just a brand. It’s a portfolio of innovation. From TurboChef speed ovens to CookTek induction units, they’re pushing what commercial kitchens can do.

The TurboChef TORNADO 1000 can cook a salmon fillet in 90 seconds with perfect sear and moisture retention. That kind of speed changes service models.

Where Middleby shines:

• Smart ovens with programmable cook cycles
• Induction units that reduce kitchen heat and energy use
• Integrated systems that link to POS or kitchen display screens
• ENERGY STAR certified models available across lines

For fast-casual concepts, ghost kitchens, and delivery-focused operations, Middleby is redefining efficiency.

How to Pick the Right Brand for Your Kitchen

Not every brand fits every kitchen. Here’s how to match the right equipment to your operation:

Delis and sandwich shops:

• Berkel for slicing
• Robot Coupe for veg prep
• Vollrath food pans for portion control

Full-service restaurants:

• Vulcan Hart for cooking
• True for refrigeration
• Hobart mixer if you bake in-house

Fast-casual and takeout:

• Middleby speed ovens to cut cook time
• Rubbermaid storage to keep flow smooth

Catering and high-volume:

• True Refrigeration for reliability
• Robot Coupe processors to prep fast

Always ask:

• Are parts available in Canada?
• Is the unit CSA or NSF certified?
• Does it meet local energy codes?
• What’s the warranty and service network like?

Choosing the Best Restaurant Equipment

The best restaurant equipment brands in 2025 aren’t the ones with the loudest ads. They’re the ones that show up every day. That start when you flip the switch. That don’t quit during the dinner rush. Berkel, Robot Coupe, Rubbermaid, Vulcan Hart, Hobart, True, Middleby, ITV, Omcan, Jet-Tech, these aren’t just names. They’re the foundation of thousands of successful kitchens across the country.

Choose right, and you won’t just save money. You’ll gain time, consistency, and peace of mind. Explore our full selection of top-rated commercial kitchen equipment and find the brands that work as hard as you do.