How to Choose the Best Commercial Kitchen Hoods for Open Kitchens | Types & Guide

As one of the most popular commercial kitchen layouts, the open kitchen plan has come to represent a modern design trend over the past several decades. It creates an immersive dining experience, a clean environment, and a transparent style. By allowing diners to see chefs at work, the atmosphere feels more dynamic, and the connection between guests and their food becomes stronger.

But with that open design comes a challenge: how do you manage smoke, grease, and heat without disrupting the guest experience? The answer lies in selecting the right commercial kitchen hood.

Picking the right vent hood is essential for maintaining air quality, keeping the room at a comfortable temperature, and preventing fire hazards—all of which play a significant role in running an open kitchen restaurant. In this guide, we’ll explore different hood types, popular kitchen hood styles, key factors for selecting a hood for an open kitchen, and expert tips that will help you avoid common mistakes.

1. Stronger Exhaust (CFM): Open kitchens usually need higher airflow to keep grease and smoke from drifting into the dining area.

2. Balanced Airflow: A make-up air system is key to replacing what’s pulled out, keeping the kitchen comfortable and the appliances working properly.

3. Noise Control: Nobody wants dinner served with the roar of a fan. Choosing quiet commercial kitchen hood exhaust fans, often with external motors, keeps the space pleasant.

4. Filters Matter: Baffle filters are durable and fire-safe, while carbon filters help with odor control when outside venting isn’t an option.

5. Design Counts: In an open kitchen, the hood doubles as part of the restaurant’s decoration. A sleek island range hood or a custom finish can make it both functional and eye-catching.

6. Stay Compliant: Every restaurant hood system must meet fire and safety codes. Professional commercial hood installation ensures you get it right the first time.

Type I Hoods (Canopy Hoods)

Also known as grease hoods, they are typically used in commercial kitchens to capture and remove grease-laden vapors, smoke, and heat from grease-producing cooking equipment like cook ranges, deep fryers, and china wok.

1. Designed for use over grease- and smoke-producing appliances such as fryers, broilers, and grills.

2. Equipped with grease filters or baffles to capture grease before it builds up in the ductwork.

3. Must be cleaned regularly to prevent fire hazards.

A matched commercial kitchen hood does more than vent smoke; it creates a safe, comfortable, and visually appealing dining atmosphere. By understanding hood types, selecting the right kitchen hood style, and avoiding common mistakes, operators can design open kitchens that impress guests and comply with regulations.

Whether you need a sleek island range hood for a show kitchen or a comprehensive restaurant hood system, the key is combining function, safety, and design. For bespoke commercial kitchen solutions and expert commercial hood installation, Shinelong is here to help. Our team specializes in designing commercial open kitchen restaurants that perform flawlessly while elevating the dining experience.