How do I check a shawarma shop’s spit and grill equipment before buying?

The vertical spit, the grill and the exhaust hood do most of the work in a shawarma shop. Ask the seller how many spits run at once, how old each is and whether the burners heat evenly. See them in use on a busy day if you can. Uneven cooking, loose fittings or a smell of gas are all things to raise before you go further.

Ask for records of servicing and hood cleaning. Fire safety rules around grease and gas are a matter for your local authorities and insurer, so ask them what is expected, and ask the seller for any inspection reports. A technician you hire can tell you more than a walk-through ever will.

Find out who owns each unit. Some equipment is leased or tied to a lender, and some fixtures belong to the landlord. Ask your lawyer to read the lease and equipment papers. Finally, ask how long a replacement would take, since a shop with a broken spit has little to sell. Ask whether the shop has a backup grill or a plan for the day a main unit fails, and what happened the last time something broke.

Key takeaways

• Watch the spit and grill in use and note uneven cooking.
• Request service and hood-cleaning records for each unit.
• Hire a technician to inspect gas fittings and ventilation.
• Confirm who owns each unit and ask about lead time to replace.