Hestan and Lynx are the two California luxury grill brands we get asked about most, usually by a customer who has already decided on a real built-in grill and is now choosing between the two. Both are built in the USA from heavy welded stainless. Both put an infrared burner in the box. Both have matching side burners, refrigeration and storage so the whole outdoor kitchen matches.
They are not the same grill with different badges, though. Hestan, based in Anaheim, builds around its 25,000 BTU Trellis burners, a 12 color palette and a long list of convenience features (the Horizon hinge, motion-activated Stadium lights, a salamander-position rotisserie burner). Lynx, which started in Southern California and now sells grills from 30 to 54 inches, builds around a 23,000 BTU Trident infrared burner that runs from 300 to 1,000 degrees, cast ceramic main burners that cannot rust, and a wind-stabilized firebox.
We sell, install and service both. Here is how we lay out the decision in the Maspeth showroom.
The short answer
Choose Hestan if you want color (11 finishes beyond stainless), the most polished everyday experience (a hood that stays open anywhere, lights that come on when you lift it, a flip-to-clean briquette tray) and 25,000 BTU Trellis burners with an infrared sear burner in the GMBR configuration. Choose Lynx if searing is the point: the 23,000 BTU Trident infrared burner is adjustable from 300 to 1,000 degrees, the cast ceramic main burners are warrantied for life, and Lynx offers a 54 inch grill with two rotisserie burners that Hestan does not match. Both are 304 stainless, welded, made in the USA, and backed by lifetime coverage on the burners and body.
Key takeaways
- Lynx's Trident infrared burner is rated 23,000 BTU and adjustable from 300 to 1,000 degrees. Hestan's ceramic infrared sear burner is also variable, and Hestan's listings rate it between 22,000 and 25,000 BTU depending on the model.
- Hestan's main burners are 321 stainless Trellis tubes at 25,000 BTU each. Lynx's main burners are cast cordierite ceramic at 25,000 BTU each and cannot rust or corrode.
- A 36 inch Hestan GMBR36 and a 36 inch Lynx L36TR are near twins on paper: 75,000 vs 73,000 BTU, 889 vs 935 total square inches, a 35 inch cutout on both.
- Hestan tops out at 42 inches. Lynx goes to 54 inches with four burners, 1,555 square inches and two 14,000 BTU rotisserie burners.
- Hestan offers 12 finishes; Lynx offers stainless plus eight Outdoor Color Collection hues developed with Sherwin Williams.
- Value lines: Aspire by Hestan (69,000 BTU 36 inch, 304 stainless, made in the USA) and Sedona by Lynx (46,000 BTU 30 inch with an optional ProSear infrared burner).
In this guide
- Hestan vs. Lynx at a glance
- How do the two lineups map to each other?
- Which sears better: Trident infrared or the Hestan sear burner?
- Which gives you better heat control and even heat?
- Which has the better rotisserie?
- Which is built better?
- Which has better lighting, colors and design?
- Which brand has the better appliance suite and value line?
- What does installation require in New York?
- Which has the better warranty?
- Our recommended models
- Which should you choose?
- Frequently asked questions
Hestan vs. Lynx at a glance
| Category | Hestan | Lynx Professional |
|---|---|---|
| Sizes | 30, 36, 42 inch built-in and on carts | 30, 36, 42, 54 inch built-in and freestanding |
| Main burners | 25,000 BTU Trellis tubular burners in 321 stainless, over ceramic briquette radiant trays | 25,000 BTU cast cordierite ceramic burners under fixed ceramic briquettes |
| Infrared sear | Variable ceramic infrared sear burner on GMBR models (listed at 22,000 to 25,000 BTU) | 23,000 BTU Trident infrared burner, 300 to 1,000 degrees, on TR models; all-Trident ATR models available |
| Total BTU (36 inch) | 75,000 (GMBR36) | 73,000 (L36TR) |
| Cooking area (36 inch) | 653 main, 889 total sq in | 640 main, 935 total sq in |
| Rotisserie | Infrared burner with salamander positioning, concealed chain-driven motor, rated to 50 lb | Rear infrared burner (14,000 BTU on 36, 16,000 on 42, two on the 54), dual-position, 3-speed motor |
| Grates | Laser DiamondCut 5/16 inch stainless | Stainless steel grates |
| Body | Welded 304 stainless, Marquise panels, Zamak knobs; made in the USA with globally sourced parts | Continuously welded 304 stainless, no mechanical fasteners; made in the USA |
| Lighting | Motion-activated Stadium halogen under-hood lights, LED control panel | Dual halogen interior lights, blue LED knob accents |
| Hood | Spring-assist Horizon hinge, stays open at any height | Lynx Hood Assist with fluid rotation handle |
| Finishes | Steeletto stainless plus 11 colors | Stainless plus 8 Outdoor Color Collection hues |
| Value line | Aspire by Hestan | Sedona by Lynx |
How do the two lineups map to each other?
Hestan's model code tells you the burner mix. GABR models are all Trellis burners (the GABR42 has four); GMBR models swap one Trellis for the ceramic infrared sear burner (the GMBR42 is three Trellis plus sear, the GMBR36 is two plus sear). Every Hestan grill includes the rotisserie system. Sizes are 30, 36 and 42 inches, built-in or on a freestanding tower cart such as the 42 inch GMBR on a double drawer and door cart.
Lynx uses a similar code. TR models have one Trident infrared burner plus ceramic burners (the L36TR, L42TR and the 54 inch L54TR). ATR models are all Trident, such as the L42ATR. R models are all ceramic, like the L42R-3. An F suffix means freestanding on a cart, as on the L42TRF. Lynx also sells the Asado flat-top cooktop and a 30 inch Professional grill on a mobile kitchen cart.
The practical difference in the lineups: Lynx lets you go all-infrared, and Lynx goes to 54 inches. Hestan stops at 42 and always pairs infrared with Trellis burners.
Which sears better: Trident infrared or the Hestan sear burner?
Lynx's Trident is the better-known burner, and for good reason. It is a 23,000 BTU ceramic infrared burner that Lynx rates from 300 to 1,000 degrees with what it calls instantaneous temperature control. That low end is the part people miss: a Trident turned down is gentle enough for fish or vegetables, so an all-Trident L42ATR is a genuinely versatile grill rather than a one-trick searing machine. On a TR model you get one Trident zone next to two or three ceramic burners, which is how most of our Lynx customers configure it.
Hestan's answer is a variable ceramic infrared sear burner that replaces one Trellis burner on GMBR models. Hestan does not put a briquette tray over the sear burner (the briquettes live above the Trellis burners), so the infrared hits the DiamondCut grate directly. Hestan's own listings rate it at 22,000 BTU on the 42 inch GMBR42 and up to 25,000 BTU on the 36 inch GMBR36, with 97,000 and 75,000 BTU totals respectively. Either way it is in the same class as the Trident. What Hestan does not offer is an all-infrared grill.
In the showroom we tell people this: both will put a steakhouse crust on a ribeye. If you want the option of running the whole grate on infrared, or you care about the published 300 to 1,000 degree range, Lynx wins the searing argument. If one infrared zone is enough and you want more conventional surface next to it, the Hestan GMBR configuration is excellent.
Which gives you better heat control and even heat?
Hestan's Trellis burners are tubular 321 stainless burners rated at 25,000 BTU each, and the thing that makes them work is the stainless radiant tray above them filled with shaped ceramic briquettes. The tray spreads heat evenly across the grate, vaporizes drippings into flavor, and flips over for cleaning. On a crowded grate at a party, this is what keeps the burgers at the edges cooking at the same rate as the ones in the middle.
Lynx takes a different route to the same goal. The main burners are cast from cordierite ceramic, the material used in kilns, at 25,000 BTU each. Lynx's argument is that metal burners change as they heat and cool while ceramic does not, so output stays consistent year after year, and ceramic cannot rust or corrode. Above them sits a bed of fixed-position ceramic briquettes. Lynx also builds what it calls a heat-stabilizing design: the firebox deflects wind and vents in a way that holds surface temperature on a breezy day, which matters more on a Long Island waterfront or a Manhattan rooftop than it does in a sheltered Queens yard.
Both brands use hot surface ignition (a glowing element above the burner port rather than a spark), which is more reliable in wind and after a wet winter. Both include a warming rack; Hestan's has three vertical positions and tucks away when not needed, and the Lynx 36 and 42 give you 295 and 345 square inches of secondary space respectively. Grates are stainless on both; Hestan's laser DiamondCut grates are 5/16 inch stock with a distinctive profile that leaves clean marks and cleans up easily.
From our install team
Put your hands on both hoods before you decide. The Hestan Horizon hinge holds the lid at any height, which sounds small until you are basting a rack of ribs one-handed. The Lynx Hood Assist opens with a light pull and the handle rotates as the lid swings, so your wrist stays neutral. Customers who have owned a heavy-lidded grill notice this immediately in the showroom.
Which has the better rotisserie?
Both grills include a rotisserie, and both use a rear infrared burner. The difference is how they are positioned and powered.
Hestan's infrared rotisserie burner uses what it calls salamander positioning: it sits high at the back of the firebox so it can roast on the spit or act as a top-down broiler to finish a steak or brown a gratin. The motor is concealed, chain-driven and quiet, and Hestan's manual rates it for food items up to 50 pounds. Hestan's spec tables list the burner at 18,000 BTU on the GMBR36 and GMBR42.
Lynx's rotisserie is dual-position with a heavy-duty three-speed motor. The rear infrared burner is rated at 14,000 BTU on the 36 inch, 16,000 BTU on the 42 inch, and the 54 inch L54TR carries two 14,000 BTU rotisserie burners for a combined 28,000 BTU across a 51 inch spit. If you roast whole lambs, multiple chickens or a big holiday rib roast, that 54 inch is the one grill in this comparison built for it. Lynx does not publish a weight rating on its current product pages. Both brands sell spare spits and forks in our rotisserie kits collection.
Which is built better?
Honestly, this is close, and both are a clear step above the mid-market 304 grills. Lynx builds its grills from 304 stainless formed into continuous pieces and welded without mechanical fasteners, then hand polishes the edges; the point is that there are no seams where grease and moisture collect. Hestan uses heavy-gauge welded 304 bodies with commercial-grade end caps, Zamak die-cast knobs and bezels, and its 321 stainless Trellis burners, a higher-temperature alloy than the 304 used in most tube burners. Lynx's ceramic burners sidestep the alloy question altogether, since they cannot rust.
Weight is a decent proxy for gauge: the Hestan GMBR42 ships at 351 pounds and the GMBR36 at 310 pounds; Lynx lists a 338 pound shipping weight for the L42TR. Both are heavy enough that the island needs to be built for them.
Neither brand is marketed as marine grade. For a South Shore, Rockaway or Florida install we treat both the same way: a fitted grill cover, a rinse after salt exposure, and the understanding that both warranties exclude surface rust and discoloration from the environment.
Which has better lighting, colors and design?
Hestan has the edge for anyone building a designed outdoor kitchen. The Steeletto stainless finish is the default, and 11 colors cover everything from a quiet gray to a bright red, with the same palette available on Hestan refrigeration, doors and drawers. Marquise-textured panels and the handle give it a look that reads as an appliance rather than a grill. Lighting is the best in the category: motion-activated Stadium halogen lights under the hood come on when you lift it, and the control panel is LED-lit.
Lynx is more restrained and more traditional: polished stainless, a signature bullnose, and blue LED halos on the control knobs that have become the Lynx trademark after dark. Interior lighting is dual halogen. Lynx now offers an Outdoor Color Collection of eight hues developed with Sherwin Williams, which closes some of the gap with Hestan, and the same colors run across Lynx 304 stainless cabinetry.
If the kitchen is going to be a visual centerpiece in a specific color, start with Hestan. If you want a classic stainless kitchen with a serious grill at the center, Lynx looks exactly right.
Which brand has the better appliance suite and value line?
Both brands sell full suites. Hestan offers side burners, power burners, refrigeration, ice makers, doors, drawers and insulated jackets in matching colors. Lynx offers Professional double side burners, power burners, the Asado flat top, warming drawers, the Napoli outdoor oven, a kamado, refrigeration, 304 stainless cabinetry and covers. For a kitchen with a griddle, a pizza oven and a grill from one brand, Lynx's catalog is deeper.
The value lines are where the two brands feel most different. Aspire by Hestan is a serious grill in its own right: a 36 inch with two 304 stainless U-burners and a ceramic infrared sear burner at 23,000 BTU each (69,000 BTU total), 647 square inches of main grate plus a 147 square inch warming rack, an infrared rotisserie burner with a 40 pound external motor, hot surface ignition, a touch-activated LED control panel and halogen interior lights. It is made in the USA from 304 stainless, and it shares the 35 inch cutout width with the full Hestan 36.
Sedona by Lynx is positioned lower. The current 30 inch L501 built-in has two 304 stainless tube burners for 46,000 BTU over 508 square inches of main grate (733 total), an optional ProSear variable infrared burner, blue LED knobs, halogen lights and a lift-assist hood, with continuous spark ignition rather than the Professional's hot surface system. It is the right answer for a tight city island where a 30 inch is all that fits and the budget does not stretch to Professional.
In other words, Aspire competes with the top of the mid-market and Sedona competes with the middle of it. If a value line is where you will land, Aspire is the closer cousin to its flagship.
Side BurnersOutdoor RefrigerationInsulated Jackets
What does installation require in New York?
The cutouts are close but not interchangeable. Hestan's manual calls for a 35 by 23.5 by 11.5 inch opening for the 36 (41 inches wide for the 42) in a non-combustible island, and a larger 41 by 25.1 by 12.8 inch opening for the 36 (47 inches for the 42) when the island is combustible and the Hestan insulated jacket is used. Lynx lists a 35 by 22 by 10 1/8 inch cutout for the L36TR, 41 by 24.5 by 10 7/8 inches for the L42TR and 53 by 24.5 by 10 7/8 inches for the L54TR, and Lynx also requires its insulated jacket in a combustible enclosure. Both manufacturers' clearance pages must be followed; Hestan, for example, calls for 12 inches to combustible side walls.
Both grills are gas appliances that also need electricity: Lynx specifies a 120 volt 15 amp GFCI outlet adjacent to the grill for the ignition, lights and rotisserie motor, and Hestan's lighting and motor need power too. Order the correct fuel version up front. In New York City the gas line must be installed by a Licensed Master Plumber with the proper DOB permit, and in a co-op or condo the board will want the spec sheet, the clearance drawing and the installer's credentials. On Long Island and in Westchester the local building department handles the gas permit, and propane is common where there is no gas main.
From our install team
Build the island to the exact model's cutout sheet, not to "a 42 inch grill." The Hestan 42 wants 12 inches of cutout height on the store spec and the Lynx 42 wants 10 7/8; the Hestan cutout is 23.5 inches front to back versus 24.5 for the Lynx, and the bullnoses overhang differently. We have reworked more than one mason's opening because the plan said 42 inch and the brand changed after the stone went in.
Not sure which fits your island? Send us the island length, the fuel available and what you cook most, and we will configure the grill and lay out the matching side burner, fridge and storage. Book a free design consultation and we will help you narrow it down.
Which has the better warranty?
Both are strong, and both are parts-focused after year one. Hestan covers the stainless grill body, DiamondCut grates and warming rack, Trellis burners, sear burner and rotisserie infrared burner for the lifetime of the original purchaser; the spit rod, briquette trays, manifolds, gas valves and sealed burner assemblies for five years; and other components for one year, extendable to two years on colored bodies with the purchase of a Hestan cover. Labor is not included.
Lynx's current Professional warranty covers the Trident and ceramic main burners, stainless cooking grates, canopy, rear hood assembly, control panel, bullnose and drip tray for as long as the original purchaser owns the grill (rust is covered only where it affects structural integrity). The rotisserie infrared burner, side and power burners, manifolds, gas valves, rotisserie motor, ignitor, warming racks and spit rods are covered for five years. The first year is a full warranty including pre-approved service labor, and cosmetic defects must be reported within 90 days. Neither warranty applies to commercial use, and both exclude surface rust and discoloration.
The practical difference: Lynx includes labor in year one; Hestan does not. Hestan's lifetime list includes the warming rack; Lynx's includes the hood, control panel and bullnose. Terms change, so confirm the current document before you buy.
Our recommended models
These are the configurations we sell and install most, picked for the jobs where each one has a clear reason to exist. Every one is sold in natural gas and propane versions.
Built-In Natural Gas GrillsLarge Grills 34 to 42XL Grills Over 42Freestanding Grills
Which should you choose?
Choose Hestan if:
- You want a colored grill and a suite of fridges, doors and burners in the same color.
- Everyday convenience matters: a hood that holds any position, lights that come on by themselves, a flip-to-clean briquette tray.
- You want the rotisserie burner to double as a top-down broiler.
- A 36 or 42 inch grill is the right size and you want the Aspire line as a step-down option that shares the cutout.
Choose Lynx if:
- Searing is the priority and you want the option of an all-Trident grill.
- You like the idea of ceramic main burners that cannot rust, with lifetime coverage.
- You cook for big groups and want the 54 inch with two rotisserie burners.
- The site is windy (waterfront, rooftop) and the heat-stabilizing firebox earns its keep.
- You want labor covered in year one and a classic stainless look with blue-lit knobs.
Our recommendation: for a designed outdoor kitchen where the grill is one of several matching appliances, Hestan, and specifically the GMBR36 or GMBR42, is our first call. For a cook who buys the grill for the grill, the Lynx L42TR or the all-infrared L42ATR is the stronger machine, and the L54TR has no Hestan equivalent. If the budget lands below either flagship, Aspire by Hestan is the closer cousin to its parent than Sedona is to Lynx Professional.
Frequently asked questions
Is Hestan better than Lynx?
Not across the board. Hestan leads on color options, lighting and convenience features, and its Trellis burners with briquette trays give very even heat. Lynx leads on searing with the 23,000 BTU Trident burner (300 to 1,000 degrees), offers all-infrared and 54 inch models, and uses cast ceramic main burners that cannot rust. Both are welded 304 stainless and made in the USA.
Are Hestan and Lynx grills made in the USA?
Yes. Hestan builds its grills in the USA with globally sourced parts and is based in Anaheim, California. Lynx Professional grills are made in the USA; the brand started in Southern California.
What is the difference between a Lynx Trident burner and a ceramic burner?
The Trident is a ceramic infrared burner that heats the grate directly, rated at 23,000 BTU and adjustable from 300 to 1,000 degrees. Lynx's standard main burners are cast cordierite ceramic burners at 25,000 BTU each that heat conventionally through a bed of ceramic briquettes. TR models have one Trident, ATR models are all Trident, R models are all ceramic.
How many BTUs is a Hestan grill?
Hestan's Trellis burners are 25,000 BTU each. The 36 inch GMBR36 (two Trellis plus the infrared sear burner) is listed at 75,000 BTU; the 42 inch GMBR42 (three Trellis plus sear) is listed at 97,000 BTU, with an 18,000 BTU rotisserie burner on both.
Do Hestan and Lynx grills come in colors?
Hestan offers its Steeletto stainless finish plus 11 colors, available across its grills, refrigeration and storage. Lynx offers stainless plus an eight-color Outdoor Color Collection developed with Sherwin Williams.
Will a Hestan 36 fit a Lynx 36 cutout?
Not without checking. Both use a 35 inch cutout width, but the Hestan 36 calls for 23.5 inches of depth and 11.5 to 12 inches of height versus 22 by 10 1/8 inches for the Lynx L36TR, and the combustible-enclosure cutouts with insulated jackets differ again. Always build to the exact model's cutout sheet.
Which has the better warranty, Hestan or Lynx?
Both give lifetime coverage on the body (Hestan) or canopy and hood (Lynx), main burners and grates, five years on valves, manifolds and rotisserie parts, and shorter terms on the rest. Lynx includes service labor in the first year; Hestan's warranty excludes labor. Both exclude surface rust and commercial use.
Is Aspire by Hestan or Sedona by Lynx the better value grill?
Aspire is the more capable of the two: a 36 inch with 69,000 BTU, an infrared sear burner and a rotisserie, in 304 stainless and made in the USA. Sedona's current 30 inch L501 is 46,000 BTU with an optional ProSear infrared burner and is the better fit for a very small island or a tighter budget.
Talk to a specialist
Lift both hoods in our Maspeth showroom before you decide
We have been designing, selling, installing and servicing fire features and outdoor kitchens for over 30 years across New York City, Long Island, Westchester, New Jersey and South Florida. We will configure the Hestan or Lynx, draw the island to its cutout sheet, spec the matching appliances, and our crews will install it.
Book a free consultationCall 718-326-4328Showroom: 58-30 Maspeth Ave, Maspeth, Queens.
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Written by the NYC Fireplaces & Outdoor Kitchens team. Last reviewed October 2026. We sell, install and service the products discussed here.
Sources:Lynx L42TR, Lynx L36TR, Lynx L54TR, Lynx Trident burner, Lynx ceramic burner, Lynx Professional warranty, Sedona by Lynx warranty, Hestan Outdoor and the Hestan built-in grill use and care manual. Specifications change; always confirm with the manufacturer's current installation manual.