What Prep Table Does Chipotle Use?

Chipotle was founded in Colorado in 1993 with the goal of combining fresh, high-quality ingredients with fast service. Chipotle's menu focuses on burritos, bowls, tacos, and salads made to order through a build-your-own system, where guests move down an assembly line and tell staff which ingredients they would like.

To support this format, Chipotle uses prep tables like True's TSSU Series, including models with clear lids that keep ingredients visible to guests. True TSSU units keep ingredients cold, organized, and within reach to support efficient assembly in high-volume foodservice operations.

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How True Prep Tables Work

True TSSU prep tables combine a refrigerated food pan rail with a reach-in refrigerated base and a full-length cutting board, giving staff one station for cold storage and assembly work. They feature a forced-air system with guided airflow designed to maintain product temperatures between 33 and 41 degrees Fahrenheit in the food pans and cabinet interior.

Chipotle uses prep tables with clear lids, such as those featured on the following two True models:

Feature	True TSSU-60-24M-B-ST-FGLID-HC	True TSSU-72-30M-B-ST-FGLID-HC
Size	60 3⁄8 in. W x 35 1⁄8 in. D x 38 1⁄8 in. H	72 5⁄16 in. W x 34 13⁄16 in. D x 38 1⁄8 in. H
Food Pan Capacity	Accommodates 24 sixth-size pans	Accommodates 30 sixth-size pans
Base	Two full doors with four PVC-coated adjustable wire shelves	Three full doors with six PVC-coated adjustable wire shelves
Cutting Board	Full-length white polyethylene cutting board; 53⁄8 in. deep x 1⁄2 in. thick	Full-length removable cutting board; 61⁄8 in. deep x 1⁄2 in. thick

Benefits of True Prep Tables

True TSSU prep tables are designed to support high-volume assembly lines in foodservice operations that prepare items to order. These prep tables include several features designed for refrigerated ingredient storage and service, including:

• Refrigerated Pan Rail: Keeps vegetables, cheeses, salsas, and other cold ingredients organized at the point of assembly
• Guided Airflow: Supports consistent temperatures in the food pans and refrigerated cabinet interior
• Insulated Lid and Hood: Help protect the pan area, support cold holding, and minimize condensation
• Refrigerated Base Storage: Holds backup product close to the prep rail so staff can restock pans without leaving the station
• Adjustable Configuration: Adjustable divider bars accommodate different pan layouts

How True Prep Tables Can Improve Your Commercial Kitchen

Foodservice operations can use refrigerated prep tables to combine cold storage and assembly in one unit. By combining ingredient pans, a cutting board, and refrigerated cabinet storage in one station, these units support efficient order assembly and consistent service flow during lunch and dinner rushes.

Prep tables are especially useful for menus built around burritos, bowls, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, poke bowls, and other items that require multiple chilled toppings. When comparing prep tables, operators should consider available width, pan capacity, door or drawer layout, lid style, storage needs, and the number of ingredients used during peak service.

Operators should also clean prep tables regularly because crumbs and spills can collect around the pan rail and refrigerated base. KaTom's guide to cleaning a refrigerated prep table provides additional information on routine care and maintenance.

Find True Prep Tables at KaTom for Food Holding

KaTom offers a broad selection of True prep tables for operations that need dependable, refrigerated prep space for burritos, bowls, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and other freshly assembled items. Compare sizes, pan capacities, and storage layouts to find the right prep table for your operation.

For additional guidance on choosing equipment, check out KaTom's food prep table buyers' guide.

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