A vertical grilling apparatus employs food cartridges on rails to slideably insert the food cartridge into the housing of the grilling apparatus between two thermal elements for cooking the food items. The rails correspond to a vertical slot, or opening, in the housing for engaging the food cartridge. The food cartridge is sized to correspond to a top and bottom rail and to the vertical slot. The food cartridges have hinged sides which close or clamp to an opposed position for engaging and securing the food items in a food specific insert on the hinged sides sized to accommodate the food item. The horizontally disposed food cartridge is rotated to a vertical orientation after closing and securing the food items for insertion into the vertical slot. The insertion disposes the food cartridge equidistant between the opposed thermal elements for thermal communication with the thermal elements for cooking the food.