Is it necessary to leave gaps between the fridge and kitchen cabinets? If yes, what is min gap size? I've seen some done without any gap and it looks much nicer than those with gap.

Sure need, else how hot air escape? if without gab you risk overheating the compressor. Check with manufacture spec.

..and that heats up ur cabinet too..if it is laminated u will soon see it starts to crack up? try to touch the surrounding of ur fridge..even certain are at both sides are hot ..

Even with the new model fridge, you still need to have some gap around the fridge.
Without these spaces, the compressor will run hotter, thus reducing the efficiency.

Maybe, if you really prefer without gap, you could install an ventilation fan to draw out the hot air. Even with this, there still need to be some small gap to draw in the cold air.

You should get a copy of the user manual of your fridge (if possible) as the manufacturer will recommend the required space between the fridge 3 sides (top, left and right) and the wall/cabinet as well as the rear spacing.

My big side by side Hitachi Inverter recommends a 5cm min gap all around.

What cool down, need to heat up. Is always the law of physic.

I'm assuming you talking about the fridge will put inside a cabinet hole? or just simple a open area?
If is inside the cabinet, just assuming you will upgrade to bigger fridge, than you will need to get new cabenet again ...and the cabanet already a isolate between both area lol

shroom, definitely need gap. For what distance to keep, do read up the manual, it is mentioned there.

Thank you thank you for everyone's input. Saw a lot of nice photos with no gap thought I could get away with it too. Guess not!

Fridge these days has the heat exchanger at the sides unlike the older fridge at the back. Just use your hand to feel it & you'll notice it.

I think the fridge you saying is something that u can not get in the market, actually those fridge you mean is custom made fridge, which is seldom been use in malaysia. For those custom made fridge is come 1 set with kitchen cabinet, some even use the same finishing like kitchen cabinet, so the fridge just like part of the kitchen cabinet and build it in into kitchen cabinet perfectly.

check your fridge's manual for the distance.

That one compressor is outdoor.

My kitchen cabinet supplier recommended 5cm gap at both sides and top. Is this sufficient? I can find the user manual of the model that I want to buy (Hitachi VG750PM)

Thanks

Better if you can do the sides wider. Having it so narrow is a event to roll the fridge out in the case of CNY spring cleaning

Plus, the fridge replacement is a headache if you make it so short. The more room, the more energy saving (that heat gotta go somewhere)