Best Yakitori Grill

Trying to find the best Yakitori grill isn’t always easy, especially when there are tons for you to choose from – many have clay mold, ceramic coating (ceramic coating is cool), and also a cooking surface that is capable of cooking quite a bit. Today, I am here to introduce you to what I feel would be the top Yakitori grills on the market …

What Kind of Charcoal do You Use for Yakitori?

While many would recommend white charcoal for Yakitori grilling, I have a special type of charcoal that I would recommend – it’s a charcoal that is used in Japan for grilling the most delicious food out there – it’s Binchotan – I’ll give you more information on this in the end, but first I’d like to introduce you to the best Yakitori grills.

The Best Yakitori Grills

In the chart below you can find all our top picks for the best yakitori grills, carry on reading if you want more information for each grill but if you are in a hurry you can read reviews and find the latest price on Amazon by clicking the links.

Portable Grill – Party Griller Yakitori Grill 31” X 8

Looking at the Middle Eastern food cultures, you will find that they have a tradition that involves cooking meat over high heat. Two of the most common dishes that Americans may be familiar with are Japanese Yakitori and Kebabs. Cutting to the chase, I’m going to introduce you to one of the best Yakitori Grills I came across and that is the Party Griller Yakitori Grill.

The Size

This grill is big enough to be able to grill a lot of food. Yet, at the same time, the grill is small enough to be used as a portable grill that you can take with you – this is all thanks to the folding legs. Yes, it uses some East Asian terms, but in all reality, you can easily take this grill to a game and grill some delicious brats from the back of your tailgate.

Stainless Steel

The Party Griller Yakitori is made from stainless steel. It includes two stainless steel shakers as well as tongs that you can use while cooking.

The stainless steel grill grates have a split going down the middle. Due to this, you can place skewers over the open fire on one side, while grilling something completely different on the other side.

Design

This is one of the Yakitori grills that is fairly simple to put together. The grill is made from stainless steel, giving it a nice gleam when it’s being used. The corners of the grill are a bit on the sharp side, so you should be careful because it can cut.

As far as the legs go, they fold up nicely, making it so that the grill can easily be carried around. Before you start building a fire in the grill, just make sure the legs are set up correctly and firm.

Assembly

When it comes to the assembly process, as I said earlier, putting it together isn’t all that hard. It shouldn’t take you any longer than 10 minutes to put this grill together.

I mentioned the sharp edges earlier, but what I would do with those is to file them down or get some sandpaper that is rated to be used for metal. With some work, you will be able to buff those edges down so that they’re not so sharp.

Performance

I listed this as one of the best Yakitori grills due to the performance. This is the type of grill that is a direct heat grill, so you’re basically putting the meat super close to the fire. It is capable of cooking a wide array of high heat dishes such as Shashlik, Lamb Kebab, Shish Kebab, Yakitori, Thai Satay, Malaysian Satay, Spiedini and much more.

Firebox

The depth of the firebox measures a total of 11 inches. Once you have installed the bottom panel, all that’s left to do is fill it up with some charcoal. You should have around five inches between the food and the charcoal.

There are holes located in the bottom of the firebox – this is where the ash and embers fall away.

Charcoal

The type of charcoal you use can play a large part in the performance of the grill. Using super cheap briquettes isn’t going to give you as good of as fire as high-quality briquettes. If you’re looking to get a super large fire, then you’d go for the “jump” coals. By the way, I’m going to introduce you to my favorite charcoal at the end of all of this.

Japanese Yakitori Grilling Area

As far as the amount of grilling space you’ll have with this charcoal grill, you’ll have a total of 320 square inches. however, if you’re simply wanting to grill some skewers over the fire, you’ll get a bit more room.

Special Features

The split grate is definitely a special feature that is worth mentioning again. It’s great for those times when you want to use half of the grill for skewers and the other half for a hamburger. If you’re grilling for a long period of time, that split that runs down the middle will allow you to reload wood chips or charcoal without having to completely take the entire grate off.

Easy to Clean

When it’s all said and done, the Party Griller Yakitori grill is easy to clean. Mind you, this grill doesn’t have a lid so you can’t suffocate the fire. Instead, you’ll have to wait for the fire to burn out before you start cleaning it. I wouldn’t dump water on the grill because wet charcoal ash can be corrosive and this will only shorten the lifespan of the grill.

The grill grates are in a diamond pattern, so they can be a tad bit on the tricky side to clean. It would be best to just let them sit over the fire while it dies down. This will help dry out the food that may be on the grates. Then, you can take a grill brush over them and loosen up the material.

If you’re looking for a good charcoal grill, then this Yakitori grill should be at the top of your list. This is an affordable grill that will cook amazing food each and every time you use it. The food you cook on this grill will have a beautiful earth flavor, and you can count on it being packed full of juices.

Hibachi Style Grill – Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill

If you plan on going on a camping trip, then you’re going to want to take a grill along with you so that you can cook some delicious food (unless you plan on making cold sandwiches, which isn’t as fun). While there are many different grills that you can choose from, I would recommend a Hibachi style grill – in particular, the Lodge Cast Iron Sportsman’s Grill.

Pre-Seasoned Hibachi-Style Grill

This grill has been pre-seasoned and is portable – it’s a hibachi-style grill. It is great to take along with you during camping trips and fishing trips. However, there’s nothing wrong with using it in your backyard to cook your family a delicious meal. If you’re looking for a Hibachi grill, then this one right here might be a suitable option for you.

Assembly and Components

Before you get started, as with any grill, you will have to do some assembly. With this particular Hibachi Japanese grill, you won’t have to do much as far as assembly goes. As an additional bonus, the company will supply you with the hardware you need in order to assemble the grill – two washers, two nuts, and two flat-head screws. These are used to put the base to the fire bowl. After you have done that, the other pieces either sit on one another or slides into place – the assembly really is easy.

Once you have placed the footed base to the fire bowl, it’s almost time to get cooking. The next thing you will need to do is take the aluminum handle and slide it through the fire bowl, then add the fire door and next to the sliding draft door to the fire bowl. Then, take the inner grill and place it inside the bowl and that’s where the coals will be sitting. The coals need to be on top of the grill, allowing the draft door to let air come in and under so that the coals get hot. From there, place the grill on top and you’re ready to get started. See, as I said, the assembly is easy.

Charcoal

You can’t grill without charcoal, so now you’ll need to add the charcoal in there. Again, I’ll tell you about my favorite charcoal in the end.

Performance

Surely you’re wondering how the performance of this grill is. I was actually surprised by how well it grills. On the bottom, there’s a sliding draft door, as I explained in the paragraphs above. You will be using that door to adjust the temperature of the grill. The more open you have it, the more air you’re going to be letting in, and believe it or not, the hotter it will get. If the grill starts to get too hot, simply slide that door close.

When you need to adjust those coals, you can flip the fire door, take the tongs and shuffle the coals around to your liking.

Also, as I said earlier, this is a pre-seasoned grill. What this means is that it has been heat treated with some oil that will prevent it from rusting as time goes by.

Overall, I would recommend the Lodge Sportsman Grill to all of my readers. It is a tad bit on the small side and it doesn’t have a lid, but it isn’t labeled a premium smoker/grill. It is intended to be portable and great for fishing and camping trips, or simply grilling food in your backyard. If you plan on cooking for more than two people, it may take a bit longer to cook the food, but it is still worth it. It’s heavy-duty and retains heat pretty good. It gets nice and hot and I must say, it also adds an amazing flavor to the food you cook on it. This is definitely something you will want to use during your future trips.

Handy Grill Table-Top Charcoal Grill –Shichirin Hida Konro

Another grill you may want to look into is the Shichirin Hida Konro table-top charcoal grill. This is a little grill and is one of the best ways for you to get the authentic Japanese flavors that you love so much. This may be a small Yakitori grill, but don’t let that fool you, because it is capable of withstanding any challenge you toss its way.

Features;

Weight

The actual weight of this grill is 1.2 pounds. It’s so small that you can carry it in one hand and might even forget you’re carrying it.

Material

As far as material goes, if you’re looking for a clay mold, you’ll be happy. The material is diatomaceous earth.

Made in Japan

I find it interesting that this Yakitori grill is made in Japan. This means that you will get as close to authentic as you can possibly get.

Wash by Hand

You can wash this by hand when you’re done using it. In order to preserve the materials, you don’t want to place this in the dishwasher even if it would fit in one.

What Type of Charcoal Can Be Used?

You shouldn’t use the normal charcoal as you would use in the traditional grills – when you do this, a lot of smoke and chemicals are produced and the smoke can really destroy the flavor of your food. Again, I’ll be introducing you to a type of charcoal that I would recommend using in your Yakitori grill at the end of these reviews. If you don’t have the type of charcoal I recommend, then you can always use smokeless charcoal that is made from coconut husk.

What Can You Cook on this Yakitori?

On this Yakitori, you can cook a variety of things. You can easily prepare musk, chili pepper, Pleurotus ostreatus, and Komochi Shishamo. It works well with sesame oil, soy sauce, sesame seeds, and also chili powder.

 

 

ISUMER Charcoal Grill Barbeque Portable

Another Yakitori grill that I would recommend comes to us from ISUMER – this is a portable grill that is made out of the top of the line stainless steel and it has a finish that is well polished. It’s not going to crack or rust and it is easy to clean when it’s all said and done.

Portable

The grill can be folded making it so that it is portable. The grill is also referred to as a portable Mangal Grill and it is perfect for making Shish Kebab, Skewers, Japanese Yakitori, Lamb Kebab and much more on. It’s small enough so that you can take it on your next camping trip or wherever you’ll be needing a grill.

Double Air Vents

On both ends, there are double air vents. This makes it so that you can control and create air circulation in the grill.

Ash Catcher

Built into this grill, you have an ash catcher, making it easy to clean up the ash.

Air Ventilation

Air ventilation is important so that you can control the heat. With the air ventilation in this Yakitori, the air will evenly circulate throughout the grill. This means that the flavor is going to be even better.

Handles and Detachable Legs

The handles on this grill are convenient if I must say because it makes it even easier to carry the grill. Also, the legs are detachable, making it so that you can carry it and store it without hassle. This grill is perfect for backpacking, camping, tailgate parties, trailers, backpacking, and grilling in small spaces.

A Non-Stick Grill Pan

The non-stick grill pan isn’t going to let you down at all. It is made of top of the line refined iron – this material is heat resistant and great for skewered chicken breasts, hamburgers, fish, shrimp, and even sandwiches.

Easy to Set Up and Take Down

This is one of those grills that are easy to set up and takedown, so if you’re looking for grills that don’t take much work, this is a good option. To give you an idea – I can pack this one up and unpack it within one minute. All you have to do is remove those four detachable legs.

Nice for Searing

Not all portable grills out there can get hot enough to be able to sear your food. However, the story isn’t the same with this small portable grill. The amount of space you have between the grill rack and the charcoal gives you the opportunity to get a nice sear on your food.

If you’re looking for a portable grill, then I would highly recommend this one right here. It is capable to cook up to 6 burgers or 2 steaks at once on this grill. For a grill at this price, it’s hard to complain about anything – it’s a great grill for grilling Yakitori style.

Iwatani Aburiya Portable Gas Grill Stove

The next grill on my list of the best Yakitori grills is a mysterious grill that isn’t talked about all that much. This grill comes to us from Iwatani Aburiya.

Weight

This grill weighs 5.29 pounds, so you’ll be able to take it along with you during your fishing and camping trips. If you like, you can even use it in your backyard (there’s nothing wrong with doing so).

Desk Furnace Burner

This gas grill stove uses a cassette bottle that has fuel in it. This allows you to enjoy it at your desk. You can even cook skewers on this grill.

Stainless Steel

The lower legs are made of top of the line stainless steel.

As I said, this is a pretty mysterious grill, but there isn’t a whole lot to it. You can cook chicken, and all of that other yummy stuff on it right at your desk.

Best Charcoal for Yakitori Grill – IPPINKA Kishu Binchotan BBQ Charcoal

Throughout the reviews, I mentioned that there is charcoal that I love using, and I finally have the opportunity to tell you about it (I first wanted to tell you about the best grills available to you). Hopefully, you managed to pick out a good barbecue grill.

My favorite charcoal for Yakitori grilling, hands down, would be the IPPINKA Kishu Binchotan BBQ Charcoal – great for Yakitori grilling and even using on the barbecue grill. This is one of the best types of charcoal you’re ever going to get your hands on, take it from me …and I have been around the world and have had the opportunity to try many different types of charcoal – yet, the Binchotan BBQ Charcoal stands out from the crowd.

Grilling is something that we humans have done for as long as I can remember. In fact, grilling dates all the way back to caveman days (imagine a caveman sitting there grilling food for his family). Here we are, in the present day where grilling is probably one of the most favorite ways of preparing food (who doesn’t love the taste of grilled food).

Grilled food is less fatty and packed full of flavor. The charcoal you use can have a major impact on the flavor of your food. If you want amazingly delicious food (I’m sure you do), then this is the only charcoal you need. Kishu Binchotan is something that the Japanese love using for their Yakitori.

Kishu Binchotan is unique. Not only can you use it for cooking, but it is also used throughout households as a deodorizer, air purifier and also as a soil fertilizer. It is also an active ingredient in many hygiene and cosmetic products.

Using Japanese Ubame Oak, this activated charcoal has been perfected. The Japanese Ubame Oak is a native tree that is found in Japan. It is actually considered the best fuel to use while grilling.

All Natural

This charcoal is all-natural and you don’t have to worry about any chemicals getting into your food, which is one of the reasons why I like it so much. The coal generates heat that hugs the meat and helps keep those flavorful juices inside – it is great for searing and produces a delicious flavor like no other. I also like how it doesn’t release any smoke and there’s no odor going into the food. It is said to emit far infrared waves, which is something a cheaper form of charcoal isn’t able to do.

In Japan, this charcoal is normally used to cook local dishes such as Yakitori (that’s grilled chicken skewers), robatayaki (grilled meat) and unagi (grilled eel). It offers a unique flavor to the meat and seafood like no other charcoal can offer.

Grilling with Kishu Binchotan is something that you at least have to try – but once you try it, I feel that it’s something you’re not going to put down. Fortunately, thanks to the world wide web, you can get this charcoal regardless of where you live.

So what are you waiting for? Aren’t you ready to enhance your BBQ experience and give this charcoal a try?

Conclusion

So there you have it, the Yakitori grills that I feel would be the best for you to use. Yes, they’re small, but they have a good grilling surface and you can easily control the heat. Point blank, if you’re looking for a good grill for Yakitori cooking, then this list includes grills that are easy to use, light in weight, and portable.