If you are more like a home cook and enjoy grilling your foods, then you will love a Yakitori grill, chilling by a Japanese barbecue is one of the most delightful ways to make skewered meats and a cozy way to hang out with your beloved people.
Like every country in the world, the Japanese have enjoyed grilling especially as friendly gatherings.
They even invented so many varieties in grilling culture such as Konro grills, hibachi grills, or in this article, we will discuss only Japanese traditional grills as you may know.
In order for you to get the absolute most beneficial Japanese broiler, I have done some research on the yakitori grill world market to determine the products with the greatest build and the various types of fuel used such as yakitori grill electric, yakitori grill gas, or yakitori grill charcoal.
So, let’s have a leap right into the list of the best yakitori grill list selectively based on many standards according to purchased users (recommended)
The Top-Rated Yakitori Grills (Recommendation)
#1. BAOYOU JAPANESE YAKITORI BBQ – TOP REVIEW
#2. HINOMARU COLLECTION JAPANESE TABLETOP – BEST TRADITIONAL GRILL
#3. WEBER GO ANYWHERE JAPANESE BARBEQUE – BEST FOR OUTDOOR
#4. FIRE SENSE 60450 YAKATORI INTERNAL GRATES CHARCOAL – BEST QUALITY
#5. KINKA BBQ DIATOMITE CHARCOAL GRILL – BEST FOR BIG GATHERINGS
#6. EVERDURE CUBE PORTABLE CHARCOAL GRILL
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Guide For Japanese Yakitori Grill
Since there is lots of unconfirmed information about equipment that claims to be the most desirable piece of Japanese barbeque, either you are going to buy one or build one for yourself if you tend to a yakitori grill DIY, here is some useful information and noticeable things to know.
1. What is a Yakitori Grill?
A yakitori is traditionally cooked on a rectangular grid that is two feet long and just a few inches wide with a wire mesh or grid on top.
The open surface on the mesh is where you should place your food.
Japanese barbecues today use white charcoal for heating, another fuel is quite obvious so no need to say.
So, what makes them different from the other grills such as hibachi grills, konro grills or western grills is the amount of heat that’s used to cook (200-250˚F) and the charcoal.
2. Types of Japanese Grills
Hibachi grills are a small heater that consists of a container made from porcelain or other fireproof materials.
While the traditional hibachi was mostly utilized for heating rooms rather than for cooking, the name “hibachi” was co-opted to market traditional tabletop grills abroad.
Other models use charcoal for heating but some are gas-fueled in recent years, called ‘’konro’’, these are often to be seen in many Asian countries with a compact design, box-shaped and may be lined with ceramic or aluminum.
Teppan, these models are a type of open iron cooktop, became popular in Japan following the introduction of modern iron making.
It’s used to barbecue meat, seafood, or even pancakes and other ingredients.
Yakitori, As mentioned, they are meant for chicken grilling, traditionally made of clay or iron, but since being famous in western countries, they can be used for grilling different types of food like pork, beef, fish, or even vegetable and burgers.
3. What Makes Them Popular?
The compact design and rectangularly shaped.
The shape provides you to utilize the large surface area for your skewers.
As you cook the foods on the tabletop, it’s better when the roast is small to allow for service space.
4. What of Yakitori Grills Cook?
When going to a yakitori grill restaurant, you will find the grids built directly into the table, then you can order your food, chicken traditionally.
However, in the US, yakitori refers to any kind of skewered meat such as pork, beef, or lamb and sometimes vegetables as well.
Unlike in Japan, the food will be served with soy sauce and rice wine dipping sauce. Meanwhile, the US tends to use various types of sauce and dipping sauce.
5. Why Should We Use White Charcoals?
The benefits when using this charcoal for grilling are the majorities of the clean, high yet steady heat source.
This charcoal helps seal the flavor of your foods, keep them as good as they could be.
Plus, they can burn for 3-5 hours with no harmful acids that occur during grilling.
The only downsizes of this white charcoal is they can be a bit pricey and take a longer time to ignite.
6. Which Type of Skewers Should Be Used?
I would recommend using metal or bamboo skewers for your yakitori grill at home.
While the metal can be reused over and over again, the bamboo skewers are cheap and do not harm the environment.
On the other hand, if you use plastic skewers, they can be melted due to the high heat of your grid and may cause serious health issues like cancers or nervous system problems.
If you are getting the most trustworthy Japanese barbecue for yourself, using proper tools will be the best way to enjoy your time with your friends or family.
Best Yakitori Grill Shortlist (Updated List)
| Product images | Product names | Editor's rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
  | BAOYOU JAPANESE BARBEQUE | 4.2 | Check Price |
  | HINOMARU COLLECTION JAPANESE TABLETOP | 4.2 | Check Price |
  | WEBER GO ANYWHERE BARBEQUE | 4.0 | Check Price |
  | FIRE SENSE 60450 YAKATORI INTERNAL GRATES CHARCOAL | 4.6 | Check Price |
  | KINKA BBQ DIATOMITE CHARCOAL GRILL | 4.8 | Check Price |
  | EVERDURE CUBE PORTABLE CHARCOAL GRILL | 4.2 | Check Price |
*Ratings are from Amazon at the time of publication and can be changed
The Best Japanese Yakitori Grill
#1. BAOYOU JAPANESE YAKITORI BBQ – TOP REVIEW
Are you a camper and looking for a portable Japanese broiler and made of durable and metal material outdoor yakitori hibachi grill?
If yes, this will be the perfect one for you.
In terms of compact design, this piece of home equipment is made of metal, don’t worry!
This material is safe for your health and is especially portable.
The metal helps in even the heat with its heat-resistant features, giving you the tastiest grilled meats you can ever have.
This model offers six various sizes of options.
When hanging outside, all you need to do is ignite the charcoals and you are ready to spend your time with your beloved one.
And after grilling, you can just wash the upper grill and the inner steel case, hand-wash is highly recommended.
Nearly forgot to mention, this product is made of health-safe material that is built to give you the most enjoyable experience with features such as rust-proof, heat-resistant, and non-deformable, with the characteristics of safety, health, and non-toxic smoke.
Pros
- Portable
- Easy to use
- Made of health-safe material
- Easy to clean
- Non-toxic smoke
- Heat-resistant
- Lightweight
- Durable
- Traditional design
Cons
- Can be easily damaged if not cared for properly
- Hand-wash only
- Does not fit for big gatherings
Overall, this will be the best yakitori charcoal grill for your outdoor grilling experience with its high-quality and compact built if you are looking for a Japanese grill with a traditional look to chill out with your favorite person.
#2. HINOMARU COLLECTION JAPANESE TABLETOP – BEST TRADITIONAL GRILL
If you are looking for a Japanese traditional broiler that fits one or two persons, giving a cozy feeling and enjoyment when grilling this product will be the most suitable grill for your needs.
The small grid means that only a small portion of the skewer is exposed to the heat, allows your meats to be cooked ideally, and offers contact-less grilling this means that your food can cook while not getting stuck on the grid.
That usually messes up with the meat juices. Sounds juicy, right?
This one is made straight out of Japan and has a pretty unique yakitori grill design and a Paulownia wooden base.
The total weight of this thing is just around 5 pounds, giving you the ability to bring it anywhere in your home.
However, the exterior wrap of this product is Japanese paper and can be peeled off if not being treated properly.
Keep in mind that this product should not be machine-washed but can be hand-cleaned easily, these kinds of yakitori hibachi grill are not like other Japan-made products you may know, they are vulnerable and require attention if you want them to be durable.
Pros
- Made in Japan
- Japan traditional pattern looks
- Compact and lightweight design
- Detachable parts
- Easy to assemble
- High-quality Paulowniawooden base
- Easy to clean
- Simple to use
- Sturdy built
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Easy to be peeled off paper wrap
- Small barbecue area
- Can not be clean with a dishwasher
- Does not fit for big gatherings
Overall, as mentioned, if you are living by yourself or with your partner and currently don’t have the needs of a big gathering, this product will be the best small yakitori grill for you with its unique design and sturdy built.
#3. WEBER GO ANYWHERE JAPANESE BARBEQUE – BEST FOR OUTDOOR
This product is built to be the best portable Japanese barbecue on a go, portable, and high-quality.
The manufacturer used Porcelain-coated cast iron to build this product, featured with rust-proof, heat-resistant, and non-deformable, can easily cook up to six burgers at once.
Being made to be a portable product, this one is too, has a handle on top and foldable plated-steel legs to support the grill with a weight of 15 pounds, which means it is super easy to carry around, you can even put it in a trunk or leave it in your backyard.
One more advantage of this product is the using process, it’s surprisingly easy for everyone, not kids, of course, you can easily find the 3D interactive instruction of this product online with just a few clicks.
When all your foods are prepared and ready to be cooked, all you have to do is fold the legs out, put it somewhere and start barbecuing, the heat should be controlled effortlessly, it’s that simple.
Pros
- Super affordable
- Foldable legs
- Easy to use
- High-quality made
- Portable
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Easy to clean
- 3D interactive instruction
- Fits for big gatherings
- Easy heat control
Cons
- Weak legs according to purchased users
- Shallow interior height
- Needs to be assembled
In short, this will be a valuable piece of home equipment for your home if you are looking for a portable model to spend your time with your friends or your family.
#4. FIRE SENSE 60450 YAKATORI INTERNAL GRATES CHARCOAL – BEST QUALITY
This product is designed in a traditional Japanese hibachi-style.
The majority parts of it are made out of delightfully decorated ceramic clay.
However, this portion of the grill should not be machine-washed if you want to crack it for any reason.
And the other parts of this product such as the grate is made of stainless steel, which means you can clean it with no worries at all.
You can easily control the heat via the vents on the body, the cracks will NATURALLY appear during usage and do not affect the use.
Even though this model is made to be a portable product, suitable for both indoor and outdoor activities, it should be handled with care and attention to ensure that the ceramic clay won’t crack unexpectedly.
Pros
- Beautifully made of ceramic clay
- Easy to use
- Stainless steel grid
- Fits for both outdoor and indoor events
- Detachable parts
- Easy to assemble
- Easy to clean
- Sturdy built
- Easily control the heats via air vents
- Compact and portable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Vulnerable material
- Hand-washed only
- Small barbeque area
Overall, this should be a valuable item that is perfect for both indoor and outdoor activities with good looking ceramic clay design and promising to deliver a cozy sensation while using.
#5. KINKA BBQ DIATOMITE CHARCOAL GRILL – BEST FOR BIG GATHERINGS
Technically, this product is more like a stove than a hibachi grill, but since it is perfectly designed for an authentic Japanese grilling experience, it is going to be a shame if this product is not being mentioned in this article.
This model has a large grilling surface that will be able to cook food for your family or even a party.
It is not ambitious to say this traditional broiler can serve a group of seven or more.
Unlike every of the most desirable barbecue on the world market, the big grilling surface is not covered in a non-stick coating and requires no oil or butter to allow for easier cleaning after you finish your Japanese grilling time.
Additionally, this model is made of a material that will not burn you if you accidentally touch it while cooking, this feature is perfectly safe if you are usually hanging out with kids nearby.
Another exceptional advantage of this grill is that it has two carrying handles on both of its sides, so you can carry it effortlessly.
Pros
- Large grilling surface
- Great for both indoor and outdoor
- Carrying handles included
- Easy to use
- Burn-safe material
- High-quality built
- Multi-purposes
- Great for bigger gatherings
- Easy to clean
- Heats up evenly
Cons
- High price
- The non-stick grilling surface is not featured
- Hand-washed only
In short, if you are looking to get a product that fits for big gatherings, can be used indoor and outdoor, and built to be the best yakitori grill, this should be a valuable product for all your needs.
#6. EVERDURE CUBE PORTABLE CHARCOAL GRILL
Are you living by yourself and looking for a Japanese broiler to enjoy your time or are you tend to take your grill to outdoor activities such as camping or picnic by yourself, if so, this product should be the most reliable Japanese griddle for your needs.
This product is built to make room for just one or two people, giving a cozy sensation while cooking.
It has a small grilling surface, allows you to cook your foods evenly, and wrap the juices of the meat with the charcoal smell, classic!
This one is too, made in Japan, and has a traditional Japanese pattern, and has a nice-looking Paulownia wooden base.
The total weight of this thing is just around 2.55 pounds, which means you can easily take it anywhere you want it to be.
As mentioned, being a traditional Japanese product means this broiler should be hand-washed only, don’t worry, you can easily clean this product with just water and it’s just going to be fine, they are made to be washed with water anyway.
Pros
- Portable
- Lightweight
- Detachable parts
- Easy to assemble
- High-quality Paulowniawooden base
- Easy to clean
- Simple to use
- Sturdy built
- Compact and portable
Cons
- Small barbecue area
- Does not fit for big gatherings
In short, if you don’t have the needs of big gatherings such as parties or just simply are living by yourself and looking for a compact design grill, this will be one of the very best yakitori grills that should be considered by you.
Things to Consider for The Best Yakitori Grill
1. Cooking Surface and Shape
This should be the first thing to consider when buying a Japanese broiler is the actual cooking surface.
As can be seen and mentioned many times in this article, many models are shaped differently, therefore affecting the meat you can grill on particular models.
Some models are narrower, making them great small gatherings or else.
2. Portability
A portable model sometimes comes with foldable legs, compact size, lightweight, or even with wheels, each is built differently for various occasions.
Depending on your needs, choosing the most suitable model for yourself is half-filled with joy and prevents money loss.
3. Material Construction
Some Japanese model is made from stainless steel, zinc-iron, and others from clay.
A traditional Japanese barbecue is built from iron or clay, but this kind of material is usually heavy, which makes models that are built from iron not regularly seen on the market.
On the other hand, stainless steel models are designed to last and be lightweight for comfortable portability and can be perfectly used for electricity-powered models.
Some are made of ceramic clay, but this material is easy to crack if not being treated properly, however, the cracks will naturally appear if being used correctly and makes the yakitori grill even more gorgeous.
Again, it depends on your requirements, if you tend to bring your yakitori on a picnic or camping, models made from steel is a better option compared to models made from iron.
4. Heat Sources
This is too, should be the most certain thing to consider when getting a Japanese barbecue, as mentioned, there are various heat source options and may confuse you a little bit.
If you are more like a traditional person and want a clean, high yet sturdy heat source, I would recommend using white charcoal for the best tasting.
On the other hand, if you do not like the burning charcoal odor, using an electric-powered grill is highly recommended, these kinds of grills are often involved with high-tech features and compact size.
Commonly Asked Questions About Japanese Yakitori Grill
1. Can You Use a Yakitori Grill Inside?
Since there are so many barbecue restaurants being born, the answer is quite obvious, yes, you can use them indoor, the white charcoal can produce high heat without creating too much smoke, or you can use electric-powered grills, they are commonly featured with smoke-less technology, giving you the most comfortable experience.
2. Is Yakitori Only For Chicken?
Yes and no. Yes is because traditionally, Yakitori is grilled chicken skewers made of bite-sized pieces of meat from all different parts of the chicken, such as the breasts, thighs, and other innards, regularly made to grilled over charcoal.
No is because as mentioned before, in the US, Japanese yakitori grilling refers to any kind of skewered meat such as beef, or lamb, and sometimes vegetables as well.
And the US tends to use various types of sauce and dipping sauce.
3. Who Invented Yakitori?
As we already know today, they appeared during the middle of the Meiji Era (1868 to 1912) – a period when the chicken was bred in larger numbers for its meat.
In urban areas of Japan, yatai (street stalls) began serving skewered chicken grilled over charcoal and being famous for its deliciousness and inexpensiveness.
4. How Do You Light Grill Charcoals?
One of the easiest ways to light up your grilling charcoal is to arrange the charcoal in a pyramid shape, pour light fluid evenly over the charcoal, wait for 30 seconds, ignite it and top with grate when the coals turn white and you are ready to grill.
5. What Is The Difference Between Korean And Japanese BBQ?
They are both different in many aspects like serving style, side dishes, and condiments, the only similar thing is they are both traditionally cooked using various types of fuel such as charcoal, gas, and electricity.
Conclusion
Yakitori Grilling is such a popular and traditional way to hang out and relax with your beloved friends and family, promising to give you the most comfortable grilling time after a long day working or being hustle in urban style.
As mentioned, the best yakitori grill depends on what you require of them. If tradition is one of your favorite things, you will love spending your time cooking with the FIRE SENSE 60450 YAKATORI INTERNAL GRATES CHARCOAL
Or if you are more like a camper and tend to take your broiler to outdoor activities such as picnics, camping, or even trekking, you will love the WEBER GO ANYWHERE JAPANESE BARBEQUE.
I’m truly hoping that reading through this article will help you in getting the most suitable broiler and spending your time grilling in the most pleasant time with your best yakitori grill.
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Tags: charcoal burns, kind of charcoal, temperature control, ceramic coating, meats and vegetables, cooking yakitori, lump charcoal
