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Whether or not you’re a regular yakitori lover, or you want to prepare something new and exciting for your friends and family, a yakitori grill is an interesting addition to any kitchen. Yakitori is a Japanese dish of skewered meat prepared on a grill and served as a kabob.
Today we’ll be looking at different yakitori grills so you can prepare this fun dish – and others! – from the comfort of your own home.
At a Glance: Our Top Picks for Yakitori Grills
- OUR TOP PICK: Fire Sense Large Yakitori Charcoal Grill
- Party Griller 32” Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Uten Barbecue Charcoal Grill
Comparison of the Best Yakitori Grills
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What is a Yakitori Grill?
Yakitori grills are more compact than traditional grills – usually rectangular and only a few inches wide. The big difference between yakitori grills is the level of heat they use and the type of charcoal.
A yakitori grill uses a low heat to cook the skewered chicken, usually between 200 – 250 degrees Fahrenheit. And the other main difference is that white charcoal is used.
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What Makes a Great Yakitori Grill?
A great Yakitori grill has a few main features. First off, you want to make sure your grill is rectangular, but compact. A rectangle shape will allow for the most efficient use of surface area when preparing your skewers.
And traditionally, yakitori is prepared and served at the table, so you don’t want a grill that’s too big.
A ceramic interior grill is also something to look for. The ceramic coating radiates the heat and allows a slow, consistent grill.
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What Kind of Charcoal Do You Use for Yakitori?
The charcoal you use to cook Yakitori carries grave importance. Traditionally, the charcoal used for cooking Yakitori is BINCHOTAN BBQ charcoal; however, the other available options are lump charcoal and briquette, but Binchotan is the most preferred one. This is because Binchontan charcoal is known to burn cleanly and while doing so, producing steady heat that ensures even cooking, thus producing the best results. In comparison, lump charcoal has inconsistent sizes; therefore, it does not cook food evenly. Similarly, briquette carries lower carbon content and has a lot of added harmful chemicals.
Willy's Top Picks - Best Yakitori Grills
Here are the top 3 best Yakitori grills:
Review of the Best Yakitori Grills
Next we’re going to look at a few options for yakitori grills. From compact tabletop family-style grills, all the way to commercial grade, this is where you’ll be able to determine what grill is going to fit your needs.
Best Overall:
Fire Sense Large Yakitori Charcoal Grill
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are very happy with this unit due to multiple reasons. It is incredibly convenient to use, given its incredible ventilation system. Its construction is solid and sturdy. This makes it incredibly reliable and durable. However, it isn’t the best for indoor use, given its ceramic construction, and should not be allowed to get wet. Other than that, it should work just fine.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit stands out to us for many reasons. Firstly, it features a clay mode construction, whereas its interior is ceramic. The ceramic enables it to distribute heat and cook food evenly. Furthermore, it is equipped with two ventilation doors so that the user can easily control heat.
The Fire Sense Large Yakitori Charcoal Grill is a traditional Japanese tabletop kabob grill. It has a clay mold and ceramic lined interior which distributes heat evenly.
The Fire Sense comes with an adjustable ventilation system at the front of the grill. This lets you control how much heat is coming into the grill to tailor make your cooking experience.
This grill comes with a one-year guarantee. It measures 10 by 18 by 7 inches, with 157 square inches of cook top grill space. The grill clips into place on the top of the heat source securing it for safety and ease.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit features 17x10 inches of cooking space and is great for those of you cooking large portions. You don’t have to worry about doing the vegetables and meat separately with it as you can do them both at once. Furthermore, the grill clips into place over the heat source, so it is incredibly safe to use.
Bottom Line
This unit features a very innovative design equipped with all the characteristics of an ideal grill. It features a great ventilation system and an easy to use design, which makes it one of the most convenient products out there. It is highly durable and reliable. Overall, it proves to be a great investment.
The Fire Sense is a small, traditional style Japanese yakitori grill, but where it lacks, is that it’s not entirely safe for the indoors. The ceramic and clay craftsmanship makes the grill extremely fragile.
The grill has a very large surface area for it’s compact size, making it multi-functional. It also has adjustable ventilation, which allows you to control the amount of heat being let in. This grill is a great option for a covered outdoor grill area.
Runner-up:
Party Griller 32” Stainless Steel Charcoal Grill
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are very impressed with the working of this unit. This product is easy to work with and incredibly convenient to use as it doesn’t cause any smoke problem. It makes grilling food fun. Furthermore, the design is constructed from high-quality materials and is incredibly durable, which makes it a long-lasting investment.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This unit piqued our interest due to many reasons. Firstly, it features an easy to adjust vent that creates air circulation so that heat intensity can be controlled. Furthermore, it is rust-proof and warp-proof, which enables it to be reliable and durable. Plus, its heavy-duty stainless-steel design makes it sturdy.
The Party Griller stands out instantly as a tall free-standing grill. At 34 inches high, this stainless steel grill would be a great option for an outdoor barbecue in any home.
The Party Grill stands 34 inches, and the grill itself measures 32 by 8 by 7 inches, and weighs 16.7 pounds.
There are ventilation units on each side of the grill allowing for consistent and even temperature control. This grill comes with a cover as well as two stainless steel seasoning shakers, and 12-inch scissor barbecue tongs.
The large size of the Party Griller makes it suitable to prepare not only yakitori, but any other number of grilled meats and vegetables.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is incredibly well-built and has many uses. It truly is a dream come true for those of you who like to barbecue. You can easily make skewers, kebabs, Japanese Yakitori, Malaysian Stay, etc. with the aid of this unit. Furthermore, if you dread cleaning up after grilling and barbequing, this product is a great investment as it is incredibly easy to clean.
Bottom Line
There aren’t many products out there that are capable of providing high-functionality while being easy to work with and affordable. However, this unit is all that and more. Not only is it easy to clean, but it is also incredibly convenient. It features strong and durable construction, which makes it a long-term investment.
This is not your traditional style Japanese yakitori grill. Its size and tall free-standing build makes it more of an American barbecue. This is still crafted in the style of yakitori grills, but if this cannot live on your kitchen table like a typical yakitori grill.
This grill can be your go-to barbecue for all your grilling needs. Burgers, steaks, chicken, and of course kabobs can all be prepared on the Party Griller. But you’ll need ample outdoor space to store it.
Best for the Money:
Uten Barbecue Charcoal Grill
![Uten Barbecue Grill Portable Lightweight Simple Charcoal Grill Perfect Foldable Premium BBQ Grill for Outdoor Campers Barbecue Lovers Travel Park Beach Wild etc.[Small, Black]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51G9emISszS.jpg)
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are very happy with the performance of this unit due to many reasons. Firstly, it is built from top-quality materials that ensure its durability and reliability. Furthermore, it is easy and fast to light and features an easy-to-clean design. Plus, its portable nature and lightweight construction make it easy to travel with.
Why it Stands Out to Us
This product is made of cold-rolled iron and premium chrome mesh wire. Good quality construction enables the product to be heat-resistant and scratch-resistant. It is easy to travel with and features incredibly sturdy and foldable legs. Furthermore, it has a 12-airway vent design, which makes starting a fire convenient and efficient.
The Uten Barbecue Charcoal Grill is the ideal yakitori grill for folks with very little space, or who camp/travel often.
The Uten is not only compact in size at 13.8 by 10.6 by 7.9 inches, but it also folds up for easy storage and transport. It’s folded size is 13.8 by 10.6 by 2.6 inches.
The Uten is constructed of cold-rolled iron and chrome. It is durable in the elements and can withstand heat, moisture, and is resistant to rusting and scratching. The grill has 12 airway vents in total making heat control a breeze.
The Uten is safe for indoor use, as well as almost any outdoor scenario you could imagine. It is only 3.57 pounds making it perfect for any camping trip.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is specially designed for those of you who are always on the go. If you often go on camping trips and like to carry a grill along, this product would be the right choice. It can be folded after use, which enables it to be easy to store.
Bottom Line
Overall, this product is a gem. It carries all the features that make for a perfect BBQ experience. Portability is its strong suit as it’s incredibly lightweight and compact. This unit is one of the most reliable and durable units on the market. All of these features combine to make it a great investment.
The Uten is extremely lightweight and compact, but the materials used are so light, that they are very fragile and easily dented. This grill is perfect for travel, if you’re able to cushion it to prevent damage.
The grill will resist heat, rust, and scratches, but if you’re looking for something heavy-duty, this isn’t going to hold up.
The Uten is ideal for yakitori meaning that it’s portable and small, but you aren’t going to be able to grill up burgers and steaks on it.
4. Livart LV-982 Electric Barbecue Grill
Pros
Cons
What Recent Buyers Report
Buyers are very happy with this unit. They love how well-built and sturdy it is, plus the size and shape make it perfectly portable and lightweight. The product is ergonomically designed to be easy to clean; thus, the drip tray that catches grease and fat from cooking meat is a great addition.
Why it Stands Out to Us
It caught our attention due to various reasons. Firstly, it has a very well-thought-through design that enables it to be easy to clean after use. It features an adjustable stainless-steel grill plus a removable drip tray that catches excess fat and grease dripping from the food. Furthermore, it is made of a flame grilling method, so smell and smoke are improved.
The Livart LV-982 Electric Barbecue Grill is a compact yakitori grill option. It measures 15.4 by 8.3 by 5.1 inches and weighs six pounds.
It has an adjustable grill height, a stainless steel grill that removes for easy cleaning, and a bottom tray that catches fat drippings.
The stainless steel coating on this grill makes clean up incredibly easy, just wipe down with a damp sponge. This grill creates no smoke and no downward heat, which makes it perfect for indoor grilling.
The Livart Electric Barbecue Grill uses charcoal and cooks at a low heat; an ideal at home yakitori grill. You have to put water in the bottom of the pan to get the steam and heat needed to cook your kabobs.
Who Will Use This Most
This unit is better suited for those of you cooking smaller portions as its size isn’t as big as some of its other counterparts. If you’ve been looking for a lightweight and portable unit, this product is a great option. It has an easy one-touch operation that enables it to be convenient to operate even by those of you lacking experience with the machinery.
Bottom Line
This unit is well-deserving of its spot in our best Yakitori grills list. It features an impeccable design that is built to be highly functional and ergonomic at the same time. It has all the necessary features that would ensure smooth operation and a delicious meal.
This is an ideal yakitori grill, if you’re only using it for yakitori and other types of kabobs. The Livart uses such a low heat, and has such a small size, that it won’t be able to efficiently cook burgers, steaks, or other such meals.
Considerations When Buying a Yakitori Grill
The first thing you need to consider when shopping for a yakitori grill is what purpose you’ll need it for. This will influence size. If you want to have a more traditional Japanese experience, you should opt for a smaller, tabletop grill.
Many yakitori grills come in a commercial grade size, and can even stand at full height. If you want to serve yakitori at your restaurant, or need to be able to make a larger quantity at a time, then a commercial grade grill will better suit your needs.
Shape is another factor you’ll want to consider. Yakitori grills can be used for many different meals than just skewered chicken. For example, any type of kabob can be prepared on a yakitori grill, or even burgers. If you want to use your grill for a wider variety of cuisine, a circular grill can be useful.
Pros and Cons of Yakitori Grills
If you are still on the fence about whether or not you want to invest in a yakitori grill, perhaps taking a look over the pros and cons they have to offer will help you make a decision.
Pros
With a yakitori grill, you can get perfectly grilled food. This is because of the various benefits it has to offer, including:
Proper Ventilation
Good quality yakitori grills are equipped with a great ventilation system that enables you to control the heat intensity of the unit as well as prevent excess smoke from gathering.
Ease of Use
Yakitori grills are often pre-assembled and require no effort for setting up. They have both large-sized options that are great for making larger portions and smaller-sized grill options that are great for traveling with and cooking smaller portions. This makes them convenient. Furthermore, operating these units is incredibly easy too.
Multipurpose
These can be used to cook Yakitori, kebabs, satays, and a wide variety of meals that enable them to be a chef’s trusted tool. They are available in smaller sizes that make them easy to travel with as well.
Cons
Like all things, these grills come with their limitations. These include:
Can be Expensive
The only possible con Yakitori grills have is that some of them might carry a hefty price tag. That price can be well-justified by the quality, size, great construction, and high functionality of the unit. However, for those of you on a tight budget, there are plenty of affordable options available as well.
Conclusion
Yakitori is such a popular dish, not only in Japan, but now in the United States, and owning a yakitori grill can serve you in so many different ways.
From chicken to veggies, there’s so many different types of kabobs that you can imagine or create, and having the right grill can help you bring those creations to life.
The right yakitori grill can also be used for all your grilling needs, and can be a fun conversation starter in your home.
There’s a lot of options on the market right now, since this is a fast growing food group, but now you have the info you need to start cooking!
