Before you start to care about which one is the best, you might be asking the following question:
What IS a hibachi grill?
A hibachi grill is essentially just a small stove used for cooking heated by charcoal, although there are multiple fuel types for the modern versions. It’s a traditional Japanese way for cooking but now used in North America as well.
They have a compact design which makes them suitable for those with small families or those who don’t need a big unit. Don’t underrate them due to their small size because a high-quality hibachi can do almost everything a larger model can do.
You don’t need to worry about hazardous liquid gas or flames since they use charcoal. Their compact size makes them an ideal choice for home use or different outdoor activities such as camping and hiking.
Depending on your budget and cooking demands, finding the best hibachi grill on the market is not easy but we have done the hard work for you and reviewed our top 7 picks. We have also featured an in-depth buying guide with the pros and cons of each product. If you don’t find one that you love, check out our wider selection of Hibachi Grills on Amazon.
(If you’re totally into getting a charcoal grill but don’t want a small one dedicated to a specific cooking style, like a Hibachi grill, check out our reviews of the best charcoal grills under $200.)
Table of Contents
The 7 Best Hibachi Grills – Reviewed and Compared
- Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal GrillProduct Name
- 4.6Rating
- 160 sq in.Cooking Area
- 14.5 x 21.0 x 12.25 inDimensions
- $Price
- Marsh Allen 30052AMZ Kay Home Products Cast Iron Hibachi Charcoal GrillProduct Name
- 4.0Rating
- 157 sq in.Cooking Area
- 18.0 x 3.4 x 10.0 inDimensions
- $Price
- ISUMER Charcoal Grill Barbecue Portable BBQ Hibachi GrillProduct Name
- 4.2Rating
- 174 sq in.Cooking Area
- 15.9 x 11.0 x 8.8 inDimensions
- Price
1. Marsh Allen 30052AMZ Hibachi Grill
- 3 Position adjustable cooking grids
- 157 Sq. inch Cooking surface
- Wood grid handles also allow for protected adjustment
- 2 Adjustable air vents for controlling charcoal burn rates
Marsh Allen 30052 is not quite as good as our number 1 pick, but it makes a solid runner-up. This is still a great grill.
Most parts on this grill are made of cast iron which shows that it is definitely good quality.
We didn’t like the handles as it bends easily. They don’t feel like made of good material and may not last long. Like the Lodge L410, you need to spray it with canola oil before and after use to prevent rust and make it long-lasting.
This grill also uses less charcoal. As it has 3 levels so just put it on one layer and when the coals are ready, spread it. Make sure to not spread near the handles, otherwise, it will transfer the heat and chances of handles getting cracked.
The cooking area is 157 sq inch and which is not so big but enough for 2-3 people. It is compact and perfect for small bbq meals.
The grates can easily be adjusted in three levels and this means that you can easily reduce or increase the distance between the charcoal and the grates according to your requirements.
In addition, it has 2 air intakes whereby one is located at the bottom and the other one at the top. The two air intakes help to maximize temperatures and also reduce the heating time. To keep the food in one place when cooking, the sides of the grid have a curved design.
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2. Weber 121020 Go-Anywhere Charcoal Grill
- While spending most days on your way to somewhere else, the Go-Anywhere portable charcoal grill brings a taste of home wherever you go. The lid locks for easy portability, and its rectangular shape fits perfectly in the back of most cars.
- Holds up to six burgers made with a Weber burger press
- Compact and lightweight for grilling on the go
- Porcelain-enameled lid and base retain heat, and won’t rust or peel
- The lid locks for easy portability and dampers allow you to easily control the temperature inside your grill
- Durable plated steel cooking grate retains heat and is easy to clean.Primary cooking area (square inches):160
- 3D interactive assembly instructions for this product are available through the free BILT app.
One of the major selling points of this grill is that it provides nearly the same features like quick and even heating, enough for 2-3 people but comes in half the price of Lodge and Marsh Allen.
Those who have small families will love it due to its small and compact size. In terms of stability, you will find that it has a durable design and a secure base. We’ve cooked chicken, burgers or sausages and loved the food it grilled.
In terms of heat retention, it does an amazing job as compared to others. You will not need to replace it anytime soon since it is made of the quality and long-lasting materials. Again, cleaning the unit is a breeze since you can easily do so using a mild soap.
This hibachi-style grill will give you an excellent grilling experience whether you want to prepare vegetables, seafood, meat, or any other types of food.
One thing we didn’t like is they don’t have removable ashtray so it is difficult to dump the ash while it’s still hot. But that problem is still not big as they have the door for ventilation and to move and add coals.
Also, like every other cast iron grill, you need to keep oiling it to save it from rust.
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3. ISUMER Charcoal Grill Barbecue Portable BBQ
- Portable: The BBQ grill has four detachable legs, Detachable legs design made for easy carry and storage . Perfect for camping, backpacking, picnics, tailgate parties, camping, trailers, parks, and grilling in small spaces.
- FIRM AND DRUABLE This product is made of thickness stainless steel material, solid and excellent abrasive resistance, no rust, no twist, durable and long lasting.
- Easy Assembly and Easy To Clean: Easy to set up and tear down. Convenience to take it to anywhere to have fun, the grill is made of thickness steel material, grill’s surface is easy to clean.
- Adjustable height and balance: The grill has 4 legs the bottom of which has a plastic floor mat, The mat may adjust the grill’ height and balance.
- GRILL SIZE & ACCESSORIES:Assembled Size: Approx.15.9*11*8.8in (40.5x28x22.5cm), Folded Size: Approx.15*12*4in (38x30x10cm), Accessories :BBQ housing, grill，coal, fuel grill, Recommendations for the use of the environment: building balconies, garden, Recommendations for the use of numbers:2-5
This grill is a great, really affordable option for a hibachi-style grill on a tight budget.
The legs are removable and the entire grill is essentially collapsible into itself for incredibly space-saving portability.
You’ll find an ample 174 sq in of cooking area, and the durable stainless steel construction to be easy to clean afterwards.
Another neat feature found on this grill is the adjustable feet on the legs — never worry about cooking on an uneven surface again!
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4. Mr. Flame Son of Hibachi Portable Vintage Cast Iron Charcoal Grill
- The ingenious blast furnace concept with the chimney effect enables you to be cooking in less than 10 minutes and assures consistent heat under the grills
- With 170 sq. in. of cooking surface and a convertible roasting oven, this power house barbecue can cook anything from hamburgers and hot dogs to a Chateaubriand
- Whether its breakfast, lunch or dinner, when you are finished cooking this grill folds into a self-cleaning oven and self-extinguishing barbecue. On top of that, Son of Hibachi saves the unused charcoal for later use. This saves you time and money
- THIS IS THE VINTAGE MODEL from the 1980s. Brand new in box & well preserved. Some of the metals may have slight rust from time. Clean well before first use. Snuff-out pouch not included.
- Constructed of carbon steel with cast iron cooking grids with convenient carrying handles that fold down as sturdy legs
This grill has a unique folding design, that allows for incredibly easy and convenient portability when not in use.
The design of this grill also leads to it being self-extinguishing, which is very cool — no need to have water to pour on the coals to put it out when you’re done cooking. That makes this an excellent camping grill, when you need a portable grill.
Built of durable carbon steel, you’ll have this baby up to temp in no time. Pair that with 170 sq in of cooking area on heat-retaining cast iron grates and you’ll be able to feed even a larger crowd in no time!
The legs fold up to double as carry handles, making this a one-hand transport and a seriously awesome option for a portable hibachi-style grill.
5. ChefMaster 90206, Cast Iron Mini Hibachi Grill
- Easy to use and fun for all ages - The Chefmaster mini hibachi grill is a very easy to use tiny hibachi grill. Great indoor family fun. Use for smores, appetizers, pu-pu platters and kebabs.
- Durable cast iron design with stylish wooden base - All Chefmaster mini hibachi grills are made with high quality durable cast iron to ensure only the best and safest cooking experience
- Indoor grilling essential - This mini cast iron hibachi grill is a must have for grilling small items indoors. Grill smores, appetizers, entrees and many other small food items. This grill is very simple and fun to use with the family.
- Quick to heat up - Load the mini hibachi grill with a few of spoons of fire gel, light, set the grilling rack on top of the grill, and get ready for a very memorable experience! Grill will heat to cooking temperatures within 10 minutes.
- Ready to cook out the box - Chefmaster mini hibachi grills are preseasoned and ready to use straight out of the box.
This is what we’d consider almost a “pocket grill,” due to its super small size. If you’ve got kids, this is an excellent choice for that quick, last-minute cookout request like s’mores or roasted hot dogs.
Featuring a cast iron design and a wood base, this tiny grill is actually safe for use indoors, which makes is a pretty neat addition to your cooking arsenal.
With quick assembly, quick set-up, and quick heat up, this mini grill will be ready in just 10 minutes! It’s also preseasoned, making it completely ready to go straight out of the box.
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6. NOTO DIA Table-top Charcoal Grill, Shichirin Hida Konro
- Grill: Size: 22cm(8.7) × 22(8.7) × 18cm(7.1), Weight: 2600g(5.7), Material: Diatomaceous earth
- Wire mesh grill: Size: 22cm(8.7) × 22cm(8.7) × 0.5cm(0.2), Weight: 90g(0.2 lb), Material: Iron, Zinc plating
- Wooden Base: Size: 18cm(7.1) × 18cm(7.1) × 1.5cm(0.6), Weight: 150g(0.3 lb), Material: Paulownia wood
- Made in Japan.
- No dishwasher, hand wash only.
If you’re going to cook on a Japanese style grill, you may as well go the extra mile and bring some Japanese flair to the grilling experience as well.
This is a very small little grill with just about a 9 inch size, built of a ceramic and wood base with a wire mesh cooking grate. Because of its very small size, this is a better choice hibachi grill for singles or perhaps couples.
What we like the most about this grill is that it’s very tabletop safe — some of the grills on our list would be fine on a tabletop but not on your expensive patio table if you don’t want to risk heat damage.
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7. Raptor Grilling – Optimized Portable Charcoal Grill Smoker
- MONEY SAVING EFFICIENCY: Raptor’s charcoal saving technology saves you $112 each year in charcoal if you cook once a week. The savings are even greater if you use lump charcoal or exotic fuels like binchotan charcoal. The increased efficiency also allows you to pack light for extended camping or roadtrips with this innovative portable charcoal grill and smoker for outdoor cooking.
- CLEAN HANDS TECHNOLOGY: Raptor’s clean handles on the grate & charcoal basket along with the lid handles integrated stand allow you to clean, light, and cook your meals mess free. No need to touch ash or charcoal again even when relighting your grill using a charcoal chimney starter. Tailgate, entertain, go camping, or go to the beach without getting ash and charcoal on your hands or clothes thanks to this innovative table top travel grill.
- RAPID COOL-DOWN: A class exclusive sealed lid and tight tolerance air valves allow you to find the perfect grilling temperature & provides an industry leading cool-down making the Raptor the best table top portable grill and small smoker for tailgating, travel, road trips & as a campfire grill.
- VERSATILE COOKER: The Raptor portable charcoal grill features a large chrome plated steel grate dimensions of 18 inch by 13-inch that provides a large 230 square inches of outdoor cooking surface that is more efficient than a kettle grill while still being a small grill perfect to go-anywhere – camping, travel in an RV, or at home as an everyday cooker that can be used to char-grill, char-broil, open top hibachi, or as a portable offset smoker to grill a steak or smoking ribs.
- ASADORES de CARBON - AHORRO de DINERO y TECNOLOGIA LIMPIA: la tecnología de ahorro de carbón le ahorra $112 cada año en carbón vegetal y le permite viajar ligero para acampar extendido o viajes por carretera. La rejilla limpia del Raptor y las asas de la cesta junto con el soporte integrado del mango de la tapa le permiten limpiar, encender y cocinar sin desorden. Portón trasero, campamento, o ir a la playa sin conseguir cenizas y carbón en usted con esta parrilla de carbón innovador.
This little grill is similar to the Weber Go Anywhere grill high on this list, but with a few differences.
You’ll enjoy being able to get in and out of the charcoal tray without directly touching the cooking grates — this helps keep your hands cleaner while cooking.
The legs are fixed, not folding legs like the Weber, giving it a more durable stance, but at the compromise of a little more clunkiness in its portability.
It’s also larger and offers a sizeable 230 sq in of cooking area.
If you’re on a budget in your grill shopping, however, it’s about twice the cost of the Weber, so if you only intent to use this as a tailgate grill or occasional camping grill, it’s likely better to spend less money on something that gets the job done just about as well.
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Buying Guide
For you to choose a high-quality hibachi grill, we have compiled a list of the most important things you should check.
Material
You will find that hibachi grills are made using different materials such as cast iron, stainless steel, and aluminum. If you are searching for a portable grill you can use for outdoor activities such as camping, aluminum grills will be the best because they are lightweight.
On the other hand, stainless materials are more durable than other materials but it is not the best in terms of heat distribution.
Those who are searching for the best grill that is durable and one with an excellent heat distribution should only think of cast iron grills.
These grills are the most preferred even if they are a bit heavy. They also rust easily but you can prevent this by seasoning the unit every time after use.
Cooking Surface
Both size and material should be part of your consideration for choosing a hibachi grill.
If you’re buying one for camping or other portable uses, you’ll likely want to get one of the larger size grills that can cook for 2-3 people or so.
If you’re simply looking for a “tiny” grill for those quick cookout needs without having to fire up the large barbeque grill, then any smaller size hibachi grill will do, such as the ChefMaster Mini Hibachi Grill.
Price
Hibachi grills are available in different prices to suit those with different budgets. In general, they are not as expensive as other types of grills which make them a perfect option for those who are searching for cheap options.
However, avoid the temptations of buying the unit just because it is affordable. Some are made of cheap materials and may not last. The best hibachi charcoal grills may be a bit expensive due to their advanced features and high-quality materials. Irrespective of the price, you need to ensure that the grill is made of top quality materials and will serve its intended purpose.
Fuel Type
This really comes down partly to grill design but mostly to personal preference.
While many options are charcoal hibachi grills, you’ll want to check carefully. Modern hibachi-style grills may run on a gas or even a gel fuel.
Maintenance
Due to the materials, some hibachi grills may not be easy to maintain. Some of them rust easily while others are not easy to clean. When buying, you need to consider those two factors. The good thing about cast iron gas grill is that they are very easy to maintain. To prevent rusting, you will only need to season them after every use.
Why Buy A Hibachi Grill
Due to the food being cooked much closer to the heat source, you’re going to get a whole new flavor experience. Additionally, the food cooks a lot faster the closer it is to the heat source (so keep in mind that your food cooks faster on a hibachi grill, so watch it close).
These are grills for barbequing aficionados, who want a truly unique experience while cooking up their meal. Keep in mind that the cast iron grates will be continually re-seasoned after each item cooked, so the flavors will continue to change (and hopefully improve!) as time and use marches on.
Using A Hibachi Grill
It’s important to note that these little grills pack some pretty high heat intensity in a small package.
In other words, don’t try cooking a 10oz steak on one of these grills — go with smaller strips when you can so that you’re not completely burning the outside before the center of your thick-cut steak is cooked through. Kebabs are a great alternative way to size your foods.
Noting the high-intensity heat, these make great little grills for seared meats. If your current barbeque grill doesn’t have a sear burner, you might consider adding a hibachi grill to your cooking arsenal for the new experience of it.
Safety is important when using one of these grills since they can reach pretty extreme heat levels. While it might be tempting to let your kids play grill masters during cooking, make absolutely sure they understand the safety involved with such a hot item before they get too close.
This isn’t the same as grabbing the handle to open your gas barbeque grill, after all — the entire unit gets quite hot! Keeping a bucket of water nearby – before the grill is even lit — is a very smart choice. You never know if one of these grills could be unintentionally knocked over and cause a fire hazard.
Conclusion
We only picked those that are affordable, portable, easy to maintain and made of premium materials. While there are a fair number of similarities across these grills, the decision really comes down to your cooking area needs, weight preferences (for ease of portability), and of course, your budget.
If you are still not sure which one you should pick, then you might go with our top choice for best hibachi grill — the Marsh Allen 30052AMZ Hibachi Grill. This grill will have you covered for your hibachi-style grilling experience, without breaking the budget.
The important thing to remember is that no one top choice best suits everyone, so we enourage you to read each review above carefully and be sure of your choice before you buy!
