Top 5 Best Hibachi Grills – Reviews & Top Pick

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 Japanse 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 5 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.)

The 5 Best Hibachi Grills – Reviewed and Compared

• Marsh Allen 30052 Cast Iron Hibachi Charcoal Grill

  Product Name
• 4.0

  Rating
• N/A

  BTUs
• 157 sq in

  Cooking Area
• 3.5 x 18.75 x 10.62 in

  Dimensions
• $

  Price

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• Lodge Cast Iron Sportsmans Grill

  Product Name
• 4.7

  Rating
• N/A

  BTUs
• 153 sq in

  Cooking Area
• 10.25 x 8.25 x 19 in

  Dimensions
• $$

  Price

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• Bruntmor Hibachi-Style Portable Cast Iron Charcoal Grill

  Product Name
• 4.2

  Rating
• N/A

  BTUs
• 153 sq in

  Cooking Area
• 21.7 x 13.5 x 9.9 in

  Dimensions
• $

  Price

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1. Lodge L410 Cast-Iron Hibachi Grill

Lodge Sportsman’s Grill (Made in the USA) provides unbeatable performance when compared to others hence selected as our top pick. You can use this for patio or backyard barbeque. The cooking space is perfect, not too big, not too small, & best to grill enough burgers and steaks for a small group of 3-4 people.

We tried this on our camping trip and it just took us 5 minutes to put it together. We used it to cook hamburger, steaks, and hot dog buns. The food was cooked very well and even. It uses a small amount of charcoal.

It is among the most preferred small hibachi grills you can find today. You can use it for camping or home use as well and can place sauce, frying pans on it,

Don’t forget to spray it with Pam or canola oil before and after the use, it will make it long lasting. Your health matters a lot when it comes to cooking and what we loved about this hibachi-style grill is that it doesn’t have synthetic coating or chemicals.

This gives you peace of mind that foods prepared using this grill are healthy and full of flavor. Lastly, it comes with a flip-down door which allows you to add charcoal easily. The grate has two height adjustments, and that’s not a bad thing either.

The only thing we didn’t like about this product is that while grilling, food can slide off easily although it’s not a big deal.

2. Marsh Allen 30052AMZ Hibachi Grill

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.

3. Bruntmor Pre-Seasoned Hibachi BBQ Grill – Best Value for Money

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 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 removeable 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.

4. Cajun Classic Gl10447

We’ve added Cajun GL10447 in our top 5 picks due to its larger grill surface only. If you are someone looking for a grill with 15-inch width then you need to buy only this. But don’t buy this until you read the full review.

Although it is also considered as a small hibachi grill but compared to our other options this has the largest grilling area. You can grill various foods for 4-5 people at once. We also tried to add charcoal while grilling and it works. Also, it heats quickly in 5 minutes hence you can use it almost immediately.

If you may not know this grill is made in China and that shows the imperfections on it. The cast iron material used in to make this grill is slightly inferior to Lodge L410. The Ash door is poorly designed and falls out often.

This is the heaviest of all the options we have mentioned.  Unlike other grills, this one has very few parts which allow you to assemble it within minutes.

5. ChefMaster 90206, Cast Iron Mini Hibachi Grill

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. 

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.

If you are still not sure which one you should pick, then you might go with our top choice for best hibachi grill — the Lodge you can click the links we have included in the hibachi grill reviews above to see what customers are saying about the units.