5 Best Korean Grill to Consider Buying in 2020

If you’ve ever been to a Korean barbecue the first thing you will have noticed is that the grills are right there with you in the middle of the tables.

This doesn’t just keep your food piping hot right until it hits your plate, it’s also a really ingenious and thoughtful way to make dining even more sociable and inclusive, promoting variety and a culture of sharing.

It’s no surprise that you’ve thought about bringing that kind of dining dynamic into the home.

Whether you’d like to use it with your family to reimagine and reinvigorate dinner time, or if you want to throw a memorable soiree for friends, with a culinary twist, a Korean grill is a perfect choice.

So, let’s have a look at five of the best Korean grills available at the minute, so you can bring the flavors, colors, and culture of Korea to the American dining room, kitchen, and garden.

We’ve even gone as far as to write a buyer’s guide and a brief FAQ section to get you grilling as soon as possible.

 

Best Korean Grill

 

1. Elite Gourmet EMG-980B Indoor Grill

This grill has an impressive 14 inch round grill top which is plenty enough room to grill a whole bunch of different foods at the same time.

We think you could cook four full meals at once on a grill this size, possibly five if you can get it all to tessellate.

It also has a circular element to match the grill top for incredibly even heat distribution, and a thermostat that opens up five adjustable heat settings.

The circular shape makes it perfect for sitting in the middle of a round table, providing easy access to all the diners. This means no more straining to reach your food, knocking over the salt and your water in the process.

The raised grill top and tilted funnel design drains fat away from your food and into a removable drip pan, and to prevent any of the hot greases from spitting at you and your guests, it comes with a domed glass lid.

We think this is an amazing Korean grill for home use. It’s ergonomic, it makes delicious lean food, it’s incredibly affordable, it comes with an extendable one year warranty, and to top things off, all its moveable parts are dishwasher safe.

Check Price on Amazon

 

2. Presto 09020 Cool Touch Electric Indoor Grill

Coming in hot to our number two spot is this 19 inches long and 3 inches wide rectangular home Korean grill, perfect for cooking a mean, lean meal.

We’d say you could cook at least three full meals on the Presto, four at a push. Customers have said that it can fit about five ¼ lbs hamburgers at the same time.

This electric grill also has the awesome raised grill top that drains all the greasy residue from your food and deposits it in a slideout drip tray for cleaning at a later date.

It’s completely dishwasher safe and fully submersible once the heating control is removed so you can scrub it yourself or let the dishwasher tackle it if you don’t have the time.

It doesn’t have handles, but the cool-touch plastic design skirting around the whole grill should make it easy to move around a larger table. 

The easy to use temperature control is really good at producing consistent and accurate heat so you don’t have to worry about hot spots.

It makes for a really stress-free cooking experience. You could even supervise as your kids take a turn with the tongs, and let them be Chef for a while.

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3. Cusimax Raclette Indoor Grill

Bringing the flavor to our number three spot is this truly awesome 2-in-1 grill packed with quality features.

Up top, you have a reversible grill tray. One side has the traditional griddle lines so you can give your food that succulent fresh off the grill, BBQ look. The other side is smooth, perfect for cooking eggs or pancakes.

This grill is 19 inches by 9 inches so you can cook a proper feast just using that top grill. But let’s discuss the bottom grill.

The Cusimax comes with eight ‘raclettes’ (basically small pans) with heat resistant handles, that fit around the central pillar that holds up the top grill. These are perfect for grilling cheese, making omelets, or charring vegetables.

The really great thing about the 2-in-1 function is that it can accommodate any diet at the same time without the risk of cross-contamination.

Are you a vegetarian with meat-eating friends? Are you an omnivore, but your partner’s a pescatarian, and your kids are vegan? No problem at all. You can simply allocate yourselves totally different grill zones.

All the cooking surfaces are non-stick which makes cleaning up after a hearty meal a breeze. The only thing is, the removable bits might not be dishwasher safe.

The main unit is non-submersible, so that will require some light hand-cleaning as well.

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4. Food Party 2 in 1 Electric Smokeless Grill and Hot Pot

Adding a little bit of versatility to our sizzling selection, this grill with an integrated hot pot will bring your creative side to the dinner table.

The circular grill that skirts the central hot pot can cook about five meals at once. The hot pot itself has a central split so you can cook two completely different recipes at the same time.

Using both the grill and pot, we estimate that you could feed around ten people simultaneously.

Using both at the same time may be an issue if you have a low power outlet. Running full steam ahead, the Food party Grill requires 1900 watts of power. Both functions are easily operated by two frontal temperature control dials.

We all eat with our eyes before we actually taste a bite. Well, with the unique diamond grill pattern, your presentation is going to be more impressive than ever.

The grill pattern is also designed to make removal of grease and debris from the non-stick material even easier.

This grill has a removable grease trap located under the grill top, so it’s perfect for healthy eating and easy to clean; although, no part of this grill is dishwasher safe.

Check Price on Amazon

 

5. Zojirushi EB-CC15 Indoor Electric Grill

Our last tasty pick is a high-quality compact design perfect for more intimate occasions.

The non-stick aluminum grill top measures 12 ½ inches by 9 ¼ inches which is plenty of room for at least three full meals. Excess grease is collected in a dishwasher-safe tray that sits underneath the grill so you can eat clean.

This grill feels like it has a really solid build, and it’s one of the more stylized options on our list. The sloping design accommodates cool-touch handles in an attractive and functional manner.

We consider one of the great things about it to be its portability as a grill. It’s quite small and only weighs 3 kg. This makes it ideal for storage in already packed kitchen cupboards or for hitting the road and grilling at a friend’s house.

Check Price on Amazon

 

Best Korean Grill Buying Guide

It can be hard deciding on a Korean style grill. There are a lot of great products on the market at the minute, and you’re too hungry to think straight. Well, we’ve got you covered with this little buyer’s guide.

Now all that time you would have spent refining your search can be spent daydreaming of all the amazing food you’re going to grill. Try not to drool on your computer.

 

Budget

It makes sense to cook up a quick budget. Don’t worry if money’s a bit tight at the minute.

There are some amazing Korean grills at very affordable prices.

 

Size, Shape, and Weight

Table – You need to think about what sort of grill would suit the size and shape of the table you’re going to be eating at most. A rectangular grill will make it easy for everyone to serve themselves if you have a rectangular table. The same goes for circular grills on a circular table.

Grill Size – How many people do you normally cook for? You’ll need a grill that can handle your usual diners with maybe a little extra space for unexpected guests. It’s a good idea to check out photos of the grill with food on so you can estimate its meal capacity.

Weight – A Korean grill isn’t particularly a great thing to have out on your countertop at all times. You’re probably going to have to store it when it’s not in use. This is why it’s really good to check how much a grill weighs before you buy. You don’t want to throw your back out every time you get the thrill to grill.

 

Temperature Controls and Power

It can’t hurt to check out a grill’s heating range. You’ll want one that can reach pretty high temperatures if you like to caramelize the surface of your burgers or steaks.

You’ll want one that can run pretty cool if you have larger food items that need a deeper cook.

Clear temperature controls are essential. You need to be in charge at all times. Check if a grill has stepped temperatures or a smooth dial that lets you be a bit more specific with your cooking.

 

Grip

With a tabletop grill, safety has to be a priority. Try and find out what kind of legs or base a grill has.

Are they made out of strong materials? Ideally, they should have some kind of specialized rubber grip to keep them steady during mealtime.

 

Handling

This isn’t essential, but a grill with cool-touch handles will make your life a whole lot easier.

You’ll be able to transport the grill during use or start cleaning it before grease and debris dries to the surface.

 

Cleaning

You want your grill to be as easy to wash as humanly possible. All cooking surfaces should be made from non-stick material, but not all non-stick material is dishwasher safe.

If you despise doing dishes old-school style, look out for a grill with dishwasher-safe components.

 

Multi-Function

If you’d like a bit of variety from your Korean grill, there is no shortage of awesome hybrid products available at the minute.

What would you like to come along with your grill?

You’ll probably be able to find the perfect 2-in-1 option for you. Hybrids can run a little hot. Make sure your mains outlet has a large enough surge to power the grill you want.

 

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the Difference Between Korean and Japanese BBQ?

The main difference between these two culinary styles is how the food is flavored. In Korean barbecue, the food is dressed with marinades before or during the grilling process.

The Japanese normally grill the food plain and then add flavor with dips.

 

How Long Will a Korean Grill Last?

If cared for properly an electric Korean grill might last between three and six years.

 

Summing Up

A Korean grill is an exciting addition to any household. It can really bring you out of a culinary rut and get your creative juices flowing. They’re affordable, compact, and most importantly of all, they make delicious food.

We hope you’ve learned what you need to know. Now you’re well on your way to becoming a fully-fledged grill master. We can almost hear the sizzle now. Happy shopping!