The Best Hibachi Grills for 2023

The basic hibachi charcoal grill, based on a traditional Japanese design, has become a popular alternative for consumers searching for a very portable but economical charcoal barbecue.

Hibachi-style gas barbecues are now available (one is featured in this roundup).

Without the frills of a contemporary grill, the greatest hibachi grills allow you to concentrate on the timeless technique of cooking with charcoal.

Our picks for the best Hibachi grills in 2023

1. Best Overall – Lodge Sportsman’s Pro Grill

The Lodge Sportsman is a traditional hibachi charcoal barbecue with a straightforward and almost unbreakable construction.

It is nearly completely constructed of cast iron. Although this adds weight to a portable barbecue, the material advantages exceed the inconvenience.

Combination of oxygen levels for whatever cooking you wish to undertake.heightIt also has multiple temperature adjustment mechanisms for precise cooking control. You should be able to determine the ideal quantity of charcoal after some trial and error.

It has a big enough grilling space at 19.38 x 9.69 x 7.56 to cook meals for a small family if done in regulated batches.

You should be able to accommodate three steaks or two steaks and some veggies at the same time.

At the same time, it is not huge enough to cause problems while storing the barbecue at home or in the garage.

What We Like:

• Cast-Iron Because of its longevity and ability to maintain heat, pre-seasoned cast-iron is an excellent material for a charcoal barbecue. Because the grill is almost entirely built of cast iron, it weighs more than 20 pounds in total.
• Door that flips down Directly under the grilling surface is a door. You may dump charcoal here or add more to reduce or enhance heat, accordingly.
• Bottom Ventilation The vent under the flip-down door is also adjustable. This vent allows you to manage the amount of oxygen that enters the charcoal.
• Two Grilling Elevations Because of the two height options offered, you have even greater temperature control. It will require some trial and error.

What We Don’t Like:

• Handle at a Low Cost The Lodge Cast Iron Sportsmans Grill has a single wire handle that runs across the top.

The handle is a little weak and is prone to breaking under stress. That’s a pity since it’s pretty hefty and cast-iron heats up quickly. You must allow the grill to cool somewhat after cooking before moving it securely.

This is an excellent alternative if you want a portable charcoal barbecue that isn’t so inexpensive and light that it falls apart after a few usage.

The grill has been pre-seasoned, but since it is constructed of cast iron, it will need some maintenance.

Charcoal and cast iron are an excellent mix for grilling at high temperatures and producing wonderful meals whether you’re camping, tailgating, or using the Lodge at home as a tabletop barbecue.

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2. Best Budget – Marsh Allen Kay Hibachi Charcoal Grill

The Marsh Allen Kay Grill has 157 square inches of cooking surface.

It has features such as temperature vents and wooden handles. Best of all, this grill is available for a very cheap asking price.

The cooking grids may be moved to three different positions. As a consequence, multitasking is simplified.

The legs, however, are often at various heights, making the surface unsteady. Worse, both cooking grids have an inconsistent height distribution. It’s difficult to put a single piece of food over them and have it be completely flat.

What We Like:

• Affordable This barbecue is much less expensive than other rival grills.
• Grates has three positions. You can simply cook food on one side of the grill at one temperature while cooking food on the other side of the grill at another temperature.
• Handles made of wood Wooden handles are better than metal handles because they do not absorb as much heat from the environment. Because the grill weighs more than 15 pounds, having handles is a good addition.
• There are two air vents. There are two air vents under each cooking grid on this grill. As a result, you may further regulate the temperature of each part of the grill individually.

What We Don’t Like:

• Construction at a Low Cost Because of its cheap price, several features of the Marsh Allen Kay Grill’s construction are a bit inconsistent.

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3. Best Gas Hibachi – Cuisinart CGG-180T Petit Gourmet Portable Tabletop Gas Grill

The Cuisinart CGG-180T has 145 inches of cooking area with legs that fold down under the main unit. It is very portable and simple to operate, and since it uses propane rather than charcoal, it can be fired up and ready to cook in seconds.

What We Like:

• Legs Can Be Folded The grill’s legs are constructed of aluminum to make everything light and portable. They are foldable and feature large stabilizing feet for a consistent cooking experience. It’s ideal for use on a camping table, for example.
• Handle Thickness The briefcase-style carrying handle adds to its versatility. The grill as a complete weights just 13.5 pounds, making it easily transportable.
• Grates with Porcelain Enamel As a consequence, the grates will endure significantly longer and can withstand high temperatures without warping or deteriorating over time.

What We Don’t Like:

• Burners Are Fragile The Cuisinart Gas Grill’s temperature control burners are fairly poor. If spun too rapidly or violently, they have a potential to be incorrect or shatter.
• Heat is transferred through plastic. The remainder of the grill’s plastic structure allows heat to travel much too readily. Take caution not to burn yourself just after completing a picnic.

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4. Best Round Hibachi – Cajun Classic Round Seasons Cast Iron Charcoal Hibachi Grill

The Cajun Classic Grill is fashioned in the classic Japanese circular shape. It boasts a 15-inch cooking surface that can handle up to nine standard-size burgers.

What We Like:

• Size: Small This grill’s form and dimensions make it suitable for camping or storing if space is limited.
• Cast-Iron The cast-iron composition helps to retain heat and evenly cook food. Even better, the maker has pre-seasoned the cast-iron to guarantee a longer lifetime and to make it ready to use straight out of the box.

What We Don’t Like:

• Heavy The Cajun Classic Grill weights about 40 pounds, which may be too much for some people to handle. Furthermore, the handle is made of thin wire and is unlikely to endure long after considerable usage.

The Cajun was made in China, and the cast iron is of inferior quality than the Lodge Sportsman, which won our best hibachi grill award.

However, since the Cajun has a greater surface area, it is a smart alternative to consider if you need to maximize space.

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What Is a Hibachi Grill?

Hibachi grills are typically compact and portable charcoal barbecues. They are straightforward and efficient. Rather of relying on electrical igniters and other modern equipment, they merely need to keep hot coals in their bowl to accomplish the job.

The grilling method originated in Japan, where the phrase hibachi translates to “fire bowl.”

Hibachi grills are now used to make a variety of cuisines with a charcoal flavor.

When space is limited, hibachi grills may be utilized instead of traditional charcoal barbecues.

Although technically incorrect, the word Hibachi may also be used to describe a flat iron hot plate used in teppanyaki restaurants.

A cover is not used in traditional Japanese cooking on a hibachi grill. This is why most hibachi grills available for purchase do not include one.

Some hibachi grills have adequate room for a two-level fire. You may set different temperatures on each side of the grilling surface using this style of fire.

Because the food on the grill will be in close proximity to an open flame, most Hibachi grills are used to prepare tiny food items or strips of meat. Many hibachi grills include vents on the bottom of their chassis that allow you to modify the power of your flames for fire and heat management.

Others may have alternative height options for the grates from which to pick.

Because there is a real flame present, you should maintain a fire extinguisher or a pail of water handy in case of an emergency. If you’re new to Hibachi or charcoal grills in general, being able to swiftly extinguish the flames may be vital.

Read More: The best portable charcoal grills

What kind of food can you cook on a Hibachi grill?

Thin foods, such as chicken breast halves or tiny steaks, are ideal because to the narrow cooking surface and direct contact to hot charcoal. Fish or other seafood are ideal since they cook rapidly.

A hibachi grill may also be used to prepare vegetables such as mushrooms or long beans.

The biggest food type constraint you’ll have is that not all barbecues have the same size grates. Some hibachi grills, for example, have grates that are too large to cook little vegetables. Other items that may easily fall into the coals under the grilling surface should be avoided as well.

Meats and vegetables of many kinds are ideal for cooking on a hibachi grill. Food cooks fast due to the high intensity of the heat source and the foods closeness to the flame.

Thin pieces of meat are ideal for cooking on a hibachi grill. They’ll be cooked through in no time, and such slices are suitable for most of the grates found on hibachi grilling surfaces.

Larger slices of meat, on the other hand, should be avoided on hibachi grills. There is no cover to keep the heat in and completely roast a larger piece of meat. Thinner, faster-cooking meats are preferable.

Furthermore, hibachi grills do not produce smoke, therefore anything that requires smoking, like as fish, should be cooked elsewhere.

Hibachi grills often do not have the same amount of surface area as a standard charcoal barbecue. As a result, cookouts for big families are not always doable. However, because of its tiny size and low weight, utilizing a hibachi grill as a portable cooking tool is a terrific idea.

Hibachi buying guide – what to look for in a Hibachi grill

Material

Your hibachi grill’s material will impact its lifetime and cooking efficacy. If you want to buy a classic hibachi grill, look for one that is made mostly of cast iron.

Cast-iron is very durable and can tolerate extreme heat and wear without buckling or cracking. Cast-iron hibachi grills will also improve the flavor of your meal over time.

Cast-iron is also an excellent material for the building of your grill’s grates.

The only disadvantages of cast-iron grilling are that it is often heavier than other grilling materials such as aluminum and requires a bit more maintenance.

While metal hibachi grills are available, they are less likely to survive as long and will need more regular cleaning to minimize corrosion and wear and tear.

We also like hibachi grills with wooden handles rather than metal. Wooden handles will not absorb as much heat from the grill as metal ones would. As a consequence, your hands will be less likely to burn.

Gas vs charcoal for Habachi

Propane is the major heating fuel for gas hibachi grills. Gas grills have the benefit of being simpler to start and easier to regulate when it comes to temperature management.

What you gain in terms of ease, you lose in terms of taste.

You can’t top the authentic charcoal flavor imparted on meals cooked on a charcoal barbecue.

Charcoal hibachi grills need the transport of bags of charcoal and take longer to heat up.

Temperature management on charcoal hibachi grills is also a bit more challenging.

Overall, there is no clear winner between the two. It everything boils down to personal taste.

Because of their simplicity of use, gas hibachi grills may be better suitable for beginners. However, experienced chefs may prefer the added taste of a charcoal hibachi grill.

Portability

The majority of hibachi grills are lightweight. You should certainly look for one with handles for easier transport. One of the most significant benefits of a hibachi grill is that it can be taken with you on camping trips or to a friend’s home for a barbecue.

Buying a large hibachi grill is typically not worth it. You can eventually buy a standard gas or charcoal barbecue. Such a gadget will have a larger surface area for cooking more food while weighing the same as a hefty hibachi grill.

Grilling Size

Before making a final purchase, consider the overall surface area of a certain hibachi grill. The quantity of food you can grill at one time is limited by the surface area.

Some larger hibachi grills will have distinct compartments inside the charcoal basin.

These areas may be used to stack or remove charcoal, allowing you to have varying heat levels in different areas of your grilling space. This kind of arrangement allows you to sear certain dishes while warming others, for example.

Cost

Consider the whole cost of your hibachi grill. Hibachi grills constructed of cast iron are often fantastic buys that provide exceptional value for money. However, they are often more costly than less priced plastic hibachi grills.

Using your Hibachi grill

Lets get into using a hibachi grill.

How to Season your Hibachi grill

You may need to season a cast-iron grilling surface before using it.

Before beginning, make sure the grill is clean.

Then, lightly cover the grilling surface with olive, vegetable, or food-grade mineral oil. You should not season with bacon fat or anything like. These compounds include salt, which may corrode cast-iron over time.

After that, bake the hibachi grill for one hour at 350°F in a normal oven. Allow it to cool when the cooking process is complete and your seasoning is complete.

How to light your Hibachi grill

It is also simple to light a hibachi grill. Gas hibachi grills only need you to utilize the igniter button or knob if you’ve already added some propane.

You’ll need to fire your coals if you’re cooking with charcoal.

Place your charcoal coals in a charcoal chimney starter to get them going.

Stuff some oil-soaked paper towels (or a few fire starter cubes) in the bottom of a charcoal chimney. Both lump and briquettes will suffice.

After lighting the paper, the coals should be ready in approximately 10 minutes.

When the coals have begun to ash over, pour them into the bottom of the hibachi, being careful to remove the grate first! Using standard tongs, stir the coals around to your preference.

To create a two-zone configuration, add extra charcoal to one side of the grill.

The grilling surface may then be replaced at the desired height. The grill should start heating up nearly immediately, and you can start cooking!

You should be able to regulate the temperature of your hibachi grill in a few different ways, depending on the model.

Some grills allow you to lower or elevate the grilling surface, while others feature bottom vents to control the amount of oxygen going to the charcoal.

Of course, direct temperature changes will be accessible on gas hibachi grills.

Wrapping it up

If you want one of the greatest hibachi grills on the market, the Lodge Cast Iron Sportsmans Grill is an excellent option.

It is made of cast iron and features various doors and vents as well as two grilling heights. These features combine to make it an amazing cooking equipment that gives you complete control over the temperature of your charcoal.

Whatever you decide, best of luck and happy grilling!