There’s no question that Korean BBQ is the most delicious of all Asian style roasted meats. It’s why so many Korean BBQ restaurants seem to be popping up everywhere. Different cuts of specially flavored meat, ranging from beef to chicken, cooked on a gas or charcoal grill on the table. To add a bit of spice to the meat, there are several side dishes and dipping sauces you can choose from which allows you to customize your meal according to your taste. Aside from the taste, eating Korean BBQ is becoming popular because it’s such an adventure. Grilling with your friends, experimenting with the different flavors, and maybe sipping a bit of Korean beer to wash all that food. It’s a wonder people don’t eat it every night. Well, except for the fact that eating out can create a considerable hole in your wallet. It’s a good thing then that you can actually enjoy homemade Korean BBQ. You just need to get a grill of your own. Of course, not all Korean BBQ grills are made the same. Fortunately, we’ve got the goods for you. Check out our reviews on the best Korean BBQ grills and how to spot the best one for your home.
Table of Contents
- IWATANI Smokeless Korean barbecue grill “YAKIMARU” CB-SLG-1
- TeChef – Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan with New Safe Teflon Select Non-Stick Coating
- Thai Korean Japanese Style BBQ Grill Steak Hot Pan + Stove Set Kitchen Ware
- CookKing – Master Grill Pan, Korean Traditional BBQ Grill Pan
- Cook N Home 2648 Style 32cm Stovetop grill Korean BBQ
- WHITSUNDAY Japanese Home Style Electric Grill Skillet Griddle Korean BBQ 20
- BBQ Plate Iwatani Cb-p-y3 (Large) by IWATANI
- Korean BBQ Stone Grill BBQ Pan, Stone Plate Stovetop Barbecue Native Rock Steak Chicken Ribs Pork Belly Grill Pan
- New Korean BBQ Grill, Stovetop Barbecue, Table Top BBQ, Indoor Barbecue Grill
- Buying Guide: How to Pick The Perfect Korean BBQ Grill
IWATANI Smokeless Korean barbecue grill “YAKIMARU” CB-SLG-1
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -0
The IWATANI Smokeless Korean BBQ grill features a round grill pan made of aluminum with a non-stick coating. The grill is dome-shaped with a grease drain to keep the fat off the meat and prevent it from burning. It also makes cleanup very easy. The grill can fit enough food to feed 3 people. It features a knob for controlling the temperature which can reach up to 250 degrees Celsius. The meat gets cooked quickly and evenly. There’s little to no smoke which makes it perfect for indoor grilling. The size of the grill is pretty compact; it’s lightweight as well, making the grill easy to store away when not in use. Overall, this is a pretty good buy. There is only one drawback. All the instructions are in Japanese. Even the labels on the grill are in Japanese which means there’s a bit of trial and error before you can get to grilling.
TeChef – Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan with New Safe Teflon Select Non-Stick Coating
$81.99
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
The TeChef Stovetop Korean BBQ Non-Stick Grill Pan is another great option for easy tabletop cooking. The detachable hot plate features the new safe Teflon Select for non-stick cooking. It also features a unique swirled channel design which makes the oil drain slowly from the meat to add more flavor. At the same time, it keeps the grease from burning to ensure smokeless grilling. Take note that you will need to place a cup to catch all the grease that goes down the drain because it’s not included. One of the best features of this grill is that its magnetic locking system that attaches the butane cylinder to the gas regulator automatically. Other things we liked about this grill are the automatic safety system and the fact that it gets hot quickly and has even heat distribution.
Thai Korean Japanese Style BBQ Grill Steak Hot Pan + Stove Set Kitchen Ware
$69.99
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
This Thai Korean Japanese Style BBQ Grill Steak Hot Pan + Stove Set is quite different from the other Korean BBQ grills we’ve looked at. This aluminum grill comes with a top grill area for cooking your meat and an area for cooking soup and/or noodles. The best thing about this grill is the fact that you can use different types of fuel to heat it – gas, alcohol gel, or charcoal. Cleaning the grill is easy, just let it cool down and wash it with soapy water. Just make sure you don’t put it in the dishwasher as it tends to oxidize. The parts are easy to assemble and disassemble; storing the pieces away are also no trouble at all. The only thing we dislike about this grill is that it takes a long time to get to you as it is made in Thailand and shipped off from there.
CookKing – Master Grill Pan, Korean Traditional BBQ Grill Pan
$41.99
Total Reviews -1222
Review Score -4.7
This Master Grill Pan from CookKing is the perfect tool for cooking all your Korean BBQ needs at one go. This aluminum grill pan features several sections where you can grill a variety of foods simultaneously, so you never have to let food go cold while you wait for the rest of your meal to finish cooking. You can cook the meat and veggies on the domed part of the grill; the slope ensures that the fats all go down the grease drain. The side sections are great for heating up kimchi, melting cheese, roasted garlic, and making scrambled egg – all delicious side dishes that are essential to any good Korean BBQ. Take note that this grill pan does not come with a burner. There are locks on the bottom of the You’ll need to place it on top of a gas stovetop. That part is not included. You’ll also need to place a cup to catch the grease dripping off the pan. Other than that, this Korean BBQ is a great option if you want to feed 5 hungry mouths or more.
Cook N Home 2648 Style 32cm Stovetop grill Korean BBQ
$39.99
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
The Cook N Home Stovetop Grill Korean BBQ Style is a little similar to the CookKing model. It’s a grill plate that you place on top of a gas stove or an electric one. The grill is made of fine grade aluminum which makes it lightweight but great at even heat distribution. It is break-resistant and will not warp even under high heat. The pan features non-stick coating which makes cooking food and cleaning up very easy. There are also side handles to make the plate easier to carry around, even if you’re using oven mitts. Notches underneath the feet of the grill plate makes it more stable when placed on top of a stove; you needn’t worry about flipping it over when you enthusiastically turn over the food you’re cooking on top. For a Korean BBQ grill, it’s pretty simple; no bells and whistles to speak of. Then again, it costs you less than 30 dollars and it’s dishwasher-safe. We call that a great bargain.
WHITSUNDAY Japanese Home Style Electric Grill Skillet Griddle Korean BBQ 20
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
The Whitsunday Non-Stick Electric Indoor Grill is unique in the world of Korean BBQ grills. It features a non-stick grill plate that’s rectangular with a slightly concaved surface. The plate is placed on top of a genuine wood base. The overall look of this grill is modern and elegant. It looks more like an oriental plate rather than a grill. The plate itself features a hole in the middle where all the grease and fat that comes from the food is drained. Underneath this plate is a removable and nonstick drip tray that collects it all and makes for easy cleanup. The surface of the plate is 20″x10″ which provides you with a lot of cooking space. Its nonstick coating means you don’t need to add a lot of oil to use it. This allows you to quickly wipe down the surface after use. No fuss, no muss. The unit comes with an adjustable temperature control which allows you to cook different foods on the plate. As an added bonus, this grill comes with a 1 year warranty and 100% satisfaction and zero hassle returns.
BBQ Plate Iwatani Cb-p-y3 (Large) by IWATANI
$36.00
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
Another great Iwatani product, this Korean BBQ grill plate is perfect for tabletop cooking with the family. The hot plate features a swirl pattern on top to prevent food from sticking. It also has holes along the sides to ensure that all the fat and grease drip down into the grease catcher beneath. Speaking of, underneath the hot plate is a water tray which holds around a cup of water that will prevent the grill from producing smoke. This tray also catches all the grease and fat dripping from the food above. To refill the water, you get a handy tool for lifting the hot plate without burning your fingers. You can even use it to bring the plate to the sink after use for a quick cleanup. Take note that this BBQ plate can only be used with an electric or gas grill.Also, this is not ideal for grilling heavily marinated meat as it could burn and the residue can stick on the plate.
Korean BBQ Stone Grill BBQ Pan, Stone Plate Stovetop Barbecue Native Rock Steak Chicken Ribs Pork Belly Grill Pan
$41.99
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
The Korean BBQ Stone Plate may require the use of a gas or electric grill, but it delivers that delicious charcoal BBQ taste due to its unique design. The upper part of the plate is made of a native rock called Agalmatolite. Infrared radiation cooks the food while the plate absorbs the fat from the food as it cooks. This produces a charcoal barbecue taste that we all love. Surrounding the stone portion of the plate are holes that form a well-built draining system to get rid of excess fat and grease and prevent oil from splashing everywhere. Underneath the stone plate is a stainless steel water/grease tray. Water is placed in the tray to ensure smokeless grilling indoors. The only drawback to using this BBQ plate is a slight difficulty in cleaning. But the durability of the entire product more than makes up for that.
New Korean BBQ Grill, Stovetop Barbecue, Table Top BBQ, Indoor Barbecue Grill
$49.50
Total Reviews -0
Review Score -5
This Korean BBQ Grill from Love Greenland has a unique look that sets it apart from the all the others we’ve look at so far. The upper plate features a non-stick surface and several rings to prevent the meat from sticking. The central part of the plate features a small cup where you can roast garlic or melt cheese. The upper plate is placed on top of a water/drip tray. The edges of the hot plate don’t completely cover the top of the water trap which serves as a drain for all the fat and grease accumulating on the surface. The water in the tray prevents smoke while you grill and makes it easier to clean the oil out after use. The tray comes with side handles for easy transport on top of your grill or stove and straight to your sink. The only disadvantage to using this grill is the lack of English instructions on how to use it. If you’re not familiar with how these things work, you might find yourself in trouble. But for experienced Korean BBQ grillers, it’s easy as pie.
Buying Guide: How to Pick The Perfect Korean BBQ Grill
There’s no question that grilling is an American pastime. It’s part of our culture as much as apple pie and baseball. But while we know quite a bit about traditional grilling, Korean BBQ grills are a slightly different breed. Our knowledge of barbecue grills aren’t going to do us much good when choosing for a Korean BBQ grill. This is why we decided to give you a bit of help before you make your final choice with this buying guide.
What size do you need?
Most Korean BBQ grills are round with a diameter ranging from 10 to 16 inches, much smaller than your regular tabletop grill. However, there are also some grills like the Whitsunday Japanese Home Style Electric Grill that are rectangular in shape and can provide much larger cooking space. When choosing size, you should consider two factors – how many people you’ll be feeding and how much space you have available.
In general, a diameter of 12 to 14 inches is enough to feed a regular-sized family. If you plan on using the grill to cook for a large group, you should consider getting two or more units. Remember, part of the fun of Korean BBQ grills is the fact that everyone gets a chance to do some cooking and grabbing whatever food they want to eat from the grill. It’s hard to do that with a large group and one tabletop grill.
Of course, you also need to consider how much space you have available. Both on your table (or wherever you plan on grilling) and your storage space. When you’re cooking Korean BBQ, you’ll need space for the grill itself plus the meat, side dishes, sauces, and your plates. With some grills, you also need space to add a grease catcher for all the fat and grease that will be drained from your meat. After you’re done feasting, the grill will need storing unless you plan to leave it on your
What kind of grease draining system does it have?
As you can see from all the different models we’ve reviewed, all Korean BBQ grills feature a draining system to keep your meat from becoming too greasy. It also prevents the fat and grease from splashing or dripping all over your table. In addition, it prevents flare-ups and smoke from occurring.
Some Korean BBQ grills have built-in drip trays placed beneath the hot plate. Others don’t come with a drip tray at all, just a drain where all the grease will drop from. This means that you’ll need to provide your own drip catcher. It also means that you need to be careful in not tipping that drip catcher while you’re grilling to avoid creating a mess.
What’s your heat source?
Some Korean BBQ grills come equipped with its own gas grill like the IWATANI Smokeless Korean barbecue grill. Others are built to be placed on top of gas grills and electric grills which means you’ll need to provide your own heat source. This is ideal if you already have a portable stove at home. A handful of models like the Thai Korean Japanese Style BBQ Grill Steak Hot Pan + Stove Set can be fueled not just by a gas or electric stove, but also by using alcohol gel or charcoal. When making your choice, think about what fuel source will be more convenient for you in the long run.
Is it easy to use?
In general, operating this type of grill is not rocket science. Just turn up the heat and start cooking once the plate is hot. Easy, peasy. But that’s not all you have to consider. Grill plates that feature non-stick coating are best because your meat and veggies won’t stick to your grill, making it easier to cook your food evenly and preventing burnt residue from getting stuck on your grill. Not only does it make things less messy for you, it also ensures easy cleanup and a longer lifespan for your grill. Speaking of cleaning, you should take note that some grills are hand wash only while others are dishwasher-safe.
Any extra features you should consider?
As you’ve probably already noticed, Korean BBQ grills are quite similar when it comes to features offered. However, some do come with a few bells and whistles you might be interested in. For example, the Thai Korean Japanese Style BBQ Grill Steak Hot Pan + Stove Set comes with a section for cooking soup or noodles. The CookKing – Master Grill Pan comes with a hot plate that’s divided into several sections, allowing you to cook a variety of meat, veggies, and side dishes like eggs, cheese, and garlic, all at the same time. The Plate Iwatani Cb-p-y3 includes a tool that enables you to lift your grill plate while hot, perfect for refilling the water tray, taking out the grease, or transferring the plate to the sink.